Patent ID: 8057467

Claim:
An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising: a housing comprising an actuator; an outer tube having a proximal end joined to the housing, and a distal end; an actuator element reciprocably positioned within the outer tube and operatively connected to the actuator; an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis and further positioned within the outer tube; an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the waveguide; a first tissue pad and a second tissue pad; and a clamp member connected to the distal end of the outer tube and having a clamp arm having a distal end and a proximal end, a first slot positioned at the clamp arm distal end that defines a first cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a second slot positioned at the clamp arm proximal end that defines a second cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the first slot configured for engaging the first tissue pad and the second slot configured for engaging the second tissue pad and wherein the first cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape.