A surgical instrument comprising: (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a channel assembly (220; 250) comprising a first conductive plate (222; 252), and (ii) a cartridge assembly (210; 240) comprising a second conductive plate (212; 242), the cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly (220; 250), wherein the cartridge assembly (210; 240) comprises an electrically activated component (214; 244); and (d) an electrical contact assembly comprising: (i) the first conductive plate (222; 252), (ii) the second conductive plate (212; 242), and (iii) a dielectric cover (226; 243) associated with either the first conductive plate (222; 252) or the second conductive plate (212; 242), wherein the dielectric cover (226; 243) is positioned between the first conductive plate (222; 252) and the second conductive plate (212; 242) when the cartridge assembly (210; 240) is coupled with the channel assembly (220; 250); wherein the electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple a power source with the electrically activated component (214; 244) of the cartridge assembly (210; 240) by forming a capacitor having the dielectric cover between the first conductive plate (222; 252) and the second conductive plate (212; 242) when the cartridge assembly (210; 240) is coupled with the channel assembly (220; 250). (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a channel assembly (220; 250) comprising a first conductive plate (222; 252), and (ii) a cartridge assembly (210; 240) comprising a second conductive plate (212; 242), the cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly (220; 250), wherein the cartridge assembly (210; 240) comprises an electrically activated component (214; 244); and (i) a channel assembly (220; 250) comprising a first conductive plate (222; 252), and (ii) a cartridge assembly (210; 240) comprising a second conductive plate (212; 242), the cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly (220; 250), wherein the cartridge assembly (210; 240) comprises an electrically activated component (214; 244); and (d) an electrical contact assembly comprising: (i) the first conductive plate (222; 252), (ii) the second conductive plate (212; 242), and (iii) a dielectric cover (226; 243) associated with either the first conductive plate (222; 252) or the second conductive plate (212; 242), wherein the dielectric cover (226; 243) is positioned between the first conductive plate (222; 252) and the second conductive plate (212; 242) when the cartridge assembly (210; 240) is coupled with the channel assembly (220; 250); wherein the electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple a power source with the electrically activated component (214; 244) of the cartridge assembly (210; 240) by forming a capacitor having the dielectric cover between the first conductive plate (222; 252) and the second conductive plate (212; 242) when the cartridge assembly (210; 240) is coupled with the channel assembly (220; 250). (i) the first conductive plate (222; 252), (ii) the second conductive plate (212; 242), and (iii) a dielectric cover (226; 243) associated with either the first conductive plate (222; 252) or the second conductive plate (212; 242), wherein the dielectric cover (226; 243) is positioned between the first conductive plate (222; 252) and the second conductive plate (212; 242) when the cartridge assembly (210; 240) is coupled with the channel assembly (220; 250); <EOS>