Surgical instrument with compressible electrical connector

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) a body assembly;
• (b) a shaft assembly defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to slide into engagement with the body assembly along an installation axis that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis;
• (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue;
• (d) a first sealing surface disposed on one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly;
• and
• (e) a second sealing surface disposed on the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly, wherein the second sealing surface is configured to sealingly engage the first sealing surface to establish a liquid-tight seal therebetween when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly,
• wherein the second sealing surface is configured to translate toward the first sealing surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis while the shaft assembly slides into engagement with the body assembly along the installation axis.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) a body assembly;
• (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to releasably attach to and extend distally from the body assembly;
• (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue;
• (d) a first support structure, wherein the first support structure is a component of one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly;
• (e) a second support structure, wherein the second support structure is a component of the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly;
• (f) a first electrical connector coupled to the first support structure, wherein the first electrical connector includes a first electrical contact;
• and
• (g) a second electrical connector movably coupled to the second support structure, wherein the second electrical connector includes a second electrical contact;
• wherein the second electrical connector is configured to move relative to the second support structure and advance toward the first support structure to thereby establish an electrical connection between the first and second electrical contacts and to establish a liquid-tight seal between the first and second electrical connectors when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly.