Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein are directed to articulating surgical instruments for treating tissue comprising an end effector and a shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. In certain embodiments, the shaft comprises a plurality of transverse spacer members as well as first and second rotatable members extending through at least a portion of the plurality of transverse spacer members. The first and second rotatable members may both be biased away from the longitudinal axis such that their respective directions of bias vary with rotation of the first rotatable member. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members oppose one another, the shaft may be substantially straight. When the respective directions of bias of the first and second rotatable members are aligned with one another, the shaft may articulate away from the longitudinal axis in the direction of the alignment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preserving the life of girdled plants, such as trees, shrubs or flowering plants, comprising applying to the girdled area a wrap composed of a flexible tape backing formed from a water insoluble polymeric sheet, e.g., nonwoven fabric, suited for being wound into a roll or dispensed as cut sheets. To the backing is applied a homogeneous, hydrophilic, stable matrix. The matrix is hydratable by atmospheric moisture, has a bonding surface which conforms to the contours of the plant, and is sufficiently tacky to hold the tape in place after being wrapped around the plant. The matrix includes (a) a liquid phase comprising a hydrophilic, polar, water-miscible liquid for plasticizing the matrix and (b) a water soluble or water swellable hydrophilic film-forming polymer uniformly admixed with said liquid to form a flexible matrix.