Patent Description:
VAD insertion into a vein, for example, has been difficult for phlebotomists, clinicians, and other health care providers (HCPs) at times because veins can be hard to see or palpate. Heat problems, dehydration, and age of the patient may all be some contributors to the inability to access any given patient's blood vessels. Ultrasound-based devices can identify those veins that within a patient and even as deep as <NUM>-<NUM>. However, ultrasound machines are expensive and bulky to use. Some ultrasound systems include a wired probe that is communicatively coupled to a larger visual display placed, at best, to the side of the patient the VAD is to be inserted into. These ultrasound systems require a clinician to hold and manipulate the ultrasound probe with one hand while placing the VAD with the second hand. This process is completed while the clinician is looking away from the VAD access point on the patient and at the off-site visual display device. The ability to effectively and properly insert the VAD in these scenarios is not intuitive and may lead to accidental damage to the patient's body tissues. Indeed, as a consequence of viewing the off-site video display, clinicians may be left to insert the catheter into subcutaneous layers of a patient's skin hoping to access a blood vessel. Such insertions, especially where a number of sequential insertions are attempted, may cause substantial pain, bruising, discomfort, and anxiety in patients to which the insertions are subjected to.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described herein. Rather, this background is provided to describe an environment in which the presently described embodiments may operate. <CIT> discloses a visual-assisted insertion device for ensuring accurate and repeatable needle insertion. <CIT> discloses a robotic insertion system for accessing the lumen of a vessel. <CIT> discloses a system for supplementing ultrasound image needle guidance.

The present invention provides a blood vessel detection system as defined in claim <NUM>.

The present disclosure relates generally to vascular access devices (VADs) and related systems and methods. In some embodiments, an intravenous therapy system provides for the detection of blood vessels within a patient. The intravenous therapy system may include a handheld ultrasound probe to detect structures within a patient's body. Among other structures, the structures to be detected by the intravenous therapy system include veins into which certain medicaments may be introduced or blood samples may be retrieved. In order to help access the veins, the handheld ultrasound probe may include a video display physically coupled to, for example, a housing of the handheld ultrasound probe. The video display may provide, in the embodiments presented herein, a transverse plane view of the structures (e.g., a vein) within the patient's body. In an embodiment described herein, the video display may provide a coronal plane view of the structures (e.g., a vein) within the patient's body.

In some embodiments, the handheld ultrasound probe of the intravenous therapy system may include a magnetic field detector to determine the position of a needle tip of a needle and provide magnetic needle guidance. The magnetic field detector may detect the presence of the VAD, which may include the needle, which may be magnetizable. In some embodiments, the magnetic field detector may relay to the video display device data descriptive of the placement of the VAD relative to the patient's body. In some embodiments, this data may describe images to be superimposed over an ultrasound image produced by data received from the handheld ultrasound probe. In this manner, a clinician or other HCP may direct their view concurrently to the access point of the VAD at the patient's body and the video display to direct the insertion of the VAD though concurrent, real-time, display of data from the handheld ultrasound probe and the magnetic field detector.

In some embodiments, the intravenous therapy system may further include a feedback device used to indicate to a clinician or other health care provider (HCP) that the insertion of the VAD into the patient's body is incorrect. As described herein, the handheld ultrasound probe includes both an ultrasonic probe and the magnetic field detector to determine a location of the VAD relative to a structure within the patient's body such as a vein. A processor of the intravenous therapy system (either external or internal to the handheld ultrasound probe) may provide real-time feedback indicating whether the needle tip of the needle of the VAD is going to intersect with a selected or chosen structure such as the patient's vein. The feedback device may include a visual indicator such as a light or image on the handheld ultrasound probe, a speaker to provide audio feedback, a haptic device to provide haptic feedback or a combination thereof. In the embodiments presented herein, the video display device, speaker device, or haptic device may provide specific feedback that indicates whether the needle of the VAD is on a trajectory to intersect with a patient's vein as well as if and when the VAD has intersected with the target blood vessel. Additionally, a different visual, audible or haptic feedback signal may be provided by the feedback device if the needle of the VAD device's trajectory indicates it will not intersect the targeted vessel.

In some embodiments, the handheld ultrasound probe may include an automatic VAD advancement system. The VAD advancement system may include, in some embodiments, a port to place a selected VAD into. The VAD advancement system may register the placement of the VAD and, when the trajectory is determined, initiate one or more drive mechanisms or motors that cause the VAD to be inserted into a patient's body at a trajectory that will intercept with a blood vessel (i.e., a vein) of the patient. This automatic process of insertion of the VAD may include initiating feedback from the feedback devices described herein in order to direct the clinician or other HCP to hold the handheld ultrasound probe thereby maintaining a specific trajectory of the VAD.

In some embodiments, the motors may include linear and/or rotational motors. In some embodiments, the motors may facilitate distal advancement of a catheter of the VAD and the needle and/or proximal retraction of the needle. In some embodiments, the motors may facilitate angle adjustments or pivoting of the VAD to ensure the needle and the catheter are properly aligned to insert with the vein when the catheter and the needle are advanced distally.

In an embodiment, in order to initiate the distal advancement of the VAD automatically, the intravenous therapy system may include a button that a clinician may selectively actuate to cause the VAD to be inserted or advanced into the patient's body when a projected path of the needle intersects with the vein that is targeted. In some embodiments, when the intersection condition does not exist (i.e. the projected path of the needle does not intersect with the vein that is targeted), the distal advancement of the catheter and the needle may not start. In some embodiments, the distal advancement of the catheter and the needle may stop if the intersection condition no longer exists due to excessive movement of the patient or the handheld ultrasound probe.

In some embodiments, the handheld ultrasound probe may include a VAD recommendation module that provides feedback via, for example the display device, as to which of a plurality of different kinds of VADs to use to access the blood vessel of the patient. In an embodiment, the recommendation as to which VAD to use may be a verbal indication provided via audio output by a speaker of the handheld ultrasound probe. In some embodiments, the recommendation as to which VAD to use may include a type, size, length, or particular gauge of needle or catheter.

In the present specification and in the appended claims the term vascular access device (VAD) may be any tubing inserted into a blood vessel (e.g., vein or artery) used to administer fluids into a patient's bloodstream, monitor pressures, or collect a blood sample from the patient. VADs may include a peripheral intravenous device and a central venous access device among others. During operation of the handheld ultrasound probe of the intravenous therapy systems described herein, the VAD recommendation module may be executed to describe on the display device of the handheld ultrasound probe which VAD to use. In some embodiments, the VAD recommendation module may recommend a VAD having a needle and a catheter. In this specific embodiment, the automatic VAD advancement system may automatically separate the needle from the catheter when the intravenous therapy system has determined that the VAD has reached the target blood vessel. In this embodiment, the automatic VAD advancement system may be angled lower during the separation of the needle and catheter in order to properly and painlessly separate the needle from the catheter while the VAD is in the patient's body.

In some embodiments, the handheld ultrasound probe may be communicatively coupled to a data storage device that stores a mapping of blood vessels within the patient's body. In an embodiment, the data storage device forms part of the handheld ultrasound probe and is communicatively coupled to a processor also housed within the handheld ultrasound probe. This allows the handheld ultrasound probe to process data received by the handheld ultrasound probe and the magnetic field detector in order to provide data, some data presented in the form of images, at the video display device.

The video display device may present to the clinician or other HCP a view of the structures within the patient's body. In specific embodiments, the structures detected by the handheld ultrasound probe may be blood vessels such as veins and arteries. In some embodiments presented herein, the handheld ultrasound probe may detect the location of a vein based on an expected location of the vein, the movement of blood within the vein, and user selected indications of the vein. The video display may, in some embodiments, provide a transverse planar view of the blood vessel, a coronal planar view of the blood vessel, or a combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the video display device may include a touchscreen device used to receive input from a clinician or other HCP. In this embodiment, the handheld ultrasound probe, at the touchscreen device may receive input from the clinician indicating a location of a blood vessel presented in any view on the video display device. The processor of the handheld ultrasound probe may receive this input and determine a trajectory for the VAD to follow in order to cause the VAD to access the blood vessel. In these embodiments, the processor may, in real-time, provide feedback to a clinician or other HCP as to whether the trajectory of the VAD into the patient's body is an intersecting trajectory that will result in the VAD intersecting with the targeted blood vessel. In an embodiment, the trajectory of the VAD may be controlled automatically by the handheld ultrasound probe via the motors based on a continuous data feed from the magnetic field detectors and ultrasound probe. In an embodiment, feedback may be provided to the clinician or other HCP indicating a poor or sufficient trajectory when the VAD is manually inserted into the patient's body. This feedback may be provided to the clinician or other HCP audibly from an audio device, visually from the video display device, haptic feedback from a haptic device within the handheld ultrasound probe, or a combination thereof.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes, unless so claimed, may be made without departing from the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

In the present specification and in the appended claims the term "proximal" refers to a location on the needle of an intravenous therapy system that, during use, is closest to the clinician using the intravenous therapy system and farthest from the patient in connection with whom the device is used. Conversely, in the present specification and in the appended claims the term "distal" refers to a location on the needle of an intravenous therapy system that, during use, is farthest from the clinician using the intravenous therapy system and closest to the patient in connection with whom the intravenous therapy system is used.

