Patent ID: 7300446

Claim:
A balanced ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: an ultrasonic transmission rod having a proximal end and a distal end; and a balance region including first and second balance asymmetries wherein the balance region extends from a node point at the distal end of the ultrasonic transmission rod to a proximal end of a curved ultrasonic surgical end effector, wherein the curved ultrasonic surgical end effector further comprises a concave top surface defining a first length including a central ridge contiguous with the first length and the curved end effector and the balance region are bisected by a plane of symmetry, the curved end effector being substantially symmetrical on either side of the plane of symmetry, the first balance asymmetry comprising a flat surface in the balance region wherein the first flat surface is substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry and the second balance asymmetry comprises a second flat surface in the balance region opposite the first flat surface wherein the second flat surface is substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry.