Patent ID: 8398673

Claim:
A surgical instrument for performing first and second different functions on tissue comprising: an elongated member; a first jaw positioned adjacent a distal portion of the elongated member; a second jaw positioned adjacent the distal portion of the elongated member and mounted for movement with respect to the first jaw, the first and second jaws relatively movable between open and closed positions in a first orientation and further movable between open and closed positions in a second different orientation; a first actuating mechanism for moving the jaws in the first orientation; a first handle for moving the first actuating mechanism; a second actuating mechanism for moving the jaws in the second orientation; a second handle for moving the second actuating mechanism; and a switch for choosing the first or second actuating mechanism, wherein the switch can be activated only when the jaws are in the closed position, and the switch preventing movement of one of the first and second handles while enabling movement of the other of the first and second handles.