Alignment features for ultrasonic surgical instrument

An ultrasonic instrument comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body;
• (c) an ultrasonic blade positioned distal to the shaft assembly;
• (d) a pivoting member comprising a clamp arm, wherein the pivoting member is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly about a pivot axis, wherein the clamp arm is pivotable with respect to the ultrasonic blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (e) a guide feature comprising a tapered projection configured to laterally align the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is pivoted toward the ultrasonic blade.

An ultrasonic instrument comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body;
• (c) an ultrasonic blade positioned distal to the shaft assembly;
• (d) a pivoting member comprising a clamp arm, wherein the pivoting member is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly about a pivot axis, wherein the clamp arm is pivotable with respect to the ultrasonic blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (e) a guide feature configured to laterally align the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade with a progressively increasing force as the clamp arm is pivoted toward the ultrasonic blade.

An ultrasonic instrument comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body;
• (c) an ultrasonic blade positioned distal to the shaft assembly;
• (d) a pivoting member comprising a clamp arm, wherein the pivoting member is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly about a pivot axis, wherein the clamp arm is pivotable with respect to the ultrasonic blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (e) a tapered projection comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end is wider than the top end, wherein the tapered projection is configured to laterally align the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade with a progressively increasing force as the clamp arm is pivoted toward the ultrasonic blade.