Patent ID: 7686820

Claim:
A surgical clip applier, comprising: a handle housing having a trigger movable in a first direction from a fully open position to a fully closed position, and a second direction from the fully closed position to the fully open position, the trigger including a partially closed position located between the fully open and closed positions; an elongate shaft extending from the handle housing and having opposed jaws formed at a distal end thereof, the trigger being effective to move the opposed jaws between an open position and a closed position; and a ratchet mechanism disposed within the handle housing and having a notch positioned between a series of teeth formed on a trigger insert pivotally disposed within the handle housing, the notch allowing the trigger to be moved in the second direction from the partially closed position directly to the fully open position without first being moved to the fully closed position, wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a pawl rotatably disposed within the handle housing and adapted to engage the series of teeth formed on the ratchet, and wherein the series of teeth comprises a first set of teeth adapted to limit movement of the trigger to the first direction when the trigger is positioned between the fully open position and the partially closed position, and wherein the notch is formed between an end tooth and the first set of teeth and is adapted to allow free movement of the trigger in the first and second directions when the trigger is positioned between the partially closed position and the fully closed position.