Patent ID: 8663262

Claim:
In combination with a battery-powered, cordless ultrasonic surgical instrument having: an ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly operable to dynamically produce a resonant wave along an ultrasonic waveguide; handles each having a battery chamber and operable to be coupled to different ultrasonic waveguide types, wherein the ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly is connected to the handle; and the battery chamber having connectors therewithin electrically connected to the ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly, a battery assembly comprising: a housing having an exterior shape formed to removably connect with the battery chamber of the handles, the housing having: at least one energy storage cell operable to power the ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly of the surgical instruments; and a battery/handle interface having a plurality of connectors shaped to mate with the connectors within each battery chamber; and a voltage-control circuit operable to: communicatively couple with and provide power to the ultrasonic-signal-generation assembly; detect which one of the ultrasonic waveguide types is coupled to the handle connected to the housing; provide a first output in response to a detection of a first ultrasonic waveguide type; and provide at least a second output in response to a detection of at least a second ultrasonic waveguide type.