Practitioner-mounted micro vein enhancer

A miniature vein enhancer for use in enhancing a target area on a patient, said vein enhancer comprising:

• a miniature projection head, said miniature projection head comprising a first laser, a photodetector, and a second laser, said first laser configured to transmit a beam of laser light at a selective wavelength, said photodetector configured to acquire an image of subcutaneous veins of the target area formed by differential absorption of said selective wavelength of light by the subcutaneous veins and the surrounding tissue, said photodetector further configured to output an analog signal representing said image, and said second laser configured to transmit a beam of laser light to selectively project said acquired image onto the target area using said analog signal, said miniature projection head comprising a combiner configured to combine said first and second beams of laser light for said transmission from said first laser and said projection from said second laser, to be along a single optical path, said miniature projection head comprising a ball;
• a base, a first side of said base comprising a socket configured to rotatable receive a portion of said ball, said miniature projection head thereby configured to be rotatable with respect to said base;
• and
• a mounting strap, said mounting strap configured to be received by a portion of said base, and configured to secure said miniature vein enhancer to a hand of a practitioner, said miniature projection head thereby configured to be rotatable to adjustably direct said single optical path of said combined laser light onto the target area.

A miniature vein enhancer, for use in imaging subcutaneous veins of a target area of a patient, said vein enhancer comprising:

• a housing, said housing comprising an opening, and aid housing comprising a ball fixedly secured thereto;
• means for imaging subcutaneous veins of the target area and projecting said image onto the target area, said means for imaging and projecting being secured in said housing with an optical path of said means for imaging and projecting being through said opening in said housing;
• and
• a base, a first side of said base comprising a socket configured to rotatably receive a portion of said ball of said housing, said housing thereby configured to be rotatable with respect to said base;
• and
• a mounting strap, said mounting strap configured to be received by a portion of said base and to secure said miniature vein enhancer to a hand of a practitioner, said miniature projection head thereby configured to be rotatable to adjustably direct said optical path onto the target area.