Near-infrared imager training device

1. A training device, comprising:

a base formed of a thermoplastic elastomeric material;

said thermoplastic elastomeric material transmitting near-infrared radiation;

at least one simulated vein formed in said thermoplastic elastomeric material, said at least one of said simulated veins having a lumen;

each lumen being an elongate cylindrical void formed in said thermoplastic elastomeric material that extends from a first end of said base to a second end of said base;

a blood-simulating fluid disposed in each lumen of said at least one simulated vein; and

said blood-simulating fluid absorbing said near-infrared radiation.

2. The training device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one simulated vein includes at least two simulated veins disposed in said thermoplastic elastomeric material at differing spacings relative to a top surface of said thermoplastic elastomeric material.

3. The training device of claim 2 , further comprising:

said at least two simulated veins including a first simulated vein formed near said top surface of said thermoplastic elastomeric material and a second simulated vein positioned further from said top surface.

4. The training device of claim 3 , further comprising:

said at least two simulated veins including a third simulated vein positioned still further from said top surface of said thermoplastic elastomeric material than said second simulated vein.

5. The training device of claim 1 , wherein said base has a cuboid structure including a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, a front side wall, a back side wall, and two end walls.

6. The training device of claim 5 , further comprising:

each simulated vein of said at least one simulated vein having a length that exceeds a length of said thermoplastic elastomeric material;

each simulated vein of said at least one simulated vein positioned with respect to said base so that opposite ends of each at least one simulated vein extend out of said base at said opposite ends of said base;

a port formed in each opposite end of each at least one simulated vein so that each end is adapted to be placed into fluid communication with a hypodermic syringe or intravenous tubing to enable replenishment of said blood-simulating fluid.

7. The training device of claim 6 , wherein said blood-simulating fluid in the respective lumens of the at least one simulated veins is a non-toxic liquid fluid formed by adding a non-toxic, hydrophilic, infrared-absorbing dye to water, said dyed water absorbing infrared and being visible to a near-infrared vein imaging device.

8. The training device of claim 7 , wherein said dye is indocyanine green mixed with a non-toxic blue colorant at a ratio of about 0.01 gram of said dye to 60 cc of water.

9. The training device of claim 1 , further comprising:

said thermoplastic elastomeric material being a thermoplastic elastomer mixed with forty (40) parts of mineral oil to sixty (60) parts of said thermoplastic elastomer.

10. The training device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a colorant that transmits near-infrared radiation added to said thermoplastic elastomeric material.

11. The training device of claim 10 , wherein said colorant is a cobalt blue colorant.

12. The training device of claim 11 , wherein about 4.7 grams of said colorant is mixed with about 700 grams of said thermoplastic elastomeric material.

13. The training device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a support material disposed in underlying, supporting relation to said thermoplastic elastomeric material;

said support material also disposed in overlying and abutting relation to said end walls of said thermoplastic elastomeric material; and

said support material also being formed of a thermoplastic elastomeric material and being white-in-color and reflecting visible radiation.

14. The training device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a near-infrared radiation-diffusing material added to said thermoplastic elastomeric material that forms said base.

15. The training device of claim 14 , wherein said near-infrared radiation-diffusing material is talcum powder and wherein about one gram of said talcum powder is added to about one kilogram of said thermoplastic elastomeric material by weight as the thermoplastic elastomeric material is being formed so that the talcum powder is evenly mixed throughout the thermoplastic elastomeric material that forms said base;

whereby said simulated vein positioned near said top surface of said base appears black with well-defined edges under near-infrared imaging;

whereby said simulated vein positioned within said thermoplastic elastomeric material at a medium depth appears as a dark shade of gray with less well-defined edges; and;

whereby a simulated vein positioned further from said top surface than said medium depth simulated vein appears as a lighter shade of gray with even less well-defined edges as compared with said darker shade of gray.

16. The training device of claim 15 , wherein talcum powder is also coated on said top surface of said base and after said coating is manually swept off of said top surface so that a residue of talcum powder remains on said top surface, said residue and said talcum powder that is evenly mixed throughout said thermoplastic elastomeric material forming said base cooperating with one another to provide enhanced near-infrared radiation diffusing.

17. The training device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover, white-in-color, that is about two millimeters (2 mm) in thickness and which is applied to said thermoplastic elastomeric material forming said base in overlying relation to said thermoplastic elastomeric material forming said base.

18. The training device of claim 17 , further comprising:

said cover being formed of a clear thermoplastic elastomer that re-seals after puncturing and which transmits infrared radiation.

19. The training device of claim 18 , further comprising:

said thermoplastic elastomer forming said cover including a mixture of titanium dioxide, said mixture including about eight to twenty four grams (8-24 grams) of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) for each one thousand grams (1000 gms) of said thermoplastic elastomer that forms said cover.