Battery activation and discharge mechanism for surgical instruments

Abstract

A battery pack (20) for use with a powered surgical instrument (10) includes a battery housing (21), a first battery cell (26, 27) disposed within the battery housing, and a second battery cell (26, 27') disposed within the battery housing. The battery pack also includes a first battery conductor (34) electrically couplable to a first counterpart electrical contact (15) upon coupling of the battery pack to the surgical powered instrument and includes a first biased portion (38) for engaging with the first battery cell. The battery pack further includes a second battery conductor (34') electrically couplable to a second counterpart electrical contact (15) upon coupling of the battery pack to the surgical powered instrument and includes a second biased portion (38') for engaging with the second battery cell. The battery pack additionally includes a discharge circuit (37) electrically coupled to the first and second battery conductors. The battery pack also includes an insulative pull tab (40) inserted through the battery housing between the first and second battery cells and the first and second biased portions, where upon removal of the insulative pull tab, the first and second battery conductors electrically couple to the first and second cells thereby coupling the battery cells to the first and second electrical contacts and to the discharge circuit.

Description

BATTERY ACTIVATION AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 556,912, filed February 23, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUNDTechnical Description

[0002] The present disclosure relates to powered surgical instruments. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a battery discharge mechanism for electromechanical, hand-held surgical instruments.Background of Related Art

[0003] Powered surgical instruments utilize one or more electrical components, such as circuit boards, sensors, motors, etc. to operate various functions of the instrument. Handheld powered surgical instruments may have a corded power supply configuration or may be battery operated. Some battery-operated surgical instruments are powered by a removable battery pack, which is typically discarded after use. Many governing bodies across the globe require batteries to be fully discharged by the time they reach the end of their waste stream. Accordingly, a need exists for a low-cost mechanism that ensures the full discharge of a battery subsequent to the battery’s use and prior to disposal.SUMMARY

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle having a handle housing, a first electrical housing contact, and a second electrical housing contact. The surgical instrument also includes a battery pack configured to removably couple to the handle. The battery pack includes a battery housing, a first battery cell disposed within the battery housing, and a second battery cell disposed within the battery housing. The battery pack also includes a first battery conductor electrically couplable to the first electrical housing contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the handle, and includes a first biased portion for engaging with the first battery cell. The batterypack further includes a second battery conductor electrically couplable to the second electrical housing contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the handle and includes a second biased portion for engaging with the second battery cell. The battery pack additionally includes a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the first and second battery conductors. The battery pack also includes an insulative pull tab inserted through the battery housing between the first and second battery cells and the first and second biased portions, where upon removal of the insulative pull tab, the first and second battery conductors electrically couple to the first and second cells thereby coupling the battery cells to the first and second electrical contacts and to the discharge circuit.

[0005] Implementations of the above embodiment may include one or more of the following features. According to one aspect of the above embodiment, the handle housing may include a protrusion and the first and second electrical housing contacts are disposed on the protrusion. The battery housing may define an opening for receiving the protrusion. The first battery conductor may include a first battery connector disposed within the opening and the second battery conductor may include a second battery connector. The first and second battery connectors may be configured to electrically couple to the first and second electrical housing contacts upon coupling of the battery pack to the handle. The discharge circuit may include a resistive load. The resistive load may include a plurality of resistors coupled in series or in parallel. The resistive load may have a resistance of 200 ohms. The battery pack further may include one or more fuses, which may be one of a resettable positive temperature coefficient fuse or a thermal fuse. The fuse(s) and the first and second battery cells may be coupled in series.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery pack for a surgical powered instrument is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery housing, a first battery cell disposed within the battery housing, and a second battery cell disposed within the battery housing. The battery pack also includes a first battery conductor that is electrically couplable to a first counterpart electrical contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the surgical powered instrument and includes a first biased portion for engaging with the first battery cell. The battery pack further includes a second battery conductor electrically couplable to a second counterpart electrical contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the surgical powered instrument and includes a second biased portion for engaging with the second battery cell. The battery pack additionally includes a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the first and secondbatery conductors. The batery pack also includes an insulative pull tab inserted through the batery housing between the first and second batery cells and the first and second biased portions, where upon removal of the insulative pull tab, the first and second battery conductors electrically couple to the first and second cells thereby coupling the batery cells to the first and second electrical contacts and to the discharge circuit.

