Patent ID: 7632270

Claim:
A multi-mode surgical instrument ( 40 ) comprising; a handle assembly ( 46 ) for being held by medical personnel, and a source of electrical power ( 42 ) on said handle assembly, said handle assembly ( 46 ) including a primary actuator ( 84 ) for creating motion to move a pair of clamping members ( 56 ), ( 58 ) to clamp animal anatomy, and said handle assembly ( 46 ) including a docking station ( 86 ) for receiving any one of various cartridges ( 50 ), ( 52 ) each of which supports a pair of such clamping members ( 56 ), ( 58 ) with said docking station ( 86 ) presenting a first electrical contact ( 101 ) for transmitting electrical power from said source ( 42 ) through a first cartridge ( 50 ), ( 52 ) to a first pair of clamping members ( 56 ), ( 58 ) and a first interface ( 98 ) for transmitting motion from said actuator ( 84 ) to the first pair of clamping members ( 56 ), ( 58 ) and a second interface ( 100 ), different from said first interface ( 98 ), for transmitting motion from said actuator ( 84 ) to a second pair of clamping members ( 56 ), ( 58 ) of a second cartridge ( 50 ), ( 52 ), different from said first pair of clamping members ( 56 ), ( 58 ) of said first cartridge ( 50 ), ( 52 ).