A hand-held, electrically powered and controlled surgical stapler/cutter (1) comprise a handle (10, 11, 13) shaped to fit in one hand of a user and containing therein a 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), a control circuit electrically connected to and operable to control the power supply (600) and at least one limit switch (610, 612, 614, 616) electrically connected to the control circuit and operable to detect an extent of actuation of at least one of the anvil control assembly and the stapler/cutter control assembly. Dependent upon the extent of actuation detected by the at least one limit switch (610, 612, 614, 616), the control circuit permits the stapler/cutter control assembly to staple tissue at the surgical end effector (40, 50, 60).
