Ultrasonic dissection and coagulation system

An ultrasonic surgical instrument for cutting body tissue comprising:

• a housing including a first handle and a second handle movable with respect to the first handle;
• an elongated outer tube extending from the housing, the elongated outer tube defining a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal portions and a lumen extending therethrough;
• a clamp member extending distally of the distal portion of the outer tube and pivotable between an open position and a clamped position by movement of the second handle between first and second positions, the clamp member including a tissue clamping surface;
• an elongated actuator tube defining a central longitudinal axis, having a lumen extending therethrough and being positioned within the lumen of the outer tube, the actuator tube being longitudinally slidable within the lumen of the outer tube to pivot the clamp member between the open and clamped positions;
• an elongated vibration coupler defining a longitudinal axis and positioned within the lumen of the actuator tube, the vibration coupler adapted to be operably connected to an ultrasonic generator for vibration in response to actuation of the ultrasonic generator and including a blade member extending therefrom, the blade member including a tissue contacting surface, the clamp member pivoting with respect to the tissue contacting surface to clamp tissue between the clamping surface of the clamp member and the tissue contacting surface of the blade member;
• and
• a rotation knob positioned adjacent the housing, the vibration coupler, outer tube and actuator tube being operatively connected to the rotation knob, the rotation knob rotatable to rotate the outer tube, actuator tube and vibration coupler about their respective longitudinal axes to change their orientation with respect to body tissue.