Latch assemblies and surgical instruments including the same

A handle assembly of a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a housing defining a cut-out;
• a drive assembly disposed within the housing;
• a trigger pivotably connected to the housing and operably associated with the drive assembly, the trigger movable relative to the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position to actuate the drive assembly;
• and
• a latch assembly operably coupled to the housing, the latch assembly including:
• a lever movable relative to the housing between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the lever including a distal engagement section configured to releasably engage an elongated assembly inserted into the housing, an intermediate section movably coupled to the housing to permit movement of the lever relative thereto, and a proximal manipulatable section, the proximal manipulatable section including:
• an exterior surface substantially fully occupying the cut-out of the housing in the engaged position of the lever, the exterior surface including lateral sides;
• a side wall depending from the exterior surface along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about a proximal end of the exterior surface;
• a lip extending from the side wall to define a shelf extending outwardly from the side wall along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about the proximal end of the exterior surface, wherein, in the engaged position of the lever, the shelf extends outwardly beyond the cut-out of the housing to at least partially overlap an interior surface of the housing;
• and
• a proximal stop disposed on the shelf at the proximal end of the exterior surface and extending towards the exterior surface, wherein, in the engaged position of the lever, the proximal stop is configured to abut a portion of the interior surface of the housing.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• an elongated assembly including a proximal hub, a shaft extending distally from the proximal hub, and an end effector extending distally from the shaft;
• and
• a handle assembly, including:
• a housing defining a cut-out;
• a drive assembly disposed within the housing;
• a trigger pivotably connected to the housing and operably associated with the drive assembly, the trigger movable relative to the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position to actuate the drive assembly;
• and
• a latch assembly operably coupled to the housing, the latch assembly including:
• a lever movable relative to the housing between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the lever including a distal engagement section configured to releasably engage the proximal hub of the elongated assembly, an intermediate section movably coupled to the housing to permit movement of the lever relative thereto, and a proximal manipulatable section, the proximal manipulatable section including:
• an exterior surface substantially fully occupying the cut-out of the housing in the engaged position of the lever, the exterior surface including lateral sides;
• a side wall depending from the exterior surface along lateral sides of the exterior surface and about a proximal end of the exterior surface;
• a lip extending from the side wall to define a shelf extending outwardly from the side wall along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about the proximal end of the exterior surface, wherein, in the engaged position of the lever, the shelf extends outwardly beyond the cut-out of the housing to at least partially overlap an interior surface of the housing;
• and
• a proximal stop disposed on the shelf at the proximal end of the exterior surface and extending towards the exterior surface, wherein, in the engaged position of the lever, the proximal stop is configured to abut a portion of the interior surface of the housing.