In the present specification and in the appended claims the terms "top", "up" or "upwardly" refers to a location on the needle of this intravenous therapy system that, during use, is radially away from the longitudinal axis of the intravenous therapy system and away from the patient's skin. Conversely, as used herein, the term "bottom", "down" or "downwardly" refers to a location on the needle of this intravenous therapy system that, during use, is radially away from the longitudinal axis of the device and toward the patient's skin.

In the present specification and in the appended claims the term "in" or "inwardly" refers to a location with respect to the needle of this intravenous therapy system that, during use, is toward the inside of the intravenous therapy system. Conversely, in the present specification and in the appended claims the term "out" or "outwardly" refers to a location with respect to the needle of this intravenous therapy system that, during use, is toward the outside of the intravenous therapy system.

In the present specification and in the appended claims the term "vascular access device" (VAD) may refer to any tubing inserted into a blood vessel (e.g., vein or artery) used to administer fluids into a patient's bloodstream, monitor pressures, or collect a blood sample from the patient. VADs may include a peripheral intravenous device and a central venous access device among others. During operation of the handheld ultrasound probe of the intravenous therapy systems described herein, the VAD recommendation module may be executed to describe on the display device of the handheld ultrasound probe which VAD to use based on a vascular anatomy of the patient.

In the present specification and in the appended claims, the term "coronal plane" or coronal view" refers to a plane or view of an interior of a patient's body resulting from a division of a patient's body into anterior and posterior portions. In a specific example, a coronal plane of a patient's arm would be a plane that runs through the long axis of the patients arm from the shoulder to the tips of the patient's fingers when the patient's arm is oriented to the side of the patient with the patient's palm facing anterior.

In the present specification and in the appended claims, the term "transverse plane" or transverse view" refers to a plane or view of an interior of a patient's body resulting from a division of a patient's body into upper and lower portions. In a specific example, a transverse plane of a patient's arm would be a plane that runs through the short axis of the patients arm from an anterior side of the patient's arm to a posterior side of the patient's arm when the patient's arm is oriented to the side of the patient with the patient's palm facing anterior.

This invention is described herein using like reference numbers for like elements in the different embodiments. Although the embodiments described herein are used in connection for use as an intravenous therapy system to receive a blood sample or introduce a medicament into the body of a patient, it is to be understood that this intravenous therapy system is applicable to other medical devices where it is desirable for a needle to be inserted into a blood vessel of a patient. In addition, while the embodiments of the intravenous therapy system are satisfied by embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and herein described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the scope of the disclosure measured by the appended claims.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an intravenous therapy system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> described herein includes a housing <NUM>, part of which, used to be held by a clinician or other healthcare provider during operation of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be formed out of any material that may house other components of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> as described herein.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include an ultrasound (US) probe <NUM> formed, in an embodiment, at a distal end of the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. The US probe <NUM> may be handheld. The US probe <NUM> may be any device that converts electrical signals from an electrical source into ultrasound waves and converts ultrasound waves received at the US probe <NUM> into electrical signals. During operation of the US probe <NUM>, the US probe <NUM> may receive an electrical signal and convert that electrical signal into ultrasound waves that are directed, either continuously or pulsed, to enter into a part of a patient's body. As the ultrasound waves enter the patient's body, those ultrasound waves may be reflected off of structures within the patient's body and reflected back to the US probe <NUM>. When the reflected ultrasound waves reach the US probe <NUM> within a window of time, sometimes corresponding to a time it takes for the energy to pass through a depth of the patient's body, the US probe <NUM> converts those ultrasound waves back into electrical signals. These electrical signals may be interpreted by a processor housed within the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> and used to form an image of the internal structures within the patient's body. In an embodiment presented herein, the electrical signals presented to the processor and used to form the images of the structures within the patient's body may be displayed at a video display device of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. In a specific application and during operation of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>, the US probe <NUM> may be directed towards and in contact with, an arm of the patient in order to detect a position of a blood vessel <NUM> within the patient's arm.

As described herein, intravenous therapy system <NUM> also includes a video display device <NUM> communicatively coupled to the US probe <NUM> and the processor within the housing <NUM> among other components of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may receive input from the processor descriptive of the data received by the US probe <NUM>. This input from the processor causes images of the structures within the patient's body to be presented on the video display device <NUM>. The images presented may change as the position of the US probe <NUM> placed against the patient's body changes. In some embodiments, the US probe <NUM> may include one or more US sensors, which may provide a transverse view of the blood vessel <NUM>, a coronal or longitudinal view of a blood vessel <NUM>, or another view based on a position of the US probe <NUM>. In some embodiments, the US sensors may be arranged in a two-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the data from the US probe <NUM> sent to the processor may be data descriptive of the transverse view of the structures of the blood vessel <NUM> such as a vein within a patient's arm that are on a transverse plane <NUM> of the arm. In any embodiment presented herein, however, it is understood that the US probe <NUM> may be placed against any portion of the patient's body such as a leg in order to locate and access a blood vessel <NUM> with a VAD.

In an embodiment, the data from the US probe <NUM> sent to the processor may be data descriptive of a coronal view of the structures such as a vein within a patient's arm that are on a coronal plane <NUM> of the arm. The view along the coronal plane <NUM> may be the longitudinal view of a blood vessel of the patient that runs the length of the patient's arm. The video display device <NUM> may display either or both of the coronal planar view along the coronal plane <NUM> of the patient, the transverse planar view along the transverse plane <NUM> of the patient, or both.

In the embodiments presented herein, the housing <NUM> may also house the magnetic field detector (not shown), which may include one or more magnetic field sensors that are used to detect the presence of a metal. In specific embodiments presented herein, the magnetic field detector may detect any metal components of a VAD to be inserted into the patient. In an embodiment, the magnetic field detector may detect the location of the metal components of the VAD relative to the US probe <NUM>. In these embodiments, the processor of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may overlay positional location data related to the location and the projected position of the needle tip of the VAD onto any images presented on the video display device <NUM>, such as the cross section of the vein. By way of example, when the video display device <NUM> displays a coronal plane <NUM> of the patient's arm, the video display device <NUM> may show the movement of the VAD passing into the blood vessel <NUM>. Similarly, when the video display device <NUM> display a transverse plane <NUM> of the patient's arm, the video display device <NUM> may show a trajectory point to which the VAD is going to intersect with the blood vessel <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> is a stand-alone system that may communicate, wirelessly with other networked computing systems. In order to operate, the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include a battery (not shown). The battery may include, in some embodiments, a smart battery system or be operatively coupled to a power management unit that tracks and provides power state data. This power state data may be stored with the instructions, parameters, and profiles to be used with the systems and methods disclosed herein.

In the embodiments presented herein, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to a processor (not shown). In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may be a stand-alone device that includes, within the housing <NUM>, the processor. In another embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to a processor exterior or remote to the housing <NUM> of the US probe <NUM>. In the embodiments presented herein, the processor may include the hardware architecture used to retrieve computer readable program code from a data storage device also housed within the housing <NUM> and execute that computer readable program code. In an embodiment, the computer readable program code executed by the processor causes the intravenous therapy system <NUM> to perform the functions as described herein. In specific embodiments, the execution of the computer readable program code may cause the US probe <NUM> to receive electrical signals, convert those electrical signals into ultrasonic waves, cause those waves to be propagated into a patient's body, receive reflected ultrasonic waves, and provide data to the processor indicative of the structures present within the patient's body. In an embodiment, the execution of the computer readable program code may cause a magnetic field detector to detect the presence and location of a portion of a VAD. The processor may also execute computer readable program code that causes the location data descriptive of the location and/or the projected path of the VAD to be overlaid onto ultrasonic images presented by the processor during operation of the US probe <NUM>. As such, the execution of the computer readable program code causes the intravenous therapy system <NUM> to operate such that a clinician or other HCP may accurately and precisely access a patient's blood vessel with little to no inaccurate placements of that VAD. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present specification, the execution of the computer readable program code may allow the clinician or other HCP to assess the placement and indwelling of the VAD after the clinician or other HCP has successfully inserted the VAD into the patient's blood vessel.

In some embodiments presented herein, the housing <NUM> may include a VAD chassis <NUM>. The VAD chassis <NUM> may be formed into a portion of the housing <NUM> that is closest to the patient's body. During operation of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>, a VAD within the VAD chassis <NUM> may be automatically advanced in order to allow for the automatic insertion of the VAD into the patient's body. In the embodiments presented herein, the VAD chassis <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the processor so as to receive data descriptive of a trajectory of the VAD placed within the VAD chassis <NUM>. The data is descriptive of the direction the VAD is to take in order to cause the VAD to intersect with a blood vessel within the patient's body. In these embodiments, the US probe <NUM> and magnetic field detectors may provide data on a closed-loop feedback in order to direct the VAD into the patient's blood vessel as the VAD engages the patient's skin and the VAD is directed through the patient's body.

In the embodiments herein, the VAD chassis <NUM> may include a VAD advancement system that includes a motor, which may include a linear motor, a rotational motor, or any other suitable type of motor. The VAD advancement system may receive signals from the processor as described herein in order to advance the VAD into the patient's body using the motor. In some embodiments presented herein, the motor may be a linear motor that produces a linear force along its length. This may allow the motor to pass the VAD loaded into the VAD chassis <NUM> away from the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> and into the body of the patient. In an embodiment, the motor may also allow for the tilt movement, the rotation movement, and the yaw movement of the VAD during insertion. The linear, tilt, rotational, and yaw adjustments of the direction of the VAD allows for the VAD to intersect with the blood vessel of the patient in situations where the intravenous therapy system <NUM> is moved, either deliberately or accidentally, along the surface of the patient's body.

The claimed blood vessel detection system according to the present invention comprises a handheld blood vessel detection device, which comprises an ultrasound probe <NUM> to detect blood vessels within a patient's body, a display device <NUM> to provide a visual display of the blood vessels within the patient's body, a VAD chassis configured to maintain a VAD, and a linear motor <NUM> to automatically advance the VAD into the patient's body. The VAD chassis <NUM> is provided in a housing <NUM> of the handheld blood vessel detection device and the linear motor is configured to allow for a tilt movement, a rotation movement, and a yaw movement of the VAD during insertion.

In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include an audio feedback device, a haptic feedback device, visual feedback, or a combination thereof, in order to indicate when the VAD being inserted into the blood vessel within the patient's body is determined to be on an intersecting trajectory into a blood vessel of the patient. In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include another audio feedback device, another haptic feedback device, another visual feedback, or a combination thereof, in order to indicate if the VAD being inserted into the blood vessel within the patient's body is determined to not be on an intersecting trajectory into a blood vessel of the patient.

In some embodiments, the audio feedback device, a haptic feedback device, visual feedback, or a combination thereof may indicate to a clinician or other HCP when the VAD is aligned to intersect or misaligned so as to not be able to intersect with the patient's blood vessel and may indicate how to properly orient the intravenous therapy system <NUM> so as to allow for that intersection to occur. By way of example, the video display device <NUM> may visually indicate that the VAD is not on a trajectory to intersect with the patient's blood vessel and may provide visual indications as to how to orient the intravenous therapy system <NUM> on the patient's body using x-, y-, and z-coordinate information. An audio signal produced by a speaker of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may audibly provide feedback indicative of such a misalignment. Additionally, once proper alignment is established, a haptic feedback device such as a tumbler may be used to indicate when the VAD is no longer on a trajectory that will cause the VAD to intersect with the patient's blood vessel based on movement of the haptic feedback device, the US probe <NUM>, or the patient.

In some embodiments presented herein, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include a VAD recommendation module (not shown). In these embodiments, the VAD recommendation module may provide an audible or visual indicator that provides a suggestion as to which type of VAD to use in order to access the patient's blood vessel. An audible VAD recommendation may be presented via a speaker housed within the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. A visual VAD recommendation may be provided to the clinician or other HCP via the video display device <NUM>. In any of these examples, the clinician or other HCP may be allowed to provide data descriptive of the purpose of the VAD prior to the VAD recommendation module providing the recommendation. Such data may indicate whether the purpose of the VAD is to retrieve a blood sample or whether the purpose of the VAD is to provide an infusing fluid such as a saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition into the patient's bloodstream. The length of time the VAD is to remain in the patient's blood vessel may also be input by the clinician or other HCP in order for the VAD recommendation module to provide a more accurate VAD recommendation.

In an embodiment, the VAD recommendation module may be computer readable program code stored on a memory device, data storage device, or other device used to store computer readable program code. The computer readable program code, in an embodiment may be accessed by the processor in order to execute that computer readable program code. The execution of that computer readable program code may bring about the assessment of and presentation to the clinician or other HCP of the VAD recommendation. In another embodiment, the VAD recommendation module may be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In this embodiment, the processor may access the ASIC in order to bring about the assessment of and presentation to the clinician or other HCP of the VAD recommendation.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include any computer readable program code used to be executed by the processor in order to initiate the functionalities described herein. During execution of the computer readable program code, any number of signals may be presented by the processor to any of the US probe <NUM>, magnetic field detector, VAD advancement system, motor, audio feedback device, haptic feedback device, visual feedback, or video display device <NUM> so as to initiate the functionalities of these devices as described herein. In an alternative embodiment, any number of ASICs may be used to replace or augment the computer readable program code in order to initiate the functionalities of these devices as described herein.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> may further include one or more VAD buttons <NUM>, which may include one or more advancement buttons configured to advance the needle and the catheter in the distal direction, one or more retraction buttons configured to withdraw the needle in the proximal direction, one or more pivot or angle adjustment buttons configured to change a position of the VAD. In some embodiments, the VAD may be advanced distally when a particular button <NUM> is pressed. In some embodiments, the VAD may be advanced distally when the particular button <NUM> is pressed and the needle is projected to be positioned within the targeted vein.

The VAD button <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the VAD advancement system and the motor so that actuation of the VAD button <NUM> causes the VAD to advance into the patient's arm when pressed, or when pressed and aligned such that the needle is projected to properly intersect with the targeted vein. The actuation of the VAD button <NUM> by the clinician or other HCP may start the advancement of the VAD based on the data received by the US probe <NUM> and the magnetic field detector, which may include magnetic field sensors.

The data received by the US probe <NUM> and magnetic field detector may indicate that the VAD is on a trajectory to intersect with a blood vessel within the patient's body and detected by the US probe <NUM>. The advancement of the VAD may continue so long as the data, on a continuous feedback loop, from the US probe <NUM> and magnetic field detector indicates that the VAD is on that trajectory to intersect with the blood vessel. In an embodiment, if and when the data from the US probe <NUM> and magnetic field detector indicates that the VAD is no longer on an intersecting trajectory with a blood vessel, the actuation of the VAD button <NUM> by the clinician or other HCP may be overridden and stop the advancement and the audio feedback device, a haptic feedback device, visual feedback, or a combination thereof may so indicate to the clinician or other HCP. The clinician or other HCP may then orient the intravenous therapy system <NUM> so the needle is back on target to intersect the vein, and the actuation of the VAD button <NUM> may once again be recognized and the placement of the VAD may continue.

<FIG> is a side view of an intravenous therapy system <NUM> interfacing with a patient's arm <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The intravenous therapy system <NUM> shows that the US probe <NUM> is interfacing with the patient's arm <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> is being held by the hand <NUM> of the clinician or other HCP. In the embodiment shown, the clinician or other HCP uses a single hand <NUM> to hold the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. In some embodiments, the VAD chassis <NUM> may not be included and instead the clinician or other HCP, after receiving a VAD recommendation from the VAD recommendation module, use a second hand to place and insert the VAD at and into the patient's arm <NUM>. With the inclusion of the video display device <NUM> on the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>, the clinician or other HCP may situate the intravenous therapy system <NUM> and handheld VAD while using the video display device <NUM> to orient the VAD sufficiently and, based on the data presented on the video display device <NUM>, direct the VAD into the patient's blood vessel.

In the embodiment where the VAD chassis <NUM> is present on the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>, a processor may direct the VAD advancement system of the VAD chassis <NUM> to engage the motor. The motor may, based on the data received by the US probe <NUM> and magnetic field detector, move the VAD inserted into the VAD chassis <NUM> into the patient's arm <NUM> in order to cause the VAD to intersect with a blood vessel within the patient's arm.

