Ultrasonic surgical instrument with blade cleaning feature

A surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
• (i) a first tube having a first inner diameter and a distal end, and
• (ii) an acoustic waveguide having a first outer diameter, wherein the acoustic waveguide extends within the first tube, wherein the first outer diameter of the acoustic waveguide and the first inner diameter of the first tube together define a gap;
• (b) an ultrasonic blade coupled with the acoustic waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the distal end of the first tube, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to communicate ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (c) a cleaning device configured to actuate within the gap to thereby clean at least a portion of the shaft assembly and/or at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the cleaning device is housed within the body, wherein the cleaning device is configured to be removed from the body in order to actuate within the gap.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) a shaft assembly defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
• (i) a first tube having an first inner diameter and a distal end, and
• (ii) an acoustic waveguide having a first outer diameter, wherein the acoustic waveguide extends within the first tube, wherein the first outer diameter of the acoustic waveguide and the first inner diameter of the first tube together define a gap;
• (b) an ultrasonic blade coupled with the acoustic waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the distal end of the first tube, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to communicate ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (c) a cleaning device configured to actuate within the gap to thereby clean at least a portion of the shaft assembly and/or at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the cleaning device comprises a brush assembly comprising:
• (i) a wire, and
• (ii) a brush, wherein the wire and the brush extend along a helical path, wherein the helical path defines a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter, wherein the second inner diameter is configured to contact the first outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is configured to contact the first inner diameter.