A surgical instrument (100, 200, 400, 600) for improved ergonomic positions, comprising: a working shaft section (274, 474, 674) at a distal end of the surgical instrument; a first pivot; a second pivot; and a handle section (201, 401, 601) positioned at a proximal end of the surgical instrument comprising a first handle (202, 402, 602) and a second handle (222, 422, 622), with the handle section (201, 401, 601) pivotable relative to the working shaft section (274, 474, 674) about the first pivot, wherein the first (202, 402, 602) and second (222, 422, 622) handles are pivotably connected to each other about the second pivot; wherein the first pivot comprises a pivot head portion (256, 456, 656) comprising receiver slots (299, 499, 699) on the surface of the pivot head portion (256, 456, 656), the receiver slots are configured to receive a locking member (258, 458, 658), characterised in that the locking member (258, 458, 658) is engaged with the second handle (222, 422, 622); wherein the first handle comprises a button slot (219, 419, 619) for receiving a portion of a ratcheting mechanism (300, 500), the button slot being positioned on a top surface (205, 405, 605) of the first handle, and a projection portion (211, 411, 611) extending from a proximal end of the first handle, wherein the second handle (222, 422, 622) comprises a head portion (227, 427, 627) and a latch release cavity (223, 423, 623) formed through the head portion (227, 427, 627), the latch release cavity (223, 423, 623) being configured to receive a second handle pivot pin (235, 435, 635) and allow the second handle pivot pin (235, 435, 635) to move translationally within the latch release cavity (223, 423, 623), and the latch release cavity (223, 423, 623) comprises a spring detent (224, 424, 624) to bias the translational movement of the second handle pivot pin (235, 435, 635), and wherein the ratcheting mechanism (300, 500) includes a release member pivotably connected to a ratchet body and the ratchet body includes a first ramp, a second ramp is pivotably mounted to the second handle (222, 422, 622) and the second ramp is angled toward the first ramp in a distal direction and away from the first ramp in a proximal direction, and a wedge member is disposed between the first ramp and the second ramp and the release member to interact with the first ramp and the second ramp, the wedge member being biased in a distal direction towards an end of the ratcheting mechanism and the release member being operable to force the wedge member in the proximal direction. a working shaft section (274, 474, 674) at a distal end of the surgical instrument; a first pivot; a second pivot; and a handle section (201, 401, 601) positioned at a proximal end of the surgical instrument comprising a first handle (202, 402, 602) and a second handle (222, 422, 622), with the handle section (201, 401, 601) pivotable relative to the working shaft section (274, 474, 674) about the first pivot, wherein the first (202, 402, 602) and second (222, 422, 622) handles are pivotably connected to each other about the second pivot; wherein the first pivot comprises a pivot head portion (256, 456, 656) comprising receiver slots (299, 499, 699) on the surface of the pivot head portion (256, 456, 656), the receiver slots are configured to receive a locking member (258, 458, 658), characterised in that the locking member (258, 458, 658) is engaged with the second handle (222, 422, 622); wherein the first handle comprises a button slot (219, 419, 619) for receiving a portion of a ratcheting mechanism (300, 500), the button slot being positioned on a top surface (205, 405, 605) of the first handle, and a projection portion (211, 411, 611) extending from a proximal end of the first handle, wherein the second handle (222, 422, 622) comprises a head portion (227, 427, 627) and a latch release cavity (223, 423, 623) formed through the head portion (227, 427, 627), the latch release cavity (223, 423, 623) being configured to receive a second handle pivot pin (235, 435, 635) and allow the second handle pivot pin (235, 435, 635) to move translationally within the latch release cavity (223, 423, 623), and the latch release cavity (223, 423, 623) comprises a spring detent (224, 424, 624) to bias the translational movement of the second handle pivot pin (235, 435, 635), and wherein the ratcheting mechanism (300, 500) includes a release member pivotably connected to a ratchet body and the ratchet body includes a first ramp, a second ramp is pivotably mounted to the second handle (222, 422, 622) and the second ramp is angled toward the first ramp in a distal direction and away from the first ramp in a proximal direction, and a wedge member is disposed between the first ramp and the second ramp and the release member to interact with the first ramp and the second ramp, the wedge member being biased in a distal direction towards an end of the ratcheting mechanism and the release member being operable to force the wedge member in the proximal direction.