Patent ID: 8463364

Claim:
A portable handheld apparatus, for use in identifying vein locations of a target skin surface to aid in venipuncture processes, said portable handheld apparatus comprising: a portable handheld housing; a battery for providing power to said apparatus; a microcontroller; a user interface board comprising: a display screen; one or more push buttons; and firmware, said firmware being configured to supply a graphic user interface to said display screen to permit selection of one or more settings for said apparatus using said one or more buttons, and to permit said selected one or more settings to be stored in a memory, said one or more settings comprising: one or more vein visualization settings; a first laser and a second laser; said first laser being configured to emit at least a first wavelength of light, and said second laser being configured to emit at least a second wavelength of light; said at least a second wavelength being different than said at least a first wavelength of light; one or more optical detectors; said one or more optical detectors each being configured to be responsive to said at least a first wavelength of light; said one or more optical detectors being configured to receive a contrasted image from the target skin surface formed by reflected light at said first wavelength being amplitude modulated according to differential amounts of absorption and reflection between subcutaneous veins and surrounding tissue therein, and said one or more optical detectors being configured to convert said received contrasted image into an electrical signal; and electronic circuitry; said electronic circuitry being configured to receive said electrical signal from said one or more optical detectors and to output said electrical signal to said second laser for projection of said vein locations of said contrasted image upon the target skin surface using said at least a second wavelength of light, said electronic circuitry being configured to cause said second laser to emit said at least a second wavelength of light to project said contrasted image in accordance with a selected one of said vein visualization settings being optimized for the target skin surface.