Patient-mounted micro vein enhancer

• US 9,788,787 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Original Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Inventors: Goldman, Ron, Hunt, David, Mock, Mark, Marshall, Graham, Conlon, Stephen P, Roth, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): KISH, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US14/705,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20150305673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 600407, 600473-480
• 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 2090/366 using projection of images directly onto the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0425 Ergonomically shaped housings A61B2560/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0037 Performing a preliminary scan, e.g. a prescan for identifying a region of interest
• 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 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0079 using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/13 : guided by light, e.g. laser pointers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 : Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 : having means for controlling depth of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 : for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 : Depth or shape recovery

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.

Claims

1. A portable vein enhancing device, for use in imaging of one or more veins beneath a target surface on a patient for a venipuncture procedure, said portable vein enhancing device comprising:

a vein imager, said vein imager comprising;

a first laser configured to emit a beam of light at a first wavelength;

a scanner configured to transmit said beam of light from said first laser in a pattern onto the target surface;

a photo detector configured to detect said first wavelength of light after being reflected from the target surface as a contrasted vein image;

said photodetector further configured to output a signal representing said contrasted image;

a second laser configured to receive said signal from said photodetector and to use said signal to emit a beam of light at a second wavelength, said scanner further configured to transmit said beam of light emitted at said second wavelength from said second laser to project said contrasted image onto the target surface; and

a base member comprising a transparent material and extending downward from said vein imager, said vein imager configured to be mounted to a top portion of said base member and to emit and project said first and second beams of light downward onto the target area within a perimeter of said base member, a bottom surface of said base member comprising a first curved contour on a first side and a second curved contour on a second side opposite said first side, said first and second curved contours of said bottom surface respectively configured to be received upon the arm of the patient to support said vein imager at a position to overlie the target area for imaging and projecting thereon, said bottom surface comprising a third side, said third side having a concave contour configured to provide access to the target area.

2. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

A piece of hook material fixedly secured to said first side of said base; and

A strap having a first end fixedly secured to said second side of said base, said strap comprising a piece of loop material fixedly secured thereto;

said strap thereby configured to releasably secure said vein enhancing device to the arm of the patient using said hook and loop materials.

3. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 2, wherein said transparent material of said base member comprises a clear plastic.

4. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 2, wherein said transparent material of said base member comprises glass.

5. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 2, further comprising a control panel configured with means for providing visual enhancements to said projected image.

6. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 5, further comprising a combiner configured to combine said beam of light from said first laser and said beam of light from said second laser into a single beam of light;

and wherein said scanner is configured to scan said combined first and second wavelengths of laser light onto the target surface.

7. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 6, wherein said vein imager comprises a housing configured to receive said first laser, said scanner, said photodetector, said second laser, and said combiner therein.

8. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 7, further comprising a compartment in said housing configured to house a battery.

9. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 8, further comprising a cap configured to secure and to provide access to said compartment in said housing.

10. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 9, wherein said scanner is further configured to scan said first wavelength of laser light from said first laser in a pattern, said pattern being a pattern from the group of patterns consisting of:

a raster pattern and a Lissajous pattern.

11. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 10, wherein said first laser is configured to emit said beam of light at a wavelength in the range of 700 nm to 1000 nm, and said second laser is configured to emit said beam of light at a visible wavelength.

12. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 11, wherein said first laser is configured to emit said beam of light at a wavelength of 740 nm and said second laser is configured to emit said beam of light at a wavelength of 630 nm.

13. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 1, further comprising a control panel configured with a means for providing visual enhancement to said projected image.

14. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for releasably securing said vein enhancing device to the patient.

15. A portable vein enhancing device, for use in imaging of one or more veins beneath a target surface on a patient, said portable vein enhancing device comprising:

means for imaging subcutaneous veins of the target area and for projecting said image onto the target area; and

a base member comprising a transparent material and extending downward from said means for imaging and projecting, said means for imaging and projecting configured to be mounted to a top portion of said base member and to image and project downward from and onto the target area within a perimeter of said base member, a bottom surface of said base member comprising a first curved contour on a first side and a second curved contour on a second side opposite said first side, said first and second curved contours of said bottom surface each respectively configured to be received upon a portion of the patient to support said means for imaging and projecting at a position to overlie the target area for imaging and projecting thereon, said bottom surface comprising a third side, said third side having a concave contour configured to provide access to the target area.

16. The portable vein enhancing device according to claim 15, further comprising means for releasably seeming said base member to the patient.