Patent ID: 8348967

Claim:
A surgical instrument for the treatment of tissue, comprising: a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency; an ultrasonic blade extending along a longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises: a substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body without a channel and having a first length, wherein the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer; a treatment region extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and a tapered inner concave surface forming a conical shape formed at the distal end extending inwardly into the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body substantially along the longitudinal axis, wherein the conical shape comprises an apex within the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body, wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates at or before the apex of the conical shape, wherein the tapered inner concave surface comprises a second length between the distal end and the apex, wherein the first length is at least three times the second length such that vibrations produced along the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body are substantially uniform to provide substantially even distribution of energy to the tissue, and wherein the tapered inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the longitudinal axis when the fluid droplets collide with the tapered inner concave surface to enhance visibility of a surgical site by reducing a mist plume produced by fluids contacting a surface of the energized ultrasonic blade during ultrasonic surgical procedures.