During operation, the clinician or other HCP may orient the intravenous therapy system <NUM> onto a portion of the patient's body such as the patient's arm <NUM> into which the VAD is to be inserted. The US probe <NUM> may then detect the structures within the patient's arm <NUM>. The data descriptive of the structures, such as a blood vessel <NUM>, may be relayed to the video display device <NUM> to present a visual display of these structures to a clinician or other HCP. In an embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may present a view of the blood vessel <NUM> on a transverse plane <NUM>. This view may present to the clinician or other HCP a "cross-sectional" view of the blood vessel <NUM> so that the clinician or other HCP may assess whether that blood vessel <NUM> or some other blood vessel <NUM> is to be accessed by the VAD. In an embodiment, the transverse plane <NUM> may have a length <NUM> and a width <NUM>. In an embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may present a view of the blood vessel <NUM> on a coronal plane <NUM>. This view may present to the clinician or other HCP a longitudinal view of the blood vessel <NUM> as the blood vessel <NUM> runs along the long axis of the patient's arm <NUM>. In an embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may present or be capable of presenting both the transverse plane <NUM> and coronal plane <NUM> as detected by the US probe <NUM>.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> may also include a magnetic field detector (not shown) placed close to the US probe <NUM>. The magnetic field detector may detect the presence and location of any parts of the VAD, which may be magnetically permeable. During operation, the magnetic field detector may receive data regarding the location of the parts of the VAD and cause an image descriptive of that location of the VAD to be overlaid onto either or both views of the transverse plane <NUM> and coronal plane <NUM>. As such, the clinician or other HCP may view the movement of the VAD as it moves towards and into the patient's arm <NUM> so as to determine that the trajectory <NUM> of the VAD is appropriate to intersect with the blood vessel <NUM>.

In the embodiment where the intravenous therapy system <NUM> does not include a VAD chassis <NUM> and VAD advancement system, the clinician or other HCP may hold the intravenous therapy system <NUM> with one hand <NUM> and, with the opposite hand, orient and move a VAD towards and into the patient's arm <NUM>. By consistently viewing the video display device <NUM> housed on the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>, the clinician or other HCP may more accurately view the trajectory <NUM> of the VAD as the clinician or other HCP attempts to access the blood vessel <NUM>. Thus, the clinician or other HCP may be provided with real-time data descriptive of the VAD relative to the blood vessel <NUM> using the data presented on the video display device <NUM> from the US probe <NUM> and magnetic field detector. This allows the clinician or other HCP to more accurately and precisely access the blood vessel <NUM> with little to no additional trauma to the patient's body. This increases the efficiency of VAD placements by the clinician or other HCP resulting in better healthcare to the patient.

The present specification describes the access of a blood vessel <NUM> by the VAD generally. However, it is contemplated by the present disclosure that any specific type of blood vessel <NUM> may be accessed for specific medical purposes. For example, the blood vessel <NUM> described herein may be a vein into which a saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition is to be presented into the patient's bloodstream. In this case, the vein may pass the saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition to the heart of the patient which then distributes the saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition into the remaining portions of the patient's body. Still further, the blood vessel <NUM> may be an artery into which, for other medical reasons, the saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition may be introduced. In either embodiment, the US probe <NUM> may detect the movement of blood within the blood vessel <NUM> and determine whether the blood vessel <NUM> is a vein or artery.

In an embodiment, a clinician or other HCP may input to the intravenous therapy system <NUM> an indication that a vein is to be accessed. In this embodiment, the US probe <NUM> may provide data descriptive of a vein to be accessed. In an embodiment, the processor may cause the vein to be visually highlighted on the video display device <NUM> by, for example, drawing a line or other indicator around a transverse plane <NUM> view of the vein. In an embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may be a touchscreen video display device <NUM> that allows a user to determine which blood vessel <NUM> is to be accessed by inputting on the screen of the video display device <NUM> a line or other indicator descriptive of a target blood vessel <NUM>. In either embodiment, the processor of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may use the line or other indicator descriptive of a target blood vessel <NUM> to direct the insertion of the VAD by either appropriately actuating the motor of the VAD advancement system or directing the clinician or other HCP on how to adjust the trajectory <NUM> of the VAD during insertion.

In an embodiment, the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include a battery (not shown). The battery may include, in some embodiments, a smart battery system or be operatively coupled to a power management unit that tracks and provides power state data. This power state data may be stored with the instructions, parameters, and profiles to be used with the systems and methods disclosed herein.

In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include a network interface device that communicatively couple the intravenous therapy system <NUM> to a computer network. In these embodiments, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to an electronic health record (EHR) database. The EHR database may be a database that maintains patient-specific health care records. In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may relay the use of a VAD on the patient as well as a record (either video or still images) of the placement of the VAD and the ultrasound data received at the US probe <NUM>. This record may be maintained in order to create a relatively more robust health care record for a given patient.

In any embodiment described herein, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the EHR system or other computing device via a data and power cable. In this embodiment, the data and power cable may be used when the intravenous therapy system <NUM> does not include a network interface and/or when the intravenous therapy system <NUM> does not include its own power source such as the battery described herein. In either example, the communication to the EHR system may allow for further communication to other computing devices of a network of computing devices.

<FIG> is side view of a VAD <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The VAD <NUM> may be any device that is formed to access a patient's blood vessel in order to access a blood sample or deliver a saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition into the patient's bloodstream.

The example VAD <NUM> presented in <FIG> includes a distal end <NUM> and a proximate end <NUM>. In this example, the VAD <NUM> may include a needle <NUM> that is made of a metallic material that is capable of being magnetized. The VAD <NUM> may include a catheter <NUM>, which may include a peripheral intravenous catheter, a midline catheter, or a peripherally inserted central catheter. The needle <NUM> may be hollow so as to be able to pass a blood sample, saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition therethrough. At the distal end <NUM>, the needle <NUM> may be beveled to create a point or sharp so as to more easily pass through the skin and body tissues of the patient's body while accessing the blood vessel as described herein.

The VAD <NUM> ma include any other elements that may fit a particular function during the blood sampling or blood infusion processes. By way of example, the VAD <NUM> may include a plastic coupling device used to couple the VAD <NUM> to a reservoir of saline solution, a medicament, and/or a parenteral nutrition or to a blood sampling vile. Because the intravenous therapy system may implement the use of any type of VAD <NUM>, the specific details of the VAD <NUM> may vary from use to use. However, the present specification contemplates the use of any VAD <NUM> that is configured for insertion into the body of the patient.

<FIG> is a graphical view of a video display device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As described herein, the video display device <NUM> receives data descriptive of the structures internal to a patient's body and, specifically, a blood vessel. The data is received by the processor from the US probe <NUM> and magnetic field detector and used to form the transverse plane <NUM> and coronal plane <NUM> images of the structures within the patient's body as well as calculate projection of the trajectory of the needle, such as, for example, the needle <NUM>, based on the position of the needle tip relative to the US probe <NUM> and known geometries of the particular VAD (gauge, length, catheter brand, etc.) being used.

The image presented in <FIG> is a transverse plane <NUM> image <NUM> of a blood vessel within the patient. However, the present specification contemplates that multiple different views including one along a coronal plane <NUM> of the blood vessel may be alternatively or additionally displayed at the video display device <NUM>. In a specific embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may include a number of input buttons <NUM>. In this embodiment, actuation of the input buttons <NUM> may switch the view presented to the user. A dimensional reference indicator may also be included on the video display device <NUM> to allow a clinician to measure or have a reference for estimating a size of the patient's anatomy (such as vein diameter or vein depth).

<FIG> illustrates a projected path <NUM> of the needle, according to some embodiments. <FIG> also illustrates a projected position <NUM> of where the needle tip will intersect a plane of the image <NUM> based on a trajectory <NUM> or path of movement of the needle. In response to the projected position <NUM> being centered or properly aligned with respect to the blood vessel <NUM>, conditions may be appropriate for advancement of the VAD (manually by the clinician or automatically as discussed herein).

The video display device <NUM> may present to the user any data in additional to the transverse plane <NUM> and coronal plane <NUM> images <NUM>. By way of example, the video display device <NUM> may include the current date <NUM> and time <NUM> the intravenous therapy system is being used. The date <NUM> and time <NUM> may be used during the recording of the ultrasound and VAD insertion at the EHS described herein. This may be used to accurately date and document the procedure conducted by the clinician or other HCP.

Additionally, the video display device <NUM> may display a current ultrasound resolution <NUM> being viewed on the image <NUM>. In an embodiment, the input buttons <NUM> may be used to adjust the resolution of the image <NUM> so that a clinician or other HCP may see further detail of a blood vessel being presented.

Still further, the video display device <NUM> may display patient and VAD information <NUM>. The patient information may include the name of the patient, an assigned number related to the patient and the patient's EHR, as well as medically relevant medical data related to the patient such as blood vessel geometry, a date of birth, weight, current blood pressure, current pulse, among other data. The VAD information may include data descriptive of the type of VAD being used by the clinician or other HCP, the name or identity of the clinician or HCP, and recommended to be used by the VAD recommendation module, among other data.

The video display device <NUM> may further include a number of VAD trajectory indicators <NUM> and <NUM>. In an embodiment, a first VAD trajectory indicator <NUM> may be used to indicate a depth within the patient's body the VAD is at. The first VAD trajectory indicator <NUM> may be color coded to indicate whether the depth of the VAD as it passes through the patient's body is in line with a processor-calculated trajectory. If the VAD is not at the correct depth at any given time during insertion of the VAD, the first VAD trajectory indicator <NUM> may visually indicate an improper trajectory by, for example, changing colors. The visual indication of a wrong trajectory may be accompanied with, in some examples, an audible warning from a speaker, a haptic feedback warning from a haptic device within the intravenous therapy system, or a combination of any of these three warning devices. As such, during use, a clinician or other HCP may accurately adjust the trajectory of the VAD, or intravenous therapy system based on the trajectory the VAD is to follow in order to intersect with a detected blood vessel.

