ROTATION FEATURES FOR ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

摘要

An apparatus comprises a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade (142) and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly comprises a clamp arm (146) pivotable toward and away from the blade (142) about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm (146) and the blade (142). A rotation feature (202, 205) may provide rotation of the blade (142) relative to the clamp arm (146) about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm (146) relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.