Patent ID: 7789878

Claim:
An endoscopic forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft including a pair of jaw members disposed at a distal end thereof; a drive assembly disposed in the housing operable to move 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 are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue; a pair of handles operatively connected to the drive assembly, the handles being movable relative to the housing to actuate the drive assembly to move the jaw members; each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy for treating tissue; a first switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to at least one jaw member for treating tissue in a monopolar fashion; a second switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to one jaw member and selectively deliver energy of a second electrical potential to the other jaw member for treating tissue in a bipolar fashion; and a monopolar lockout operable to prevent activation of the first switch when the jaw members are disposed in the first position, the monopolar lockout including a pressure-activated safety switch disposed in the housing, wherein movement of the handles from a first position relative to the housing to a second position relative to the housing closes the pressure-activated safety switch to allow activation of the first switch.