Micro vein enhancer

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A miniature vein enhancer for imaging subcutaneous blood vessels of a target surface, said vein enhancer comprising:
a first laser adapted to emit a beam of light at a first wavelength; one or more movable mirrors configured to selectively move to cause said first wavelength of light from said first laser to be transmitted onto the target surface in a repeated or a non-repeated pattern; one or more photo detectors being responsive to said first wavelength of light, said one or more photo detectors configured to receive said first wavelength of light being reflected from the target surface, said reflected light comprising a contrasted image being formed by said reflected light from the target surface being amplitude modulated according to differential amounts of absorption and reflection between one or more subcutaneous blood vessels and surrounding tissue therein; said one or more photo detectors configured to output an analog signal representing said contrasted image; a second laser adapted to emit a beam of visible light at a second wavelength; one or more fixed mirrors, at least a first one of said one or more fixed mirrors comprising optical characteristics configured to cause either reflection of said first wavelength of light and transmission of said second wavelength of light, or transmission of said first wavelength of light and reflection of said second wavelength of light; wherein said first laser, said second laser, and said first fixed mirror are positioned to combine said beam of light from said second laser with said beam of light from said first laser using said first fixed mirror, to form a single coaxial beam of light; and wherein said second laser receives said analog signal from said one or more photo detectors, said second laser thereby configured to project said contrasted image substantially instantaneous, using said one or more movable mirrors, to be in-focus on the target surface to reveal one or more subcutaneous blood vessels therein, regardless of a distance of said vein enhancer from the target surface.