Surgical handle assembly

1. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:

providing a surgical stapling apparatus including:

a reloadable cartridge assembly having:

a first elongated member including a staple cartridge; and

a second elongated member including an anvil; and

a surgical handle assembly having:

a switch configured to provide a first mode of operation and a second

mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation deploys one or more staples and the second mode of operation deploys one or more staples, and wherein the first mode of operation deploys a different number of staples than the second mode of operation;

positioning the first elongated member and the second elongated member near tissue to be stapled; and

actuating the surgical stapling apparatus to staple the tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus in the first mode of operation requires less force than actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus in the second mode of operation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surgical handle assembly further comprises an actuation shaft that moves in a linearly distal direction a first distance in the first mode of operation in response to the actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus and moves in a linearly distal direction a second distance in the second mode of operation in response to the actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein actuating the surgical stapling apparatus clamps the tissue.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

replacing the staple cartridge with a different staple cartridge.

7. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:

providing a surgical stapling apparatus including:

a reloadable cartridge assembly having:

a first elongated member including a staple cartridge; and

a second elongated member including an anvil; and

a surgical handle assembly having:

an actuation shaft;

a movable handle member mechanically coupled to the actuation shaft; and

a switch configured to provide a first mode of operation and a second

mode of operation, wherein actuation of the movable handle member advances the actuation shaft in a distal direction a first distance in the first mode of operation and actuation of the movable handle member advances the actuation shaft in a distal direction a second distance in the second mode of operation;

positioning the first elongated member and the second elongated member near tissue to be stapled; and

actuating the movable handle member to staple the tissue.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein an amount of force used to deploy one or more staples in the first mode of operation is less than an amount of force used to deploy one or more staples in the second mode of operation.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first mode of operation deploys one or more staples and the second mode of operation deploys one or more staples, and wherein the first mode of operation deploys a different number of staples than the second mode of operation.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

actuating the switch to a first position to configure the movable handle member to the first mode of operation and actuating the switch to a second position to configure the movable handle member to the second mode of operation.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

clamping the tissue when the surgical handle assembly is in a closed position.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

preventing the actuation shaft from moving linearly in a distal or proximal direction upon release of the movable handle member in the closed position.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

selecting the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation based on speed of staples being deployed.

15. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:

providing a surgical stapling apparatus including:

a reloadable cartridge assembly having:

a first elongated member including a staple cartridge; and

a second elongated member including an anvil; and

a surgical handle assembly having:

an actuation shaft;

a movable handle member mechanically coupled to the actuation shaft;

and

a switch configured to provide a first mode of operation and a second

mode of operation, wherein actuation of the movable handle member in the first mode of operation requires less force than actuation of the movable handle member in the second mode of operation;

positioning the first elongated member and the second elongated member near tissue to be stapled; and

actuating the movable handle member to staple the tissue.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first mode of operation deploys one or more staples and the second mode of operation deploys one or more staples, and wherein the first mode of operation deploys a different number of staples than the second mode of operation.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the surgical handle assembly further comprises an actuation shaft that moves in a linearly distal direction a first distance in the first mode of operation in response to the actuation of the movable handle member and moves in a linearly distal direction a second distance in the second mode of operation in response to the actuation of the movable handle member.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

selecting the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation based on type of the tissue.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the switch is further configured to provide a third mode of operation, and wherein actuation of the movable handle member in the second mode of operation requires less force than actuation of the movable handle member in the third mode of operation.