Blood tracking system

• US 7,290,896 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fiskars Brands Incorporated (Fiskars Oyj Abp)
• Original Assignee: Fiskars Brands Incorporated (Fiskars Oyj Abp)
• Inventors: Dallas, Edgar A., Karl, Frederick T., Hartley, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cranson, Jr.; James W
• Application Number:
  US11/195,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 362/184, 362/555, 362/231, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/184
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/29 using visual detection G01N21/31 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 Use of several LED's for spectral resolution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A blood tracking system, comprising a light source comprising a first LED configured to emit light of a first color and a second LED configured to emit light of a second color is disclosed. The light of the first color and the light of the second color are mixed to appear as light of a third color when the first LED and the second LED are activated; and wherein the light of a third color is effective for highlighting blood. A method of highlighting a red material comprising illuminating the red material with both red and blue light is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A blood tracking system comprising:

a light source, comprising a first LED configured to emit blue light and a second LED configured to emit red light;

wherein the blue light and the red light are mixed to provide a mixed spot that appears as magenta when the first LED and the second LED are activated; and

wherein the mixed spot highlights blood.

2. The blood tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a total of one to six red LEDs and a total of one to six blue LEDs.

3. The blood tracking system of claim 2, comprising an equal number of red and blue LEDs.

4. The blood tracking system of claim 1, wherein the blood tracking system is a handheld flashlight.

5. The blood tracking system of claim 1, wherein the blood tracking system is a headlamp flashlight.

6. The blood tracking system of claim 1, further comprising an additional light source comprising an emitter of white light.

7. The blood tracking system of claim 6, wherein the additional light source further comprises a reflector and a lens.

8. A flashlight for detecting and tracking blood comprising:

a housing;

a red LED coupled to the housing;

a blue LED coupled to the housing;

a power source, and

an actuator for activating the red LED and the blue LED;

wherein the light emitted by the red LED and the light emitted by the blue LED mix to create a magenta spot that highlights blood.

9. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the flashlight is a headlamp flashlight.

10. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the flashlight is a handheld flashlight.

11. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the red LED emits light at a peak wavelength in the range of about 600 nm to about 740 nm.

12. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the blue LED emits light at a peak wavelength in the range of about 410 nm to about 500 nm.

13. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the red LED emits light about a peak wavelength of about 628 nm, and the blue LED emits light about a peak wavelength of about 470 nm.

14. The flashlight of claim 8, further comprising an additional light source comprising an emitter of white light.

15. The flashlight of claim 14, wherein the additional light source further comprises a reflector and a lens.

16. A method of highlighting a red material comprising:

illuminating the red material with both red and blue light;

wherein the red and blue light are mixed to produce a magenta spot;

whereby the red material is made to appear orange to the human eye.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the red and blue light is provided by a flashlight comprising a red LED and a blue LED.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the flashlight is a handheld flashlight.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the flashlight is a headlamp flashlight.