Systems and methods for locating blood vessels

• US 20050027185A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Connell Reynolds
• Original Assignee: Connell Reynolds
• Inventors: Reynolds, Connell
• Application Number:
  US10/631,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals

Abstract

A method for locating a blood vessel includes transmitting waves into a body part through which a blood vessel runs, detecting reflections of the waves, determining a location of the blood vessel responsive to detecting the reflections of the waves, and providing a visual indication at a location that is adjacent to the blood vessel.

Claims

1. A method for locating a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

transmitting waves into a body part through which a blood vessel runs;

detecting reflections of the waves;

determining a location of the blood vessel responsive to detecting the reflections of the waves; and

providing a visual indication at a location that is adjacent to the blood vessel, the visual indication being provided via a device that is attached to the body part.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the waves comprise at least one of sound waves, optical waves, and magnetic waves.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the visual indication comprises turning on a light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the visual indication comprises changing a brightness of a portion of a display device.

5. A system comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit waves into a body part through which a blood vessel runs;

a receiver configured to receive reflections of the waves transmitted by the transmitter;

a processor that is programmed to determine a location of the blood vessel responsive to the receiver receiving the reflections of the waves; and

a display device that is configured to provide a visual indication at a location that is adjacent to the blood vessel responsive to the processor determining the location of the blood vessel;

wherein the system is configured to be attached to the body part.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the waves comprise at least one of sound waves, optical waves, and magnetic waves.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the display device comprises light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

9. A system for locating a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

means for transmitting waves into a body part through which a blood vessel runs;

means for detecting reflections of the waves;

means for determining a location of the blood vessel responsive to detecting the reflections of the waves;

means for providing a visual indication at a location that is adjacent to the blood vessel; and

means for attaching the system to the body part.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the waves comprise at least one of sound waves, optical waves, and magnetic waves.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for providing a visual indication comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for providing a visual indication comprises light-emitting diodes (LEDs).