Shielding features for ultrasonic blade of a surgical instrument

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) a body configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer;
• (b) a shaft assembly distally extending from the body and including an acoustic waveguide;
• and
• (c) an end effector distally extending from the shaft assembly, including:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade distally extending from the acoustic waveguide and configured to treat tissue with an ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic blade has a first conductivity,
• (ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an open configuration for receiving a tissue toward a closed configuration for compressing a tissue against the ultrasonic blade, and
• (iii) an insulator positioned on the clamp arm and having a second conductivity lower than the first conductivity of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the insulator has a distal-most tip and a proximal-most edge, wherein the insulator on the clamp arm covers an entirety of the clamp arm from the distal-most tip to the proximal-most edge,
• wherein the end effector is configured to conduct an electrical current to the tissue for sealing the tissue.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) a shaft assembly including an acoustic waveguide;
• and
• (b) an end effector distally extending from the shaft assembly, including:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade distally extending from the acoustic waveguide and configured to treat tissue with an ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic blade has a first thermal conductivity, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to mechanically modify tissue while vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency,
• (ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an open configuration for receiving a tissue toward a closed configuration for compressing a tissue against the ultrasonic blade, and
• (iii) a thermal insulator positioned on the clamp arm and having a second thermal conductivity different than the first thermal conductivity of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the thermal insulator has a distal-most tip and a proximal-most edge, wherein the thermal insulator on the clamp arm covers an entirety of the clamp arm from the distal-most tip to the proximal-most edge.