An ultrasonic surgical blade has a blade body at a distal end and a shank at a proximal end, the shank being connectable at a proximal end to a source of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations. A sheath surround at least a portion of the shank. The sheath is configured to define a space between an outer surface of the shank and an inner surface of the sheath. The shank is provided with a liquid-conducting channel terminating in at least one outlet at the outer surface of the shank to enable delivery of irrigant to the space between the shank and the sheath for eventual conduction along an outer surface of the blade body.
