Shielding features for ultrasonic blade of a surgical instrument

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a shaft assembly extending along a longitudinal axis;
• (b) an end effector located at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy, and
• (ii) a clamp arm operable to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (c) a shield member positioned to cover at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade,
• wherein the shield member includes a proximal hub and a shielding portion extending distally from the proximal hub, wherein the proximal hub encircles the ultrasonic blade such that the proximal hub angularly surrounds the ultrasonic blade.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• (b) an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy and defining an ultrasonic blade axis, and
• (ii) a clamp arm operable to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (c) a shield member coupled to the shaft and having a distal tip, wherein the distal tip of the shield member is fixed against movement relative to both the proximal and distal ends of the shaft, wherein at least a portion of the shield member extends fully circumferentially about the ultrasonic blade and angularly surrounds the ultrasonic blade axis.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a shaft;
• (b) an end effector located at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy, and
• (ii) a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm includes an inner clamp arm side and an outer clamp arm side;
• and
• (c) a shield member, wherein the shield member covers at least a portion of the outer clamp arm side so as to define a gap between the outer clamp arm side and an inner side of the shield member, wherein the shield member includes at least one opening that extends fully through a thickness of the shield member and fluidly communicates with the gap.