Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer using a single laser
First Claim
1. A miniature vein enhancer, for use in imaging subcutaneous blood vessels of a target surface, said miniature vein enhancer comprising:
- an arrangement of one or more mirrors and one laser, said one laser configured to emit a beam consisting of light at a selective red wavelength being in the range of 630 nm to 750 nm, said beam of red laser light being received upon said one or more mirrors and thereby reflected onto a target surface to create a spot of light thereon, said spot of light being directed to move rapidly thereon in a pattern using said arrangement of one or more mirrors and a mirror drive system, said mirror drive system configured to drive said arrangement of one or more mirrors to move selectively to repetitively generate a sequentially growing and collapsing pattern of said selective red wavelength of light, said mirror drive system further configured to drive said arrangement of one or more mirrors to amplitude modulate said growing and collapsing pattern at a rate of at least 30 Hz, said growing and collapsing pattern of said selective wavelength of red light configured to image the blood vessels through differential absorption; and
said miniature vein enhancer comprising means for adjusting power to said one laser, to selectively adjust an intensity of said beam of laser light to change the depth of penetration through the skin of the target surface.
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Accused Products
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.
189 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A miniature vein enhancer, for use in imaging subcutaneous blood vessels of a target surface, said miniature vein enhancer comprising:
- an arrangement of one or more mirrors and one laser, said one laser configured to emit a beam consisting of light at a selective red wavelength being in the range of 630 nm to 750 nm, said beam of red laser light being received upon said one or more mirrors and thereby reflected onto a target surface to create a spot of light thereon, said spot of light being directed to move rapidly thereon in a pattern using said arrangement of one or more mirrors and a mirror drive system, said mirror drive system configured to drive said arrangement of one or more mirrors to move selectively to repetitively generate a sequentially growing and collapsing pattern of said selective red wavelength of light, said mirror drive system further configured to drive said arrangement of one or more mirrors to amplitude modulate said growing and collapsing pattern at a rate of at least 30 Hz, said growing and collapsing pattern of said selective wavelength of red light configured to image the blood vessels through differential absorption; and
said miniature vein enhancer comprising means for adjusting power to said one laser, to selectively adjust an intensity of said beam of laser light to change the depth of penetration through the skin of the target surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- an arrangement of one or more mirrors and one laser, said one laser configured to emit a beam consisting of light at a selective red wavelength being in the range of 630 nm to 750 nm, said beam of red laser light being received upon said one or more mirrors and thereby reflected onto a target surface to create a spot of light thereon, said spot of light being directed to move rapidly thereon in a pattern using said arrangement of one or more mirrors and a mirror drive system, said mirror drive system configured to drive said arrangement of one or more mirrors to move selectively to repetitively generate a sequentially growing and collapsing pattern of said selective red wavelength of light, said mirror drive system further configured to drive said arrangement of one or more mirrors to amplitude modulate said growing and collapsing pattern at a rate of at least 30 Hz, said growing and collapsing pattern of said selective wavelength of red light configured to image the blood vessels through differential absorption; and
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15. A method of imaging subcutaneous blood vessels beneath a target surface, said method comprising:
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emitting a beam of light, using one laser, said beam of light consisting of light at a selective red wavelength, receiving said beam of light from said one laser upon an arrangement of one or more movable mirrors, and causing said beam of red laser light to create a spot of light directed onto the target surface, selectively moving said one or more movable mirrors, using a mirror drive system, for directing said spot of light to move rapidly across the target surface; generating a pattern of light using said arrangement of one or more mirrors and said selective moving of said spot by said one or more mirrors, amplitude modulating said pattern of light, using said mirror drive system, for repetitively generating a sequentially growing and collapsing pattern of light, imaging of the subcutaneous blood vessels, using said growing and collapsing pattern of light, through differential absorption and reflection from the target surface of said selective red wavelength of light of said spot moving in said pattern, and controlling an image depth of penetration beneath the target skin surface for the subcutaneous blood vessels to be imaged using means for controlling an intensity of said one laser. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification