Method To Facilitate A Dermatological Procedure
The present invention relates to a process to facilitate dermatological procedures by illuminating a body part including at least one vein with a wavelength of light that is adsorbed by blood; producing a visible light image of said vein; coaxially projecting a computer-enhanced visible light image of the at least one vein onto the patients; and conducting a dermatological procedure on the patient. In one embodiment, the vein is a feeder vein. This method can be used to facilitate phlebectomy, sclerotherapy and botulinium toxin injection.
1 . A method to conduct a dermatological procedure on a patient, wherein the location of at least one vein facilitates said procedure comprising:
a) illuminating a body part including at least one vein with a wavelength of light that is adsorbed by blood;
b) producing a visible light image of said at least one vein;
c) coaxially projecting a computer-enhanced visible light image of said at least one vein on to said patient; and
d) conducting a dermatological procedure on said patient with knowledge of the location of the at least one vein.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said dermatological procedure is phlebectomy.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said dermatological procedure is sclerotherapy.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said dermatological procedure is a botulinium toxin injection.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein said vein is a feeder vein not visible to the eye or detectable by ultrasound.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one vein is avoided during said dermatological procedure.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one vein is accessed during said dermatological procedure.