Vein scanner

• US 20110125028A1
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Original Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Inventors: Luciano, Vincent, Wood, Fred, Goldman, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• 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 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives

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.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for identifying vasculature information of a patient to aid in venipuncture processes, said apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a means for providing power to said apparatus;

a display;

a first laser diode and a second laser diode;

said first laser diode emitting at least a first wavelength of light and said second laser diode emitting at least a second wavelength of light;

said at least a second wavelength being different than said at least a first wavelength of light;

one or more optical detectors;

said one or more optical detectors each being responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light;

said one or more optical detectors converting a contrasted infrared image reflected from a patient into an electrical signal; and

electronic circuitry;

said electronic circuitry being adapted to minimize noise;

said electronic circuitry being usable for projection of said noise-minimized vein image and vasculature information upon a patient'"'"'s skin surface using said at least a second wavelength of light.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identified vasculature information comprises one or more of:

vein locations, vein depth, vein diameter, and degree of certainty of said identified vein location.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said projection of vein information comprises projection from the group consisting of:

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas without veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a negative image; and

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas with veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a positive image.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least a first wavelength of light comprises at least a wavelength of infrared light, and said at least a second wavelength of light comprises at least a wavelength of visible light.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said electronic circuitry being adapted to reduce noise comprises said electronic circuitry amplifying, summing, and filtering said signal of each of said one or more optical detectors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said electronic circuitry comprises an image processing algorithm, said image processing algorithm being usable for projection of said noise minimized vein image and vasculature information upon a patient'"'"'s skin surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a complex programmable logic device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said complex programmable logic device loads a pixel count into a first register for when laser projection occurs, and loads a pixel count into a second register for when projection does not occur.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said one or more optical detectors comprises one or more silicon PIN photodiodes.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said one or more silicon PIN photodiodes comprises a pair of silicon PIN photodiodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a mean of providing user input to said electronic circuitry.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means of providing user input comprises a keypad.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means of providing user input comprises a touch screen.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display screen.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said electronic circuitry further comprises a user interface board, said user interface board comprising firmware.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a USB port, said USB port permitting connection to a PC to update said firmware of said apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said firmware permits operation of said apparatus with different user settings.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said firmware stores preferences of a user and sends a graphic user interface to said display.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said electronic circuitry further comprises a photodiode circuit board and electronic components.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said photodiode circuit board is programmed to recognize a coated venipuncture needle to thereby enhance projection by said apparatus of an outline of said coated needle when a portion is inserted beneath a patient'"'"'s skin.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said special coating comprises a coating material from the group of materials consisting of:

material that absorbs a specified amount of light from said first laser diode; and

material that reflects a specified amount of light from said first laser diode.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said coating comprises glucose.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said light emitted by said first photodiode and second photodiode is aligned on the same optical axis and scanned simultaneously.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said light emitted by said first photodiode and second photodiode is aligned by a dichroic optical filter element.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said dichroic optical filter element permits a minimal time delay in detecting said contrasted infrared image, and in subsequent re-projecting of said image.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said projection is accomplished by loading appropriate compare registers in said complex programmable logic device;

and wherein said “

left”

register is loaded with the pixel count of when said second laser diode should be turned off, and the “

right”

register loaded with the pixel count of when said second laser diode should be turned back on.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said projection of said noise-minimized vein image upon a patient'"'"'s skin surface is improved by maintaining a laser spot upon the skin surface at a selected size.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein maintaining said laser spot of a selected size is accomplished using said beam of laser light with focusing from the group consisting of:

fixed laser-focusing optics, or an auto-focusing system.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said one or more optical detectors comprises an array of silicon PIN photodiodes.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a field of view of each of said array of photodiodes is arranged to cover area reachable by said light emitted by said first laser diode.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a fan and a heat sink proximate to said first and second laser diodes;

and wherein said fan directs air flow across a portion of said heat sink and out of said housing.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said first laser diode emits light with a wavelength of 642 nm, and said second laser diode emits light with a wavelength of 785 nm.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said means for providing power to said apparatus comprises a battery.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said apparatus is handheld during said venipuncture process.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery, being rechargeable within a storage cradle.

