Bipolar forceps having monopolar extension

1 . 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 electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of operating in a bipolar mode which enables the jaw members to conduct bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to treat tissue;

a first actuator operably associated with the housing which moves 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 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 being adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy and being selectively activatable independent of the jaw members; and

a second actuator operatively coupled to the housing which operates to extend the monopolar element from the first position within the first jaw member to the second position distal to the first jaw member.

2 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 wherein the monopolar element includes a sharpened cutting edge.

3 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 wherein the forceps includes 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.

4 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 wherein the forceps is a vessel sealing forceps and at least one of the jaw members includes at least one non-conductive stop member disposed thereon which controls the distance between the first and second jaw members when tissue is held therebetween.

5 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 wherein the monopolar element is a knife which is selectively moveable within a knife channel defined within at least one of the first and second jaw members to initially cut tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members and subsequently extend distally from the jaw members, the knife being energized to treat tissue in a monopolar fashion.

6 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 5 wherein the knife includes a safety which only allows electrical activation of the knife when the knife is extended from the distal ends of the jaw members.

7 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 3 further comprising a trigger operably associated with the housing which operates to both move the knife to divide tissue disposed between the jaw members and to extend the monopolar element from the first position within the first jaw member to the second position distal to the first jaw member.

8 . 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, the first jaw member extending distally relative to the second jaw member, each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of operating in a bipolar mode which enables the jaw members to conduct bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to treat tissue;

an actuator operably coupled to the housing which moves 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; and

a control switch adapted to operably communicate with the source of electrosurgical energy which, upon selective activation thereof, deactivates the second jaw member and activates the first jaw member with a first electrical potential a return electrode with a different electrical potential to enable the first jaw member to selectively treat tissue in a monopolar fashion.

9 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 8 wherein the forceps includes a safety which only allows electrical activation of the control switch when the jaw members are disposed in the second position.

10 . 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, the first and second jaw members each including a tapered distal end, each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of operating in a bipolar mode which enables the jaw members to conduct bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to treat tissue

an actuator operably associated with the housing which moves 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; and

a control switch adapted to operably communicate with the source of electrosurgical energy which, upon selective activation thereof activates the first jaw member and the second jaw member with a first electrical potential, the control switch also activating a return electrode with a different electrical potential which enables the first and second jaw members to selectively treat tissue in a monopolar fashion.

11 . An endoscopic forceps according to claim 10 wherein the forceps includes a safety which only allows electrical activation of the control switch when the jaw members are disposed in the second position.