Surgical guiding probe

A system for identifying a location within an anatomical region of a patient, the system comprising:

• a display;
• a guiding probe comprising:
• a graspable portion;
• an insertion portion coupled to the graspable portion, the insertion portion having an elongated extent and a longitudinal axis, wherein the insertion portion includes a flexible section and a bending section, wherein the bending section is positioned distal of the flexible section;
• and
• an emitter coupled to a distal end portion of the insertion portion, the emitter configured for use within the anatomical region to emit an ultrasonic sound signal, wherein the emitter is positioned at a distal tip of the insertion portion and is configured to emit the ultrasonic sound signal along a linear pathway from the distal tip, wherein the linear pathway extends from the distal tip through tissue of the patient including an epidermis;
• and
• an ultrasound device extracorporeal of the patient and configured to detect the ultrasonic sound signal emitted within the anatomical region, whereby the ultrasonic sound signal when detected enables the location within the anatomical region to be identified extracorporeally and the ultrasound device positioned relative to the anatomic region;
• an access needle having a shaft and a tip located at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the access needle is configured for a percutaneous access incision;
• a processor configured to superimpose the ultrasonic sound signal as a line on an ultrasonic image displayed on the display,
• wherein the line is displayed prior to the percutaneous access incision and the access needle is configured to be positioned using the displayed line,
• wherein the ultrasound device includes one or more features for guiding the access needle during the percutaneous access incision.