Three dimensional imaging of veins

• US 9,788,788 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AccuVein LLC, Acouvein, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AccuVein LLC
• Inventors: Goldman, Ron, Wood, Fred, Conlon, Stephen P, Luciano, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): KISH, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US14/712,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20150351636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

An apparatus and method for creating a three dimensional imaging system is disclosed. There is a first source of laser light and a second source of laser light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the laser light of the first source. The laser light from the first and second sources are combined, and the combined laser light is transmitted to a scanner. The scanner further transmits the combined light to a surface to be imaged.

Claims

1. A method of creating a layered vein image of subcutaneous veins beneath a target skin surface of a patient, and for projecting the image onto the surface, said method comprising:

(a) emitting a first beam of light at a first wavelength;

(b) emitting a second beam of light at a second wavelength being different than said first wavelength;

(c) combining said first beam of light and said second beam of light into a single combined beam of light;

(d) scanning said single combined beam of light in a pattern, and onto the target skin surface, using a scanner;

(e) receiving a contrasted vein image formed of said first wavelength of light, by a photodetector responsive to said first wavelength, after being differentially absorbed and reflected by veins and surrounding tissue of the target skin surface;

(f) converting said contrasted vein image into a digital image, using an analog-to-digital converter;

(g) storing said digital vein image in a memory;

(h) increasing an intensity of said first wavelength of light, by one or more increments, and repeating steps (a) through (g) for each said one or more incrementally increased light intensities, and storing, in said memory, a corresponding one or more digital vein images being at one or more incrementally increased depths beneath the target skin surface;

(i) creating a processed vein image by layering of each vein in said stored vein images, by depicting veins being at a greater depth as appearing beneath veins at a shallower depth;

(j) converting said processed vein image from a digital image into an analog image, using a digital-to-analog converter; and

(k) scanning said analog processed vein image onto the target skin surface using said second wavelength of light.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising replacing each vein of said processed vein image with a unique pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising replacing each vein of said processed vein image with a unique color of light.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising concurrently displaying said processed vein image on computer screen.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising incrementally increasing said intensity of said first wavelength of light for at least two of said incremental increases, and incrementally increasing said intensity in linear increments, with each said incremental increase being the same amount of increase in intensity.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising scanning of said pattern of said single combined beam of light in a raster pattern.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said scanning of said pattern of said single combined beam of light onto the target skin surface comprises scanning a field of view of said scan pattern to correspond with a top of the target skin surface of the patient.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising correcting a size of said veins in each of said stored vein images prior to said layering and scanning onto the target skin surface, by performing a trigonometric scaling process for each said layered vein image, according to a difference between a distance of said scanner to the target skin surface, and a respective distance of said scanner to each of said one or more incrementally increased depths beneath the target skin surface for said corresponding one or more vein images.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

scanning said pattern of said single combined beam of light onto the target skin surface by scanning said single combined beam of light to strike a parabolic mirror configured for reflecting of each portion of said scanned light to be parallel and directed towards the target skin surface; and

said receiving of said reflected first wavelength of light from the target skin surface by said photodetector comprising said photodetector receiving said reflected first wavelength of light from the target skin surface after being reflected thereto by said parabolic mirror.

10. A method of creating a layered vein image of subcutaneous veins beneath a target skin surface of a patient, and for projecting the image onto the surface, said method comprising:

(a) scanning a first wavelength of light in a pattern, and onto the target skin surface, using a scanner;

(b) receiving a contrasted vein image formed of said first wavelength of light, by a photodetector responsive to said first wavelength, after being differentially absorbed and reflected by veins and surrounding tissue beneath the target skin surface;

(c) converting said contrasted vein image into a digital image, using an analog-to-digital converter;

(d) storing said digital vein image in a memory;

(e) increasing an intensity of said first wavelength of light, by one or more increments, and repeating steps (a) through (d) for each said one or more incrementally increased light intensities, and storing, in said memory, a corresponding one or more digital vein images being at one or more incrementally increased depths beneath the target skin surface;

(f) creating a processed vein image by layering of each vein in said stored vein images, by depicting veins being at a greater depth as appearing beneath veins at a shallower depth;

(g) converting said processed vein image from a digital image into an analog image, using a digital-to-analog converter; and

(h) scanning said analog processed vein image onto the target skin surface with a second wavelength of light, using said scanner.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising combining a beam of said first wavelength of light with a beam of said second wavelength of light, for simultaneous scanning of said first and second wavelengths of light by said scanner.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising replacing each vein of said processed vein image with a unique pattern.

