Ultrasonic surgical instrument with axisymmetric clamping

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) an end effector, comprising:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade,
• (ii) a rotating body configured to rotate relative to the ultrasonic blade, and
• (iii) a clamp arm movably coupled to the rotating body, wherein the clamp arm is configured to move relative to the rotating body and the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• (b) a shaft assembly extending along a shaft axis, the shaft assembly comprising:
• (i) a clamp arm pivot assembly comprising an actuator body, wherein the actuator body is configured to actuate between a distal position and a proximal position in order to drive the clamp arm between the open position and the closed position, and
• (ii) a clamp arm clocking assembly including a rotating gear and configured to drive rotation of the rotating body and the clamp arm about the shaft axis relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first clocked position and a second clocked position, wherein the rotating gear is translatable relative to the clamp arm pivot assembly,
• wherein the rotating gear includes a first set of teeth configured to drive rotation of the rotating body and the clamp arm about the shaft axis relative to the ultrasonic blade.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) an end effector, comprising:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade,
• (ii) a rotating body configured to rotate relative to the ultrasonic blade, and
• (iii) a clamp arm movably coupled to the rotating body, wherein the clamp arm is configured to move relative to the rotating body and the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• (b) a shaft assembly extending along a shaft axis, the shaft assembly comprising:
• (i) an articulation joint configured to articulate the rotating body along a plane, and
• (ii) a clamp arm pivot assembly comprising an actuator body, wherein the actuator body is configured to actuate between a distal position and a proximal position in order to drive the clamp arm between the open position and the closed position, wherein the actuator body is rotationally fixed to the ultrasonic blade.