Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device for the coagulation of animal tissue having an ultrasonic applicator and a movable jaw with a jaw surface adjacent the distal portion of the ultrasonic applicator for movement toward the applicator to a closed position at a predefined clearance of between about 0.075 to about 1.9 millimeters from the applicator. The device may also include a mechanical cutting element that can be extended into the clearance to cut the tissue and means to vary the predefined clearance without removing the applicator from the patient. Tissue coagulating and cutting can be maximized and performed separately and can be easily monitored by the surgeon.