# US 2014/0194751 A1 · Scanned Laser Vein Contrast Enhancer Using One Laser for a Detection Mode and a Display Mode

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- Number: US 2014/0194751 A1
- Document ID: US20140194751A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/168,158
- Filed: 2014-01-30
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2007-05-25
- Assignees: Accu Vein, Inc.
- Inventors: Ron Goldman; Stephen P Conlon; Vincent Luciano; Fred Wood
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194751A1

## CPC

- A61B 5/489: {Blood vessels}
- A61B 5/004: {adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part (A61B5/0082 takes precedence; arrangements for optical scanning A61B5/0062)}
- A61B 5/0059: {using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence (photoacoustic A61B5/0093; optical measurement of heart rate A61B5/02416; optical measurement of blood flow A61B5/0261; optical measurement of analytes A61B5/1455)}
- A61B 5/0062: {Arrangements for scanning}
- A61B 5/0064: {Body surface scanning}
- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/0079: {using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination}
- A61B 5/0082: {adapted for particular medical purposes}
- A61B 5/4887: {Locating particular structures in or on the body}
- A61B 5/7221: {Determining signal validity, reliability or quality (preventing, reducing or removing noise induced by motion artefacts A61B5/7207; noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus A61B5/7217)}
- A61B 5/748: {Selection of a region of interest, e.g. using a graphics tablet}
- A61M 5/427: {Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates}
- A61B 2090/366: {using projection of images directly onto the body}
- A61B 2560/0431: Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
- A61B 2562/0233: Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
- A61B 2562/028: Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
- G02B 26/0833: {the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head, The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging device, for use in locating and imaging subcutaneous veins, said device comprising:
a laser configured to emit light at a selective wavelength;
a scanner configured to scan said light from said laser in a pattern, and onto a target area;
a photodetector configured to successively measure an instantaneous amplitude of said selective wavelength of light being reflected from a series of points of said pattern, as received upon the target area;
a drive circuit, said drive circuit configured to receive said instantaneous measurement of said light amplitude from said photodetector, and to detect a change in said instantaneous amplitude between a current point and a previous point for each of said series of points, due to differential absorption by veins and surrounding tissue; said drive circuit further configured to vary power to said laser to modulate an intensity of said laser light emitted as a function of time to alternately create a detection mode and a display mode;
said modulation for said detection mode comprising one or more short duration pulses of high intensity light emitted from said laser using a first amount of power, to detect deep veins, but being too short in duration to be visually perceptible;
said modulation for said display mode comprising one or more pulses with a longer duration using a second amount of power and a third amount of power, respectively, for said laser to selectively emit a first low intensity of light and a second low intensity of light, said first low intensity of light being a lesser intensity than said second low intensity of light;
said drive circuit further configured to cause said laser to emit said second low intensity of light when said drive circuit detects a decrease in said instantaneous amplitude, to indicate the detection of the subcutaneous vein; and said drive circuit configured to cause said first low intensity of light when said drive circuit detects an increase in said instantaneous amplitude, to indicate no subcutaneous veins located.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said drive circuit further comprises an internal flag configured to store a baseline reflection amplitude to eliminate a false indication of no subcutaneous veins, wherein said flag is set to a first amplitude measurement after said drive circuit causes said second low intensity of light upon detecting said decrease in said instantaneous amplitude, and wherein each subsequent amplitude measurement is compared to said flag, until said drive circuit thereafter detects said increase in said instantaneous amplitude.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said pattern comprises one or more two-dimensional patterns being from the group of two-dimensional patterns consisting of: a raster pattern; a collapsing ellipse pattern; a collapsing circle pattern; a spiral pattern; and a lissajous pattern.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said scanner comprises a MEMS scanner.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said scanner comprises a single moving mirror configured to oscillate about two axes to produce said pattern.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said scanner comprises a first moving mirror, a second moving mirror, and a mirror drive subsystem; said first moving mirror configured to move about a first axis, said first moving mirror configured to be selectively angled to reflect said beam of light from said laser to said second moving mirror, said second moving mirror configured to move about a second axis to reflect said beam of light toward the target area, said mirror drive subsystem configured to cause proper synchrony between said movement of said first and second mirrors to cooperate to produce said pattern.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The imaging device according to claim 6, said detection circuit further configured to receive feedback from said mirrors to detect said movement; said detection circuit further configured to cause a safety shut-down of said laser when said one of said mirrors fails to move.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The imaging device according to claim 6 wherein said mirror drive subsystem comprises one or more microprocessors and memories configured for system control.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The imaging device according to claim 6 wherein said pattern comprises a raster pattern, said raster pattern being generated by said first moving mirror configured to oscillate at a higher frequency than said second moving mirror; and wherein said first moving mirror is configured to oscillate at a frequency in the range of 7 KHz to 35 KHz, and said second moving mirror is configured to oscillate at a frequency in the range of 45 Hz to 90 Hz.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The imaging device according to claim 9 wherein said first and second mirrors are configured to move at a respective resonant frequency.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said drive circuit is configured to modulate said intensity of said laser by adjusting an amount of current supplied to said laser.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said selective wavelength of laser light comprises a wavelength in the range of 620 nm to 750 nm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said pattern generated by said scanner comprises a repetitive pattern.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said pattern generated by said scanner comprises a non-repetitive pattern.

### Claim 15

An imaging device comprising:
a laser configured to emit light at a selective wavelength;
a scanner configured to scan said light from said laser in a pattern, and onto a target area;
means for measuring an instantaneous amplitude of said selective wavelength of light reflected from a series of successive points of said pattern upon contact with the target area;
a drive circuit, said drive circuit configured to receive said instantaneous measurement of said light amplitude from said means for measuring, and to detect a change in said instantaneous amplitude between a current point and a previous point for each of said series of points; said drive circuit further configured to vary power to said laser to modulate an intensity of said laser light emitted, to alternately create a detection mode and a display mode;
said modulation for said detection mode comprising one or more short duration pulses of high intensity light emitted from said laser using a first amount of power, but being too short in duration to be visually perceptible;
said modulation for said display mode comprising one or more pulses with a longer duration using a second amount of power and a third amount of power, respectively, for said laser to selectively emit a first low intensity of light and a second low intensity of light, said first low intensity of light being a lesser intensity than said second low intensity of light;
said drive circuit further configured to cause said laser to emit said second low intensity of light when said drive circuit detects a decrease in said instantaneous amplitude; and said drive circuit configured to cause said first low intensity of light when said drive circuit detects an increase in said instantaneous amplitude.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The imaging device according to claim 15, wherein said drive circuit further comprises an internal flag configured to store a baseline reflection amplitude, wherein said flag is set to a first amplitude measurement after said drive circuit causes said second low intensity of light upon detecting said decrease in said instantaneous amplitude, and wherein each subsequent amplitude measurement is compared to said flag, until said drive circuit thereafter detects said increase in said instantaneous amplitude.