Ultrasonic forceps

A surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) a housing;
• (b) an acoustic assembly supported by the housing, wherein the acoustic assembly comprises:
• (i) a transducer, wherein the transducer extends along a transducer axis and is operable to generate ultrasonic vibrations,
• (ii) a waveguide acoustically coupled with the transducer and extending distally from the transducer, and
• (iii) an ultrasonic blade extending from a distal end of the waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate in response to ultrasonic vibrations communicated through the waveguide from the transducer;
• (c) a first tine secured relative to the housing, wherein the first tine extends distally along the acoustic assembly and includes a distal end configured to move toward the ultrasonic blade in response to movement of the first tine relative to the acoustic assembly;
• and
• (d) a second tine secured relative to the housing, wherein the second tine extends distally along the acoustic assembly, wherein the first and second tines define a distally extending tine gap therebetween,
• wherein the housing is configured to support the transducer relative to the first and second tines such that the transducer axis is laterally offset from the tine gap.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) a housing;
• (b) an acoustic assembly supported by the housing, wherein the acoustic assembly comprises:
• (i) a transducer operable to generate ultrasonic vibrations,
• (ii) an ultrasonic blade configured to be driven by the transducer with ultrasonic vibrations, and
• (iii) a waveguide acoustically coupling the transducer with the ultrasonic blade, wherein the waveguide includes a proximal end coupled with the transducer, a distal end coupled with the ultrasonic blade, and a medial portion extending therebetween, wherein the medial portion is bent relative to a longitudinal axis of the transducer;
• and
• (c) a tine secured relative to the housing, wherein the tine extends distally along the acoustic assembly and includes a distal end configured to move toward the ultrasonic blade in response to movement of the tine relative to the acoustic assembly.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) a first tine having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first gripping feature arranged therebetween;
• (b) a second tine having a proximal end, a distal end, and a second gripping feature arranged therebetween, wherein the first and second tines are coupled with one another at the proximal ends, wherein the first and second tines are spaced apart from one another at the distal ends, wherein the first tine is movable toward the second tine for engaging tissue with at least the distal end of the first tine;
• and
• (c) at least one piezoelectric element provided on a surface of the first tine, wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to drive the distal end of the first tine with ultrasonic vibrations.