Abstract:
An improved instrument for viewing subcutaneous venous structure, known as a VENOSCOPE, which includes a clamshell housing, having a first fixed arm extending therefrom, and a second movable arm captured by upper and lower portions of the housing; a first high intensity plurality of white and red LEDs positioned at the end of the first arm, and a second high intensity plurality of high intensity red and white LED positioned at the end of the second arm, and a battery positioned within the housing for selectively provided electrical energy to the red and white LEDs, so that a more defined and intensely illuminated field of visualization between structures below the skin and the surrounding subcutaneous tissue is defined. Additional embodiments include a tube or handle connected to a head having multiple arms or a single arm with multiple LEDs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/334,821, filed Nov. 1, 2001, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The apparatus of the present invention relates to instruments for viewing subcutaneous venous structures. 
   2. General Background of the Invention 
   In the medical field, the task of locating venous structures, such as peripheral veins, is a difficult task. There have been attempts to make the task less difficult. One such device, which is currently under U.S. Pat. No. RE 33,234, is an instrument which directs a pair of light beams through the ends of a pair of arms pressed against the skin to produce an illuminated field beneath the skin, where peripheral veins can be visualized and located. The preferred lighting means in this patent utilized a white halogen lights with fiber optics. The drawback in this device was the fact that the lights at that state of the art could not produce the necessary candle power to properly illuminate the area. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The improved apparatus of the present invention solves the problems in the art in a simple manner. What is provided is an improved instrument for viewing subcutaneous venous structure, known as a VENOSCOPE, which includes a principal body, having a first fixed arm extending therefrom, and a second movable arm captured by upper and lower body portions; a plurality of ultra bright red and white LEDs positioned at the end of the first arm, and a second plurality of ultra bright red and white LEDs positioned at the end of the second arm. Preferably the red LEDs would have a wavelength of 700 to 430 nanometers; and the white LEDs having a wavelength range of 460 to 555 nanometers; and a battery positioned within the body for selectively providing electrical energy to the plurality of red and white LEDs, so that a more defined and intensely illuminated field of visualization of the structures below the skin and the surrounding subcutaneous tissue can be defined. 
   Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved VENOSCOPE apparatus, utilizing a combination of ultra bright red and white LED&#39;s to more effectively locate subcutaneous structures, such as veins, below the skin; 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a light-weight, compact, battery powered VENOSCOPE that improves the visual field of structures below the skin with the use of a combination of ultra bright LEDs; 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provided an improved VENOSCOPE apparatus, which through the use of a combination of enhanced red and white light fields provides a visual field that is more greatly enhanced and improves the task of locating structures below the skin; 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved VENOSCOPE apparatus, where the red and white LEDs have differing and varying wavelengths so as to achieve a greater penetration of the subcutaneous tissue and achieve a greater contrast with the blood vein; 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved VENOSCOPE apparatus, where the red LEDs provide deeper penetration into the subcutaneous tissue and the white LEDs provides contrast between the subcutaneous tissue in order to present the blood vein as a dark line within the tissue between the arms of the device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an overall top view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an overall underside view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the apparatus of the present invention in place on a human limb detecting a vein; 
       FIG. 5  is an end view of the apparatus of the present invention illuminating the vein depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a first additional embodiments of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a second additional embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 through 5  illustrate the preferred embodiment of the improved VENOSCOPE apparatus  10  of the present invention. VENOSCOPE is a trademark owned by Venoscope, L.L.C. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , apparatus  10  in overall view provides a principal body  12 , having an upper body portion  14 , and a lower body portion  16 , the two body portions  14 ,  16  secured along a common edge  18  to define the complete principal body  12  when portions  14 ,  16  are assembled. As further illustrated, a first rear end of the housing  12  provides an area  20  for grasping the apparatus, while in use, and the second end  22 , terminates in a first fixed arm portion  24 . Upper body portion  14  further provides a means internal to the body portion for allowing a second moveable arm portion  28  to be moveably secured between housings  14 ,  16 , for allowing movement of the arm  28  in the direction of arrow  30  in  FIG. 2 . 
   As seen further in  FIG. 2 , the distal ends  23  of the arms  24 ,  28  include a plurality of openings  32 , each of which may be one or more openings, which would allow light to travel out of, emanating from a light source, preferably high intensity LEDs, within each end  23  of each of the arms  24 ,  28 . Preferably, each end  23  would have a plurality of three openings  32 , two of which would emanate light from two white LEDs and one opening emanating red light from a single red LED. This combination allows the red LED to penetrate deeper and the whites to provide the contrast between the subcutaneous tissue and the veins which absorb light and appear as a dark line. This will be more fully explained in later figures. As seen further in  FIG. 2 , the underside of apparatus  10  includes a plate  35  which is removable for replacing batteries  44  within the apparatus  10 . Preferably, batteries  44  would be a plurality of AA batteries  44 , and indicator light  45  ( FIG. 1 ) would indicate when the batteries  44  are low in power. The power from the batteries  44  to the light source, or LEDs, would be controlled by a manual switch  48  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . In the preferred embodiment manual switch  48  would include a first HIGH position, wherein the LEDs are operational at 100%; a second LOW position, wherein the operation of the LEDs are reduced in power approximately 30%; and a third OFF position. 
   In  FIG. 3 , the apparatus is illustrated in exploded view, showing the upper and lower housings  14 ,  16 . As seen the upper housing  14  includes the upper portion of the area  20  having the upper portion of the fixed arm  24 . There is further seen the lower housing portion  16 , including an area  21 , which as seen is configured to house several batteries  44 . There is provided a removable face plate  35  for allowing the batteries to be secured therein. Further,  FIG. 3  illustrates the moveable arm  28 , which also has an upper and lower portions  29 ,  33  which would fit together to form the composite arm  28 . The composite arm  28  would rotate around peg member  27 , when the upper housing  14  and lower housing  16  are engaged to one another and assembled. Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , there appears light means  34 , which comprise a first red LED  38  and a pair of white LEDs  40 . The LEDs  38 ,  40  are an array of red and white LEDs, which are raised on a circuit board  43  to be inserted into the distal end  23  of each arm  24 ,  28  and positioned flush with the patient&#39;s skin when the apparatus is used in its completed form, as will be discussed in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The LEDs  38 ,  40 , affixed to the circuit board  43  in each arm, with wires  37  extending between the two sets of LEDs  38 ,  40  a plurality of batteries  44 . 
   The LEDs  38 ,  40  provide the improved VENOSCOPE apparatus using a combination of ultra bright red and white LED&#39;s to more effectively locate subcutaneous structures, such as veins, below the skin. The LEDs  38 ,  40  utilized in the present invention may be those of the type sold by Marktech Optoelectronics, which are referred to as high intensity red LEDs and white LEDs. The use of these high intensity LEDs  38 ,  40  improves the visual field of structures below the skin with the use of a combination of the ultra bright LEDs. The combination of enhanced red and white light fields provides a visual field that is more greatly enhanced and improves the task of locating structures below the skin. This is accomplished by the fact that the red and white LEDs have differing and varying wavelengths so as to achieve a greater penetration of the subcutaneous tissue and achieve a greater contrast with the blood vein. In effect, the red LEDs provide deeper penetration into the subcutaneous tissue and the white LEDs provides contrast between the subcutaneous tissue in order to present the blood vein as a dark line within the tissue between the arms of the device. In the preferred embodiment the red LEDs would have a wavelength of 700 to 430 nanometers; and the white LEDs having a wavelength range of 460 to 555 nanometers. This differing wavelength between the red and white LEDs would enhance the contrast between the vein and the surrounding subcutaneous tissue around the vein. 
