System and method for inserting a needle into a blood vessel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A needle insertion system for inserting a needle within a blood vessel, said system comprising:
- an imaging system comprising;
at least one infrared emitter configured to illuminate a region under a surface of skin with waves of infrared light;
an infrared detector configured to accept waves of infrared light reflected from the region under the surface of the skin, said infrared detector comprising an output for outputting a signal corresponding to unenhanced image data;
a computing unit comprising an input for accepting said unenhanced image data, a memory, means for enhancing and outputting result images in which enhanced images of blood vessels are shown within the images of the region under the surface of the skin, and an output for outputting said enhanced images in substantially real time;
a display device for inputting said enhanced images from output of said computing unit and displaying said enhanced images; and
a power source in electrical communication with said infrared emitter, said infrared detector, said computing unit and said display device; and
a needle comprising a needle tip and a needle body;
wherein a user views said display of said imaging system and locates a target blood vessel, align said needle body with said target blood vessel, pierces said blood vessel with said needle tip, introduces said needle into said target blood vessel, advances said needle until said display of said imaging system shows that a sufficient depth has been reached, performs a medical procedure, and withdraws said needle from said blood vessel.
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Abstract
A needle insertion system and method. The insertion system includes an imaging system and a needle. The imaging system includes at least one infrared emitter an infrared detector, a computing unit, a display device, and a power source. The method includes the steps of preparing a body target area, putting on the headset, powering up the system, locating a target blood vessel, picking up the needle, aligning the needle with the target blood vessel, inserting the needle, advancing the needle until a sufficient depth of penetration has been reached, and withdrawing the needle.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A needle insertion system for inserting a needle within a blood vessel, said system comprising:
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an imaging system comprising;
at least one infrared emitter configured to illuminate a region under a surface of skin with waves of infrared light;
an infrared detector configured to accept waves of infrared light reflected from the region under the surface of the skin, said infrared detector comprising an output for outputting a signal corresponding to unenhanced image data;
a computing unit comprising an input for accepting said unenhanced image data, a memory, means for enhancing and outputting result images in which enhanced images of blood vessels are shown within the images of the region under the surface of the skin, and an output for outputting said enhanced images in substantially real time;
a display device for inputting said enhanced images from output of said computing unit and displaying said enhanced images; and
a power source in electrical communication with said infrared emitter, said infrared detector, said computing unit and said display device; and
a needle comprising a needle tip and a needle body;
wherein a user views said display of said imaging system and locates a target blood vessel, align said needle body with said target blood vessel, pierces said blood vessel with said needle tip, introduces said needle into said target blood vessel, advances said needle until said display of said imaging system shows that a sufficient depth has been reached, performs a medical procedure, and withdraws said needle from said blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of using a needle insertion system to aid in inserting a needle within a blood vessel, wherein the needle insertion system comprises an imaging system and a needle, wherein the imaging system comprises a headset, at least one infrared emitter, an infrared detector, a computing unit, a power source, and a display disposed such that a user is able to view both an enhanced image on the display and an unenhanced image on the target area of a surface of a skin of a patient without removing said headset, wherein said needle comprises a needle body and a needle tip, and wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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preparing a body target area;
putting on the headset;
powering up the system;
locating a target blood vessel;
picking up the needle;
aligning the needle with the target blood vessel located in the locating step;
inserting the needle into the target blood vessel;
advancing the needle into the target blood vessel until a sufficient depth of penetration has been reached; and
withdrawing the needle body from the target blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification