Patent ID: 9186063
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: A61B,A61M,G02B

Abstract:
1. An imaging device, for use in locating and imaging subcutaneous veins, said device comprising: a laser configured to emit light at a selective wavelength; a scanner configured to scan said light from said laser onto a target area in a pattern; a photodetector configured to successively measure an instantaneous amplitude of said selective wavelength of light being reflected from a series of points in the target area; a detection circuit configured to receive said instantaneous amplitude measurement from said photodetector, and to detect a change in said instantaneous amplitude between a current point and a previous point for each of said series of points, due to differential absorption and reflection by veins and surrounding tissue; said detection circuit further configured to vary power to said laser to modulate an intensity of said laser light emitted as a function of time to alternately create a detection mode and a presentation mode; wherein said modulation for said detection mode comprises one or more pulses of light at a first intensity emitted from said laser using a first amount of power to detect subcutaneous veins, with each said light pulse at said first intensity being for a first duration, said first duration being too short to be visually perceptible; wherein said modulation for said presentation mode comprises one or more pulses of light at a second intensity selectively emitted from said laser using a second amount of power to display the detected veins, with each said light pulse at said second intensity being for a second duration, said second duration being longer than said first duration; wherein said detection circuit is further configured to cause said laser to emit said one or more light pulses at said second intensity when said detection circuit detects a decrease in said instantaneous amplitude, to indicate the detection of the subcutaneous vein; and said detection circuit is further configured to cause said laser to resume emission of said one or more light pulses at said first intensity when said detection circuit detects an increase in said instantaneous amplitude, to indicate no subcutaneous veins detected.