REMOVABLE BATTERY CASING FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) an end effector operable to manipulate tissue;

(b) a body, wherein the end effector is positioned distal to the body;

(c) a grip, wherein the grip is configured to be grasped by a user's hand; and

(d) a strip assembly, wherein the strip assembly is configured to releasably couple the grip with the body, wherein the strip assembly comprises:

(i) a first strip securely attached to the body; and

(ii) a second strip securely attached to the grip;

wherein the grip is movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the grip is coupled with the body in the first position, wherein the grip is configured to be detached from the body in the second position; and

wherein the first strip is operable to releasably couple with the second strip to thereby couple the body to the grip, wherein at least a portion of the first strip is configured to detach from at least a portion of the second strip when the grip is in the second position.

22 . The surgical instrument of claim 21 , wherein the first strip comprises at least one tab, wherein the at least one tab is configured to engage the second strip when the grip is in the first position.

23 . The instrument of claim 22 , wherein the at least one tab comprises a protrusion.

24 . The instrument of claim 23 , wherein the second grip defines an opening, wherein the opening is configured to receive the protrusion of the at least one tab.

25 . The instrument of claim 24 , wherein the opening is configured to generate a snap-fitting with the protrusion when the grip is in the first position.

26 . The instrument of claim 24 , wherein the opening is configured to slidably receive the protrusion when the grip is in the first position.

27 . The instrument of claim 22 , wherein the at least one tab is configured to be actuated to thereby disengage the first strip from the second strip such that the grip is transitioned to the second position.

28 . The instrument of claim 22 , wherein the at least one tab is resiliently biased.

29 . The instrument of claim 28 , wherein the at least one tab is configured to flex inwardly when the grip is in the first position such that the at least one tab is operable to press outwardly against the second strip.

30 . The instrument of claim 22 , wherein the at least one tab is configured to form a friction fit between the first strip and the second strip.

31 . The instrument of claim 21 , wherein the grip is configured to be fully detached from the body when the grip is in the second position.

32 . The instrument of claim 22 , wherein the grip is configured to house a battery.

33 . The instrument of claim 32 , wherein the grip is configured to expose the battery when the grip is in the second position.

34 . The instrument of claim 33 , wherein the battery is removable from the grip when the grip is in the second position.

35 . The instrument of claim 21 , further comprising a shaft assembly extending between the body and the end effector, wherein the grip is oriented obliquely relative to the shaft assembly.

36 . The instrument of claim 21 , wherein the strip assembly comprises an elastomeric material.

37 . The instrument of claim 21 , wherein the strip assembly is configured to provide a fluid tight seal.

38 . The instrument of claim 21 , wherein the grip is configured to dispose of the battery.

39 . A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) an end effector operable to manipulate tissue;

(b) a body, wherein the end effector is positioned distal to the body;

(c) a handle configured to be grasped by a user's hand, wherein the handle is configured to decouple from the body; and

(d) a breakaway assembly configured to releasably couple the handle with the body, wherein the breakaway assembly comprises a first strip and a second strip, wherein the first strip is integral with the body and the second strip is integral with the handle;

wherein the first strip is configured to releasably engage the second strip to thereby couple the handle to the body, wherein the first strip is further configured to disengage the second strip to thereby decouple the handle from the body when the handle is pulled away from the body.

40 . A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) an end effector operable to manipulate tissue;

(b) a body coupled with the end effector;

(c) a grip configured to be grasped by a user's hand;

(d) a battery positioned in the grip; and

(e) a strip assembly configured to releasably couple the grip with the body,

wherein the strip assembly is configured to be disassembled to thereby decouple the grip from the body,

wherein the grip is configured to release the battery when the grip is decoupled from the body.