[0007] Implementations of the above embodiment may include one or more of the following features. According to one aspect of the above embodiment, the battery housing defines an opening for receiving a protrusion of a surgical powered instrument. The first batery conductor may include a first batery connector disposed within the opening and the second battery conductor may include a second battery connector. The first and second batery connectors may be configured to electrically couple to the first and second counterpart electrical contacts upon coupling of the battery pack to a surgical powered instrument. The discharge circuit may include a resistive load. The resistive load may include a plurality of resistors coupled in series or in parallel. The resistive load may have a resistance of 200 ohms. The battery pack further may include one or more fuses, which may be one of a resetable positive temperature coefficient fuse or a thermal fuse. The fuse(s) and the first and second battery cells may be coupled in series.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Various aspects of the disclosed surgical instrument are described herein below with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a powered surgical instrument including a handle and a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the batery pack with a pull tab according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a partially disassembled, perspective view of the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a fully disassembled, perspective view of the batery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the batery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an assembly process of the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a partially disassembled, perspective view of the battery pack with the pull tab inserted according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0016] FIG. 8 is a partially disassembled, perspective view of the battery pack with the pull tab removed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The disclosed powered surgical instruments are described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it is to be understood that the aspects of the disclosure described herein are merely exemplary of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0018] In this description, the term “proximal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is closer to a clinician during usage of the device in a customary manner, while the term “distal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is farther from the clinician during usage of the device in a customary manner. The term “clinician” is used generally to refer to medical personnel including doctors, nurses, and support personnel.

[0019] Many governing bodies across the globe require batteries (e.g., lithium cells) to be fully discharged by the time they reach the end of their waste stream. Handheld surgical instruments can utilize removable battery packs to power the instrument during use in a procedure. If the battery pack is removed from the handheld device, thereby disconnecting the electrical load, prior to being fully discharged, the battery will not meet this requirement and can reach the end of its waste stream with electrical energy still available. The surgical instrument disclosed includes a mechanism for fully discharging the battery irrespective of whether the battery remains connected to the surgical instrument or is removed from the surgical instrument after use.

[0020] The present disclosure provides for a handheld surgical instrument that includes an electronic control system and a removable battery pack. The battery pack may include one or more battery cells, a pair of connectors for electrically coupling the battery pack to the surgical instrument, leaf spring contacts electrically coupled to the connectors, electrical and mechanical safety devices, a passive resistive electronic load (e.g., resistor coupled across the connectors), and a mechanical envelope (e.g., housing) to house all of the components. In addition, a removable insulative pull tab is provided in the battery pack. With the battery pack pre-installed onto the surgical instrument, the insulative pull tab keeps the leaf spring contacts in an unconnected state by wedging in between the leaf spring contacts and the terminals of the battery cells. When the pull tab is removed, the leaf spring contacts are pushed toward the battery cells forming an electrical connection with the battery terminals. Electrical current flows through the leaf spring contacts and provides electrical energy to the surgical device. Additionally, upon removal of the pull tab, a discharge circuit within the battery pack is activated to drain the battery pack at a preset rate based on the resistance of the resistive load. The resistance is selected to allow for completion of a surgical procedure without prematurely draining the battery pack.

[0021] Upon completion of the surgical procedure, the resistive load inside the battery pack continues to drain the battery cells until they are fully discharged, regardless of whether the battery pack is attached or detached to the surgical instrument, to ensure the battery pack is fully discharged. The time to fully discharge the battery pack is based on the resistance of the resistive load and the capacity of the battery cells. The resistive load may include a plurality of resistors coupled in series and / or parallel to distribute electrical power as well as add safety redundancies to the discharge circuit.

[0022] Referring initially to FIG. 1 , an electromechanical, hand-held, powered surgical instrument 10, which may be a linear or circular stapler, a vessel sealer, reciprocating cutter, etc. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, powered surgical instrument 10 includes a handle 12, which may be coupled to an elongated shaft (not shown) extending from the handle, and an end effector (not shown) coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft. The end effector is configured for actuation and manipulation by the handle 12. Surgical instrument 10 may be any battery powered instrument, handheld or robotic, such as a powered surgical stapler, grasper, cutter, electrosurgical device, etc.