In an embodiment, a second VAD trajectory indicator <NUM> may be used to indicate x-and y-coordinates within the patient's body the VAD is at. The second VAD trajectory indicator <NUM> may be color coded to indicate whether the placement of the VAD as it passes through the patient's body is in line with a processor-calculated trajectory. The second VAD trajectory indicator <NUM> may indicate how far along the projected path <NUM> the needle tip is and a distance of the needle tip from the targeted vein. If the VAD is not at the correct x- and y-coordinate at any given time during insertion of the VAD, the second VAD trajectory indicator <NUM> may visually indicate an improper trajectory by, for example, changing colors. The visual indication of a wrong trajectory may be accompanied with, in some examples, an audible warning from a speaker, a haptic feedback warning from a haptic device within the intravenous therapy system, or a combination of any of these three warning devices. As such, during use, a clinician or other HCP may accurately adjust the trajectory of the VAD, or intravenous therapy system based on the trajectory the VAD is to follow in order to intersect with a detected blood vessel.

As described herein, the video display device <NUM> may include a touchscreen layer. The touchscreen layer may allow a clinician or other HCP to provide input to the intravenous therapy system. An example of this input may include blood vessel indication data. In this specific example, the clinician or other HCP, upon seeing a blood vessel such as a vein presented on the image <NUM> of the internal structures of the patient's body, may circle or otherwise indicate where the VAD is to intersect with the blood vessel. This indication, along with the data received by the processor of the intravenous therapy system from the US probe and magnetic field detector, may be used to calculate the trajectory of the VAD by the processor. Once the trajectory is calculated, the trajectory may be used during automatic insertion of the VAD by a VAD advancement system or manual insertion of the VAD by a clinician or other HCP. The present specification further contemplates that the intravenous therapy system may be moved by the clinician or other HCP during insertion of the VAD. In this embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may also include any other indicator on the screen that may indicate to the clinician or other HCP to keep the target blood vessel on the screen by readjusting the intravenous therapy system relative to the patient's body.

<FIG> is a graphical view of a blood vessel <NUM> along a transverse plane <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment shown in <FIG> indicates a length <NUM> and width <NUM> that the image encompasses. The length <NUM> and width <NUM> may vary depending on a selected resolution as well as the ultrasonic capabilities of the US probe described herein.

The blood vessel <NUM> may be presented on the view of <FIG> by processing the data received by the US probe <NUM> by the processor. This view may change based upon movement of the intravenous therapy system relative to the patient's body. However, during operation the video display device <NUM> may indicate to a clinician or other HCP to hold the intravenous therapy system steady while engaged in the functionalities of the intravenous therapy system as described herein.

The view presented in <FIG> may also include a projected path <NUM> of the needle, according to some embodiments. <FIG> also illustrates a projected position <NUM> of where the needle tip will intersect a plane of the image <NUM> based on a trajectory <NUM> or path of movement of the needle. In response to the projected position <NUM> being centered or properly aligned with respect to the blood vessel <NUM>, conditions may be appropriate for advancement of the VAD (manually by the clinician or automatically as discussed herein).

In some embodiments, a target area may be determined by processing the image <NUM> and determining a location of the blood vessel <NUM> based on the image <NUM>. An angle and position of the needle may then be adjusted until the projected position <NUM> is within the target area. In response to the projected position <NUM> being centered or properly aligned with respect to the blood vessel <NUM>, the VAD trajectory feedback may be provided, indicating the intravenous therapy system is on target and advancement of the VAD may proceed (manually by the clinician or automatically as discussed herein).

The projected position <NUM> may be processor-created or may be based on data received at the touchscreen of the video display device from the clinician or other HCP as described. During operation, one or more of the following may be used by the video display device to alter manual or automatic advancement of the VAD: the location data of the distal end of the VAD, the geometric data of the specific VAD, the projected position <NUM> of the needle and the US plane, the trajectory line <NUM>, and the location of the targeted blood vessel <NUM>. In some embodiments, the trajectory <NUM> created by the processor may take into consideration certain characteristics of the VAD such as whether the VAD includes a bent needle.

<FIG> is a graphical view of a blood vessel <NUM> along a coronal plane <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this view of the internal structures of the patient's body, the trajectory <NUM> may be at an angle relative to the blood vessel <NUM>. Again, a target location <NUM> may be computed by the processor or indicated by the clinician or other HCP.

In the embodiment where the target location <NUM> is computed by the processor, the processor may use a number of types of data to create the target location <NUM>. This data may include the detection of blood flow from the US probe <NUM>, the differences in hues of colors presented on the view, the detection of movement of the exterior walls of the blood vessel, among other types of data. The present specification contemplates that any process may be executed to determine a proper placement of the VAD within the patient's blood vessel. In any embodiment, this data may be accumulated and updated to present to the clinician or other HCP on the display device where the VAD is to intersect with the blood vessel.

According to any embodiment presented herein, the coronal plane <NUM> and transverse plane <NUM> may not be the only planes at which the US probe <NUM> detects the internal structures of the patient's body. In some embodiments, the clinician or other HCP may manually select any variant of plane presented on the video display device <NUM> that may suit any particular need. Consequently, the present specification contemplates that other views may be presented apart from the transverse plane <NUM> and coronal plane <NUM> of <FIG>, respectively, and those views on the video display device <NUM> are meant merely to be examples of data that may be presented to the clinician or other HCP. Further, in some embodiments, any view or plane of the patient's anatomy may be detected by adjustment or repositioning of the US probe <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an intravenous therapy system <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiments described herein, an intravenous therapy system <NUM> includes any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or use any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. In the specific example shown in <FIG>, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> includes a handheld blood vessel detection system <NUM> similar to the intravenous therapy system <NUM> shown in <FIG> and an information handling system <NUM>. For example, an intravenous therapy system <NUM> can include as an information handling system <NUM> a personal computer, mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a network router, switch, or bridge, wireless router, or other network communication device, a network connected device (cellular telephone, tablet device, etc.), IoT computing device, wearable computing device, a set-top box (STB), a mobile information handling system, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, an access point (AP), a base station transceiver, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, or any other suitable machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine, and can vary in size, shape, performance, price, and functionality.

In a networked deployment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may operate with a server or with a client computer in a server-client network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. In a particular embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> can be implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication. For example, an intravenous therapy system <NUM> include any mobile or other computing device capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single intravenous therapy system <NUM> is illustrated, the term "system" shall also be taken to include any collection of systems or subsystems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

The blood vessel detection system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the information handling system <NUM> such as those computing devices described herein. In these embodiments, the information handling system <NUM> can include memory (volatile (e.g. random-access memory, etc.), nonvolatile (read-only memory, flash memory etc.) or any combination thereof), one or more processing resources, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), hardware or software control logic, or any combination thereof. Additional components of the information handling system <NUM> can include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices, as well as, various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a video/graphic display, or any combination thereof. The information handling system <NUM> can also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. Portions of an information handling system <NUM> may themselves be considered information handling systems <NUM>.

Information handling system <NUM> can include devices or modules that embody one or more of the devices or execute instructions for the one or more systems and modules described herein, and operates to perform one or more of the methods described herein so as to interact with the blood vessel detection system <NUM>. The information handling system <NUM> may execute code instructions <NUM> that may operate on servers or systems, remote data centers, or on-box in individual client information handling systems according to various embodiments herein. In some embodiments, it is understood any or all portions of code instructions <NUM> may operate on a plurality of information handling systems <NUM>.

The information handling system <NUM> may include a processor <NUM> such as a central processing unit (CPU), control logic or some combination of the same. Any of the processing resources may operate to execute code that is either firmware or software code. In an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may interact with a processor of the blood vessel detection system <NUM> as descried herein. Moreover, the information handling system <NUM> can include memory such as main memory <NUM>, static memory <NUM>, computer readable medium <NUM> storing instructions <NUM> of the electronic health record (EHR) <NUM>, and drive unit <NUM> (volatile (e.g. random-access memory, etc.), nonvolatile (read-only memory, flash memory etc.) or any combination thereof). The information handling system <NUM> can also include one or more buses <NUM> operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components such as any combination of various input and output (I/O) devices.

The information handling system <NUM> may further include a video display <NUM>. The video display <NUM> in an embodiment may function as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid-state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). In an embodiment, the video display <NUM> may present to a user those same views presented on the video display device <NUM> of the blood vessel detection system <NUM>. Additionally, the information handling system <NUM> may include an input device <NUM>, such as a cursor control device (e.g., mouse, touchpad, or gesture or touch screen input, and a keyboard <NUM>.

