JPWO2006049194A1 - Blood vessel position detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus that can detect the position of a blood vessel by visual contact with the skin of a subject. The blood vessel position detection device of the present invention includes a flexible flat plate-like substrate having a hole, and a plurality of light sources arranged around the hole on one surface of the substrate. When observing from the space of the hole, the blood vessel becomes a shadow against the background of scattered light from the inside of the skin due to light in the visible region, and the position of the blood vessel can be confirmed with the naked eye. Furthermore, the blood vessel position detecting device can include a fixing means, and can perform injection while confirming the position of the blood vessel with the naked eye while fixing the substrate at a predetermined position of the subject.

Description

  The present invention relates to a blood vessel position detecting device for performing injection or the like while confirming the position of a blood vessel with the naked eye by observing scattered light of light irradiated inside a human body.

  Injection into the blood vessels of the human body, including blood collection and infusion, is an action that is frequently performed in the medical field. Usually, the injection is performed after confirming the position of the blood vessels by finger touch. However, the thickness of the blood vessels, the strength of the blood vessels, the flexibility of the blood vessels, etc. vary depending on the patient's constitution, medical condition, age, etc., and even medical personnel who perform medical practices such as doctors, nurses, etc. It was not easy to quickly and accurately confirm the position. In particular, when a medical worker who does not have sufficient medical experience performs injection, it may be difficult to accurately confirm the position of the blood vessel, and the injection needle (hollow needle) cannot be accurately inserted into the blood vessel. However, there is a problem that inconveniences such as having to be re-stabbed and the drug solution leaking out of the blood vessel occur.

In order to solve these problems, a method of confirming the position of a blood vessel by irradiating light inside the human body has been attempted. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method of observing a blood vessel of a human body using a scope-like device, marking the skin surface above the blood vessel, and performing injection after removing the device. Patent Document 2 proposes a method of performing injection while observing an image displayed on a monitor via an image sensor.
JP 2003-052699 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-237051

  The method described in Patent Document 1 has a drawback in that blood vessels are not confirmed with the naked eye when the hollow needle is actually inserted. The method described in Patent Document 2 has a drawback in that the field of view does not coincide with the hand because the blood vessel position is confirmed on a monitor, and none of these methods is sufficiently satisfactory.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of easily confirming the position of a blood vessel in a human body and capable of performing injection while confirming the blood vessel with the naked eye.

  The inventors of the present invention have arrived at the present invention as a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems. The blood vessel position detecting device of the present invention is a blood vessel position detecting device for detecting the position of a blood vessel by visual contact with the skin of a subject. The blood vessel position detecting device has a flexible flat plate shape having a hole. It includes a substrate and a plurality of light sources arranged around a hole in one surface of the substrate.

  When the skin is observed from the space of the hole at the center of the substrate of the blood vessel position detecting device according to the present invention, the blood vessel becomes a shadow against the background of the scattered light from the inside of the skin by the light in the visible region, and the position of the blood vessel is confirmed with the naked eye. It is possible. This makes it easy to check the position of the blood vessels in the human body, and the injection can be performed while checking the blood vessels with the naked eye. It is possible to reduce inconveniences that occur when performing injection such as.

  The substrate of the blood vessel position detecting device according to the present invention is preferably circular, but is preferably circular, elliptical, or polygonal, and particularly preferably hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal. Further, the substrate may have a ring-shaped part opened or a U-shape. If it is such a shape, it will become possible to remove a blood vessel position detection apparatus, for example in the case of infusion, with the injection needle stuck.

  It is preferable that the substrate of the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention can be fixed to a human body. For that purpose, the substrate may be formed in a band shape for fixing the substrate at a predetermined position of the human body, or an attaching means for bringing the substrate into close contact with the predetermined position of the human body may be further provided. The attachment means may be a band for fixing to a predetermined position of the human body, or an adhesive sheet adhered to the light source side surface of the substrate.

