Surgical instrument with dual mode end effector and modular clamp arm assembly

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) a clamp arm assembly configured to removably couple with an ultrasonic assembly, wherein the clamp arm assembly comprises:
• (i) a linkage base defining a longitudinal channel defining a longitudinal axis therealong, wherein the longitudinal channel is configured to receive the ultrasonic assembly,
• (ii) a clamp arm, wherein the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the linkage base at a distal pivot, wherein the clamp arm extends away from the longitudinal axis on a first side, and
• (iii) a clamp arm actuator, having a protrusion located thereon, wherein the clamp arm actuator is pivotally coupled to the linkage base at a proximal pivot, wherein the clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on the first side of the longitudinal axis of the linkage base, wherein the clamp arm actuator is configured to pivot toward and away from the linkage base when the linkage base is coupled to the ultrasonic assembly to thereby pivot the clamp arm toward and away from the linkage base,
• wherein the protrusion is sized to be received by an arcuate channel on the ultrasonic assembly, and the protrusion is configured to prevent translation of the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic assembly when the protrusion is received by the arcuate channel.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) an ultrasonic assembly, wherein the ultrasonic assembly comprises:
• (i) a body defining an arcuate channel,
• (ii) an acoustic waveguide secured relative to the body and defining a longitudinal axis, and
• (iii) an ultrasonic blade extending distally from the acoustic waveguide;
• and
• (b) a clamp arm assembly, wherein the clamp arm assembly is configured to removably couple with the ultrasonic assembly, wherein the clamp arm assembly comprises:
• (i) a clamp arm,
• (ii) a clamp arm actuator having a protrusion thereon, and
• (iii) a linkage base, wherein the linkage base is configured to couple the clamp arm assembly to the ultrasonic assembly and pivotally couple the clamp arm to the clamp arm actuator, wherein the clamp arm actuator is configured to pivot toward and away from the body about the linkage base to thereby pivot the clamp arm toward and away from the ultrasonic blade when the ultrasonic assembly is coupled with the clamp arm assembly,
• wherein the protrusion is sized to be received by the arcuate channel on the ultrasonic assembly, and the protrusion is configured to prevent translation of the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic assembly when the protrusion is received by the arcuate channel.