Infrared aided method and apparatus for venous examination

• US 5,608,210 A
• Filed: 03/20/1996
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inframed Imaging, LLC
• Original Assignee: Inframed Imaging, LLC
• Inventors: Bahuguna, Ramendra D., Esparza, Joel, Williams, Gareth T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US08/618,744
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 250/226, 250/330, 250/339.11, 250/339.14, 250/341.8, 250/559.44, 250/559.4, 250/559.41, 250/574, 128/664, 128/673, 128/692, 128/665, 128/634, 356/51
• US Class Current: 250/226
• 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 2090/502 Headgear, e.g. helmet, spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• 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 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

A device for aiding a technician to locate a vein for inserting a hyperdermic needle therein in which, in one embodiment, the technician dons a headpiece supporting an infrared light source illuminating an appropriate area of the flesh so that a view is generated showing the location of a subcutaneous vein. The headpiece also supports an infrared sensitive video camera and monitor screen in front of one eye and an opaque shield over the other eye. The lines of sight of the one eye viewing the screen is coincident with the line of sight of the camera and both lines of sight are directed toward the vein of the patient. The tip of the needle is moved into the line of sight then moved along the line of sight to the vein. In another embodiment, two cameras and screens are provided for viewing by both eyes and each camera and monitor can be positioned with line of sight coincident with the line of sight of the respective eye.

Claims

1. An apparatus for aiding a user injecting the tip of a hypodermic needle into a subcutaneous vein in the flesh of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

light source means for providing an infrared light beam such that, when said light beam is directed onto said flesh, one portion of said light beam is incident on a first area of flesh containing said vein and another portion of said light beam is incident on a second area of flesh that is vein free;

said light beam containing a range of wavelengths selected such that said one portion of said light beam is substantially absorbed by said first area containing said vein and said second portion of said light beam is substantially reflected by said second area that is vein free whereby a view of said subcutaneous vein in said flesh is created;

a first video camera having a response to said wavelengths and a line of sight such that when said line of sight of said first video camera is directed toward said view, a video signal representing said view is developed by said first video camera;

a first monitor means having a first screen and connected to said first video camera for receiving said video signal from said first video camera and presenting on said first screen an image of said view generated from said video signal;

head support means for supporting said light source means, said first video camera and said first monitor means on the head of a user adapted such that said light beam intersects said line of sight of said first video camera and said line of sight of said first video camera is coincident with a line of sight of one eye of said user when said one eye of said user is viewing said image on said first screen whereby said user wearing said head support means is enabled to position his/her head such that said first and second areas of flesh are located at a position where said line of sight of said first video camera intersects said light beam and said user is enabled to move said tip of said hypodermic needle into said line of sight of said first video camera and move said tip toward said second area of flesh preparatory to inserting said tip into said vein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises

a second video camera having a response to said wavelengths and a line of sight such that when said line of sight of said second video camera is directed toward said first and second areas of said flesh, a video signal representing a view of said first and second areas is developed by said second video camera;

a second monitor means having a second screen and connected to said second video camera for receiving said video signal developed by said second video camera and presenting on said screen of said second monitor an image of said view generated from said video signal developed by said second video camera;

said head support means supporting said second video camera and said second monitor means adapted such that a line of sight of said second video camera inersects said line of sight of said first video camera and said line of sight of said second video camera is coincident with a line of sight of another eye of said user when said another eye of said user is viewing said image on said second screen whereby said user wearing said head support means is enabled to locate his/her head such that said first and second areas of flesh are located at a position where said lines of sight of said first and second video cameras intersect one another and intersect said light beam whereby said user has an impression of three dimensions of said view when said first and second ares of flesh are located at said position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 which further comprises means for selecting an angle of intersection between said lines of sight of said first and second video cameras according to convenience of said user.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 which further comprises means for changing an angle of intersection between said light beam and lines of sight of said first and second video cameras such that distance from said position to said user is selectable according to the user'"'"'s convenience.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises an opaque patch supported by said head support means and adapted for being positioned over another eye of said user whereby said user is further enabled to move said tip of said hypodermic needle into said line of sight of said first video camera and move said tip toward said second area of flesh preparatory to inserting said tip into said vein.

6. A method for injecting the tip of a hypodermic needle into a subcutaneous vein in the flesh of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus comprising;

(i) light source means for providing an infrared light beam such that, when said light beam is directed onto said flesh, one portion of said light beam is incident on a first area of flesh containing said vein and another portion of said light beam is incident on a second area of flesh that is vein free;

(ii) said light beam containing a range of wavelengths selected such that said one portion of said light beam is substantially absorbed by said first area containing said vein and said second portion of said light beam is substantially reflected by said second area that is vein free whereby a view of said subcutaneous vein in said flesh is created;

(iii) a first video camera having a response to said wavelengths and a line of sight such that when said line of sight of said first video camera is directed toward said view, a video signal representing said view is developed by said first video camera;

(iv) a first monitor means having a first screen and connected to said first video camera for receiving said video signal from said first video camera and presenting on said first screen an image of said view generated from said video signal;

(v) head support means for supporting said light source means, said first video camera and said first monitor means on the head of a user adapted such that said light beam inersects said line of sight of said first video camera and said line of sight of said first video camera is coincident with a line of sight of one eye of said user when said one eye of said user is viewing said image on said first screen;

(b) positioning the head support means on the head of a user;

(c) positioning the head such that said first and second areas of flesh are located at a position where said line of sight of said first video camera intersects said light beam;

(d) moving said tip of said hypodermic needle into said line of sight of said first video camera and moving said tip toward said second area of flesh preparatory to inserting said tip into said vein;

(e) inserting said tip into said vein.

7. An apparatus for aiding a user injecting the tip of a hypodermic needle into a subcutaneous vein in the flesh of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

light source means for providing an infrared light beam such that, when said light beam is directed onto said flesh, one portion of said light beam is incident on a first area of flesh containing said vein and another portion of said light beam is incident on a second area of flesh that is vein free;

said light beam containing a range of wavelengths selected such that said one portion of said light beam is substantially absorbed by said first area containing said vein and said second portion of said light beam is substantially reflected by said second area that is vein free whereby a view of said subcutaneous vein in said flesh is created;

a video camera having a response to said wavelengths and a line of sight such that when said line of sight of said video camera is directed toward said view, a video signal representing said view is developed by said video camera;

a first monitor means having a first screen and connected to said video camera for receiving said video signal from said video camera and presenting on said first screen an image of said view generated from said video signal;

a second monitor means having a second screen and connected to said video camera for receiving said video signal from said video camera and presenting on said second screen an image of said view generated from said video signal;

head support means for supporting said light source means, said video camera, said first monitor means having a first screen and said second monitor means having a second screen on the head of a user adapted such that said video camera is postioned between eyes of said user and directed toward a view directly in front of a face of said user and said first screen is positioned directly in front of one eye of said user and said second screen is positioned directly in front of another eye of said user.