Vein scanner with user interface
First Claim
1. An apparatus, for use in imaging vein locations of a target skin surface to aid in a venipuncture procedure, said apparatus comprising:
- a first laser, said first laser configured to emit at least a first wavelength of light;
one or more optical detectors;
said one or more optical detectors each configured to be responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light;
said one or more optical detectors configured to receive a contrasted image from the target skin surface formed by reflected light at said first wavelength being amplitude modulated according to differential amounts of absorption and reflection between subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue therein, and said one or more optical detectors further configured to convert said received contrasted image into a signal;
a second laser;
said second laser configured to emit at least a second wavelength of light;
said at least a second wavelength being different than said at least a first wavelength of light;
a microcontroller;
a user interface board comprising;
one or more push buttons;
firmware, said firmware configured to permit actuation of said one or more buttons to select and to modify any of two or more configuration settings to be the default setting for said apparatus, and to permit said selected default settings to be stored in a memory, said two or more configuration settings comprising a plurality of vein visualization settings; and
a display screen;
said firmware configured to display a scrollable menu screen list of said two or more settings, and the parameters for each of said two or more settings, on said display screen, to thereby permit said selection and modification of said configuration settings; and
electronic circuitry;
said electronic circuitry configured to receive said signal from said one or more optical detectors and to output said signal to said second laser, said electronic circuitry configured to cause said second laser to use said signal to emit said at least a second wavelength of light to project said vein image onto the target skin surface in accordance with said selected vein visualization setting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable vein viewer apparatus may be battery powered and hand-held to reveal patient vasculature information to aid in venipuncture processes. The apparatus comprises a first laser diode emitting infrared light, and a second laser diode emitting only visible wavelengths, wherein vasculature absorbs a portion of the infrared light causing reflection of a contrasted infrared image. A pair of silicon PIN photodiodes, responsive to the contrasted infrared image, causes transmission of a corresponding signal. The signal is processed through circuitry to amplify, sum, and filter the outputted signals, and with the use of an image processing algorithm, the contrasted image is projected onto the patient'"'"'s skin surface using the second laser diode. Revealed information may comprise vein location, depth, diameter, and degree of certainty of vein locations. Projection of vein images may be a positive or a negative image. Venipuncture needles may be coated to provide visibility in projected images.
162 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus, for use in imaging vein locations of a target skin surface to aid in a venipuncture procedure, said apparatus comprising:
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a first laser, said first laser configured to emit at least a first wavelength of light; one or more optical detectors;
said one or more optical detectors each configured to be responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light;
said one or more optical detectors configured to receive a contrasted image from the target skin surface formed by reflected light at said first wavelength being amplitude modulated according to differential amounts of absorption and reflection between subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue therein, and said one or more optical detectors further configured to convert said received contrasted image into a signal;a second laser;
said second laser configured to emit at least a second wavelength of light;
said at least a second wavelength being different than said at least a first wavelength of light;a microcontroller; a user interface board comprising;
one or more push buttons;
firmware, said firmware configured to permit actuation of said one or more buttons to select and to modify any of two or more configuration settings to be the default setting for said apparatus, and to permit said selected default settings to be stored in a memory, said two or more configuration settings comprising a plurality of vein visualization settings; and
a display screen;
said firmware configured to display a scrollable menu screen list of said two or more settings, and the parameters for each of said two or more settings, on said display screen, to thereby permit said selection and modification of said configuration settings; andelectronic circuitry;
said electronic circuitry configured to receive said signal from said one or more optical detectors and to output said signal to said second laser, said electronic circuitry configured to cause said second laser to use said signal to emit said at least a second wavelength of light to project said vein image onto the target skin surface in accordance with said selected vein visualization setting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus, for use in imaging vein locations on a target skin surface to aid in venipuncture processes, said apparatus comprising:
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a first laser, said first laser configured to emit a first wavelength of light; one or more optical detectors;
said one or more optical detectors each configured to be responsive to said first wavelength of light;
said one or more optical detectors configured to receive a contrasted image from the target skin surface formed by reflected light at said first wavelength being amplitude modulated according to differential amounts of absorption and reflection between subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue therein, and said one or more optical detectors further configured to convert said received contrasted image into a signal;a second laser;
said second laser configured to emit a second wavelength of light;
said second wavelength being different than said first wavelength of light;a microprocessor; a user interface board comprising;
one or more push buttons;
firmware, said firmware configured to permit actuation of said one or more buttons to select and to modify any of two or more configuration settings to be the default setting for said apparatus, and to permit said selected one or more settings to be stored in a memory, said two or more settings comprising a plurality of vein visualization settings; and
means for indicating said configuration settings;
said firmware configured to display a scrollable menu screen list of said two or more settings, and the parameters for each of said two or more settings, on said means for indicating said configuration settings, to thereby permit said selection and modification of said configuration settings; andelectronic circuitry;
said electronic circuitry configured to receive said signal from said one or more optical detectors and to output said signal to said second laser, said electronic circuitry configured to cause said second laser to use said signal to emit said second wavelength of light to project said contrasted vein image onto the target skin surface in accordance with said selected vein visualization setting. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification