Accuvein, Inc.

Accuveiw, Inc.

Accuview, Inc.

Vincent Luciano

Fred Wood

Ron Goldman

Stephen P Conlon

It is known in the art to use an apparatus to enhance the visual appearance of the veins and arteries in a patient to facilitate insertion of needles into those veins and arteries. This application discloses a number of inventions that add additional data collection and presentation capabilities to a handheld vein enhancement apparatus and a set of processes for the collection of blood and the delivery of IV medicines that use the handheld device to mediate the process.

Vein imaging device with differential image resolution at the center and the extremities of the vein image

A vein imager includes: a laser emitting a light beam in a first optical path; and scanner directing the beam to form a spot of light on the target, and scanning the beam to move the spot rapidly on the target. An optical element bounces the beam of light from the first optical path onto a second optical path, directing the beam at the scanner. The scanner directs an image portion, received from the target, along the second optical path toward the photodiode, the image portion being an afterglow formed by differential reflection and absorption of the scanned spot by surrounding tissue and blood vessels. A lens is positioned/configured to limit a size of the photodiode FOV to a portion of the target surface, which size encompasses only the spot size and a portion of the afterglow. The limited photodiode FOV thus moves synchronously with the scanned spot.

Vein scanner with limited photodiode FOV moving synchronously with scanned laser light

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.

Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer with reduced laser intensity during scan line reversals

A portable hand-held miniature vein enhancer comprises: a housing, laser, one or more mirrors, mirror drive system, and sensor to determine a distance to the target. The laser emits a beam of light at a selective wavelength that images subcutaneous veins through differential absorption and reflection. The mirror(s) receive the beam of light and create a spot of light on the target, and when driven by the mirror drive system to oscillate, the spot is scanned to form a two-dimensionally shaped pattern of light. The scanned spot of light moves according to a range of angular positions of the mirror(s). When the distance to the target is at or below a threshold distance, the range of angular positions is set to a maximum, producing the largest scan pattern. When the distance increases beyond the threshold, the range of angular positions is reduced proportional to the increased distance.

Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer with scanning correlated to target distance

A vein imager includes: a housing with first and second portions respectively proximate to first and second ends of the imager; a first light source that emits a first wavelength; an optical detector responsive to the first wavelength and which converts a received vein image into a signal; a second light source that emits a second wavelength; one or more buttons protruding from the housing; and at least one exit opening in the housing for emission of light from the light sources. The first housing portion houses the light sources, the optical detectors, and includes the exit opening. The second housing portion, which houses a battery, is narrower than the first portion to be hand-holdable permitting single-handed lifting and use of the imager, which single-hand lifting and use does not cover the exit opening, and simultaneously permits actuation of the one or more buttons while holding the second housing portion.

Vein scanner configured for single-handed lifting and use

An apparatus and method for insuring the proper alignment of a detected vein pattern and a projected vein pattern are disclosed. The apparatus enhances the visual appearance of veins so that an error that can lead to improper patient care or injury can be avoided.

Automatic alignment of a contrast enhancement system

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.

Vein scanner with housing configured for single-handed lifting and use

Vein imager and cradle in combination

Vein imager cradle

Portable hand-held vein-image-enhancing device

An apparatus for capturing a multispectral image of an object is described. The apparatus includes one or more means for transmitting a beam of laser light at a first wavelength and a beam of laser light at one or more additional wavelengths different from the first wavelength. There is a means for causing the beams of laser light to travel in a coaxial path and a moving mirror. The beams of light bounce off the mirror thereby producing a two dimensional projection pattern. This pattern travels from the mirror along a first path to an object and wherein some of the laser light penetrates the object and travels to an internal structure of the object. The reflection of the laser light returns to a photo detector along a path different from said first path.

Multispectral detection and presentation of an object's characteristics

A miniature vein enhancer is operated in one of three modes to project an image of a patient's veins onto the imaged body region, aiding a practitioner in pinpointing veins for a venipuncture procedure (intravenous drip, withdrawing blood . . . ). In one embodiment that uses two wavelengths of light (e.g., using two lasers), the image is obtained using red or infrared light, and is projected using visible light. In another embodiment using two wavelengths of light, the vein image is obtained using the first wavelength (red or infrared), and a fluorescent material (e.g., cream) sensitive to the second wavelength is applied to the skin surface, so that transmission of the imaged vein locations using the second wavelength energizes the fluorescent cream to visualize the veins on the skin surface. A three laser embodiment uses a third wavelength (violet or ultraviolet) to detect surface topology and subtract that noise from the vein image.

Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer utilizing surface topology

Trigger-actuated laser vein contrast enhancer

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.

Growing community of inventors

Shoreham, NY, United States of America

Vincent Luciano