Transillumination light source

A handheld and portable transillumination light source device allows for visualizing and locating vasculature and other subcutaneous structures of the body. One or more forward and upward facing LEDs are provided to project light out of a forward or upper surface of the device respectfully. The LEDs may vary as to the wavelengths of light the LEDs emit. A control button allows a user to switch the device between various modes of lighting, as well as, to adjust the intensity of the LEDs. Alternatively, these buttons may be split into separate power and intensity buttons. Touch sensors or a touch strip may also be provided to adjust the intensity of the LEDs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an imaging device. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a handheld transillumination light source for locating and visualizing veins, arteries, and other subcutaneous structures of the body.

One of the first steps that a clinician takes in examining and diagnosing a patient is to visualize and palpate the area or structure of the patient's body to be examined. For example, when a clinician needs to perform an intravenous injection or extraction, he or she will often look for a vein seen from the surface of the skin or palpate the area to try and feel where a vein is located. If a vein cannot be seen or felt, a clinician may resort to using a tourniquet or asking the patient to pump his or her fist in hopes that veins will dilate and become visible. While this technique may be helpful in some instances, it still can be very difficult for a clinician to visualize and locate veins in patients with less prominent veins such as neonates, pediatric patients, obese patients, older adults, and patients with low blood pressure.

In these cases, transillumination has been a popular technique to assist the clinician in better visualizing and locating a patient's veins. Transillumination is a well-known imaging technique in which a sample is illuminated by the transmission of light through the sample. A clinician may use transillumination to illuminate a patient's arm, or other part of the patient's body from which fluid is to be injected or extracted. Because not as much light will penetrate through the patient's vasculature, the vasculature will appear darker and a clinician will have a visual of the patient's veins when inserting a needle for fluid injection or extraction.

A number of devices have been developed to allow a clinician to use the transillumination technique to visualize and locate the vasculature or any other subcutaneous structure in a patient. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0168980 to Dryden et al. discloses using one or more LEDs with predominant wavelengths between 600 and 640 nm. The LEDs are housed in a handheld vein locator device. However, the Dryden does not teach a transillumination device in which a clinician may use LEDs with differing wavelengths. Being able to use different wavelengths of light would be advantageous because different subcutaneous structures of the body absorb differing wavelengths of light. When light is absorbed by a structure, it will appear dark when compared to the rest of the tissue when using the transillumination technique. Thus, being able to switch between different wavelengths of light would enable a clinician to better visualize the associated subcutaneous structures.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,463,364 and 8,838,210 to Wood et al. both disclose similar vein locator devices. These devices scan a portion of a patient's body with ultraviolet and infrared light in order to produce a signal which is read by the device. The signal is processed through an algorithm in order to produce an image of the vasculature of the patient which is projected onto the skin of the patient. These devices do not allow a clinician to visualize the actual vasculature of a patient, but only images of the patient's vasculature projected onto the patient's skin. Furthermore, these devices don't allow a clinician to visualize other subcutaneous structures.

Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a transillumination device which is cheap and easy to manufacture, portable, allows a clinician to choose from different wavelengths of light, and allows a clinician to adjust the brightness intensity of device. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a transillumination light source having a housing with a top longitudinal surface, a bottom longitudinal surface, and a front lateral surface. The bottom longitudinal surface has a generally flat portion configured to rest the housing on a flat work surface. The top longitudinal surface is generally opposite the bottom longitudinal surface and has a first translucent light cover. The front lateral surface is oriented generally perpendicular to the bottom longitudinal surface and has a second translucent light cover.

A circuit board is contained within the housing. The circuit board carries a power supply, an LED driver, and a control button. The power supply, LED driver, and control button are all operationally connected to each other. A plurality of upward facing LEDs are disposed on the circuit board. The upward facing LEDs are operationally connected to the LED driver and configured so as to direct illumination through the first translucent light cover. A plurality of forward facing LEDs are also disposed on the circuit board. The forward facing LEDs are operationally connected to the LED driver and configured so as to direct illumination through the second translucent light cover.

