Combination vein contrast enhancer and bar code scanning device

• US 10,500,350 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2016
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Original Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Fred, Goldman, Ron, Conlon, Stephen P., Luciano, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Kish, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/096,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20160303334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/366 using projection of images directly onto the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1176 Recognition of faces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150786 Optical identification systems, e.g. bar codes, colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/153 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7495 using a reader or scanner device, e.g. barcode scanner
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 : with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/609 : Biometric patient identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 : Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 : Vascular patterns

Abstract

It is known in the art to use an apparatus to enhance the visual appearance of the veins and arteries in a patient to facilitate insertion of needles into those veins and arteries. This application discloses a number of inventions that add additional data collection and presentation capabilities to a handheld vein enhancement apparatus and a set of processes for the collection of blood and the delivery of IV medicines that use the handheld device to mediate the process.

Claims

1. A handheld system configured for single-handed lifting and portable use, said handheld system configured to both image subcutaneous veins for use in the performance of a required venipuncture procedure and to verify the intended patient for the required venipuncture procedure and identify procedure data for the venipuncture procedure, said handheld system comprising:

a display means;

a memory, said memory configured to store data for a plurality of patients, the data for each patient being associated with a respective bar code on a wrist band on the patient;

a microprocessor and firmware, said microprocessor coupled to said memory, said microprocessor thereby configured to access the patient data stored in said memory, said patient data comprising patient identification data and data about the required venipuncture procedure;

a first laser configured to emit a beam of light at a first wavelength;

a second laser configured to emit a beam of light at a second wavelength;

an image capture means responsive to said first wavelength of light;

means for scanning said first wavelength of light from said first laser for imaging the bar-coded patient wrist band, with said image capture means and said microprocessor coupled together and thereby configured to decode the imaged bar code, and to display, upon said display means, said venipuncture procedure data corresponding to the imaged bar code;

a housing configured for single-handed lifting and portable use, said housing further configured to house said display means, said memory, said microprocessor, said first and second lasers, said image capture means, and said means for scanning;

wherein said means for scanning is further configured for scanning said first wavelength of light in a pattern onto a target area of the patient, with said first wavelength selected to form a contrasted image of subcutaneous veins by differential absorption and reflection between the subcutaneous veins and the surrounding tissue of said first wavelength of light;

wherein said image capture means is configured for receiving said contrasted image and outputting a signal representing said contrasted vein image to said second laser, with said second laser configured to receive and use said signal, in combination with said means for scanning, for scanning by said means for scanning of said contrasted vein image onto the target area using said first wavelength of light, for the imaged veins to overly the subcutaneous veins of the target area; and

wherein said microprocessor is further configured to verify the intended patient by comparing said patient identification data to a database of valid patients and to display feedback of said comparison on said display means.

2. The handheld system according to claim 1, wherein said firmware and said microprocessor coupled to said memory are further configured to access user privileges data stored therein, said user privileges data comprising identification data for one or more valid users of said system.

3. The handheld system according to claim 2, wherein said firmware and said microprocessor coupled to said memory are further configured to store a record, in said memory, of said permitted usage by any of the one or more valid users.

4. The handheld system according to claim 3, wherein said firmware and said microprocessor coupled to said memory are further configured to record, in said memory, a completed status of the venipuncture procedure.

5. The handheld system according to claim 4, said system further comprising a keypad, and said firmware and said microprocessor coupled to said memory further configured to require entry of a passcode into said keypad to verify that a current user is a valid user of said system, to thereby permit use of said system.

6. The handheld system according to claim 5, wherein said first laser, said means for scanning, and said image capture means are further configured to capture a biometric image of a current user of said system, to verify that the current user is a valid user of said system, to thereby permit use of said system.

7. The handheld system according to claim 6, wherein said memory comprises a removable SD memory card.

8. The handheld system according to claim 7, further comprising a wired or a wireless connection with a computer system configured to upload data from said handheld system to said computer, or to download data from said computer to said handheld system.

9. The handheld system according to claim 8, wherein said first wavelength of light comprises an infrared wavelength, and said second wavelength of light comprises a visible wavelength.

10. A hand-holdable device configured for single-handed lifting and portable use, said hand-holdable device configured to both image subcutaneous veins for use in assisting in the performance of a required venipuncture procedure and to verify the intended patient for the required venipuncture procedure, said device comprising:

means for imaging using a first wavelength of light and for projecting an acquired image using a second wavelength of light;

a processor, a memory, and firmware, said processor coupled to said memory, said processor thereby configured to access patient data stored in said memory, the patient data being associated with a bar code, the patient data comprising patient identification data and data regarding the required venipuncture procedure;

a hand-holdable housing configured for single-handed lifting and portable use;

a means for imaging and projecting configured for imaging a bar coded patient wrist band, said processor configured to receive and to decode the stored patient data of said bar code image, and said means for imaging and projecting further configured for receiving the decoded venipuncture data and for projecting the venipuncture procedure data onto an arbitrary surface;

said first wavelength selected for said means for imaging and projecting to be configured for imaging subcutaneous veins of a target area on the patient, by differential absorption and reflection of said first wavelength of light by the subcutaneous veins and the surrounding tissue therein;

said means for imaging and projecting further configured for projecting the vein image onto the target area, for the imaged veins to overlay the subcutaneous veins therein; and

wherein said processor is further configured to verify the intended patient by comparing said patient identification data to a database of valid patients and to cause said means for imaging and projecting to project feedback of said comparison onto an arbitrary surface.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said first wavelength comprises an infrared wavelength and second wavelength comprises a visible wavelength.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said firmware and said processor coupled to said memory are further configured to access user privileges data stored therein, said user privileges data comprising identification data for one or more valid users of said device.

13. The device according to claim 12, said means for imaging and projecting further configured to identify a biometric image of a current user of said device;

and wherein said firmware and said processor are configured to compare the biometric feature of the current user to the identification data of the one or more valid users of said device, to thereby permit use of said device if the current user is a valid user.

14. The device according to claim 12, said device further comprising a keypad, said firmware and said processor coupled to said memory further configured to require entry of a passcode into said keypad to verify that a current user is a valid user of said system, and thereby permit use of said device.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein said firmware and said processor coupled to said memory are further configured to store a record, in said memory, of said permitted usage by any of the one or more valid users.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein said firmware and said processor coupled to said memory are further configured to record, in said memory, a completed status of the venipuncture procedure.