Vein Scanner with User Interface for Controlling Imaging Parameters

• US 20160143580A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 05/26/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,258,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device broadly includes: a first laser emitting a beam of light at a first wavelength; a second laser emitting a beam of light at a second wavelength; a scanner to scan the beams of light onto the target surface; a photo detector to receive the reflected vein image and convert the image into a signal, for use by the second laser and scanner to project the image onto the target surface; and a user interface and electronic circuitry to permit adjustments to one or more of the following imaging parameters: a vein size parameter to set a vein size to be imaged by the device; a field of view size; a size for a field of high resolution for the projected image; a brightness of the projected image; and a laser output intensity parameter setting a depth of penetration by the first wavelength for the imaging.

Claims

1. A portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device, for use in selective imaging of subcutaneous veins of a target surface, said device comprising:

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 being different than said first wavelength;

a scanner configured to scan said beams of said first and second wavelengths of light onto the target surface;

a photo detector configured to receive said first wavelength of light reflected from the target surface as a contrasted vein image formed by differential absorption and reflection by subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue therein;

said photo detector configured to convert said contrasted image into a signal;

said second laser configured to receive said signal, and said second laser and said scanner thereby configured to project said contrasted vein image onto the target surface using said second wavelength of light, for the veins of said contrasted vein image to be projected onto the target surface directly over the imaged subcutaneous veins; and

a user interface and electronic circuitry configured to permit adjustment of one or more imaging parameters for said selective imaging by said device.

2. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory, and wherein said user interface and electronic circuitry is further configured to permit said adjusted one or more imaging parameters to be stored in said memory.

3. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a vein size parameter to set a vein size to be imaged by said device.

4. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a field of view parameter to set a size of the field of view to be imaged by said device.

5. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a resolution parameter to set a size of a field of high resolution for said projected image.

6. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a brightness projection parameter to set a brightness of said projected image by said second laser.

7. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a laser output intensity parameter to set a depth to be penetrated by said first laser for said imaging by said device.

8. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a persistence of vein lock parameter to aid in the discrimination of veins from other structures for said imaging by said device.

9. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said scanner comprises one or more mirrors configured to oscillate in two orthogonal directions.

10. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 1, wherein said first wavelength of light comprises an infrared wavelength of light, and said second wavelength of light comprises a visible red wavelength of light.

11. A portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device, for use in selective imaging of subcutaneous veins of a target surface, said device comprising:

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 being different than said first wavelength;

means for scanning said beams of said first and second wavelengths of light onto the target surface;

a photo detector configured to receive said first wavelength of light reflected from the target surface as a contrasted vein image formed by differential absorption and reflection by subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue therein;

said photo detector configured to convert said contrasted image into a signal;

said second laser configured to receive said signal, and said second laser and said means for scanning thereby configured to project said contrasted vein image onto the target surface using said second wavelength of light, for the veins of said contrasted vein image to be projected onto the target surface directly over the imaged subcutaneous veins; and

a user input control means and electronic circuitry configured to permit adjustment of one or more imaging parameters for said selective imaging by said device.

12. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 11, further comprising a memory, and wherein said user input control means and electronic circuitry is further configured to permit said adjusted one or more imaging parameters to be stored in said memory.

13. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 12, wherein said user input control means and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a parameter from the group of parameters consisting of:

a vein size parameter to set a vein size to be imaged by said device;

a field of view parameter to set a size of the field of view to be imaged by said device;

a resolution parameter to set a size of a field of high resolution for said projected image;

a brightness projection parameter to set a brightness of said projected image by said second laser;

a laser output intensity parameter to set a depth to be penetrated by said first laser for said imaging by said device; and

a persistence of vein lock parameter to aid in the discrimination of veins from other structures for said imaging by said device.

14. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 13, wherein said first wavelength of light comprises an infrared wavelength, and said second wavelength of light comprises a visible red wavelength.

15. A portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device, for use in selective imaging of subcutaneous veins of a target surface, said device comprising:

means for imaging the subcutaneous veins of the target using a first wavelength of light and for projecting said vein imaging onto the target surface using a second wavelength of light, for the veins of said vein imaging to be projected onto the target surface directly over the subcutaneous veins; and

user input control means and electronic circuitry configured to permit adjustment of one or more imaging parameters for said selective imaging by said device.

16. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 15, further comprising a memory, and wherein said user input control means and electronic circuitry is further configured to permit said adjusted one or more imaging parameters to be stored in said memory.

17. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 16, wherein said user input control means and electronic circuitry are configured to permit adjustment of a parameter from the group of parameters consisting of:

a vein size parameter to set a vein size to be imaged by said device;

a field of view parameter to set a size of the field of view to be imaged by said device;

a resolution parameter to set a size of a field of high resolution for said projected image;

a brightness projection parameter to set a brightness of said projected image by said second laser;

a laser output intensity parameter to set a depth to be penetrated by said first laser for said imaging by said device; and

a persistence of vein lock parameter to aid in the discrimination of veins from other structures for said imaging by said device.

18. The portable handheld vein-image-enhancing device according to claim 17, wherein said first wavelength of light comprises an infrared wavelength, and said second wavelength of light comprises a visible red wavelength.