Method for powering an electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a removable battery assembly (1880, 3500, 3880) into an electrosurgical instrument, the removable battery assembly (1880, 3500, 3880) including: a power control circuit powered by at least one energy storage cell; a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly (3540, 3840) communicatively coupled to the power control circuit and operable to selectively produce a radio-frequency signal; and a battery assembly/instrument interface operably coupled to the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly (3540, 3840), the battery assembly/instrument interface including a first part of a connector assembly removably connectable with a second part of the connector assembly within a handle (1800, 3000, 3400, 3800, 4400) of the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument, the first part of the connector assembly and the second part of the connector assembly together being operable to supply the radio-frequency signal to the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument; and activating the power control circuit to power the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument. inserting a removable battery assembly (1880, 3500, 3880) into an electrosurgical instrument, the removable battery assembly (1880, 3500, 3880) including: a power control circuit powered by at least one energy storage cell; a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly (3540, 3840) communicatively coupled to the power control circuit and operable to selectively produce a radio-frequency signal; and a battery assembly/instrument interface operably coupled to the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly (3540, 3840), the battery assembly/instrument interface including a first part of a connector assembly removably connectable with a second part of the connector assembly within a handle (1800, 3000, 3400, 3800, 4400) of the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument, the first part of the connector assembly and the second part of the connector assembly together being operable to supply the radio-frequency signal to the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument; and activating the power control circuit to power the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument. a power control circuit powered by at least one energy storage cell; a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly (3540, 3840) communicatively coupled to the power control circuit and operable to selectively produce a radio-frequency signal; and a battery assembly/instrument interface operably coupled to the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly (3540, 3840), the battery assembly/instrument interface including a first part of a connector assembly removably connectable with a second part of the connector assembly within a handle (1800, 3000, 3400, 3800, 4400) of the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument, the first part of the connector assembly and the second part of the connector assembly together being operable to supply the radio-frequency signal to the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument; and activating the power control circuit to power the electrosurgical cautery and cutting instrument.