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A first ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having first, second and third blade portions. The second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions. A second ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a pr

A first ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having first, second and third blade portions. The second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions. A second ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue. A third ultrasonic medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade. The medical ultrasonic blade includes a proximal blade portion having a centerline and includes a distal blade portion in contact with the proximal blade portion at a substantially planar interface. The interface is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the centerline at the interface.

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What is claimed is: 1. An ultrasound medical instrument comprising: a medical ultrasonic blade having a length and including first, second and third blade portions, wherein the second blade portion is disposed lengthwise between the first and third blade portions and includes at least two longitudi

What is claimed is: 1. An ultrasound medical instrument comprising: a medical ultrasonic blade having a length and including first, second and third blade portions, wherein the second blade portion is disposed lengthwise between the first and third blade portions and includes at least two longitudinal vibration nodes thereon, wherein the first blade portion is disposed proximal the second blade portion, wherein the third blade portion is disposed distal the second blade portion, wherein the first blade portion has a first transverse area, the second blade portion has a second transverse area and the third blade portion has a third transverse area, the first and third transverse areas each being greater than the second transverse area, and wherein the second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions; and a user-actuated articulated sheath received over the medical ultrasonic blade. 2. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade is a monolithic blade. 3. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 2, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes first and second longitudinal vibration antinodes, wherein the first blade portion transitions to the second blade portion proximate the first longitudinal vibration antinode, and wherein the second blade portion transitions to the third blade portion proximate the second longitudinal vibration antinode. 4. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade further includes two longitudinal vibration nodes located, one each, on the first and third blade portions. 5. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 4, wherein the sheath contacts the first, second and third blade portions at the longitudinal vibration nodes. 6. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 5, wherein the sheath includes a rigid first sheath portion contacting the longitudinal vibration node of the first blade portion, a flexible second sheath portion contacting at least one of the longitudinal vibration nodes of the second blade portion, and a rigid third sheath portion contacting the longitudinal vibration node of the third blade portion. 7. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 6, wherein the sheath contacts each of the longitudinal vibration nodes of the second blade portion. 8. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 7, wherein the two rigid sheath portions each contact the second blade portion at a corresponding one of the at-least-two longitudinal vibration nodes. 9. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes a fourth blade portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue, wherein the fourth blade portion is disposed distal of the third blade portion. 10. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 9, also including a user-actuated clamp arm pivotally attached to the sheath proximate the fourth blade portion, wherein the clamp arm and the medical ultrasonic blade at least in part define an ultrasonic surgical shears. 11. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes first and second neck portions joining, respectively, the first and second blade portions and the second and third blade portions, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade is substantially cylindrical from the first blade portion to the third blade portion, wherein the first, second and third blade portions each have a substantially constant diameter, and wherein the diameter of the second blade portion is smaller than the diameter of either of the first and third blade portions. 12. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 11, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes first and second longitudinal vibration antinodes, and wherein the first neck portion is disposed proximate the first longitudinal vibration antinode and the second neck portion is disposed proximate the second longitudinal vibration antinode. 13. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second blade portion is joined to the first blade portion by a dowel press fit and is joined to the third blade portion by a dowel press fit. 14. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second blade portion is joined to the first blade portion by a ball-and-socket type attachment. 15. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first and third blade portions are essentially rigid. 16. An ultrasound medical instrument comprising: a medical ultrasonic blade having a length and including first, second and third blade portions, each of the first, second and third blade portions including at least one longitudinal vibration node, wherein the second blade portion is disposed lengthwise between the first and third blade portions, wherein the first blade portion is disposed proximal the second blade portion, wherein the third blade portion is disposed distal the second blade portion, wherein the first blade portion has a first transverse area, the second blade portion has a second transverse area and the third blade portion has a third transverse area, the first and third transverse areas each being greater than the second transverse area, and wherein the second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions; and a user-actuated articulated sheath received over the medical ultrasonic blade, the sheath including a rigid first sheath portion contacting the longitudinal vibration node of the first blade portion, a flexible second sheath portion contacting the longitudinal vibration node of the second portion, and a rigid third sheath portion contacting the longitudinal vibration node of the third portion. 17. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 16 wherein the second portion of the medical ultrasonic blade includes at least two longitudinal vibration node.