In the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention, the maximum width of the hole is preferably 20 to 40 mm, and the number of light sources is preferably 10 to 60, and more preferably 20 to 45.
It is preferable that the light sources are arranged at approximately equal intervals around the hole. When arranged in this way, especially when the above-mentioned number of light sources is provided, a part of the row of light sources always crosses the blood vessel.

Further, the light source is preferably a light emitting diode, and the light emitting diode is preferably manufactured by direct bonding.
The light source is preferably a monochromatic light source having a peak wavelength of 400 to 800 nm, particularly 550 to 800 nm, and most preferably 580 to 620 nm. The light source may have two or more types of monochromatic light sources having different peak wavelengths. In that case, the blood vessel position detection device further includes a switch for switching the light source, whereby any one type of monochromatic light source is provided. It is preferable that the case where the light source is turned on and the case where the light source is turned on by arbitrarily combining two or more types of monochromatic light sources can be selected.
The light source preferably emits light having a luminance of 250 to 800 millicandelas. The light source preferably has a directivity characteristic of 60 degrees to 180 degrees.

The blood vessel position detection apparatus according to the present invention preferably includes a control circuit for adjusting the luminance of the light source.
In addition, the blood vessel position detection apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes a light shielding wall so that the light source light reflected by the skin surface is shielded. If the reflected light leaks from the hole and the outer periphery of the substrate through the gap between the substrate and the skin, the reflected light has a higher intensity than the scattered light from the inside of the skin, so that it is difficult to detect blood vessels using the scattered light. Therefore, it is advantageous for blood vessel detection to prevent leakage of reflected light by the light shielding wall. The light shielding wall may be provided so as to surround the row of light sources, or may be provided so as to surround the light source for each light source.

In particular, the light shielding wall includes an upper surface portion having an annular shape substantially the same as the substrate, and a side surface portion extending downward from the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of the upper surface portion, and the upper surface portion of the light shielding wall is above the upper surface of the substrate. It is preferable that the side wall portion of the light shielding wall is positioned on the side of the substrate and the light source so as to cover the entire substrate.
Here, when viewed from the substrate, the direction in which the light source is provided is referred to as the downward direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as the upward direction.

  In order for the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention to be in close contact with the skin of a subject, in addition to the substrate being flexible, the blood vessel position detection device is preliminarily molded into a curved surface in accordance with the shape of a predetermined attachment position of the human body. It is preferable. The substrate is preferably an insulating organic resin, and particularly preferably a polyimide resin. In order to improve the adhesion of the subject to the skin, the substrate is preferably thin, and in particular, the thickness of the substrate is preferably 0.1 to 2 mm.

  The blood vessel position detecting device according to the present invention preferably covers at least the surface of the surface blood vessel position detecting device that contacts the skin with a disposable protective sheet. The protective sheet can prevent blood and medicine from adhering to the blood vessel position detecting device.

The blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention preferably includes a contact switch that turns on the light source when the blood vessel position detection device is pressed against the skin.
The blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention preferably includes a cover on the substrate that covers the hole and blocks light from the outside, and the cover is foldable, openable / closable, or removable. preferable.
When using the blood vessel position detection device, it is preferable that the blood vessel position detection device can be held with one hand in order to fix it to an arbitrary part of the human body. Therefore, the width of the blood vessel position detection device is preferably 100 mm or less.

  In the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the lower surface of the substrate (the surface on which the light source is provided) and the light source are coated (sealed) with a transparent organic resin. The organic resin is preferably selected from an acrylic resin, a silicone resin, and a urethane resin, but other resins may be used. Since the light source and the lower surface of the substrate are in contact with the human body, contaminants such as blood are likely to adhere to them. However, by covering with such a transparent organic resin, it is possible to protect the substrate and the light source from these contaminations. Become. If covered in this way, even if contaminants adhere to the organic resin, it can be easily removed.

