Patient-mounted micro vein enhancer
The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer, for use in imaging the subcutaneous veins of a target area of a patient by a practitioner. The miniature vein enhancer includes a Miniature Projection Head that is secured to a tourniquet, where the tourniquet may be mounted to the bicep of a patient. The Miniature Projection Head includes a housing, and apparatus that images subcutaneous veins of the target area, and projects the image(s) of the veins onto the target area to overlie the subcutaneous veins, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein location for a venipuncture procedure such as an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like.
1. A miniature vein enhancer, for use in imaging the subcutaneous veins of a target area of a patient by a practitioner, said miniature vein enhancer comprising: a miniature projection head, said miniature projection head comprising means for imaging subcutaneous veins of the target area and for projecting said image onto the target area to overlie the subcutaneous veins, said miniature projection head comprising a housing configured to receive said means for imaging and projecting, said housing comprising an opening, an optical path of said means for imaging and projecting being through said opening in said housing; said miniature vein enhancer comprising a tourniquet configured to be secured to a patient's bicep, said miniature projection head mounted to a portion of said tourniquet.
2. A vein-imaging apparatus, for use in imaging the subcutaneous veins of a target area of a patient by a practitioner, said vein-imaging apparatus comprising: a miniature projection head, said miniature projection head comprising a first laser; a photodetector; a second laser, said first laser configured to transmit a beam of light at a selective wavelength, said photodetector configured to receive an image of the subcutaneous veins of the target area formed by differential absorption and reflection of said selective wavelength of light by the subcutaneous veins and the surrounding tissue, said photodetector further configured to provide an output representative of said received image, and said second laser configured to transmit a beam of laser light to selectively project said received image onto the target area using said output of said photodetector; and a housing configured to receive and support said first laser, said photodetector, and said second laser; said vein-imaging apparatus further comprising: a tourniquet configured for securement to a patient's bicep, said miniature projection head mounted to a portion of said tourniquet.
3. The vein-imaging apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said miniature projection head further comprises a combiner configured to combine said first and second beams of laser light transmitted by said first and second lasers to be transmitted along a single optical path.
4. The vein-imaging apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said miniature projection head further comprises a scanner, said scanner configured to scan said combined beams of laser light through an opening in said housing, and in a pattern onto the target area.
5. The vein-imaging apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said beam of light from said first laser is transmitted at a first wavelength and said beam of light from said second laser is transmitted at a second wavelength, with said second wavelength of light being different from said first wavelength.
6. The vein-imaging apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first laser is configured to transmit light at one or more infrared wavelengths and said second laser is configured to transmit light at one or more visible wavelengths.
7. The vein-imaging apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first laser transmits light at a wavelength of 740 nm and said second laser transmits light at a wavelength of 630 nm.