Scanned Laser Vein Contrast Enhancer Utilizing Surface Topology

A vein enhancer, for use in imaging subcutaneous blood vessels beneath a surface of a target, said vein enhancer comprising:

• a first laser configured to emit a beam of light at a first wavelength;
• a second laser configured to emit a beam of light at a second wavelength;
• a third laser configured to emit a beam of light at a third wavelength;
• means for scanning said first wavelength of light from said first laser, said second wavelength of light from said second laser, and said third wavelength of light from said third laser onto the surface of the target;
• a first photo detector responsive to said first wavelength of light, said first photo detector configured to receive said first wavelength of light reflected from the target as a contrasted image of subcutaneous blood vessels formed by differential absorption and reflection of said scanned first wavelength of light by the subcutaneous blood vessels and the surrounding tissue therein, and as surface noise from variable reflections due to topology of the surface of the target;
• said first detector configured to output a first signal, said first signal representing said contrasted image of the subcutaneous blood vessels and the surface topology noise;
• a second photodetector response to said second wavelength of light, said second photo detector configured to receive said second wavelength of light reflected from the surface of the target as a contrasted image the topology of the surface of the target;
• said second photo detector configured to output a second signal representing the contrasted image of the surface topology of the surface;
• means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal to remove the surface noise and form a third signal representing a surface-noise-free contrasted image of the subcutaneous blood vessels;
• and
• wherein said second laser receives said third signal and projects said surface-noise-free contrasted image at said third wavelength onto the surface of the target using said means for scanning, to project the surface-noise-free contrasted image of the subcutaneous blood vessels on the surface to overly the subcutaneous blood vessels therein.