The network interface device shown as wireless adapter <NUM> can provide connectivity to a network <NUM>, e.g., a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), or other networks. Connectivity may be via wired or wireless connection. The wireless adapter <NUM> may operate in accordance with any wireless data communication standards. To communicate with a wireless local area network, standards including IEEE <NUM> WLAN standards, IEEE <NUM> WPAN standards, WWAN such as 3GPP or 3GPP2, or similar wireless standards may be used. In some aspects of the present disclosure, one wireless adapter <NUM> may operate two or more wireless links. In the embodiments described herein, the network interface device <NUM> may wirelessly couple the information handling system <NUM> with the EHR <NUM>. In the embodiments described herein, the EHR <NUM> may receive data descriptive of a position of a needle within the body of a patient, a blood vessel within the body of the patient, and the information handling system <NUM> may relay that positional data to an indicator presented on the display device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, software, firmware, dedicated hardware implementations such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more of some systems and methods described herein.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented by firmware or software programs executable by a controller or a processor system. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionalities as described herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium that includes instructions, parameters, and profiles <NUM> or receives and executes instructions, parameters, and profiles <NUM> responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device such as the blood vessel detection system <NUM> connected to a network <NUM> can communicate voice, video or data over the network <NUM>. Further, the instructions <NUM> may be transmitted or received over the network <NUM> via the network interface device or wireless adapter <NUM>.

The information handling system <NUM> can include a set of instructions <NUM> that can be executed to cause the computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or computerbased functions disclosed herein. Various software modules comprising application instructions <NUM> may be coordinated by an operating system (OS), and/or via an application programming interface (API). An example operating system may include Windows ®, Android ®, and other OS types. Example APIs may include Win <NUM>, Core Java API, or Android APIs.

The disk drive unit <NUM> may include a computer-readable medium <NUM> in which one or more sets of instructions <NUM> such as software can be embedded. Similarly, main memory <NUM> and static memory <NUM> may also contain a computer-readable medium for storage of one or more sets of instructions, parameters, or profiles <NUM>. The disk drive unit <NUM> and static memory <NUM> may also contain space for data storage. Further, the instructions <NUM> may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. For example, instructions relating to the formation of a view of the internal structures within the patient's body by the processor may be part of those instructions <NUM>. In a particular embodiment, the instructions, parameters, and profiles <NUM> may reside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory <NUM>, the static memory <NUM>, and/or within the disk drive <NUM> during execution by the processor <NUM> of information handling system <NUM>. The main memory <NUM> and the processor <NUM> also may include computer-readable media.

Main memory <NUM> may contain computer-readable medium (not shown), such as RAM in an example embodiment. An example of main memory <NUM> includes random access memory (RAM) such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM), or the like, read only memory (ROM), another type of memory, or a combination thereof. Static memory <NUM> may contain computer-readable medium (not shown), such as NOR or NAND flash memory in some example embodiments. While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term "computer-readable medium" includes a single-medium or multiple medium, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term "computer-readable medium" shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random-access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to store information received via carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium. Furthermore, a computer readable medium can store information received from distributed network resources such as from a cloud-based environment. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives may be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

The information handling system <NUM> may also include the EHRs <NUM> that may be operably connected to the bus <NUM>. The EHR <NUM> computer readable medium <NUM> may also contain space for data storage such as data related to each patient the blood vessel detection system <NUM> interacts with. During operation the EHR <NUM> may receive these records from the blood vessel detection system <NUM> and related to a recorded internal structure of blood vessels within the patient's body as well as other data including date, time, patient ID and VAD used.

In other embodiments, dedicated hardware implementations such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods described herein.

When referred to as a "system", a "device," a "module," a "controller," or the like, the embodiments described herein can be configured as hardware. For example, a portion of an information handling system device may be hardware such as, for example, an integrated circuit (such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a structured ASIC, or a device embedded on a larger chip), a card (such as a Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) card, a PCI-express card, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card, or other such expansion card), or a system (such as a motherboard, a system-on-a-chip (SoC), or a stand-alone device). The system, device, controller, or module can include software, including firmware embedded at a device, such as an Intel ® Core class processor, ARM ® brand processors, Qualcomm ® Snapdragon processors, or other processors and chipsets, or other such device, or software capable of operating a relevant environment of the information handling system. The system, device, controller, or module can also include a combination of the foregoing examples of hardware or software. In an embodiment an information handling system <NUM> may include an integrated circuit or a board-level product having portions thereof that can also be any combination of hardware and software. Devices, modules, resources, controllers, or programs that are in communication with one another need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices, modules, resources, controllers, or programs that are in communication with one another can communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

During operation of the information handling system <NUM>, data may be received at the processor <NUM> from the blood vessel detection system <NUM>. As described herein the blood vessel detection system <NUM> may record the internal structures of the patient's body, calculate a trajectory of a VAD to be inserted into the patient's body, provide a VAD recommendation, and provide VAD trajectory feedback, among other operations. These operations and functionalities may be executed using the processor <NUM> of the information handling system <NUM>, the processor of the blood vessel detection system <NUM>, or a combination of both.

In an embodiment, the processor <NUM> of the information handling system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the blood vessel detection system <NUM> via a wireless connection or a wired connection. In these embodiments, the processor <NUM> may cooperate with the blood vessel detection system <NUM> so as to provide additional processing resources as well as receive and categorize data descriptive of the patient the blood vessel detection system <NUM> is being used on, the VAD chosen, and any video associated with that insertion.

<FIG> are side views of an intravenous therapy system <NUM> interfacing with a patient's arm according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. This figure shows the intravenous therapy system <NUM> being used by a clinician or other HCP with the intravenous therapy system <NUM> being held in one hand <NUM> with a VAD <NUM> being manually inserted into the patient's arm. In this embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may be used with the clinician or other HCP using both hands. Accordingly, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> includes a video display device <NUM> housed within the housing of the intravenous therapy system so that the clinician or other HCP may have his or her attention directed toward the location of the blood vessel to be accessed by the VAD <NUM> instead of off-site towards another video display away from the patient. In order to facilitate the use of the video display device <NUM> with the clinician or other HCP using both hands, the video display device <NUM> may be turned around as indicated by the arrow <NUM>. This allows the clinician or other HCP to operate the intravenous therapy system <NUM> and still see the video display device <NUM> regardless of the relative orientation of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> and the VAD <NUM>. In some embodiments, the US probe may include a drive mechanism <NUM> attached to the US probe, to facilitate automatic insertion of the needle into the blood vessel.

In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may be replaced with a needle guide, attached to the US probe to assist the clinician in manual delivery of the needle at an optimal, predetermined, or desired angle. In some examples, the VAD <NUM> may be presented at the patient's arm under the intravenous therapy system <NUM> in order to ensure the trajectory of the VAD <NUM> is on track to access a blood vessel.

In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may include one or more motors, such as, for example, linear motors or rotational motors or any other suitable type of motors. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may advance the catheter and/or the needle in the distal direction. In some embodiments, in response to the needle tip entering the vein, the drive mechanism <NUM> may lower an angle of the VAD with respect to skin of the patient. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may advance the catheter and then retract the needle in response to the needle tip entering the vein. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may perform motor-driven pivoting to adjust a position of the VAD.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an intravenous therapy system <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As described herein, the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include a plurality of components that allows the intravenous therapy system <NUM> to operate as a stand-alone device that may or may not be communicatively coupled to a networked information handling system.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include the VAD chassis <NUM> as described herein. The VAD chassis <NUM> may be formed into a portion of the housing <NUM> that is closest to the patient's body. During operation of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>, in order to allow for the automatic insertion of the VAD into the patient's body, a VAD within the VAD chassis <NUM> may be automatically advanced into the patient's body. In the embodiments presented herein, the VAD chassis <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to a processor <NUM> so as to receive data descriptive of a trajectory the VAD placed within the VAD chassis <NUM>. The data is descriptive of the direction the VAD is to take in order to cause the VAD to intersect with a blood vessel within the patient's body. In these embodiments, the ultrasound (US) device <NUM> and a magnetic field detector <NUM> may provide data on a closed-loop feedback in order to direct the VAD into the patient's blood vessel as the VAD engages the patient's skin and the VAD is directed through the patient's body.

In the embodiments herein, the VAD chassis <NUM> may include a VAD advancement system that includes a drive mechanism <NUM>, which may include one or more linear motors and/or one or more rotational motors. The VAD advancement system may receive signals from the processor <NUM> as described herein in order to advance the VAD into the patient's body using the drive mechanism <NUM>. In some embodiments presented herein, the drive mechanism <NUM> may be produce a linear force along its length. This may allow the linear motor <NUM> to pass the VAD loaded into the VAD chassis <NUM> away from the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> and into the body of the patient. In an embodiment, the drive mechanism <NUM> may also allow for the tilt movement, the rotation movement, and the yaw movement of the VAD during insertion. The linear, tilt, rotational, and taw adjustments of the direction of the VAD allows for the VAD to intersect with the blood vessel of the patient in situations where the intravenous therapy system <NUM> is moved, either deliberately or accidentally, along the surface of the patient's body.