13. The method according to claim 10 further comprising replacing each vein of said processed vein image with a unique color of light.

14. The method according to claim 10 further comprising concurrently displaying said processed vein image on computer screen.

15. The method according to claim 10 further comprising incrementally increasing said intensity of said first wavelength of light for at least two of said incremental increases, and incrementally increasing said intensity in linear increments, with each said incremental increase being the same amount of increase in intensity.

16. The method according to claim 10 further comprising scanning of each of said first and second wavelengths of light in a raster pattern.

17. The method according to claim 10 wherein said scanning of said pattern of said single combined beam of light onto the target skin surface comprises scanning a field of view of said scan pattern to correspond with a top of the target skin surface of the patient.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising correcting a size of said veins in each of said stored vein images prior to said layering and scanning onto the target skin surface, by performing a trigonometric scaling process for each said layered vein image, according to a difference between a distance of said scanner to the target skin surface, and a respective distance of said scanner to each of said one or more incrementally increased depths beneath the target skin surface for said corresponding one or more vein images.

19. The method according to claim 10 wherein said scanning onto the target skin comprises scanning said light to strike a parabolic mirror configured for reflecting of each portion of said scanned light to be parallel and directed towards the target skin surface;

and said receiving of said reflected first wavelength of light from the target skin surface by said photodetector comprising said photodetector receiving said reflected first wavelength of light from the target skin surface alter being reflected thereto by said parabolic mirror.

20. A method of creating a vein image of subcutaneous veins beneath a target skin surface of a patient'"'"'s limb, and for projecting the image onto the surface to indicate relative depths of the veins therein, said method comprising;

(a) setting a count of an image counter to one;

(b) scanning a first wavelength of light in a pattern, and onto the target skin surface, using a scanner;

(c) receiving a contrasted vein pattern image formed of said first wavelength of light, by a photodetector responsive to said first wavelength, after being differentially absorbed and reflected by veins and surrounding tissue beneath the target skin surface;

(d) converting said contrasted image into a digital image, using an analog-to-digital converter;

(e) storing said digital vein image in a memory;

(f) increasing said count of said image counter by one, and increasing an intensity of said first wavelength of light, by an incremental amount, and repeating steps (b) through (d) for said incrementally increased light intensity;

(g) subtracting said vein pattern image for said unitarily increased image count from said stored vein image for said penultimate image count, and wherein when a different contrasted vein pattern is detected, storing said different contrasted image in said memory;

(h) repeating steps (f) through (g) until said count of said image counter reaches a desired count corresponding to a vein image penetrating to a desired depth of the limb beneath the target skin surface;

(i) creating a processed vein pattern image by layering of each said stored vein pattern images, by depicting veins being at a greater depth as appearing beneath veins at a shallower depth;

(j) converting said processed vein pattern image from a digital image to an analog image, using a digital-to-analog converter; and

(k) scanning said analog processed vein pattern image onto the target skin surface with a second wavelength of light, using said scanner.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising correcting a size of said veins in each of said stored vein images prior to said layering and scanning onto the target skin surface, by performing a trigonometric scaling process for each said layered vein image, according to a difference between a distance of said scanner to the target skin surface, and a respective distance of said scanner to each of said one or more incrementally increased depths beneath the target skin surface for said corresponding one or more vein images.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said scanning onto the target skin comprises scanning said light to strike a parabolic mirror configured for reflecting of each portion of said scanned light to be parallel and directed towards the target skin surface;

and said receiving of said reflected first wavelength of light from the target skin surface by said photodetector comprising said photodetector receiving said reflected first wavelength of light from the target skin surface after being reflected thereto by said parabolic mirror.