Surgical stapler with removable power pack

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a housing containing a compartment therein;
• a cover movable from a closed position to an open position to access the compartment;
• and;
• an elongated member having a longitudinal axis extending distally from the housing;
• a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw at a distal portion of the elongated member, at least the first jaw movable with respect to the second jaw;
• a jaw clamping mechanism movable between a first position and a second position to move at least the first jaw toward the second jaw to clamp tissue between the first and second jaws;
• an articulation mechanism movable between a first position and a second position to articulate the jaw assembly from a linear position to a second position angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member;
• a power pack loadable into the compartment, the power pack having a first motor and a first engagement member engageable with the articulation mechanism within the housing to effect movement of the articulation mechanism from the first position to the second position, wherein the power pack engages the articulation mechanism in the compartment prior to movement of the cover to the closed position.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a housing containing a compartment therein;
• an elongated member having a longitudinal axis extending distally from the housing;
• a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw at a distal portion of the elongated member, at least the first jaw movable with respect to the second jaw;
• a jaw clamping mechanism movable between a first position and a second position to move at least the first jaw toward the second jaw to clamp tissue between the first and second jaws;
• an articulation mechanism positioned within the housing and movable between a first position and a second position to articulate the jaw assembly from a linear position to a second position angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member;
• and
• a power pack loadable into the compartment, the power pack having a motor and an engagement member engageable with the articulation mechanism within the housing to effect movement of the articulation mechanism from the first position to the second position, wherein engagement member of the power pack engages the articulation mechanism upon loading of the power pack into the compartment.