A surgical stapling device (10,1000) comprising a housing (1010) , an elongated portion (14,1020), an end effector (1030), and a movable handle (20,1040) disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing (1010) and movable between a first open position and a second approximated position for affecting a function of the end effector (1030). A ratchet mechanism (1050) is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the movable handle and is configured to substantially prevent the movable handle from moving towards its first open position until the movable handle reaches a predetermined position.