In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may advance the catheter and/or the needle in the distal direction. In some embodiments, in response to the needle tip entering the vein, the drive mechanism <NUM> may lower an angle of the VAD with respect to skin of the patient. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may advance the catheter and then retract the needle in response to the needle tip entering the vein. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism <NUM> may be substituted for one or more drive mechanisms of any suitable kind.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> also includes a video display device <NUM> communicatively coupled to the US device <NUM> and the processor <NUM> within the housing <NUM> among other components of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the video display device <NUM> may receive input from the processor <NUM> descriptive of the data received by the US device <NUM>. This input from the processor <NUM> causes images of the structures within the patient's body to be presented on the video display device <NUM>. The images presented may change as the position of the US device <NUM> placed against the patient's body changes. In an embodiment, the data from the US device <NUM> sent to the processor <NUM> may be data descriptive of a transverse view of the structures of a blood vessel such as a vein within a patient's arm that are on a transverse plane of the arm. In any embodiment presented herein, however, it is understood that the US device <NUM> may be placed against any portion of the patient's body such as a leg in order to locate and access a blood vessel with a VAD. In an embodiment, the data from the US device <NUM> sent to the processor <NUM> may be data descriptive of a coronal view of the structures such as a vein within a patient's arm that are on a coronal plane of the arm. The view along the coronal plane may be a longitudinal view of a blood vessel of the patient that runs the length of the patient's arm. The video display device <NUM> may display either or both of the coronal planar view along the coronal plane of the patient, the transverse planar view along the transverse plane of the patient, or both as described herein.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> may also include a data storage device <NUM>. The data storage device <NUM> may receive data from the US device <NUM>, the magnetic field detector <NUM>, and the video display device <NUM>. This data may include, among other data, patient identification data, VAD identification data, magnetic field detector and ultrasound data, time data, date data, and anatomy geometries.

In order to operate in a stand-alone configuration, the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may include a battery <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may include, in some embodiments, a smart battery system or be operatively coupled to a power management unit that tracks and provides power state data. This power state data may be stored with the instructions, parameters, and profiles to be used with the intravenous therapy system <NUM> and stored on the data storage device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an intravenous therapy system <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The intravenous therapy system <NUM>, similar to other embodiments, includes a video display device <NUM> to display a view of the internal structures of a patient's body and a US probe <NUM> used to detect those internal structures. In an embodiment, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may further include one or more VAD advancement buttons <NUM> used to automatically advance a VAD into and through the patient's body as well as, pivot, rotate and or retract the VAD or a portion of the VAD. The VAD advancement buttons <NUM> may be any type of actuation device that allows a clinician or other HCP to selectively engage a linear motor or another type of motor so that the linear motor <NUM> may advance a VAD out from a VAD chassis <NUM> and into the body of a patient. In a specific example, the VAD advancement buttons <NUM> may be oriented on a first and second side of the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> so as to accommodate for both right-handed and left-handed clinicians or other HCPs that may use the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. In a specific embodiment, the VAD advancement buttons <NUM> may allow for relatively fast or slow insertion of the VAD into the patient's body based on how far along the surface of the housing <NUM> the clinician or other HCP advances the VAD advancement buttons <NUM>. For example, if the VAD advancement buttons <NUM> is advanced by the clinician or other HCP along the housing <NUM> for <NUM>, the VAD may move at a slower rate than if the clinician or other HCP advances the VAD advancement buttons <NUM> for <NUM> along the surface of the housing <NUM>. In this manner, a clinician or other HCP may control the speed at which the VAD is advanced into the patient's body so that those less familiar with the operations of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> may learn how to use the intravenous therapy system <NUM> without hurting the patient and while still accomplishing the task of VAD insertion into the patient's blood vessel.

In alternative embodiments, the advancement buttons <NUM> may individually control the depth into which the VAD is advanced into the patient's body and the direction into which the VAD is advanced into the patient's body. For example, a first of the plurality of advancement buttons <NUM> may, when pulled back towards a proximal end of the intravenous therapy system <NUM> cause a distal end of the VAD to point upward in the positive z-direction while pushing the first of the plurality of advancement buttons <NUM> causes the distal end of the VAD to point downward in the negative z-direction. With the video display device <NUM> the clinician or other HCP may use the first of the VAD advancement buttons <NUM> to follow a determined trajectory of the VAD while also receiving input from the video display device <NUM> as to whether the clinician or other HCP is directing the VAD along the z-direction to follow the trajectory.

In this alternative embodiment, the second of the plurality of VAD advancement buttons <NUM> may be used to control the x- or y- directional trajectory of the VAD. Again, movement of the second of the plurality of VAD advancement buttons <NUM> in a forward direction may direct the distal tip of the VAD in the positive x-direction while pulling the second of the plurality of VAD advancement buttons <NUM> causes the distal tip of the VAD in the negative x-direction. A third of the plurality of VAD advancement buttons <NUM> may be similarly used to advance the distal tip of the VAD in the positive y and negative y-direction.

The intravenous therapy system <NUM> may, in some embodiments, include a plurality of motors, which may include linear motors and/or rotational motors. In the embodiment presented herein, the intravenous therapy system <NUM> includes a driving linear motor <NUM>, a retracting linear motor <NUM>, and a rotational motor <NUM>. Each of these motors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be activated automatically to drive the VAD <NUM> into the patient's body. The driving linear motor <NUM> may drive the VAD <NUM> from the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. The retracting linear motor <NUM> may drive the VAD <NUM> back and into the VAD chassis formed in the housing <NUM> of the intravenous therapy system <NUM>. The rotational motor <NUM> may change the rotational direction of the VAD <NUM> and, in an embodiment, change the pitch and yaw of the VAD <NUM> as the driving linear motor <NUM> pushes the VAD <NUM> into the body of the patient.

<FIG> is a flowchart depicting a method <NUM> of operating an intravenous therapy system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may include, at block <NUM>, scanning and mapping features of a patient's blood vessel with a handheld ultrasound device. As descried herein, the handheld ultrasound device may include an ultrasound device that detects the structures within a patient's body along a plurality of planes including a transverses plane and a coronal plane as described herein. The ultrasound device may be communicatively and operatively coupled to a processor that receives the data from the ultrasound device.

The method <NUM> may also include providing, visually with a display device of the handheld ultrasound device, recommended VAD placement locations within the patient's body at block <NUM>. As described herein, the data received by the processor may be used to detect the presence of a blood vessel such as a vein within the patient's body. In an embodiment, the processor may determine a location of a blood vessel based on a detection of blood flow from the ultrasound device, the differences in hues of colors presented on the display device of the interior structures of the patient's body, the detection of movement of the exterior walls of the blood vessel, among other types of indicia.

The method <NUM> may further include, at block <NUM>, providing a suggested VAD type to access a blood vessel within the patient's body. The type of VAD recommended by the, in an example a VAD recommendation module, may be dependent on a number of factors including the location of the blood vessel to be accessed, the type, condition and anatomy of the blood vessel being accessed, the purpose of the VAD (e.g., blood sampling or infusion therapies), and patient characteristics, among other factors. The type of VAD recommended may include specifics about a VAD such as length, gauge, and material, among other features of a VAD. As described herein in an embodiment, the suggested VAD type may be provided on a video display device after execution of a VAD recommendation module by the processor of the intravenous therapy system. During operation, a clinician or other HCP may review the VAD recommendation, locate the recommend VAD, and load the VAD into a VAD chassis of the intravenous therapy system for later insertion into the patient.

The method <NUM> may further include monitoring movement of the VAD within the patient's body and provide VAD placement feedback to a clinician directing alignment of the VAD to a target blood vessel at block <NUM>. As described herein, the intravenous therapy system may include both an ultrasound (US) device and a magnetic field detector. The data received from the US device and the magnetic field detector may be provided to the processor in order to determine the relative location of the tip of the VAD to the VAD placement location determined previously by the processor. In an embodiment, the processor may overlay an image of the VAD onto US images presented on the video display device so that a clinician or other HCP may see the trajectory of the VAD as it passes through the patient's body and into the blood vessel. In an embodiment, the movement of the VAD may be accomplished by the clinician or other HCP. In another embodiment, the movement of the VAD may be automatic via use of one or more linear motors formed within a VAD chassis. In any embodiment presented herein, the clinician or other HCP may select between a manual VAD insertion mode or an automatic VAD insertion mode. Upon selection of the manual VAD insertion mode, the clinician may be provided with a VAD recommendation and initiate a manual insertion of the VAD as described herein. Upon selection of an automatic VAD insertion mode, the clinician may be provided with a VAD recommendation, insert the VAD into the VAD chassis, and initiate the automatic insertion of the VAD into the patient's body as described herein. During operation of the automatic VAD insertion mode the processor may pause the automatic insertion of the VAD if and when it is detected that the VAD is not following a calculated trajectory. Similarly, the clinician may initiate a manual override for any of a number of reasons including, but not limited to, clinician error and nonessential use of the VAD.

