DETECTOR FOR LOCATING VEINS IN LIVING BODIES

• US 3,782,365 A
• Filed: 03/13/1973
• Issued: 01/01/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanford Pinna
• Original Assignee: Sanford Pinna
• Inventors: Pinna, Sanford
• Primary Examiner(s): Medbery, Aldrich F.
• Application Number:
  US05/340,924
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2T,2R,2S,2.5N,2.5E,2.5P,2.5T 73/81,85,DIG.4
• US Class Current: 600/481
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 73/04 Piezoelectric

Abstract

A casing is provided with an elongated sensor rod and a marking rod mounted for axial reciprocation by a motor driven cam through compression springs so that the sensor is moved outwardly of the casing by a pulsating force with the end of the sensor engaging a living body so that the compressive force on the sensor depends on the resistance of the body, a latch release lug is held in latched position by an electromagnet controlled through a piezo crystal in the sensor for releasing the latch when compressive force on the sensor goes below a given level to release a spring urged marking rod for outward movement to mark the surface of the body in response to lessened resistance to outward movement of the sensor and consequent compressive force on the sensor occasioned by a vein positioned beneath the sensor.

Claims

1. A device for locating veins in a living body, comprising a casing, a sensor member comprising an elongated rod having a pressure sensitive piezo crystal as a portion thereof and having an outer end mounted for movement outwardly of said casing adjacent one end of said casing, force exerting means for exerting a predetermined force on said sensor member urging said outer end of said sensor member outwardly from said casing so that compressive force on said sensor member resultant from resistance of the body to movement of the sensor member will vary in accordance with the resistance of the body with which the sensor member is engaged so that the compressive force on said sensor member will be greater when there is no vein beneath the sensor member than when there is a vein beneath the sensor member and position identifying means comprising marking means for placing a visible mark on said living body at a location adjacent the location at which the elongated rod engages said body in response to the detection by said piezo crystal of a lower level of compressive force on said sensor rod for apprising the user of the presence and location of a vein beneath the sensor member.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said marking means comprises a marking elEment normally retained in a retracted position in said casing, marking spring means urging said marking element in a direction outwardly of said casing toward an extended position, latch means for holding said marking element in said retracted position and additionally including an electromagnet latch release means positioned adjacent said latch member for releasing said latch upon actuation of said electromagnet and electrical circuit means connected to said electromagnet from said piezo crystal for actuating said electromagnet upon detection of a given low level compressive force on said elongated rod.

3. The invention of claim 2 additionally including a compression spring engaging said elongated rod for urging said elongated rod inwardly of said casing.

4. The invention of claim 3 additionally including a marker return spring engaging said marking member and urging said marking member towards its retracted position.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit means includes manually adjustable means for enabling selective adjustment of the given low level compressive force on said rod at which the electromagnet latch release will be actuated.

6. The invention of claim 5 additionally including a compression spring engaging said elongated rod for urging said elongated rod inwardly of said casing.

7. The invention of claim 6 additionally including a marker return spring engaging said marking member and urging said marking member towards its retracted position.