Systems and Methods for Locating A Blood Vessel

• US 20080287824A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Medical Inc (Immersion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Immersion Medical Inc (Immersion Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, Robert F., Tumey, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels

Abstract

Systems and methods for locating a blood vessel are described. One described method includes receiving a first temperature measure associated with a first point on a surface of a skin; receiving a second temperature measure associated with a second point on the surface of the skin, and determining a differential between the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure. The method further includes generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.

Claims

1. A system for locating a blood vessel, the system comprising:

a temperature sensor operable to output a temperature measure of a point on a surface of a skin; and

a processor in communication with the temperature sensor and configured to;

receive a first temperature measure from the temperature sensor,

receive a second temperature measure from the temperature sensor,

determine a differential between the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure, and

generate an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to receive the output signal and indicate the presence of the blood vessel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a direction of the blood vessel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the indicator is further configured to indicate the direction of the blood vessel.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises an audible indicator.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a marker configured to generate a mark on the surface of the skin over the blood vessel.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to provide a haptic effect in response to the output signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the haptic effect comprises a vibrotactile haptic effect.

10. A system for locating a blood vessel, the system comprising:

a first temperature sensor operable to output a temperature measure of a first point on a surface of a skin;

a second temperature sensor operable to output a second temperature measure of a second point on the surface of the skin; and

a processor in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the processor configured to;

receive the first temperature measure from the first temperature sensor,

receive the second temperature measure from the second temperature sensor,

determine a differential between the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure, and

generate a first output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an indicator configured to receive the first output signal and indicate the presence of the blood vessel.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a third temperature sensor in communication with the processor, the third temperature sensor operable to output a third temperature measure of a third point on the surface of the skin;

and wherein the processor is further configured to;

receive the third temperature measure from the third temperature sensor;

determine a second differential between the second temperature measure and the third temperature measure,

generate a second output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the second differential exceeds a threshold; and

the indicator further configured to receive the second output signal and indicate the presence of the blood vessel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the third temperature sensor are substantially aligned.

14. A system for locating a blood vessel, the system comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensors, each operable to output a temperature measure of a point on the surface of a skin; and

a processor in communication with the plurality of temperature sensors, the processor configured to;

receive the temperature measure from each of the plurality of temperature sensors,

determine a differential between any of two of the temperature measures, and

generate an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if at least one of the plurality of differentials exceeds a threshold.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an indicator configured to receive the output signal and indicate the presence of the blood vessel.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are substantially aligned.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are arranged as an array.

18. A method for locating a blood vessel, the method comprising:

receiving a first temperature measure associated with a first point on a surface of a skin;

receiving a second temperature measure associated with a second point on the surface of the skin;

determining a differential between the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure; and

generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving the output signal and signaling the presence of a blood vessel.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a direction of a blood vessel.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a third temperature measure associated with a third point on a surface of the skin;

determining a second differential between the second temperature measure and the third temperature measure; and

generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the second differential exceeds a threshold.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first temperature measure is a calibration temperature measure.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising identifying the location of the blood vessel on the surface of the skin.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein identifying the location of the blood vessel on the surface of the skin comprises generating a mark on the surface of the skin.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising identifying the direction of the blood vessel on the surface of the skin.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure are received from a single sensor.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the first temperature measure is received from a first sensor and the second temperature measure is received from a second sensor.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the first sensor is in contact with a first point on the surface of the skin; and

the second sensor is in contact with a second point on the surface of the skin.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure occur substantially simultaneously.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein signaling the presence of a blood vessel comprises generating a visual effect.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein signaling the presence of a blood vessel comprises generating an auditory effect.

32. The method of claim 19, wherein signaling the presence of a blood vessel comprises generating a haptic effect.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the haptic effect comprises a vibrotactile haptic effect.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein signaling the presence of a blood vessel comprises generating a plurality of sensory effects.

35. A method for locating a blood vessel, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of temperature measures, each of the plurality of temperature measures associated with a point on a surface of the skin;

determining a differential between each of the plurality of temperature measures; and

generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.

36. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer-executable program code, the program code comprising:

program code for receiving a first temperature measure associated with a first point on a surface of a skin;

program code for receiving a second temperature measure associated with a second point on the surface of the skin;

program code for determining a differential between the first temperature measure and the second temperature measure; and

program code for generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, further comprising:

program code for receiving a third temperature measure associated with a third point on a surface of the skin;

program code for determining a second differential between the second temperature measure and the third temperature measure; and

program code for generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the second differential exceeds a threshold.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, further comprising:

program code for determining a direction of the blood vessel; and

program code for generating an output signal indicating the direction of the blood vessel.

39. A computer readable medium on which is encoded computer-executable program code, the program code comprising:

program code for receiving a plurality of temperature measures, each of the plurality of temperature measures associated with a point on a surface of the skin;

program code for determining a differential between each of the plurality of temperature measures; and

program code for generating an output signal indicating the presence of a blood vessel if the differential exceeds a threshold.