A hand-held, electrically powered and controlled surgical stapler/cutter (1) comprises a handle (10, 11, 13) containing therein a selectively actuated, self-contained electric power supply (600) having at least one battery cell (602), at least part of an anvil control assembly (70, 100, 110, 112, 114, 116, 120, 130, 141, 142, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 192, 340), an electric motor (120) operatively coupled to the anvil control assembly and power supply, the electric motor being operable to actuate the anvil control assembly when the motor is supplied with power, at least one limit switch (610, 612, 614, 616) operable to detect an extent of actuation of the anvil control assembly, and at least part of an electrically-powered stapler/cutter control assembly (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 252, 300, 320, 330, 340) electrically connected to the power supply.A surgical end effector (40, 50, 60) is connected to the handle (10, 11, 13) and operatively connected to each of the anvil control assembly and the stapler/cutter control assembly, the stapler/cutter control assembly stapling and cutting tissue disposed at the surgical end effector (40, 50, 60) when powered by the power supply.