<FIG> is a flowchart depicting a method <NUM> of manufacturing an intravenous therapy system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may include forming, at block <NUM>, an ultrasound (US) probe in a housing to form a handheld US device. In an embodiment the housing may be made of a plastic or other non-metallic material so as to avoid interference with the US probe and a magnetic field detector within the intravenous therapy system. The US probe may be any device that converts electrical signals from an electrical source into ultrasound waves and converts ultrasound waves received at the US probe into electrical signals. During operation of the US probe, the US probe may receive an electrical signal and convert that electrical signal into ultrasound waves that are directed, either continuously or pulsed, to enter into a part of a patient's body. As the ultrasound waves enter the patient's body, those ultrasound waves may be reflected off of structures within the patient's body and reflected back to the US probe. When the reflected ultrasound waves reach the US probe within a window of time, sometimes corresponding to a time it takes for the energy to pass through a depth of the patient's body, the US probe converts those ultrasound waves back into electrical signals. These electrical signals may be interpreted by a processor housed within the housing of the intravenous therapy system and used to form an image of the internal structures within the patient's body. In an embodiment presented herein, the electrical signals presented to the processor and used to form the images of the structures within the patient's body may be displayed at a video display device of the intravenous therapy system. In a specific application and during operation of the intravenous therapy system, the US probe may be directed towards an arm of the patient in order to detect a position of a blood vessel within the patient's arm.

The method <NUM> may further include forming a magnetic field detector within the handheld ultrasound device at block <NUM>. The magnetic field detector may detect any metal components of a VAD to be inserted into the patient. In an embodiment, the magnetic field detector may detect the location of the metal components of the VAD relative to the US probe. In these embodiments, the processor of the intravenous therapy system may overlay positional location data related to the location of the metal components of the VAD onto any images presented on a video display device. By way of example, when the video display device displays a coronal plane of the patient's arm, the video display device may show the movement of the VAD passing into the blood vessel. Similarly, when the video display device displays a transverse plane of the patient's arm, the video display device may show a trajectory point to which the VAD is going to intersect with the blood vessel.

The method <NUM> may include, at block <NUM>, includes forming a vascular access device (VAD) chassis within the handheld US device to maintain a VAD therein. As described herein, the VAD chassis may hold any type of VAD therein during operation of the intravenous therapy system.

The method <NUM> may also include, at block <NUM>, forming a processor within the handheld US device to receive data from the ultrasound probe and magnetic field detector. The processor may be communicatively coupled to the US probe, the magnetic field detector, and a linear motor, among other devices housed within the housing of the ultrasound device described herein. As described herein, the data received by the processor from the magnetic field detector and US probe may be used to display the movement of the VAD through the patient's body on the video display device.

The method <NUM> may further include forming a display device on the handheld ultrasound device to receive data from the processor and present an ultrasound image of a blood vessel within a patient's body at block <NUM>. In the embodiments described herein, the data produced at the video display device may be used by the clinician or other HCP to manually or automatically direct the VAD into the patient's body. Because the video display device is formed into the housing of the intravenous therapy system, the clinician or other HCP may keep their line of sight at the location where the VAD is being inserted into the patient's body so that the clinician or other HCP may, in real time, monitor the advancement of the VAD into and through the patient's body. In other embodiments, the video display device may be used to assess proper initial placement of the VAD, and any provide subsequent indwelling assessments of the VAD within the patient's body.

The method <NUM> may also include, at block <NUM>, forming a linear motor within the handheld ultrasound to advance the VAD from the VAD chassis in order to cause the VAD to access a blood vessel within the patient's body. As described herein, a plurality of linear and/or rotational motors may be used to align the VAD along a determined trajectory the VAD is to follow so that the VAD may intersect with an identified blood vessel within the patient's body. As such, these motors may control the VAD so as to orient or rotate the VAD in any direction along any x-, y-, or z-coordinate plane. During implementation of the intravenous therapy system described herein, the processor may have created a trajectory path through the patient's body leading from a distal tip of the VAD to a predetermined location within a blood vessel. The processor, through actuation of a VAD advancement button by a clinician or other HCP, may direct the linear motors to pass the distal tip of the VAD along this path and into the blood vessel of the patient. In other embodiments, the clinician may manually pass the VAD through the patient's body based on the created trajectory with the processor providing visual, haptic, or audible alerts to the clinician or other HCP when the trajectory is not being followed. Consequently, the method <NUM> may further include the forming of a speaker and/or haptic feedback device into the housing of the intravenous therapy system.

In an embodiment, the method <NUM> may further include forming a battery and data storage device within the housing of the intravenous therapy system. The battery may provide power to the different devices within the intravenous therapy system while the data storage device maintains data and computer readable program code to be accessed by the processor during operation of the intravenous therapy system.

The embodiments described herein provide for an intravenous therapy system that includes a visual display device used to direct a VAD into the body of a patient in order to properly and easily access a blood vessel therein. These embodiments implement an US device that detects the internal structure of the patient's body and displays images of those internal structures, such as blood vessels, on a display device physically and operatively coupled to the housing of the US device. During manual insertion of a VAD into the patient's body, a clinician or other health care provider may detect where the distal tip of the VAD is relative to a target location within the blood vessel via use of a magnetic field detector housed within the US device. The metal tip of the VAD may be overlaid onto the US images presented at the video display device so that the user may more easily recognize how to orient the VAD during insertion. Additionally, a trajectory may be calculated by a processor of the US device such that the manual insertion of the VAD may be monitored and alters may be presented to the clinician or other HCP if and when the current trajectory of the VAD is off target from the calculated trajectory. This allows for accurate and precise placement of the VAD into the patient's body resulting in less damage the tissue of the patient's body and less anxiety experienced by the patient.

In an additional embodiment, the VAD may be more accurate inserted into the patient's body through the use of a VAD chassis and linear motors. The VAD chassis may be used to hold a VAD that has been recommended to the clinician or other HCP after the processor has received data from the US device as well as other data related to the patient and purpose of the VAD. Upon coupling of the VAD into the VAD chassis, the intravenous therapy system may actuate any number of linear motors that control the alignment of the VAD to a trajectory calculated by the processor. Thus, in this embodiment, the clinician or other HCP may maintain the intravenous therapy system at a location on the patient's arm while the automatic VAD placement systems place the VAD into and through the patient's body along the recommended trajectory. Again, if the intravenous therapy system is moved, an alert system may indicate to the clinician that the intravenous therapy system is to be returned to the appropriate position so that the VAD may be advanced appropriately. Because the video display device presents real-time images of the internal structures of the patient's body as well as the location of the VAD within the body, a clinician may better assess the trajectory of the VAD at any time. Thus, the intravenous therapy system provides a continual feedback loop so as to more accurately and precisely locate the VAD within a blood vessel.

With the use of a US device within the intravenous therapy system, a video recording may be generated and saved on a memory device interior or remote to the intravenous therapy system so that an EHR may be maintained descriptive of the VAD being used, the data and time of the insertion of the VAD, any patient data, and intended uses of the VAD. This may create a more robust record of care related to any given patient thereby increasing the efficiency of any medical treatment provided. These records may be maintained on a central database when the intravenous therapy system transfers the data to an information handling system or other computing device via a wired or wireless connection.

Again, it is understood that the embodiments of the present application may be combined. As an example, the embodiments of <FIG> may be arranged to fit specific uses based on the type of action being conducted. For example, where an artery is to be accessed by the VAD, the intravenous therapy system may indicate, via the indicator system, a location of the artery while avoiding any veins. This may allow for the introduction of certain medicaments into a specific location in the patient's body without concern for that medicament being distributed throughout the patient's body. Similarly, arteries may be avoided when a vein is to be accessed.

Claim 1:
A blood vessel detection system (<NUM>) comprising:
a handheld blood vessel detection device, comprising:
an ultrasound probe (<NUM>) to detect blood vessels within a patient's body,
a display device (<NUM>) to provide a visual display of the blood vessels within the patient's body;
a vascular access device (VAD) chassis configured to maintain a VAD; and
a linear motor (<NUM>) to automatically advance the VAD into the patient's body,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT
the VAD chassis (<NUM>) is provided in a housing (<NUM>) of the handheld blood vessel detection device; and
the linear motor is configured to allow for a tilt movement, a rotation movement, and a yaw movement of the VAD during insertion.