The plurality of upward facing LEDS preferably includes two white LEDs and two red LEDs. The plurality of forward facing LEDs preferably includes four white LEDs. The control button preferably has an operational setting configured to operate the LED driver to illuminate only the two white LEDs in the plurality of upward facing LEDs, only the two red LEDs in the plurality of upward facing LEDs, or only the four white LEDs in the plurality of forward facing LEDs. The control button may also have an intensity setting configured to regulate a brightness of LEDs illuminated by the LED driver.

The housing preferably has a connection port that is operationally connected to the power supply. The transillumination light source may be configured to be powered from an external source through the connection port. The power supply may be a battery enclosed behind a battery cover on the housing. The battery is preferably a rechargeable battery configured to be recharged through the connection port on the housing, which port is operationally connected to the rechargeable battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the drawings, the present invention is directed to a handheld transillumination light source30for use in locating and visualizing veins, arteries, and other subcutaneous structures of a patient's body. Generally, the transillumination light source30assists a clinician in locating and visualizing veins and arteries so that the clinician may more easily perform fluid extraction or fluid insertion procedures. Furthermore, the transillumination light source30may also be useful in helping the clinician visualize other subcutaneous structures of the body for examination and diagnostic purposes.

FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B, and 1Cshow the external configuration of a preferred embodiment of the transillumination device30.FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5show the internal structure of the device30in various exploded and cut-away views.

The device30has a generally elongated housing32split into an upper half32aand a lower half32b. The upper half32ahas a top longitudinal surface34and the bottom half32bhas a bottom longitudinal surface36, which is generally flat or planar. The bottom half32bpreferably also includes an ergonomic finger groove36adisposed proximate to the front of the device30. When the halves32a,32bare joined, the housing32also has a front lateral surface38and a rear lateral surface40. The halves32a,32bmay be joined by screws32cor other similar securing mechanisms.

The top longitudinal surface34is opaque and includes a top translucent light cover42and a control button44. The top translucent light cover42is preferably flat and flush with the top longitudinal surface34as shown inFIGS. 1 and 1B. The front lateral surface38is opaque and includes a front translucent cover46. The front translucent light cover46is preferably flat and flush with the front lateral surface38as shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C. The bottom longitudinal surface36includes a removable cover48.

The housing32encloses a circuit board50that includes a power supply52, a control button contact44a, an LED driver54, a plurality of upward facing LEDs56, and a plurality of forward facing LEDs58. The power supply52is operationally connected to the LED driver54, which is in turn operationally connected to each of the control button contact44a, the upward facing LEDs56, and the forward facing LEDs58. The power supply52may include a single battery52aor multiple batteries52barranged in series, which are preferably removably disposed behind the removable cover48. A support bracket60may be disposed under the circuit board30proximate to the front of the device10to provide balance and support with respect to the power supply32.

The plurality of upward facing LEDs56are preferably disposed behind the first translucent light cover42such that light emitted by the upward facing LEDs56is directed upward only through the first translucent light cover42and illustrated inFIG. 7. The upward facing LEDs56preferably include at least two white LEDs56aand at least two red LEDs56b. Alternatively, the upward facing LEDs56might include multiple quantities of other color LEDs or even other light sources.

The plurality of forward facing LEDs58are preferably disposed behind the second translucent light cover46such that light emitted by the forward facing LEDs58is directed forward only through the second translucent light cover46as illustrated inFIG. 8. The forward facing LEDs58preferably include four white LEDs58a but may include other combinations or quantities of colors.

FIG. 6illustrates an alternate embodiment where the rear lateral surface40includes a connection port62configured to receive a cable/wire64. The cable/wire64is an external power source46in that the other end (not shown) of the cable/wire64is connected to a source of electricity (not shown) by commonly known devices. Typical devices might include a USB port or a power converter as may be plugged into an electrical outlet. The external power source66may be used to supply operating power to the device30. Alternatively, the external power source66may be used to recharge a battery52athat is rechargeable. To maintain the benefit of a freely mobile, handheld device30, the device30is more preferably operated without the cable/wire64plugged into the connection port62.

