Needle Radiation Scattering Coating for Deep Vessel Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for visualizing blood vessels during venipuncture are inadequate, particularly for deep vessels, leading to prolonged procedures, increased risk, and potential thermal damage, as they fail to provide sufficient contrast and are not effective for internal anatomical structure visualization.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a needle with a radiation scattering coating, such as near-infrared or infrared radiation scattering coatings made from materials like FEP and PTFE, combined with a radiation visualization device that uses tomography, spectroscopy, or spectral imaging to visualize the needle and internal anatomical structures, enabling real-time visualization during medical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If visible light transillumination is used to visualize blood vessels, then superficial vessels can be visualized, but deep vessels cannot be visualized due to tissue absorption and scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of illumination from visible light to near-infrared light (700-2500 nm), which penetrates tissue more deeply while being strongly absorbed by blood, enabling visualization of deep vessels without sacrificing contrast
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an infrared-sensitive camera as an intermediary detection device that converts invisible infrared radiation into visible images, allowing clinicians to see deep blood vessels that are invisible to the naked eye
2Reliability
If multiple venipuncture attempts are made to locate deep vessels, then vessel access may eventually be achieved, but procedure time increases and patient risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary visualization of deep blood vessels before needle insertion using infrared imaging, allowing clinicians to plan the procedure and perform venipuncture on the first attempt, eliminating repeated unsuccessful attempts
3Measurement precision
If needle insertion is performed without visualization, then the procedure is simple, but accurate needle placement cannot be achieved for deep vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an infrared-sensitive camera and display system as intermediaries to make the invisible needle and blood vessel visible to each other through infrared radiation, enabling real-time visualization of needle placement accuracy without adding mechanical complexity to the needle itself
4Loss of information
If blood vessels are manipulated extensively to locate them, then vessel position can be determined, but vessel spasm and constriction occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows preliminary localization of blood vessels through infrared visualization before any manipulation occurs, enabling clinicians to proceed directly to needle insertion without repeated probing that causes vessel spasm
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
This solution allows for rapid and accurate visualization of both internal anatomical structures and needle placement, reducing procedure time, minimizing risk, and enhancing diagnostic capabilities by providing high contrast images through the use of radiation scattering coatings on needles.
Implementation Method 1
A system for visualizing needle entry into a body includes a needle, a radiation scattering coating (herein occasionally referred to simply as a 'coating' or a 'needle coating'), and a radiation visualization device. The radiation scattering coating may be a near infrared radiation scattering coating or an infrared radiation scattering coating.
Implementation Method 2
Later devices produced more effective results by employing a polarizer to detect back-scattered illumination reflected from a body. See e.g. United States Patent Number 6,032,070, entitled Method and Apparatus for Detecting Electro-magnetic Reflection from Biological Tissue
Implementation Method 3
The blood-vessel transilluminator made use of the different absorption properties of blood and tissue. Because blood strongly absorbs certain wavelengths of light, while fat and skin absorb other wavelengths, a health-care provider purportedly could visually distinguish the position of the subcutaneous blood vessel with the naked eye.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for visualizing needle entry into a body is presented. The system includes a needle for entering a body. The needle is coated with a radiation scattering coating on at least a portion of the needle. The system additionally includes a radiation visualization device which detects reflected radiation directed at a target body and enables medical personnel to view anatomical structures such as a blood vessel along with the inserted needle within a body.