Electro-magnetic needle catheter insertion system

1. A device comprising:

a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the housing includes a power supply and a power switch in in communication with the power supply;

a magnetic field generator contained within the distal portion of the housing to produce a magnetic field, the magnetic field generator includes a coil electrically energized by the magnetic field generator to produce a magnetic field, the housing includes a grip to enclose the coil of the magnetic generator; and

a tissue penetrating subassembly including a hub and a tissue penetrating medical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the hub detachably connected to the distal portion of the housing and the proximal end of tissue penetrating medical device extending proximally from the hub such that the proximal end of the tissue penetrating medical device is exposed to the magnetic field and the distal end of the tissue penetrating medical device is magnetized upon exposure of the proximal end of the tissue penetrating medical device by the magnetic field.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the hub is detachably connected to the distal portion of the housing by a latch assembly.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the latch assembly is operable by a latch button.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tissue penetrating medical device is a needle, guidewire or stylet.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the tissue penetrating medical device is a needle and the device further comprises a flash chamber located within the hub of the tissue penetrating medical device.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the flash chamber includes a vent plug which seals upon flow of blood into the flash chamber.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein tissue penetrating medical device includes a needle having a notch on a distal portion of the needle to provide immediate confirmation of vessel entry at a point of insertion.

8. The device of claim 4 , wherein the tissue penetrating medical device is a needle, which when magnetized, can be visualized using an ultrasound imaging device to locate and project a position of the needle during an invasive medical procedure.

9. A method of magnetizing a tissue-penetrating medical device comprising:

obtaining a tissue penetrating medical device having an elongated needle having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated needle disposed in a needle hub subassembly such that the proximal end of the elongated needle extends in a proximal direction from a hub and the distal end of the elongated needle extends in a distal direction from the hub towards a patient,

obtaining a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion; the housing including a magnetic field generator, the magnetic field generator includes a coil electrically energized by the magnetic field generator to produce a magnetic field, the housing includes a grip to enclose the coil of the magnetic generator;

connecting the needle hub subassembly to a distal portion of the housing such that the proximal end of the elongated needle is exposed to the magnetic field generator;

depressing power switch on the housing to activate and deactivate the magnetic field generator;

positioning the distal end of the elongated needle adjacent to a desired point of vascular entry; and

inserting the magnetized elongated needle into a patient's vasculature.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising using an ultrasound imaging device to visualize the magnetized elongated needle.