The device30is intended to be used in a manner similar to how prior art transillumination devices are used. Namely, to illuminate extremities or larger body part to locate internal organs or subcutaneous structures, in particular blood vessels. The control button44may function so that when it is pressed the device30will switch between the different operational settings and varying intensities similar to what has already been described. For example, when the control button44is first pressed, the two upward facing white LEDs56aare illuminated at a low intensity. Pressed successive times and the two upward facing white LEDs56aare illuminated at a medium intensity and then a high intensity. Pressed again, the two upward facing white LEDs56aare turned off and the two upward facing red LEDs56bare illuminated at a low intensity, then a medium intensity and a high intensity when pressed successive times. Alternatively, the control button44may be split into two sections such that when the top half of the button44is pushed, the device30is switched between the different LEDs56a,56band when the bottom half of the button44is pushed, the device30is switched between the different intensity settings. The forward facing white LEDs58awould operate in a similar manner when the button44is pressed additional times.

As shown inFIG. 7, the device30may be easily and conveniently hand-held as by a practitioner68. An extremity of a patient, as a finger70, is positioned over the top translucent light panel42and illuminated by the light72emitted by one or more of the plurality of upward facing LEDs56. As the light72emitted passes through the finger70, one or more internal structures, e.g., blood vessels74, are made visible through the skin of the finger70.

With the device30constructed as described above, the use the same to transilluminate a finger70or other extremity can be simplified for a practitioner68insofar as the generally flat, planar bottom longitudinal surface36may be rested on a working surface as a table or other accessible surface (not shown). The finger70or other extremity of the patient may then be laid across the top translucent light panel42without the need for the practitioner to hold the device10. This functionality frees up both of the practitioner's hands to manipulate the finger70or other extremity and perform the applicable procedure, e.g., drawing blood or installing an IV line. Because of the relatively narrow width of fingers or other extremities, the upward facing LEDs56may be provided with two or more LEDs of the same color because of lower intensity of light is needed to reveal internal structures.

InFIG. 8, an alternate use of the device30is shown. In this instance a practitioner68needs to transilluminate a patient's torso76. The practitioner68holds the front translucent light panel46against the patient's torso76so that light72emitted by the forward facing LEDs58passes through the skin and illuminates blood vessels74or other structure in the torso76. Given the thickness and/or density of internal structures in a torso76, the forward facing LEDs58are preferably provided with four or more LEDs to provide a greater intensity of light.

FIG. 9illustrates an alternate embodiment of the transillumination device10. This embodiment10is substantially similar to the form described above, including an upper housing12, a lower housing14, a battery cover16, a top translucent light cover22, and a finger indentation28. The primary distinction is in the configuration of the control button. In this embodiment10, the control button is provided as a separate power button18and a separate light intensity button20.

The power button18and a light intensity button20extend through two apertures in the upper housing12. The power button12functions to turn the device10on and off as well as to switch between various illumination modes, similar to the operational settings described above. The light intensity button20functions to increase and decrease the intensity of the light emitted by the device10. The power button18and the light intensity button20may be hard plastic push buttons, rubber push buttons, or any other type of button known in the art.

FIG. 10illustrates another alternate embodiment where the light intensity button20may be supplemented by intensity touch sensors24a,24bon the side of the device10so as to be operable by a single finger. The intensity touch sensors24a,24boperate similar to the intensity settings discussed above. The intensity touch sensors24a,24bmay also replace the light intensity button20entirely. In another alternative embodiment, shown inFIG. 11, the intensity touch sensors24a,24bmay be presented on opposite sides of the device10so as to be operable by a thumb and finger.

FIG. 12illustrates that the transillumination light source10may alternatively include a brightness intensity touch strip26rather than the light touch sensors24a,24b. The touch strip26functions to steadily increase or decrease the brightness intensity, preferably from a range of 20% to 100%. However, this range may extend from the LEDs being off to being at 100% intensity. When a clinician's finger is rubbed forward on the brightness intensity touch strip58, the brightness intensity of the LEDs will steadily increase to a maximum of 100%. Conversely, when a clinician's finger is rubbed backwards on the brightness intensity touch strip26the brightness intensity of the LEDs will preferably steadily decrease to a minimum of 20%, but may decrease until the LEDs are off.

FIG. 13illustrates an alternative embodiment for introducing power to the circuit board50. In conjunction withFIG. 6, this embodiment includes a USB-port connection28or similar means of receiving the cable/wire64. This USB-port connection28may be connected to a lithium-ion battery or similarly rechargeable storage cell.