Devices and methods for clamping and cutting tissue

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a proximal handle portion including a stationary handle, a first movable handle, and a second movable handle, the second movable handle being locked to the first movable handle during a first phase of travel from a first initial position to a second, intermediate position such that the first and second movable handles move together as a unit toward the stationary handle during the first phase of travel, the second movable handle being unlocked from the first movable handle during a second phase of travel from the second position to a third, final position;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle portion;

first and second jaws at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the first and second jaws being configured for relative movement between an open position and a closed position, the first and second jaws being configured to move from the open position to the closed position during the first phase of travel; and

a cutting element configured to move through the first and second jaws so as to cut tissue engaged by the first and second jaws in response to the second movable handle moving toward the stationary handle during the second phase of travel.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first movable handle in the second position is locked in position relative to the stationary handle, the first movable handle remaining in the locked position during the second phase of travel.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrodes coupled to at least one of the first and second jaws, the one or more electrodes being configured to apply radiofrequency (RF) energy to the tissue engaged by the first and second jaws.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed within the proximal handle portion, the spring being configured to apply a bias force to the second movable handle to hold the second movable handle in a fixed position after the first phase of travel, the movement of the second movable handle during the second phase of travel being configured to overcome the bias force.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a cam slot formed in the second movable handle, the slot including a pin locking cut-out and a pin travel portion; and

a pin configured to move within the cam slot between the pin locking cut-out and the pin travel portion of the slot, the pin being configured to be seated in the locking cut-out when the first and second movable handles are moving together, and the pin being configured to slide in the pin travel portion of the slot during the second phase of travel.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a cam lever within the proximal handle portion, the cam lever having a second slot formed therein that includes a first leg and a second leg that extends transverse to the first leg; and

a second pin configured to move between the first leg and the second leg, the second pin being configured to slide in the first leg during the first phase of travel, and the second pin being configured to slide in the second leg during the second phase of travel.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the cam lever is configured to push the pin through the elongate portion of the slot.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a pin seated in a first slot formed in the first movable handle and seated in a second slot formed in the second movable handle, the second slot being offset at an angle from the first slot, the proximal handle portion including a housing that has a third slot formed therein, the third slot being configured to force the pin into a first position in which the second movable handle is locked to the first movable handle during the first phase of travel, and to force the pin into a second position in which the second movable handle is unlocked from the first movable handle during the second phase of travel.

9. A surgical device, comprising:

a proximal handle portion including

a body portion having a first slot formed therein,

a first trigger configured to move relative to the body portion in a first actuation of the proximal handle portion,

a second trigger having a second slot formed therein that has an elongate portion and a cut-out region adjacent to and in communication with the elongate portion, the second trigger being configured to move relative to the body portion simultaneously with the first trigger in the first actuation, and the second trigger being configured to move relative to the first trigger and the body portion in a second actuation of the proximal handle portion, and

a first pin operatively coupled to and movable within the second slot, the first pin being configured to remain within the second slot during the first actuation, and the first pin being configured to slide in the elongate portion of the second slot during the second actuation;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the proximal handle portion;

an end effector coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector being configured to move from an open position to a closed position in response to the first actuation; and

a cutting element configured to translate through the end effector in response to the second actuation.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein, in response to the first actuation, the first pin is configured to automatically move to the elongate portion of the second slot from the cut-out region of the second slot.

11. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a spring configured to move into contact with a surface of the second trigger in response to the first actuation so as begin applying a force to the second trigger.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the spring is configured to slide along the surface of the second trigger during the second actuation.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the force applied by the spring is configured to fix the second trigger in position with respect to the body portion and the first trigger until a manual force applied to the second trigger overcomes the force applied by the spring.