Ultrasound Probe with Integrated Needle Advancer

An ultrasound probe for imaging, comprising:

• a transducer housing comprising a body that defines an internal cavity, the internal cavity comprising a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body;
• a needle assembly configured within the passageway of the internal cavity;
• and
• a transducer transmitter configured within the distal end of the body, the transducer transmitter configured to emit and receive ultrasound beams so to generate an image.

A method of generating an ultrasound image during a nerve block procedure, the method comprising:

• aligning an ultrasound probe at a target site of a patient, the ultrasound probe having a transducer housing comprising a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof and a transducer transmitter;
• inserting a needle assembly through the passageway of the transducer housing and into the patient towards the target site, the needle assembly comprising a needle extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
• emitting and receiving, via the transducer transmitter, ultrasound beams from the target site while the needle assembly is inserted in the patient;
• and
• generating an image based on the ultrasound beams.