Micro vein enhancer

• US 20070162094A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Original Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Inventors: Mock, Mark, Hunt, David, Roth, Bob, Goldman, Ron, Marshal, Graham, Conlon, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/89
• 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

1-77. -77. (canceled)

78. A miniature vein enhancer for enhancing a target area on a patient comprising:

a) a body, said body having a top member and a base member, said top member having a miniature projection head said projection head comprising a means to image a target area and project said image along an optical path onto said target area; and

b) a handle portion.

79. A miniature vein enhancer according to claim 78 wherein said handle is removable.

80. A miniature vein enhancer according to claim 78 wherein said handle has a battery charger.

81. A miniature vein enhancer for enhancing a target area on a patient comprising a means to image a target area and project said image along an optical path onto said target area, said means including at least a first color laser source and a second color laser source, and a means for transmitting light in a raster pattern said second laser source transmitting light at a different wavelength than said first laser source, said combiner combining the light from said laser sources and transmitting said light to a means for transmitting light in a raster pattern.

82. The miniature vein enhancer to claim 81 wherein said first laser transmits light at a wavelength of 630 nm.

83. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 81 wherein said second laser transmits light at a wavelength from 700 nm to 1000 nm.

84. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 83 wherein said wavelength is 740 nm.

85. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 81 wherein wherein said combiner transmits the combined light to a mirror.

86. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 81 wherein said means for transmitting light is a raster pattern is a MEMS scanner.

87. A miniature vein enhancer for enhancing a target area on a patient comprising:

a means to image a target area and project said image along an optical path onto said target area said means including a first laser source and a second laser source; and

a combiner and a beam steering means, said second laser source transmitting light at a different wavelength than said first laser source, said combiner combining light from said laser source and said beam steering means creating a scanned laser pattern.

88. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 87 wherein said beam steering means comprises a first mirror and a second mirror.

89. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 88 wherein said first mirror is a one dimensional high speed scanning mirror.

90. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 88 wherein said second mirror is a low speed scanning mirror.

91. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 89 wherein said first mirror scans in a first direction and second mirror is a lower speed mirror than said first mirror that scans in an opposite direction of said first mirror.

92. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 87 wherein said steering means creates a high density pattern.

93. The miniature vein enhancer according to claim 92 wherein said pattern is a Lissajous pattern.

94. A method of enhancing a target area on a patient comprising:

transmitting a color laser from a first light source;

transmitting a color laser from a second light source, said second light source transmitting light at a different wavelength than said first light source;

combining said first and second lasers;

passing said light to a target area on a patient.

95. The method according to claim 94 further comprising:

creating a raster pattern on said target area.

96. The method according to claim 94 further comprising:

creating a high density pattern on a target area.