Embodiments of the invention provide an improved surgical instrument having several improvements and advantages over the prior art. The surgical instrument has an end-effector capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a handle that is moveable relative to the instrument so as to move the end effector between two conditions. The present invention provides a simplified latching mechanism for this moveable handle. Specifically, the latching mechanism is formed of a single integrally formed component arranged to engage with the handle to allow the end effector to be retained in one condition, thus leaving the user's hand free to perform other functions of the instrument. In use, therefore, a user may use the surgical instrument to grasp tissue between the end effector by activating the end effector using the handle, then use the latch mechanism to latch the handle in the end effector activation position, thus allowing the surgeon to remove his hand from the handle and perform some other task. <；Figure 11>；
