Guiding system for ultrasonic transducer

An ultrasonic transducer, comprising:

• a body having a sensing end configured to emit ultrasound in a sensing plane;
• and
• a guiding system secured to the body, the guiding system having:
• an attachment member defining a reference face;
• a guiding member having:
• a sliding section defining a sliding reference face, and
• a guiding section connected to the sliding section, the guiding section configured to hold a surgical tool for insertion into a patient;
• and
• a magnetic connection to magnetically connect the sliding section of the guiding member to the attachment member and to maintain the reference face of the attachment member in contact with the sliding reference face of the sliding section while allowing translation and rotation of the guiding member relative to the attachment member,
• the magnetic connection defined by a magnet mounted to one of the attachment member and the sliding section of the guiding member and a magnetically-attractable member mounted to the other of the attachment member and the sliding section of the guiding member.

A method of guiding a surgical tool using an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:

• positioning the ultrasonic transducer relative to a patient until a scanning plane of the ultrasonic transducer intersects a blood vessel of the patient;
• magnetically connecting a guiding member to an attachment member, the attachment member being mounted to the ultrasonic transducer;
• and
• engaging the surgical tool to the guiding member.