Device for Visual Vein Location

• US 20160278694A1
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abraham Aharoni, Anatoli Rapoport
• Original Assignee: Abraham Aharoni, Anatoli Rapoport
• Inventors: Aharoni, Abraham, Rapoport, Anatoli
• Application Number:
  US15/081,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20160278694A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00167 Details of optical fibre bundles, e.g. shape or fibre distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0605 for spatially modulated illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3287 Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 using optical fibres

Abstract

A hypodermic needle device has disposable and reusable portions. The disposable portion includes a hypodermic needle having a tubular bore, at least one optical imaging waveguide extending along the needle so that a distal end of the optical imaging waveguide is proximate the tip of the needle, and a first coupler for securing the optical imaging waveguide within the needle at the proximal end thereof. A second coupler remote from the first coupler removably secures a proximal end of the optical imaging waveguide to the reusable portion. The reusable portion includes a mating coupler to removably connect to the second coupler and a respective viewing device so that a user can view the image transmitted by the optical imaging waveguide from its distal end to its proximal end. The second coupler contains a lens for imaging an enlarging the image transmitted from the distal end of the optical imaging waveguide.

Claims

1. A hypodermic needle device, comprising a disposable portion and a reusable portion;

the disposable portion comprising;

a hypodermic needle having a tubular bore,

at least one optical imaging waveguide extending along said needle so that a distal end of the at least one optical imaging waveguide is in proximity to the tip of the needle,

a first coupler for securing the at least one optical imaging waveguide within the needle at the proximal end of the needle, and

a second coupler for removably securing a proximal end of the at least one optical imaging waveguide to the reusable portion of the device;

the reusable portion of the device comprising;

a mating coupler to removably connect to the second coupler above;

a respective viewing device in order that a user can view the image transmitted by said optical imaging waveguide from its distal end to its proximal end;

wherein;

the second coupler contains a lens for imaging an enlarging the image transmitted from the distal end of the optical imaging waveguide, and

the second coupler is remote from the first coupler.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a camera configured to capture the enlarged image of the least one optical imaging waveguide in the tubular bore of said needle and display it on a screen.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging waveguide is an imaging fiber bundle.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging waveguide is an imaging graded image fiber.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging waveguide is a standard step index fiber, and a descrambling arrangement is further included to allow transmission of images through the step index fiber.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the field of view of said at least one optical imaging waveguide is increased by an opening in the needle close to the needle'"'"'s tip.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal face of the at least one optical imaging waveguide is shaped to refract the received image.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shape of the distal face of the at least one optical imaging waveguide is slanted to tilt the image field of view with respect to the imaging waveguide'"'"'s optical axis.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shape of the distal face of the at least one optical imaging waveguide is multiply slanted to expand on the overall field of view of the imaging waveguide.

10. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shape of the distal face of the at least one optical imaging waveguide is curved in two dimensions to vary the acceptance angel of the image.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first coupler is configured to allow removal of the at least one optical fiber from the tubular bore.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one optical imaging waveguide is located outside the tubular bore of the needle.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one optical imaging waveguide is located in a longitudinal groove within the outer surface of the needle.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one optical imaging waveguide is a multi-element imaging waveguide with a tubular cross-section, and where said multi-element imaging tubular waveguide is mounted over and around the needle.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one tubular optical imaging waveguide is incorporated into the catheter.

16. The device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an image processor configured for identifying the background illumination of the transmitted image and enhancing the image contrast of the target vein as viewed through the scattering tissue.

17. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tri-axis rotation sensor to detect the angular rotation of the image transmitted to the viewing device so as assist in identifying the region of the background in the image.