INFRARED-VISIBLE NEEDLE

• US 20080194930A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cameron Lewis, Melvyn L. Harris, Toni A. Harris
• Original Assignee: Cameron Lewis, Melvyn L. Harris, Toni A. Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Melvyn L., Lewis, Cameron, Harris, Toni A.
• Application Number:
  US11/673,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• 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 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/35 Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• 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

Abstract

A system may include an imaging apparatus and an access device. The imaging apparatus may include a light source that emits at least light having one or more wavelengths in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers, a camera that is (a) sensitive to light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers, and (b) so positioned relative to the light source as to receive light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers that has been (i) emitted from the light source and (ii) reflected from a target, a processor that forms an image signal based at least in part upon signals indicative of the light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers that is sensed by the camera, and a display screen so coupled to the processor as to receive the image signal and to display an image. The access device may include a hollow, stiff, steel needle having an outer surface, at least a portion of which outer surface is (a) coated with a coating comprising at least one of (i) titanium nitride, (ii) gold, and (iii) a metal oxide, and/or (b) irregularized.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an imaging apparatus that comprises;

a light source that emits at least light having one or more wavelengths in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers;

a camera that is (a) sensitive to light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers, and (b) so positioned relative to the light source as to receive light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers that has been (i) emitted from the light source, and (ii) reflected from a target;

a filter that attenuates light having a wavelength shorter than 700 nanometers and is so positioned as to (i) filter light emitted from the light source, and/or (ii) filter light reflected from the target before it is received by the camera;

a processor that forms an image signal based at least in part upon signals indicative of the light having a wavelength in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers that is sensed by the camera; and

a display screen so coupled to the processor as to receive the image signal and to display an image; and

an access device that comprises a hollow, stiff, steel needle having an outer surface, at least a portion of which outer surface is (a) coated with a coating comprising at least one of (i) titanium nitride, (ii) gold, and (iii) a metal oxide, and/or (b) irregularized.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an incandescent lamp.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a base and an arm extending from the base, wherein at least one of the light source, the camera, and the display screen are disposed in or on the arm.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least two of the light source, the camera, and the display screen are disposed in the arm.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the light source, the camera, and the display screen are disposed in the arm.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is so sized and shaped as to be positionable on a user'"'"'s head, and wherein the display screen is, in at least one orientation, positioned to be in the user'"'"'s field of vision.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a headband to which the display screen is attached.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display screen is pivotally attached to the headband and is pivotable between a first orientation in which it is in the user'"'"'s field of vision and a second orientation in which it is substantially or completely out of the user'"'"'s field of vision.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera is attached to the headband.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the light source is attached to the headband.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least the portion of the needle outer surface is coated.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the coating comprises gold.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the gold coating has a thickness of less than 5 micrometers.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the coating comprises a metal oxide.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the metal oxide comprises a titanium oxide.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the titanium oxide comprises TiO₂.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the metal oxide comprises FeOOH.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the metal oxide comprises Co₂TiO₄.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the metal oxide comprises Fe₂TiO₄.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the metal oxide comprises (Fe,Cr)₂O₃.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the coating comprises titanium nitride.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the portion of the needle outer surface is irregularized.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the coating thickness varies at different positions in the needle outer surface portion.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the needle outer surface is irregularized.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the coating thickness varies at different positions in the needle outer surface portion.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the irregularized portion of the needle outer surface includes regions so positioned as to reflect incident light in the range of about 700 nanometers to about 2,500 nanometers at all or substantially all possible angles.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the irregularized portion is formed at least in part by subjecting an initially smooth steel needle to abrasion, machining, blasting, chemical etching, or heating.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the irregularized portion is formed at least in part from sheet metal rolled against an irregular guide.

32. A method comprising:

illuminating a target to which access is to be obtained with light emitted from the light source of the imaging apparatus of the system of claim 1;

advancing the access device of claim 1 toward the target; and

while advancing, visualizing the target and the access device on the display screen.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the target comprises a blood vessel of a subject.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the target is located in a non-human animal subject.