[0023] Handle 12 includes a handle housing 14, which houses various electronic component(s) (e.g., circuit board, motors, sensors, controllers, etc.) and mechanical components configured to control operation of the surgical instrument 10. The surgical instrument 10 additionally includes a battery pack 20 which is configured to removably couple to the handle 12 and to supply power to the electronic components of the surgical instrument 10.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the battery pack 20 includes a housing 21, having a proximal portion 22 and a distal portion 24, which may be formed from any suitable material, such as a thermoplastic polymer. The proximal and distal portions 22 and 24 may be secured to each other using any suitable means, such as adhesives, welding, screws, and the like. The battery pack 20 may include a flexible tab 29 disposed on any surface thereof and shown on an upper surface of the proximal portion 22. The flexible tab 29 is configured to engage a counterpart detent (not shown) inside the handle housing 14 to secure the battery pack 20. The battery pack 20 is removed by depressing the flexible tab 29 and pulling out the battery pack 20.

[0025] The handle housing 14 may define an opening or any other mechanical interface for receiving and securing at least a portion of the battery pack 20 in the handle housing 14. The battery pack 20 may be coupled to the handle housing 14 by inserting the pack in toward the handle housing 14 and removed from the handle housing 14 by pulling on the battery pack 20 in an opposite direction. In embodiments, the battery pack 20 may be inserted into the handle housing 14 at any location, e.g., bottom, handheld portion. In embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle housing includes a protrusion 16 configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening 18 of the battery pack 20, which is defined in the distal portion 24.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the battery pack 20 includes one or more battery cells 26 disposed within the battery pack housing 21. Each of the battery cells 26 include a positive terminal 26a and a negative terminal 26b. Battery cells 26 are coupled in series by coupling the positive terminal 26a of one of the battery cells 26 to the negative terminal 26b of a neighboring battery cell 26. The battery cells 26 may be arranged in multiple rows 27 and 27’, as shown in FIG. 4, and each row having one or more battery cells 26.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the battery cells 26 are connected in series to each other and one or more fuses, which may include a resettable positive temperature coefficient (PTC) fuse 28 and thermal fuses 30. To connect multiple rows of battery cells 26 in series, the direction of the positive and negative terminals 26a and 26b is reversed as is also shown in FIG.4. The fuses 28 and 30 may be connected to a conductive strip 25. The PTC fuse 28 includes PTC material whose resistance increases as temperature increases (e.g., due to overcurrent) and the high resistance effectively blocks current flow through the PTC fuse 28 to protect the downstream circuit components. As the temperature decreases, the resistance is lowered again, hence, the resettable nature of the PTC fuse 28. Thermal fuses 30 operate in a similar manner, but once triggered due to increased temperature permanently block current flow.

[0028] The fuse 28 may be coupled to a first (e.g., upper) surface of the conductive strip 25 and the fuses 30 may be coupled to a second (e.g., lower) surface of the conductive strip 25. In embodiments, where the battery cells 26 have a cylindrical shape, placing the fuses 30 on a bottom surface, which themselves may be cylindrical, provides for optimal packaging of the components, whereas a flatter fuse 28 may be fitted on the upper surface. The strip 25 may have a curved end to provide for a fixing (e.g., welding) point. A thermally conductive adhesive may be applied between the battery cells 26 and the fuses 28 and 30 and an insulative film 19, such as polyimide film, may be used between the components.

[0029] A jumper 31 may be used to connect two rows 27 and 27’ of battery cells 26 at a first (e.g., distal) end 32 as shown in FIG. 4 at one positive terminal 26a and another at the negative terminal 26b to connect the battery cells 26 in series. A pair of, i.e., first and second, conductors 34 and 34’ are disposed at a second (e.g., proximal) end 33 and each of the pair of conductors 34 and 34’ is coupled to one row of battery cells 26 or two battery cells 26. A discharge circuit 37 is electrically coupled to the first and second conductors 34 and 34’, thus, the discharge circuit 37 is coupled in parallel with respect to the first and second rows 27 and 27’ of battery cells 26. The discharge circuit 37 may include a resistive load 35 having one or more resistors such that the resulting resistance is suitable for discharging the battery cells 26 at a selected rate. The resistance may be about 200 Ohms at about 2 Watts.

[0030] The first and second conductors 34 and 34’ include first and second battery connectors 36 and 36’ and first and second biased contacts 38 and 38’, respectively. The conductors 34 and 34’ may be formed from stamped metal and may be plated or coated with any suitable conductive material, such as nickel. The stamped metallic part may then be formed into the shape shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to bend around a proximal end portion of the protrusion 16 of the handle housing 14. The conductors 34 and 34’ are disposed along an upper inner surface of the opening 18 of the battery pack 20 such that the battery connectors 36 and 36’ come intoengagement with counterpart contacts 15 disposed on the upper outer surface of the protrusion 16 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0031] First and second biased contacts 38 and 38’ may be leaf springs, coil springs, spring- loaded pins, or any other suitable biased conductor and are configured to engage the battery cells 26. In particular, the first biased contact 38 is aligned with the first row 27, namely, the negative terminal 26b of the battery cell 26. The second biased contact 38’ is aligned with the second row 27’, namely, the positive terminal 26a of the battery cell 26. Thus, the biased contacts 38 and 38’ complete the circuit by coupling the first and second rows 27 and 27’ of battery cells 26 through the discharge circuit 37 to the handle 12 via the battery connectors 36 and 36’.

[0032] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, connection between the discharge circuit 37 and the battery cells 26, and by extension to the handle 12 is interrupted by a removable insulative pull tab 40. The pull tab 40 may be formed from any suitable dielectric material, including, but not limited to, polypropylene, polyesters, ethylene propylene, polyimide, fiberglass, polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene, and combinations thereof. The pull tab 40 may have a wedge-shaped first end 42. A second end 44 of the pull tab 40 may have a raised edge 46 and one or more indicators illustrating the direction for removal of the pull tab 40. With reference to FIG. 8, the pull tab 40 is inserted through a slit 23 defined in the proximal portion 22 of the battery pack housing 21 and between the biased contacts 38 and 38’ and the terminals 26a and 26b of the first and second rows 27 and 27’ of the battery cells 26.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 6, assembly of the battery pack 20 includes at step 50 connecting the battery cells 26, the resettable PTC fuse 28, thermal fuses 30, the jumper 31, and the strip 25 using welding, soldering, or any other electrically conductive coupling. At step 51, the thermally conductive adhesive and the insulative film 19 are applied to the components.

[0034] At step 52, the conductors 34 and 34’ are inserted into the proximal portion 22 of the housing 21. At step 53, the resistive load 35 is attached between the conductors 34 and 34’ using welding, soldering, or any other electrically conductive coupling.

[0035] At step 54, the pull tab 40 is inserted into the slit 23 of the proximal portion 22 of the housing 21. At step 55, the assembled components from step 50 are inserted into the distal portion 24 of the housing 21. At step 56, proximal and distal portions 22 and 24 of the housing 21 are joined using ultrasonic staking, press-fitting, and the like.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 7, during use the battery pack 20 is attached to the handle housing 14, which may then be placed inside packaging (not shown). The pull tab 40 insulates the conductors 34 and 34’ from the battery cells 26 and the contacts of the handle 12. With reference to FIG. 8, upon removal of the pull tab 40, both the power supply circuit (i.e., the battery cells 26) and the discharge circuit 37 are activated. The discharge circuit 37 drains the battery cells 26 at a slow rate during the normal operation of the surgical instrument 10. Upon completion of the procedure, the battery pack 26 may be removed from the surgical instrument 10 by pressing on the flexible tab 29 prior to disposal of the battery pack 20.

[0037] Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. It is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the disclosure based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.

[0038] The following examples are illustrative of the techniques described herein.

[0039] Example 1. A surgical instrument comprising: a handle including a handle housing, a first electrical housing contact, and a second electrical housing contact; and a battery pack configured to removably couple to the handle, the battery pack including: a battery housing; a first battery cell disposed within the battery housing; a second battery cell disposed within the battery housing; a first battery conductor electrically couplable to the first electrical housing contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the handle and having a first biased portion for engaging with the first battery cell; a second battery conductor electrically couplable to the second electrical housing contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the handle and having a second biased portion for engaging with the second battery cell; a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the first and second battery conductors; and an insulative pull tab inserted through the battery housing between the first and second battery cells and the first and second biased portions, wherein upon removal of the insulative pull tab, the first and second battery conductors electrically couple to the first and second cells thereby coupling the battery cells to the first and second electrical contacts and to the discharge circuit.

[0040] Example 2. The surgical instrument according to example 1 , wherein the handle housing includes a protrusion and the first and second electrical housing contacts are disposed on the protrusion.

[0041] Example 3. The surgical instrument according to example 2, wherein the battery housing defines an opening for receiving the protrusion.

[0042] Example 4. The surgical instrument according to example 3, wherein the first battery conductor includes a first battery connector disposed within the opening and the second battery conductor includes a second battery connector, the first and second battery connectors configured to electrically couple to the first and second electrical housing contacts upon coupling of the battery pack to the handle.

[0043] Example 5. The surgical instrument according to example 1, wherein the discharge circuit includes a resistive load.

[0044] Example 6. The surgical instrument according to example 5, wherein the resistive load includes a plurality of resistors coupled in series or in parallel.

