Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer
First Claim
1. A miniature vein enhancer comprising a LED, said LED emitting unfocused light at a selective wavelength toward a lens, said lens having a focal length-causing said unfocused light, after passing through said lens, to converge on a target area and be in focus thereon and be in focus at a selected distance from said lens, said selective wavelength of light creating a contrast between a blood vessel and tissue on the target area by undergoing differential amounts of absorption and reflection by the blood vessel and surrounding tissue and a ranging means, wherein said ranging means is configured to measure the distance from said miniature vein enhancer to the target area and indicates whether or not said miniature vein enhancer to target area distance is at said selected distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like.
52 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A miniature vein enhancer comprising a LED, said LED emitting unfocused light at a selective wavelength toward a lens, said lens having a focal length-causing said unfocused light, after passing through said lens, to converge on a target area and be in focus thereon and be in focus at a selected distance from said lens, said selective wavelength of light creating a contrast between a blood vessel and tissue on the target area by undergoing differential amounts of absorption and reflection by the blood vessel and surrounding tissue and a ranging means, wherein said ranging means is configured to measure the distance from said miniature vein enhancer to the target area and indicates whether or not said miniature vein enhancer to target area distance is at said selected distance.
- 14. A miniature vein enhancer comprising a light emitting diode (LED) emitting unfocused light, said unfocused light being at a selective wavelength and being directed toward a target area, said selective wavelength detecting a presence of one or more subcutaneous blood vessels and displaying said presence of one or more subcutaneous blood vessels, said detecting comprising said selective wavelength of light undergoing differential amounts of absorption and reflection by subcutaneous blood vessels and surrounding tissue, and said displaying comprising said selective wavelength of light forming a contrast on the target area to thereby distinguish one or more subcutaneous blood vessels from surrounding tissue according to said differential absorption, wherein one or more detected blood vessels absorb more of said light, being represented by darker areas, and wherein surrounding tissues reflect more of said light, being represented by brighter areas, said miniature vein enhancer further comprising a ranging device configured to measure a distance between said miniature vein enhancer and the target area.
Specification