Blood vessel visualization apparatus, blood vessel puncture system, and observation window member
AssigneeTerumo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsShota Yamamoto, Takayuki Yokota
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A blood vessel visualization apparatus, a blood vessel puncture system, and an observation window member include: light sources that irradiate with near infrared light a visualization target site; an observation window that contains a wavelength conversion material for converting the near infrared light into visible light; a frame member that holds the observation window; and support members that support the frame member apart from the visualization target site. The observation window visualizes an image of near infrared light radiated from the light sources and reflected by the visualization target site.
Claims13
A blood vessel visualization apparatus comprising:
- at least one light source configured to irradiate, with near infrared light, a visualization target site at which a blood vessel of a living body is to be visualized;
- a plate-shaped frame member defining an opening;
- an observation window fitted within the opening of the frame member, the observation window comprising:
- a plate member, and
- a wavelength conversion material configured to convert the near infrared light into visible light and to visualize a near infrared light image reflected from the visualization target site;
- and
- at least one support member that supports the at least one light source and the frame member such that the at least one light source and the observation window face are spaced apart from the visualization target site, wherein:
- the at least one light source is mounted on a bottom-surface side of the frame member such that near infrared light emitted from the at least one light source does not directly enter the observation window.
A method of visualizing a blood vessel of a living body, the method comprising:
- providing a blood vessel visualization apparatus comprising:
- at least one light source configured to emit near infrared light,
- a plate-shaped frame member defining an opening,
- an observation window fitted within the opening of the frame member, the observation window comprising:
- a plate member, and
- a wavelength conversion material configured to convert the near infrared light into visible light, and
- at least one support member that supports the at least one light source and the observation window frame member, wherein:
- the at least one light source is mounted on a bottom-surface side of the frame member such that near infrared light emitted from the at least one light source does not directly enter the observation window;
- placing the blood vessel visualization apparatus such that the at least one light source and the observation window face are spaced apart from a visualization target site at which the blood vessel is to be visualized;
- irradiating the visualization target site with the near infrared light from the light source;
- visualizing, with the observation window, a near infrared light image reflected from the visualization target site;
- and
- puncturing the blood vessel with a puncture portion of a medical tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.