Patent ID: 8056787

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle assembly; an end effector for performing a surgical operation, said end effector operably coupled to said handle assembly and operably supporting a firing member that is movable from a fully retracted position to a fired position in response to a firing motion applied thereto and from said fired position to said retracted position upon application of a retraction motion thereto; a closure drive supported by said handle assembly and configured to generate a closing motion and an opening motion; an elongate shaft assembly coupling said end effector to said handle assembly and configured to transfer said opening and closing motions and said firing and retraction motions thereto; a first rack operably supported by said handle assembly for travel therein along a first path; a firing rod communicating with said first rack and said end effector for transmitting said firing and retraction motions thereto; a firing trigger operably supported by said handle assembly and configured to interact with said first rack such that actuation of said firing trigger causes said first rack to apply said firing motion to said firing rod; a second rack movably supported within said handle assembly for linear travel along a second path that is distinct from and does not intersect said first path; a first gear rotatably supported by said handle assembly in meshing engagement with said first rack and said second rack; a retraction lever coupled to said second rack such that actuation of said retraction lever in a first direction applies a sole retraction force to said second rack that is communicated to said first rack through said first gear to cause said firing member to move from said fired position to said fully retracted position; a locking arm movably supported by said handle assembly and being movable between unlocked positions to a locked position wherein said locking arm retainingly engages said second rack when said closure trigger is in an unlocked position; and a release mechanism interfacing with said locking arm to selectively apply an unlocking motion thereto.