	US 7,481,810 B2
	Bipolar forceps having monopolar extension
Patrick L. Dumbauld, Lyons, Colo. (US); David M. Garrison, Longmont, Colo. (US); Paul Guerra, Boulder, Colo. (US); Darion Peterson, Boulder, Colo. (US); and Sean T. Dycus, Denver, Colo. (US)
Assigned to Covidien AG, Neuhausen am Rheinfall (Switzerland)
Filed on May 07, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/800,750.
Application 11/800750 is a continuation of application No. 10/970307, filed on Oct. 21, 2004, granted, now 7,232,440.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/520579, filed on Nov. 17, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0213708 A1, Sep. 13, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/18 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 606—51 [606/41; 606/45; 606/50]

6 Claims

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;

an actuator operable to move at least one jaw member relative to the other jaw member 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 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; and

a monopolar element housed within at least the first jaw member and adapted to mechanically engage the knife in a removable fashion, the monopolar element 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 the source of electrosurgical energy and being selectively activatable independent of the jaw members.