Patent ID: 8257352

Claim:
An endoscopic forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft affixed thereto, the shaft including first and second jaw members attached to a distal end thereof, each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electro surgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to treat tissue; an actuator operably associated with the housing for moving the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; a knife that is selectively moveable within a knife channel defined within at least one of the first and second jaw members to cut tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members; a monopolar element housed within at least the first jaw member and selectively movable from a first position within the first jaw member to a second position distal to the first jaw member, the monopolar element adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy and selectively activateable independent of the jaw members; and a trigger configured to move proximally to a first position to move the knife to divide tissue disposed between the jaw members and to move further proximally to a second position to extend the monopolar element from the first position within the first jaw member to the second position distal to the first jaw member, wherein the trigger is configured to selectively move the monopolar element from the first position to the second position when the jaw members are in the first position and wherein the trigger is configured to move to a third position proximal to the second position to selectively cause the source of electrosurgical energy to supply energy to the monopolar element.