[0045] Example 7. The surgical instrument according to example 5, wherein the resistive load has a resistance of 200 ohms.

[0046] Example 8. The surgical instrument according to example 1, wherein the battery pack further includes at least one fuse.

[0047] Example 9. The surgical instrument according to example 8, wherein the at least one fuse is selected from the group consisting of a resettable positive temperature coefficient fuse and a thermal fuse.

[0048] Example 10. The surgical instrument according to example 8, wherein the at least one fuse and the first and second battery cells are coupled in series.

[0049] Example 11. A battery pack for a surgical powered instrument, the battery pack comprising: a battery housing; a first battery cell disposed within the battery housing; a second battery cell disposed within the battery housing; a first battery conductor electrically couplable to a first counterpart electrical contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the surgical powered instrument and having a first biased portion for engaging with the first battery cell; a second battery conductor electrically couplable to a second counterpart electrical contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the surgical powered instrument and having a second biased portion for engaging with the second battery cell; a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the first andsecond batery conductors; and an insulative pull tab inserted through the battery housing between the first and second battery cells and the first and second biased portions, wherein upon removal of the insulative pull tab, the first and second battery conductors electrically couple to the first and second cells thereby coupling the battery cells to the first and second electrical contacts and to the discharge circuit.

[0050] Example 12. The batery pack according to example 11, wherein the batery housing defines an opening for receiving a protrusion of a surgical powered instrument.

[0051] Example 13. The batery pack according to example 12, wherein the first battery conductor includes a first battery connector disposed within the opening and the second battery conductor includes a second batery connector.

[0052] Example 14. The batery pack according to example 13, wherein the first and second batery connector are configured to electrically couple to the first and second counterpart electrical contacts upon coupling of the battery pack to a surgical powered instrument.

[0053] Example 15. The batery pack according to example 11, wherein the discharge circuit includes a resistive load.

[0054] Example 16. The batery pack according to example 15, wherein the resistive load includes a plurality of resistors coupled at least in series or in parallel.

[0055] Example 17. The batery pack according to example 15, wherein the resistive load has a resistance of 200 ohms.

[0056] Example 18. The batery pack according to example 11, wherein the batery pack further includes at least one fuse.

[0057] Example 19. The batery pack according to example 18, wherein the at least one fuse is selected from the group consisting of a resettable positive temperature coefficient fuse and a thermal fuse.

[0058] Example 20. The batery pack according to example 18, wherein the at least one fuse and the first and second batery cells are coupled in series.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A batery pack (20) for a surgical powered instrument (10), the batery pack comprising: a battery housing (21); a first batery cell (26, 27) disposed within the battery housing; a second battery cell (26, 27’) disposed within the batery housing; a first batery conductor (34) electrically couplable to a first counterpart electrical contact (15) upon coupling of the batery pack to the surgical powered instrument and having a first biased portion (38) for engaging with the first battery cell; a second battery conductor (34’) electrically couplable to a second counterpart electrical (15) contact upon coupling of the battery pack to the surgical powered instrument and having a second biased portion (38’) for engaging with the second battery cell; a discharge circuit (37) electrically coupled to the first and second batery conductors; and an insulative pull tab (40) inserted through the battery housing between the first and second batery cells and the first and second biased portions, wherein upon removal of the insulative pull tab, the first and second batery conductors electrically couple to the first and second cells thereby coupling the batery cells to the first and second electrical contacts and to the discharge circuit.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery housing defines an opening (18) for receiving a protrusion of a surgical powered instrument.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the first batery conductor includes a first batery connector (36) disposed within the opening and the second batery conductor includes a second batery connector (36’).

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the first and second battery connector are configured to electrically couple to the first and second counterpart electrical contacts upon coupling of the battery pack to a surgical powered instrument.

5. The battery pack according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge circuit includes a resistive load (35).

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the resistive load includes a plurality of resistors coupled at least in series or in parallel.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the resistive load has a resistance of 200 ohms.

8. The battery pack according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery pack further includes at least one fuse (28, 30).

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the at least one fuse is selected from the group consisting of a resettable positive temperature coefficient fuse (28) and a thermal fuse (30).

10. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the at least one fuse and the first and second battery cells are coupled in series.

11. A surgical instrument comprising: a handle (12) including a handle housing (14), the first electrical housing contact and the second electrical housing contact; and the battery pack according to any of the preceding claims, the battery pack configured to removably couple to the handle.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the handle housing includes a protrusion and the first and second electrical housing contacts are disposed on the protrusion.

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