36. A portable apparatus for identifying vasculature information of a patient to aid in venipuncture processes, said apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a means for providing power to said apparatus;

a display;

a first laser diode and a second laser diode;

said first laser diode emitting at least a first wavelength of light and said second laser diode emitting at least a second wavelength of light;

said at least a second wavelength being different that said at least a first wavelength of light;

one or more optical detectors;

said one or more optical detectors each being responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light;

said one or more optical detectors converting a contrasted infrared image reflected from a patient into an electrical signal; and

electronic circuitry;

said electronic circuitry comprising an image processing algorithm being usable for projection of said contrasted vein image and vasculature information upon a patient'"'"'s skin surface using said at least a second wavelength of light.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said identified vasculature information comprises one or more of vein locations, vein depth, vein diameter, and degree of certainty of said identified vein location.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said projection of vein information comprises projection from the group consisting of:

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas without veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a negative image; and

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas with veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a positive image.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said at least a first wavelength of light comprises at least a wavelength of infrared light, and said at least a second wavelength of light comprises at least a wavelength of visible light.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said electronic circuitry is adapted to reduce noise by said electronic circuitry amplifying, summing, and filtering said signal of each of said one or more optical detectors.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a complex programmable logic device, said complex programmable logic device being usable for projection of said noise minimized vein image and vasculature information upon a patient'"'"'s skin surface by loading a pixel count into a first register for when laser projection occurs, and by loading a pixel count into a second register for when projection does not occur.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said one or more optical detectors comprises a pair of silicon PIN photodiodes.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said means for providing power to said apparatus comprises a battery.

44. A portable apparatus for identifying vasculature information of a patient to aid in venipuncture processes, said apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a means for providing power to said apparatus;

a display;

a first laser diode and a second laser diode;

said first laser diode emitting at least a first wavelength of light and said second laser diode emitting at least a second wavelength of light;

said at least a second wavelength being different that said at least a first wavelength of light;

one or more optical detectors;

said one or more optical detectors each being responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light;

said one or more optical detectors converting a contrasted infrared image reflected from a patient into an electrical signal; and

electronic circuitry;

said electronic circuitry comprising a complex programmable logic device being usable for projection of said contrasted vein image and vasculature information upon a patient'"'"'s skin surface using said at least a second wavelength of light.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said identified vasculature information comprises one or more of:

vein locations, vein depth, vein diameter, and degree of certainty of said identified vein location.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said projection of vein information comprises projection from the group consisting of:

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas without veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a negative image; and

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas with veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a positive image.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said means for providing power to said apparatus comprises a battery.

48. A portable apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a means for providing power to said apparatus;

a display;

a first laser diode;

said first laser diode emitting at least a first wavelength of light;

one or more optical detectors;

said one or more optical detectors each being responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light;

said one or more optical detectors converting a contrasted infrared image reflected from a patient into an electrical signal;

a projection means; and

electronic circuitry;

said electronic circuitry comprising an image processing algorithm being usable for projection of said contrasted vein image and vasculature information upon a patient'"'"'s skin surface using said at least a second wavelength of light.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said at least a first wavelength of light comprises at least a wavelength of infrared light.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein said projection means is from the group consisting of:

a second laser diode emitting at least a wavelength of visible light;

a DLP projector;

an LCoS micro-projector;

or a holographic projector.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said identified vasculature information comprises one or more of:

vein locations, vein depth, vein diameter, and degree of certainty of said identified vein location.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said projection of vein information comprises projection from the group consisting of:

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas without veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a negative image; and

projecting said visible light of said second laser diode to illuminate areas with veins to thereby reveal vein locations in a positive image.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said one or more optical detectors comprises a pair of silicon PIN photodiodes.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein said means for providing power to said apparatus comprises a battery.

55. The combination of a portable apparatus for identifying vasculature locations of a patient to aid in venipuncture processes, and a coated venipuncture needle being identifiable by said apparatus when inserted beneath skin of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a means for providing power to said apparatus;

a display;

a first laser diode and a second laser diode;

said first laser diode emitting at least a first wavelength of light and said second laser diode emitting at least a second wavelength of light;

said at least a second wavelength being different that said at least a first wavelength;

one or more optical detectors;

said one or more optical detectors each being responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light;

said one or more optical detectors converting a contrasted infrared image returned from a patient into an electrical signal; and

electronic circuitry, said electronic circuitry comprising an image processing algorithm being usable for projection of said contrasted vein image and projection of said coated needle image onto a skin surface of a patient.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a photodiode circuit board, said photodiode circuit board being programmed to recognize said coating of said coated venipuncture needle to thereby enhance projection by said apparatus of said coated needle image when a portion of said needle is inserted beneath a patient'"'"'s skin.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said coating of said coated venipuncture needle comprises a coating from the group consisting of:

material that absorbs a specified amount of light from said first laser diode; and

material that reflects a specified amount of light from said first laser diode.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said at least a first wavelength of light comprises at least a wavelength of infrared light;

and wherein said coating comprises glucose.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said one or more optical detectors comprises a pair of silicon PIN photodiodes.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said means for providing power to said apparatus comprises a battery.