# US 12,594,052 B2 · Method and device for localizing a vein within a limb > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,052 B2 - Document ID: US12594052B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/787,087 - Filed: 2024-07-29 - Published: 2024-12-05 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-20 - Assignees: Theraclion SA - Applicants: Theraclion SA - Inventors: Michel Nuta; Jérémie Anquez; Anthony Grisey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594052B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/085: {for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules} - A61B 5/489: {Blood vessels} - A61B 8/06: Measuring blood flow - A61B 8/0891: {for diagnosis of blood vessels} - A61B 8/4209: {by using holders, e.g. positioning frames} - A61B 8/4461: {Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe} - A61B 8/488: {involving Doppler signals} - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia - A61B 5/4836: {Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence)} - A61B 8/14: Echotomography - A61B 8/4218: {characterised by articulated arms} - A61B 17/132: Tourniquets {(sphygmomanometer A61B5/022)} - A61B 34/30: Surgical robots - A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound} - A61N 2007/0052: {using the same transducer for therapy and imaging} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A method of localizing and preferably visualizing a vein within a limb, preferably within a leg, of a patient, with an imaging device. The method includes the following steps of: fully or partially collapsing at least a segment of the vein to be localized at a collapsing site during a collapsing step; inducing blood flow within the vein at the collapsing site, while the segment of the vein is fully or partially collapsed, during a pumping step; and visualizing the collapsing site with the imaging device in an imaging step, at least during the pumping step. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of localizing a vein within a limb of a patient, with a B-mode ultrasound imaging device with a main ultrasound propagation axis, the method comprising the following steps: a. collapsing at least a segment of the vein to be targeted at a collapsing site during a collapsing step such as to stop blood flow, such that the segment of the vein becomes invisible by B-mode imaging; b. imaging the collapsing site with the imaging device during an imaging step; c. changing at least one of the position and orientation of the imaging device until a portion of the collapsed vein, corresponding to a wall of the collapsed vein segment, becomes visible while the segment of the vein is collapsed, in a detecting step. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the position and orientation of the imaging device is changed until the portion of the collapsed vein becomes a hyperechoic spot. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein collapsing of the vein is performed by at least one of elevating at least the limb of the patient above a horizontal position, compressing the vein segment and tumescence. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein imaging the collapsing site is performed also during the collapsing step. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein changing at least one of the position and orientation of the imaging device is performed manually. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein changing at least one of the position and orientation of the imaging device is performed by a displacement device connected to the imaging device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the position and orientation of the imaging device is changed during the detecting step by moving the imaging device in at least one direction selected from: rotated around the main ultrasound propagation axis, rotated around an axis orthogonal to the main ultrasound propagation axis, displaced along a direction orthogonal to the main ultrasound propagation axis, and displaced along a direction parallel to the main ultrasound propagation axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to one of the claim 1, further comprising a step of: d. targeting the focus of an high-intensity focused ultrasound device within the collapsing site during a targeting step; e. emitting at least one pulse of HIFU waves onto the collapsing site with the HIFU device during a treatment step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the imaging device is rotated during the detecting step around an axis comprising the focus of the HIFU device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a diameter and the shape of the vein at the collapsing site is determined in a measurement step performed previously to the collapsing step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method of occluding a vein within a limb with an HIFU device, the method comprising the following steps: a. localizing at least a segment of the vein using the method of claim 1; b. targeting the focus of the HIFU device within the collapsing site during a targeting step; c. emitting at least one pulse of HIFU waves onto the collapsing site with the HIFU device during a treatment step.