Importance

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Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising a housing, an acoustic assembly configured to produce vibrations, and a waveguide coupled to the acoustic assembly is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises an ultrasonic blade extending from the waveguide and a clamp movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the waveguide. The clamp comprises an electrically non-conductive pad, a first electrode embedded in the electrically non-conductive pad, and a second electrode embedded in the electrically non-conductive pad, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode longitudinally overlap a tissue treatment area of the ultrasonic blade when the clamp is in the closed position. The surgical instrument further comprises a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are configured to be placed in electrical communication with a power source such that current can flow from the first electrode to the second electrode.

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First Claim