Patent ID: 8057498

Claim:
A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising: a body portion comprising a first side, a second side, and a width defined between said first and second sides, wherein said body portion further comprises a center of gravity and a centerline extending through said center of gravity; a step portion extending from said body portion, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said second surface faces away from said centerline, wherein said first surface extends at an angle through said centerline between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of: x 2 2 * tan - 1 â¢ Î± + ( w - x ) 2 â¢ ( x * tan - 1 â¢ Î± - s ) - ( w 2 ) 2 â¢ tan - 1 â¢ Î± is substantially equal to zero; wherein w is said width of said body portion; wherein s is the distance between said first plane and said second plane; wherein Î± is said angle defined between said first and second surfaces of said step portion; and wherein x is the distance between said second side of said body portion and said cutting edge.