ARTICULATING ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SYSTEMS

An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising a housing; an elongate body extending distally from the housing, the elongate body including an articulating portion and a lumen extending through the elongate body; an end effector supported at a distal end portion of the elongate body; and an ultrasonic waveguide extending through the lumen, a proximal end portion of the ultrasonic waveguide extending into the housing and a distal end portion of the ultrasonic waveguide extending to the end effector, wherein the ultrasonic waveguide includes a flexible portion extending through the articulating portion of the elongate body; wherein the ultrasonic waveguide is engaged with an internal wall of the elongate body within the lumen at a first location and at a second location to prevent proximal or distal movement of the waveguide by articulation; wherein one of the first location or the second location is proximal of the articulating portion; and wherein another of the first location or the second location is distal of the articulating portion.