Handheld Vein Scanner Housing for Single-Handed Venipuncture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for locating veins for blood drawing and intravenous medication administration are invasive and uncomfortable, often requiring temporary tourniquets to increase blood pressure, which can be challenging, especially in elderly patients or those with low blood pressure, necessitating a non-invasive vein location method.

Innovation Solution

A portable, hand-held medical apparatus using infrared light to detect veins beneath the skin and project their location on the skin surface using visible light, aiding medical professionals in selecting the best vein for venipuncture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a temporary tourniquet is applied to increase blood pressure and make veins visible, then vein visibility is improved, but patient discomfort increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevein visibilityVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical tourniquet system with an optical detection system. The infrared light source and detector system visually locates veins without applying mechanical pressure or restriction to the patient's limb, thereby eliminating tourniquet-related discomfort while achieving vein visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes infrared light (different wavelength/color from visible light) to detect veins. The infrared radiation interacts with hemoglobin in the blood, causing differential absorption that allows vein visualization without mechanical intervention, replacing the tourniquet's function through optical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Device complexity

If conventional visual inspection is used to locate veins, then the method is simple, but it fails in elderly patients or patients with low blood pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemethod simplicityVSAvoidvein location success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple visual inspection with an infrared optical detection system. The infrared light penetrates deeper into tissue and interacts with hemoglobin, allowing reliable vein detection in patients where conventional visual inspection fails, such as elderly patients or those with low blood pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from visible light reflection to infrared light absorption by hemoglobin. This parameter change enables reliable vein detection in difficult cases where conventional visual methods fail, as infrared radiation penetrates tissue more effectively and hemoglobin has distinct absorption characteristics in the infrared range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If deeper veins are targeted for venipuncture, then more blood can be collected, but locating these veins becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood collection volumeVSAvoidvein detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual palpation and visual inspection with an infrared optical system that can detect veins at greater depths. The infrared radiation penetrates deeper into tissue, allowing visualization and selection of deeper veins that can provide adequate blood collection volume while being reliably located.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 more confident and efficient vein location, reducing patient discomfort and improving the success rate of venipuncture procedures by clearly visualizing vasculature on the skin surface.

Implementation Method 1

an infrared light source adapted to emit infrared radiation through a selected area of the patient's skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

differential absorption by hemoglobin in the patient's veins of the infrared radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

a photodetector array positioned to receive reflected infrared radiation from the selected area of the patient's skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11826166B2Vein scanner with housing configured for single-handed lifting and use

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 ACCUVEIN LLC

AI summary

A portable vein viewer apparatus may be battery powered and hand-held to reveal patient vasculature information to aid in venipuncture processes. The apparatus comprises a first laser diode emitting infrared light, and a second laser diode emitting only visible wavelengths, wherein vasculature absorbs a portion of the infrared light causing reflection of a contrasted infrared image. A pair of silicon PIN photodiodes, responsive to the contrasted infrared image, causes transmission of a corresponding signal. The signal is processed through circuitry to amplify, sum, and filter the outputted signals, and with the use of an image processing algorithm, the contrasted image is projected onto the patient's skin surface using the second laser diode. Revealed information may comprise vein location, depth, diameter, and degree of certainty of vein locations. Projection of vein images may be a positive or a negative image. Venipuncture needles may be coated to provide visibility in projected images.