Ultrasonic surgical instrument with dual modes

An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade, and
• (ii) a clamp arm pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position, a first closed position associated with a first mode of operation, and a second closed position associated with a second mode of operation;
• and
• (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
• (i) an acoustic waveguide in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic blade, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer,
• (ii) a translating member operatively coupled with the clamp arm, wherein the translating member is configured to translate relative to the acoustic waveguide in order to pivot the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade,
• (iii) an outer sheath, and
• (iv) a mode selection assembly configured to transition between a first position and a second position, wherein the mode selection assembly comprises a pivot arm pivotably coupled with the outer sheath and the clamp arm,
• wherein the mode selection assembly in the first position is configured to allow the translating member to pivot the clamp arm between the open position and the first closed position,
• wherein the mode selection assembly in the second position is configured to allow the translating member to pivot the clamp arm between the open position and the second closed position,
• wherein the mode selection assembly is configured to pivot the pivot arm relative to the outer sheath between a first vertical position and a second vertical position, while the clamp arm remains in the open position, when the mode selection assembly transitions between the first position and the second position.

An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade, and
• (ii) a clamp arm pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position, a first closed position associated with a first mode of operation, and a second closed position associated with a second mode of operation;
• and
• (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
• (i) an acoustic waveguide in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic blade, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer,
• (ii) an inner tube operatively coupled with the clamp arm,
• (iii) an outer tube, wherein the inner member is configured to translate relative to the static member in order to pivot the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade, and
• (iv) a mode selection assembly configured to transition between a first position and a second position, wherein the mode selection assembly comprises:
• (A) a pivot arm pivotably coupled with the clamp arm via pin, wherein the pivot arm is pivotably coupled to the outer tube, and
• (B) a translating sled,
• wherein the mode selection assembly in the first position is configured to allow the inner tube and the outer tube to cooperatively pivot the clamp arm between the open position and the first closed position,
• wherein the mode selection assembly in the second position is configured to allow the inner tube and the outer tube to cooperatively pivot the clamp arm between the open position and the second closed position,
• wherein the mode selection assembly is configured to pivot the pivot arm and the pin between a first vertical position and a second vertical position when the mode selection assembly transitions between the first position and the second position, and
• wherein the translating sled is configured to drive the pivot arm and the pin between the first vertical position and the second vertical position.