Ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of laterally aligning blade with clamp arm

An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

• (a) an end effector, including:
• (i) clamp arm configured to selectively move from an open position toward a closed position, and
• (ii) an ultrasonic blade longitudinally fixed relative to the clamp arm in a predetermined longitudinal position,
• (b) a shaft assembly proximally extending from the end effector, wherein the shaft assembly includes:
• (i) a proximal shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis,
• (ii) a distal shaft portion supporting the end effector and distally extending therefrom,
• (iii) an articulation section positioned between the proximal and distal shaft portions, wherein the articulation section is configured to articulate from a straight configuration to an articulated configuration to thereby deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis,
• (iv) an acoustic waveguide having a distal waveguide portion, a proximal waveguide portion and a flexible waveguide portion positioned therebetween within the articulation section, wherein the distal waveguide portion is acoustically connected to the ultrasonic blade;
• and
• (c) a body assembly proximally extending from the shaft assembly, including:
• (i) a transducer assembly secured to the proximal waveguide portion on the longitudinal axis and configured to generate an ultrasonic energy,
• (ii) a compensator configured to maintain a relative positioning between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade during articulation of the articulation section from the straight configuration to the articulated configuration.