  The act of “injecting” in the present invention includes an act of puncturing a hollow needle into a blood vessel and injecting a drug solution (injection), an act of puncturing a hollow needle into a blood vessel and collecting blood (blood collection), and a hollow in the blood vessel. This includes all medical actions performed by puncturing a hollow needle into a blood vessel, such as an action (infusion) of continuously injecting a drug solution over a long period of time by puncturing a needle.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. These are given for the purpose of embodying the present invention and do not specify the present invention.
FIG. 1A shows an example of a substrate 2 of a blood vessel position detection device 1 according to the present invention and a light source 4 provided on the substrate. The substrate 2 is a flexible flat plate having an annular shape, and a hole 3 is formed at the center thereof. A plurality of light sources are provided around the hole. The substrate 2 is brought into contact with a predetermined position where the subject should be injected, and the injection can be performed through the space of the hole 3 while observing the position of the blood vessel with the naked eye. Therefore, the inner diameter of the hole is preferably 20 to 40 mm. This is to ensure a necessary area size for injection while visually recognizing the blood vessel.

  The number of light sources is preferably 10 to 60, and more preferably 20 to 45. Although only one light source with high luminance is possible if only the blood vessels are visually recognized, in order to perform injection while visually recognizing the blood vessels, the illumination region 10 inside the skin 11 must be efficiently illuminated (FIG. 3). Reference), the number of light sources mentioned above is required.

  The shape of the substrate 2 is not limited to an annular shape, and may be any shape, for example, an annular shape such as an ellipse or a polygon, or a portion of the annular shape that is open. . FIG. 1B shows a substrate with an octagonal ring, FIG. 1C shows a substrate with a part of the annular ring opened, and FIG. 1D shows a substrate with a part of the octagonal ring opened.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which a hollow needle 7 connected to an infusion tube 8 such as an infusion is injected into the arm of a subject using a blood vessel position detecting device having a substrate shape with an annular part opened. . The blood vessel 6 is clearly seen in the space of the hole 3 by the light from the light source provided on the surface of the substrate in contact with the skin. The hollow needle 7 can be reliably punctured into the blood vessel. Since a part of the substrate is opened, it is possible to remove the blood vessel position detection device 1 while puncturing and fixing the hollow needle 7 connected to the infusion tube 8 to the blood vessel 6.

  FIG. 3 shows an area illuminated by the light source. The present invention utilizes the phenomenon that blood vessels appear as shadows because blood absorbs light within the illumination region 10 due to light scattered inside the skin.

  According to one specific example of the present invention, it may be in the shape of a band for fixing to a predetermined position of the human body. FIG. 4 shows a situation where the blood vessel 6 is injected by the syringe 12 using the blood vessel position detecting apparatus 1 having such a configuration. The blood vessel position detection apparatus 1 has a band-shaped substrate 2 and a hole 3 in the form of a window provided on the substrate 2, and although not shown in the figure, a plurality of light sources are provided around the window. It has been. The band-shaped substrate 2 is fixed to the subject's arm, and the observer does not need to hold the substrate with one hand, so that the injection can be performed using both hands.

  According to another specific example of the present invention, as described above, the substrate itself is not a band, but can include attachment means for fixing the blood vessel position detection device to a predetermined site of the subject. Even in such a configuration, as described above, an effect that the observer can perform injection using both hands is obtained. Examples of the attachment means include an adhesive sheet attached to the surface of the substrate that contacts the skin, and a band for fixing to a predetermined site.

5A and 5B show an example in which a band is used as the attachment means. An elastic octagonal band 14 having a hook-and-loop fastener 15 is connected to the partially opened annular octagonal substrate so that the substrate can be fixed at a predetermined position of the subject. At the time of fixing with the band, if the band is pulled too strongly, there is a risk that the blood vessel position detection device main body is damaged and may be damaged. Therefore, a tension relaxation mechanism 16 may be further provided on a part of the band 14.
Another attachment means may be an arc-shaped bracelet that is deformed by elasticity and fitted onto the arm.

