Hand held electromechanical surgical handle assembly for use with surgical end effectors, and methods of use

A powered, hand held, electromechanical surgical device, comprising:

• a handle assembly including:
• a handle housing defining a longitudinal axis, the handle housing including a first connecting feature and a second connecting feature, wherein each connecting feature is configured to releasably engage a removable surgical drive unit assembly;
• a circuit board disposed within the handle housing;
• at least one electrical contact associated with the first connecting feature of the handle housing and being in electrical communication with the circuit board;
• at least one electrical contact associated with the second connecting feature of the handle housing and being in electrical communication with the circuit board;
• and
• at least one first firing button for actuation by a finger of a user, each first firing button being in electrical communication with the circuit board and a battery,
• wherein, the removable surgical drive unit assembly extends from the handle assembly in a first direction when releasably engaged to the first connecting feature, and the removable surgical drive unit assembly extends from the handle assembly in a second direction different from the first direction when releasably engaged to the second connecting feature.

A method of configuring a powered, hand held, electromechanical surgical device, the method comprising the steps of:

• releasably coupling a handle assembly to a drive unit assembly, the handle assembly including:
• a handle housing defining a longitudinal axis, the handle housing including a first connecting feature and a second connecting feature;
• a circuit board disposed within the handle housing;
• a battery disposed within the handle housing and being in electrical communication with the circuit board;
• at least one electrical contact associated with the first connecting feature of the handle housing and being in electrical communication with the circuit board and battery;
• at least one electrical contact associated with the second connecting feature of the handle housing and being in electrical communication with the circuit board and battery;
• and
• at least one first firing button for actuation by a finger of a user, each first firing button being in electrical communication with the circuit board;
• and
• the drive unit assembly configured to be removably and selectively connected to a selected one of the first connecting feature and the second connecting feature of the handle assembly, the drive unit assembly including:
• a drive unit housing defining a longitudinal axis, the drive unit housing including a connecting feature configured and adapted to mate with a selected one of the first connecting feature and the second connecting feature of the handle assembly;
• a motor disposed within the drive unit housing;
• a drive shaft rotatably supported in and extending from the drive unit housing, the drive shaft being driven by the motor;
• and
• at least one electrical contact associated with the connecting feature of the drive unit housing and being in electrical communication with the motor;
• wherein the drive unit assembly, extends from the handle housing in a first direction when removably and selectively connected to the first connecting feature of the handle assembly, the drive unit assembly and extends from the handle assembly in a second direction different from the first direction when removably and selectively connected to the second connecting feature.