Vein Scanner with Limited Photodiode FOV Moving Synchronously with Scanned Laser Light

A vein imaging apparatus, said vein imaging apparatus configured to limit an image field of view (FOV) to exclude at least a portion of a target surface, said vein imaging apparatus comprising:

• a laser configured to emit a beam of light at a first wavelength, directed in a first optical path;
• a scanner, said scanner configured to direct said beam of light to form a spot of light on the target surface;
• said scanner further configured to scan said beam of laser light to move said spot of light rapidly on the target surface;
• an optical detector;
• an optical element, said optical element configured to bounce said beam of light from said first optical path onto a second optical path, and direct said beam of light at said scanner;
• wherein said scanner directs an image portion at said first wavelength, received from the target surface, along said second optical path and to said optical detector, said image portion comprising an afterglow formed by differential amounts of reflection and absorption of said scanned spot by surrounding tissue and subcutaneous blood vessels;
• wherein said optical detector is configured to receive said image portion at said first wavelength;
• and
• a lens, said lens positioned and configured to limit a size of an image FOV of said optical detector to a portion of the target surface, wherein a size of said portion of the target surface for said limited FOV of said optical detector comprises a size of said spot of laser light and at least a portion of said afterglow.