trigger 138 to a predetermined position as such when the surgeon moves the trigger 138 relative to the housing 199 one or both contact plates 142 144 contacts the electrical contact 140 causing a short in the alarm circuit 106 which in turn causes the alarm 108 to emit a warning signal 191 the emission of the signal 191 can be independent of the activation of the energy source 102 fig1 referring to fig9 a further embodiment of the distal portion 604 b of a forceps 604 includes an alarm 108 that has an optical measurement feature 154 that is configured to emit a signal 191 upon a predetermined operating condition of the forceps 604 the predetermined operating condition of the forceps 604 may include cutting blade 134 deployment cutting blade 134 partially extended and cutting blade 134 fully extended fig9 shows an optical measurement feature 154 having an led light emitting diode device in other configurations the optical measurement feature 154 includes an image processing device a surgeon deploys the cutting blade 134 which translates to a predetermined position the optical measurement feature 154 detects the position of the cutting blade 134 triggering the alarm 108 to emit a signal 191 for example the led projects a beam of light 189.