Three dimensional imaging of veins

• US 9,042,966 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Original Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Inventors: Goldman, Ron, Wood, Fred, Conlon, Stephen P., Luciano, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): KISH, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US14/276,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/473
• 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

A three dimensional imaging system includes a first laser emitting light at a first wavelength, and a scanner for scanning the laser light in a pattern on the target area. A photo detector receives light reflected from the target area as a contrasted vein image, resulting from differential absorption and reflection therein of the first wavelength of light. The intensity of the first laser is incrementally increased, and the photo detector thereby receives a plurality of contrasted vein images, each being at incrementally distinct depths beneath the target skin surface. Image processing is performed on the plurality of vein images to successively layer the veins in the images according to their depth, to create a single processed vein image. A second laser emitting a second wavelength of light is used in combination with the scanner to project the processed vein image onto the target area to overlay the veins therein.

Claims

1. A three dimensional imaging system comprising:

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

a second laser configured to emit light at a second wavelength being different from said first wavelength;

means for incrementally increasing an intensity of said first wavelength of light emitted by said first laser;

means for scanning said laser light from said first and second lasers onto a target;

a photodetector configured to receive and to be responsive to said first wavelength of light reflected from the target, said photodetector further configured to output a respective signal representing each of a plurality (N) of vein images, based on said received light, by differential absorption of said first wavelength, each of said plurality of vein images corresponding to an incrementally distinct depth beneath the target, formed by said incrementally increasing intensity of said first wavelength of light;

means for image processing configured to successively layer said plurality of vein images according to said incrementally distinct depth to create a processed vein image, said means for image processing further configured to transmit said processed vein image as a signal to said second laser;

said second laser and said means for scanning configured to project said processed vein image onto the target.

2. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising a counter configured to cyclically count a present vein image of said plurality of vein images, being in the range of 1 to N.

3. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 2 wherein said means for incrementally increasing said intensity of said first wavelength of light is configured to incrementally increase said intensity linearly between said image count of 1 and said image count of N.

4. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising a combiner configured to combine said laser light from said first and second lasers.

5. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 4

wherein said means for scanning is further configured to scan said combined laser light in a raster pattern;

wherein said second wavelength of light comprises light at a wavelength of 630 nm; and

wherein said first wavelength of light comprises light at a wavelength of 740 nm.

6. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 4 further comprising a mirror configured to reflect said combined laser light to said means for scanning.

7. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising a means for sensing a position of said means for scanning relative to the target;

and wherein said means for sensing in configured to communicate said position to said second laser.

8. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said means for image processing is further configured to replace each of said successively layered plurality of vein images of said processed vein image with a unique graphical representation.

9. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 8 wherein each said unique graphical representation comprises a unique pattern;

and wherein each said unique pattern is from the group of patterns consisting of;

a dot pattern, a diagonal striped pattern, and a checkered pattern.

10. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 8 wherein said unique graphical representation comprises a solid image having a uniquely different intensity for each of said successively layered plurality of vein images;

and wherein said solid image for said first vein image at a first intensity of said incrementally increasing intensity of said first wavelength of light comprises a dark solid image, and wherein said solid image for said N^th vein image comprises a lighter solid image.

11. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 8 wherein said second laser is further configured to emit light at a plurality of other wavelengths different from said first and second wavelengths;

and wherein said unique graphical representation comprises projection by said second laser of a respective one of said wavelengths for each of said successively layered plurality of vein images.

12. A three dimensional imaging system comprising:

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

a second laser configured to emit light at a second wavelength being different from said first wavelength;

means for incrementally increasing an intensity of said first wavelength of light emitted by said first laser;

a scanner configured to scan said laser light from said first and second lasers onto a target;

a photodetector configured to receive and to be responsive to said first wavelength of light reflected from the target, said photodetector further configured to output a respective signal representing each of a plurality (N) of vein images, based on said received light, by differential absorption of said first wavelength, each of said plurality of vein images corresponding to an incrementally distinct depth within the target, formed by said incrementally increasing intensity of said first wavelength of light;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive and to successively convert each of said plurality of vein images into a digital image;

a memory configured to receive and store each of said plurality of digital images;

an image formatter configured to receive said plurality of digital images from said memory and to successively layer said plurality of vein images according to said incrementally distinct depth to create a processed vein image, said image formatter further configured to output said processed vein image as a digital image;

a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive said processed vein image and to convert said digital image into an analog image signal, and to output said analog image signal to said second laser, said second laser and said scanner configured to scan said processed vein image onto the target.

13. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 12 further comprising means for sensing an instantaneous position of said scanner relative to the target for each of said plurality of vein images at said incrementally distinct depths;

said means for sensing further configured for outputting said instantaneous position information for storage in said memory; and

wherein said second laser and said scanner are further configured to receive said position information from said memory and to scan said plurality of vein images according to said position information to be visibly focused on the target.

14. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 13 further comprising a counter configured to cyclically count a present vein image of said plurality of vein images, being in the range of 1 to N images, said present vein image count of said counter configured to signal said means for incrementally increasing said intensity of said first wavelength of light emitted by said first laser to cause a subsequent incremental increase in said intensity.

15. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 14 wherein said means for incrementally increasing said intensity of said first wavelength of light is configured to incrementally increase said intensity linearly between said image count of 1 and said image count of N.

16. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 15 further comprising a combiner configured to combine said laser light from said first and second lasers.

17. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said image formatter is further configured to replace each of said successively layered plurality of vein images of said processed vein image with a unique graphical representation.

18. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 17 wherein each said unique graphical representation comprises a unique pattern;

and wherein each said unique pattern is from the group of patterns consisting of;

a dot pattern, a diagonal striped pattern, and a checkered pattern.

19. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 17 wherein said unique graphical representation comprises a solid image having a uniquely different intensity for each of said successively layered plurality of vein images;

and wherein said solid image for said first vein image at a first intensity of said incrementally increasing intensity of said first wavelength of light comprises a dark solid image, and wherein said solid image for said N^th vein image comprises a lighter solid image.

20. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 19 wherein said second laser is further configured to emit light at a plurality of other wavelengths different from said first and second wavelengths;

and wherein said unique graphical representation comprises projection by said second laser of a respective one of said wavelengths for each of said successively layered plurality of vein images.

21. A three dimensional imaging system comprising:

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

a second laser configured to emit light at a second wavelength being different from said first wavelength;

means for incrementally increasing an intensity of said first wavelength of light emitted by said first laser;

a scanner configured to scan said laser light from said first and second lasers onto a target;

a photodetector configured to receive and to be responsive to said first wavelength of light reflected from the target, said photodetector further configured to output a respective signal representing each of a plurality (N) of vein images, based on said received light, by differential absorption of said first wavelength, each of said plurality of vein images corresponding to an incrementally distinct depth beneath the target, formed by said incrementally increasing intensity of said first wavelength of light;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive and to successively convert each of said plurality of vein images into a digital image;

a memory configured to receive and store each of said plurality of digital images;

a stereo display device;

a computer and imaging software configured to receive each of said plurality of digital images from said memory and to provide a three-dimensional rendering of the veins in said vein images to said stereo display device, for display of the veins thereon.