Bipolar forceps having monopolar extension

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 of the first and second jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the first and second jaw members are selectively capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to treat the tissue;
• a knife that is selectively moveable within a knife channel defined within at least one of the first and second jaw members to cut the tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members, the knife selectively activatable to treat tissue with monopolar energy independent of the first and second jaw members;
• a first actuator operably associated with the housing and configured to move the first and second jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
• a second actuator operatively associated with the housing and configured to extend the knife from a first position where the knife is disposed within the at least one of the first and second jaw members to a second position wherein the knife is extended distal to the at least one of the first and second jaw members;
• and
• a stop disposed at a distal end portion of the first or second jaw members and extending into a pathway of the knife, the stop configured to resist movement of the knife as the knife moves from the first position toward the second position.