   This is clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the apparatus  10  has been placed on the forearm  45  of a patient  47 , with the openings  32  pressed against the skin  49 . Two openings in each arm  24 ,  28  would be provided with a white LED  40 , while one opening  32  would be provided with a single red LED  38 , for the reasons explained earlier. The switch  48  on the apparatus  10  is placed to the ON position, thus energizing the red and white LEDs  38 ,  40 . The 430 to 700 nm wavelength of the red LED  38  would provide the deeper penetration into the subcutaneous tissue  50  as illustrated. The preferable red LED  38  wavelength would be around 623 nm. The 460 to 555 nm wavelength of the white LED  40  would present the vein  52  as a dark line beneath the skin in the area between the two arms  24 ,  28  of the apparatus. The preferable white LED  40  wavelength would be around 500 nm. This would allow the doctor or clinician to locate the vein  52  more readily in order to provide the necessary treatment. Again, this combination of red and white LED groups  38 ,  40  would provided a greatly enhanced field of illumination below the skin, and would greatly enhance the functioning of the apparatus. 
   It is foreseen, however, that although the preferred embodiment teaches the use of two white LEDs and a single red LED in each arm, perhaps one arm of the apparatus may contain only white LEDs and the second arm contain only red LEDs, and may still function within acceptable limits. It is also foreseen that in the future other colors may be derived which produce the necessary contrast between the subcutaneous tissue and the structures therein, other than red and white as are utilized presently. Additionally, should it be found that the wavelength of the LEDs increase or decrease beyond the limits discussed herein, and these limits are capable of producing the necessary contrast between the subcutaneous tissue and the structures therein, such modifications are considered to be part of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrates a first additional embodiment of the apparatus referenced by the numeral  60 . As illustrated in underside and side views, apparatus  60  would comprise an elongated handle member  62 , having a hollow interior for housing a plurality of batteries, preferably double A batteries  64 . 
   The batteries  64  would be inserted into handle member  62  by removing end cap  67 . The handle or tube  62  would terminate in head portion  65 , which includes a pair of arm  66 ,  68 , one of which may be moveable relative to the second arm, although both arms  66 ,  68  may be fixed on the head  65 . Each arm  66 ,  68  would include a plurality of LEDs  70 , preferably 3 LEDs, fixed to a face  72  of end of each arm, which would be pressed against a person&#39;s skin to carry out the function. The LEDs would be similar in color and arrangement as was discussed with the principal embodiment. Of course, the batteries  64  would provide power to the LEDs  70 , when the apparatus is turned on, either through a manual switch on the apparatus or when the tube  62  is engaged to the head portion  65 . 
   In  FIGS. 7A and 7B  another embodiment of the apparatus, referenced by the numeral  90 . Apparatus  90  comprises a single arm or tube  91 , with a hollow interior for housing a plurality of AA batteries  64 , as with the embodiment discussed in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . Likewise, the batteries  64  would be inserted into arm or tube member  91  by removing end cap  93 . The tube  91  would terminate in a single fixed arm  92 , which would include a face  94 , having a plurality of LEDs  70 , with the LEDs numbering preferably five, in the combination of red and white LEDs. The LED array on the face  94  would shine at a 90 degree angle relative to the arm  91 , when the apparatus  90  is pressed against the skin of a patient for use. 
   Since it is foreseen that the improved VENOSCOPE apparatus  10 , or embodiments  60  and  90 , would be sold as a possible “throwaway” item after use, the apparatus housed may be marketed within a plastic clamshell packaging, having an instruction card, or the like for instructing on how to use the apparatus.
         apparatus  10     principal body  12     upper body portion  14     lower body portion  16     common edge  18     area  20     second end  22     distal ends  23     first fixed arm portion  24     peg  27     moveable arm  28     upper portion  29     arrow  30     openings  32     lower portion  33     light means  34     face plate  35     wires  37     red LED  38     white LED  40     circuit board  43     batteries  44     forearm  45     patient  47     manual switch  48     skin  49     subcutaneous tissue  50     vein  52     apparatus  60     handle member  62     batteries  64     head portion  65     end cap  67     arms  66 ,  68     LEDs  70     face  72     apparatus  90     arm or tube  91     fixed arm  92     end cap  93     face  94 
 
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.