A handle assembly for use with a surgical instrument having an operativedistal endportion is disclosed. The handle assembly comprises a handle housing, a driveelement, anactuator and a clamp release assembly. The drive element is disposed at leastpartially within thehandle housing and is longitudinally translatable with respect to the handleassembly. Theactuator is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle housing. Atleast a partialactuation of the actuator longitudinally translates the drive element. Theclamp release assemblyis disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive element. The clamprelease assemblyincludes a clamp pawl configured to releasable lock the longitudinal positionof the driveelement.
