Patent ID: 7232440

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; an actuator for moving 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; each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of conducting bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween; a knife which 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; and a monopolar element housed within at least the first jaw member and integrally associated with the knife, the monopolar element being selectively movable in connection with the knife 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 the source of electrosurgical energy and being selectively activateable independent of the jaw members.