Handheld Scanned Laser Vein Contrast Enhancer

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vein imaging device configured to project an image of a patient's subcutaneous veins onto a target area of the patient, for use in more easily performing a venipuncture procedure, said vein imaging device comprising:
 means for transmitting a first wavelength of light onto a target area of a patient;   means for capturing an image formed by the light at said first wavelength being differentially absorbed and reflected by subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue of the target area, and for outputting a signal representative of said image;   means for projecting said image onto the target area using a second wavelength of light for overlying of the imaged veins over the subcutaneous veins of the target area:   a housing having a first portion proximate to a first end of said housing, and a second portion proximate to a second end of said housing; wherein said first portion of said housing comprises an exit opening for said projecting of said image to pass through, and said first portion of said housing houses said means for transmitting, said means for capturing, and said means for projecting; and wherein said second portion of said housing is configured to be narrower than said first portion to be hand-holdable for single-handed lifting and use of said vein imaging device; and   means for setting a depth for said image of the subcutaneous veins captured by said means for capturing.   
     
     
         2 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting a brightness of said image projected onto the target surface. 
     
     
         3 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for inverting said projection of said image between a positive vein image and a negative vein image. 
     
     
         4 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for changing a color of the subcutaneous veins in said image captured by said means for capturing when at different depths. 
     
     
         5 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means or cooling an interior of said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of openings in said housing configured to cool an interior of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 6 , further comprising one or more heat sinks configured to draw heat away from said interior of said housing towards said plurality of openings in said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for user inputting of system parameters. 
     
     
         9 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more buttons configured for actuation by a user to change one or more system parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said housing comprises a top surface,and a bottom surface;   wherein, said exit opening is formed in said bottom surface;   wherein said vein imaging device further comprises means for providing status information to a user being accessible at said top surface; and   wherein said single-hand lifting and using said vein imaging device does not cover said exit opening.   
     
     
         11 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said second portion of said housing comprises an access opening configured to house a battery, said access opening having a length and a width, said length being longer than said width; and   wherein said vein imaging device comprises a door configured to cover said access opening in said housing.   
     
     
         12 . A vein imaging device configured to project an image of a patient's subcutaneous veins onto a target area of the patient, for use in more easily performing venipuncture procedure, said vein imaging device comprising:
 means for transmitting a first wavelength of light onto a target area of a patient;   means for capturing an image formed by the light at said first wavelength being differentially absorbed and reflected by subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue of the target area, and for outputting a signal representative of said image:   means for projecting said image onto the target area using a second wavelength of light for overlying of the imaged veins over he subcutaneous veins of the target area;   a housing having a first portion proximate to a first end of said housing, and a second portion proximate to a second end of said housing; wherein said first portion of said housing comprises an exit opening for said projecting of said image to pass therethrough, and said first portion of said housing houses said means for transmitting, said means for capturing, and said means for projecting; and wherein said second portion of said housing is configured to be narrower than said first portion to be hand-holdable for single-handed lifting and use of said vein imaging device: and   means for user inputting of system parameters for varying operation of said vein imaging device.   
     
     
         13 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for inverting said projection of said image between a positive vein image and a negative vein image. 
     
     
         14 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for changing a color of the subcutaneous veins in said image captured by said means for capturing when at different depths. 
     
     
         15 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for cooling an interior of said housing. 
     
     
         16 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of openings in said housing configured to cool an interior of said housing. 
     
     
         17 . The vein imaging device according to,  claim 16 , further comprising one or more heat sinks configured to draw heat away from said interior of said housing towards said plurality of openings in said housing. 
     
     
         18 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein said housing comprises a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein said exit opening is formed in said bottom surface;   wherein said vein imaging device further comprises means for providing status information to a user being accessible at said top surface; and   wherein said single-hand lifting and using said vein imaging device does not cover said exit opening.   
     
     
         19 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein said second portion of said housing comprises an access opening configured to house a battery, said access opening having a length and a width, said length being longer than said width.   
     
     
         20 . The vein imaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein said vein imaging device comprises a door configured to cover said access opening in said housing.