An apparatus comprising: (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a translating member, wherein the translating member is operable to translate longitudinally relative to the body between a first and second position; and (c) an end effector located at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency, (ii) a clamp arm coupled with the translating member, wherein the clamp arm is configured to move toward the ultrasonic blade in response to movement of the translating member form the first position to the second position, and (iii) a resilient sleeve extending along at least part of the length of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the resilient sleeve is configured to deflect away from the ultrasonic blade, and wherein either (i) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve toward the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven away from the ultrasonic blade, or (ii) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased toward the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve away from the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven toward the ultrasonic blade. (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a translating member, wherein the translating member is operable to translate longitudinally relative to the body between a first and second position; and (c) an end effector located at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency, (ii) a clamp arm coupled with the translating member, wherein the clamp arm is configured to move toward the ultrasonic blade in response to movement of the translating member form the first position to the second position, and (iii) a resilient sleeve extending along at least part of the length of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the resilient sleeve is configured to deflect away from the ultrasonic blade, and wherein either (i) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve toward the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven away from the ultrasonic blade, or (ii) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased toward the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve away from the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven toward the ultrasonic blade. (i) an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency, (ii) a clamp arm coupled with the translating member, wherein the clamp arm is configured to move toward the ultrasonic blade in response to movement of the translating member form the first position to the second position, and (iii) a resilient sleeve extending along at least part of the length of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the resilient sleeve is configured to deflect away from the ultrasonic blade, and wherein either (i) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve toward the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven away from the ultrasonic blade, or (ii) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased toward the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve away from the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven toward the ultrasonic blade. (i) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve toward the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven away from the ultrasonic blade, or (ii) the resilient sleeve is resiliently biased toward the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm is configured to drive a portion of the resilient sleeve away from the ultrasonic blade as the clamp arm is driven toward the ultrasonic blade.