Surgical instrument with integrated tissue stop

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) a shaft;
• and
• (b) an end effector located at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector is selectively movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade extending from a guide and operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy,
• (ii) a guide, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the guide,
• (iii) a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade,
• (iv) a clamp pad disposed on the clamp arm and extending from a proximal end to a distal end,
• (v) a tissue stop defining an interior channel, wherein the guide is disposed in the interior channel,
• wherein the proximal end of the clamp pad is disposed in the interior channel when the end effector is in the closed configuration.

A surgical instrument configured to apply ultrasonic energy to tissue disposed therein, the surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) a shaft;
• and
• (b) an end effector located at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector is selectively movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an ultrasonic blade extending from a guide and operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy,
• (ii) a guide, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the guide,
• (iii) a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade,
• (iv) a clamp pad disposed on the clamp arm and extending from a proximal end to a distal end,
• (v) a pad retention feature proximate the clamp pad, wherein the pad retention feature is configured to prevent the clamp pad from sliding proximally therebeyond,
• (vi) a tissue stop encircling the guide,
• (vii) a notch defined by the tissue stop, wherein a portion of the pad retention feature is disposed within the notch when the end effector is in the closed configuration,
• wherein the tissue stop is configured to prevent tissue from moving proximally past the clamp pad when the end effector moves into the closed configuration,
• wherein the tissue stop abuts the clamp arm when the end effector is in the closed configuration,
• wherein the tissue stop includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion extends from the first portion, wherein the first portion extends entirely around the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second portion extends partially around the ultrasonic blade, and
• wherein the second portion includes a U-shaped profile.