Integrated System for Intravascular Placement of a Catheter

An integrated catheter placement system for placing a catheter in a vasculature of a patient, comprising:

• a console including a display;
• an ultrasound probe operably connected to the console for ultrasonically imaging a portion of the vasculature for depiction on the display;
• a magnetic assembly associated with the catheter;
• and
• a tip location sensor operably connected to the console for depiction on the display of information relating to detection by the tip location sensor of a magnetic field of the magnetic assembly so as to determine a position of the catheter with respect to the tip location sensor during advancement of the catheter in the vasculature.

A method for placing a catheter within a vasculature of a patient, the method comprising:

• ultrasonically imaging a portion of the vasculature for depiction on a display of a console;
• introducing the catheter into the vasculature of the patient, the catheter including a magnetic assembly associated therewith;
• and
• detecting a magnetic field of the magnetic assembly when the catheter is within the vasculature of the patient for depiction on the display of the console.

A catheter placement system for inserting a catheter into a vasculature of a patient, comprising:

• a console;
• a stylet removably positionable within a lumen of the catheter, the stylet including:
• a magnetic assembly for producing a magnetic field;
• an ECG sensor assembly for detecting ECG signals of a node of a heart of the patient;
• and
• a first connector in communication with the ECG sensor assembly;
• a tip location sensor positionable on a chest of a patient, the tip location sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the magnetic assembly when the catheter is disposed within the vasculature of the patient;
• a second connector included with one of the tip location sensor and the console, the second connector for operably connecting to the first connector of the stylet to enable the ECG signals detected by the ECG sensor assembly to be communicated to at least one of the tip location sensor and the console;
• and
• a display for displaying information relating to at least one aspect of the ECG signal detected by the ECG sensor assembly.