# US 2019/0167288 A1 · Alignment features for ultrasonic surgical instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167288 A1 - Document ID: US20190167288A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/209,048 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-19 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: John B. Schulte; Craig N. Faller; Eric B. Smith; Patrick J. Scoggins; JoAnn M. Stegeman; Tylor C. Muhlenkamp; William D. Dannaher; Michael R. Lamping; Jacob S. Gee; William B. Weisenburgh, II; Brian D. Bertke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167288A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/2816: {Pivots} - A61B 17/285: combined with cutting implements - A61B 2017/2825: {Inserts of different material in jaws} - A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft} - A61B 2017/2945: {Curved jaws} - A61B 2017/320093: {additional movable means performing cutting operation} - A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation} - A61B 2017/320095: {with sealing or cauterizing means} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, 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. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, wherein the tapered projection extends from the shaft assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, wherein the pivoting member defines a slot dimensioned to receive the tapered projection. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 24, wherein the slot comprises a consistent lateral width. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 25, wherein a top portion of the tapered projection is dimensioned to fit within the consistent lateral width. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 26, wherein a bottom portion of the tapered projection is not dimensioned to fit within the consistent lateral width. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, wherein a portion of the tapered projection is longitudinally aligned with the pivot axis. ### Claim 29 The ultrasonic instrument of 21, wherein the pivoting member comprises a proximal thumb ring. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, wherein the body comprises a proximal finger ring. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, wherein the clamp arm comprises a clamp pad. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, wherein the body comprises an activation button. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 32, wherein the body comprises a second activation button. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21, wherein the pivot axis comprises a pin extending through the pivoting member and the shaft assembly. ### Claim 35 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. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 35, wherein the guide feature comprises a tapered projection. ### Claim 37 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. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 37, wherein the pivoting member defined a slot dimensioned to receive the top end of the tapered projection. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 38, wherein the slot is narrower than the bottom end of the tapered projection. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The ultrasonic instrument of claim 39, wherein a portion of the slot is longitudinally aligned with the pivot axis when the pivoting member is in the closed position.