Back-Illuminated Artery Visualization Device Suppressing Skin Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood vessel visualization devices are inadequate for visualizing arteries located deeper than 2-3 mm beneath the skin, such as the radial or brachial arteries, as they are not designed for arterial puncture and are ineffective due to surface reflection of near-infrared light.
Innovation Solution
An artery imaging device that uses a light source emitting near-infrared light, a light guiding part to suppress reflection on the skin surface, and an optical filter to capture absorption images from the back-side skin surface, allowing efficient visualization of arteries up to 10 mm deep by collapsing the capillary network with controlled pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If near-infrared light is used to visualize blood vessels, then visualization of superficial veins is achieved, but visualization of deep arteries (5-10 mm depth) is insufficient due to surface reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by irradiating light from the back side of the skin rather than the front side. This reversal allows near-infrared light to penetrate deeper tissues and reach arteries at 5-10 mm depth without being reflected by the skin surface, enabling effective visualization of deep arteries for puncture guidance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light-guiding member as an intermediary component that facilitates light transmission from the back side of the skin to the arteries. This mediator ensures efficient light delivery and enhances the visualization capability for deep arterial structures
2Device complexity
If a light source is placed close to the skin surface for visualization, then device simplicity is maintained, but light reflection from the skin surface interferes with imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains device simplicity while eliminating light reflection by inverting the light irradiation direction. The light source is positioned to irradiate from the back side of the skin, keeping the device structure simple without requiring complex reflection suppression mechanisms
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional blood vessel visualization devices are used, then device availability is high, but they cannot visualize arteries at 5-10 mm depth required for radial and brachial artery puncture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of light irradiation direction from front-side to back-side illumination. This parameter change enables the device to visualize arteries at 5-10 mm depth, making it suitable for radial and brachial artery puncture procedures while maintaining high reliability for puncture accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables clear visualization of arteries by suppressing surface reflection and enhancing light penetration, facilitating accurate puncture of radial and brachial arteries during catheterization procedures without interfering with manipulation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
it is known that near-infrared light has a high permeability with respect to a human tissue such as skin, fat, and muscle. A blood vessel visualization device utilizing a property in that hemoglobin in blood absorbs near-infrared light has been proposed
Implementation Method 2
a light guiding part which encapsulates the light source and is pressed against the back-side skin surface and which is formed with a material of transmitting the near-infrared light emitted from the light source and suppressing reflection of the near-infrared light on a surface of the back-side skin surface
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide an artery visualization device capable of very appropriately visualizing a to-be-punctured artery and an artery imaging device used for the artery visualization device. [Solution] An artery visualization device (10) includes an irradiation unit (30) which irradiates the near-infrared light emitted from a light source (32) toward a back-side skin surface (22) at a visualization site (20) where a to-be-punctured artery (21) is running, a light guiding part (40) which encapsulates the light source and is pressed against the back-side skin surface and which is formed with a material of transmitting the near-infrared light emitted from the light source and suppressing reflection of the near-infrared light on the surface of the back-side skin surface, an optical filter (50) which blocks visible light and transmits the near-infrared light passing through a front-side skin surface (23) at the visualization site, a camera (60) (an imaging unit) which receives the near-infrared light passing through the optical filter to capture an image of the visualization site (20), and a monitor (70) (a display unit) which displays the image captured by the camera.