  FIG. 6 shows a modification using a band as the attaching means. In this example, the blood vessel position detection device 1 includes a band 1 for fixing to a predetermined part of a human body and suppressing venous blood flow, a U-shaped substrate (window) 2, and an inner portion of the substrate, that is, a hole. 3 and a plurality of light sources (not shown) arranged on a surface in contact with the human body. The band 1 has a sufficient length for fixing to a predetermined part of the human body, particularly to the arm.

  As a light source of the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention, a light emitting diode (LED) is preferable. Since the amount of power consumption is small, a dry battery or a storage battery can be used as a power source, so that the blood vessel position detection device can be miniaturized and portable. Further, since the calorific value is small, the temperature of the light source itself does not increase even when it comes into contact with the human body, and there is an advantage that the subject does not feel the heat even when it comes into contact with the skin, and there is no fear of causing burns.

  The LED is preferably manufactured by direct bonding. The LED by direct bonding has a thinner shape than a general bullet-type LED, so that the adhesion to the skin is increased, and therefore the irradiation angle is widened, so that light efficiently enters the skin.

  The light source of the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention uses a monochromatic light source in the visible region (wavelength 400 to 800 nm), and in particular, by using a monochromatic light source from yellow light to red light (wavelength 550 to 800 nm), the blood vessel contrast. Is preferable since it is clearly visible. More preferably, a monochromatic light source having a light source peak wavelength of 580 to 620 nm is used.

  In addition, two or more types of monochromatic light sources having different peak wavelengths are provided, and switching between the case of lighting any one type of monochromatic light source and the case of lighting any combination of two or more types of monochromatic light sources is possible. By being able to do so, it can handle a wide range of individual differences such as skin color and quality. In the case of such a configuration, in order to arrange a large number of light sources, as shown in FIG. 1E, an LED element (4A, 4B) having different peak wavelengths enclosed in one resin is used. Also good.

  The light source only needs to have sufficient luminance for visually recognizing the blood vessel, but a light source having a luminance of 250 to 800 millicandelas (mcd) is usually used. If the current used for the LED is small, sufficient luminance cannot be obtained, and if it is too large, the heat generation becomes intense and unpleasant feeling is given to the subject. Therefore, considering the balance between luminance and heat generation, a current value of 14 to 18 mA is suitable. .

Furthermore, it is desirable that the light source has a directivity characteristic of 60 to 180 degrees because it is desirable that the light irradiated on the skin surface efficiently enters and scatters inside the human body.
If the amount of light from the light source is insufficient, the part away from the light source will darken and the position of the blood vessel will be unclear, so the light source is not only arranged in a single line according to the shape of the board, but also double or triple It can also be arranged to ensure the amount of light in the field of view. If it does in this way, the skin seen from the space of a hole will become bright by scattered light, and the position of the blood vessel can be confirmed clearly.

  Furthermore, the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention is preferably provided with a control circuit for adjusting the luminance of the light source. By providing a control circuit for adjusting the luminance of the light source, the luminance of the light source can be appropriately increased or decreased. The control by the control circuit may change the amount of current or may change the number of light sources among a plurality of light sources arranged.

In arranging the light source, it is preferable to arrange the light source so that a part of the row of light sources crosses the blood vessel. If the light sources are arranged in a straight line, the area immediately below the light source is bright, but the distance from the light source becomes darker. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the row of light sources 4 is parallel to the blood vessel 6, the blood vessel is hidden in a portion where light is weak, and a situation that is difficult to visually recognize may occur. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, if a part of the row of the light sources 4 is arranged so as to cross the blood vessel 6, the blood vessel 6 can be identified at least at a portion immediately below the light source 4. (In the figure, the position of the light source 4 is shown, but the light source 4 is actually installed on the surface in contact with the skin.)
When the light sources are arranged at approximately equal intervals along the periphery of the hole in the substrate (see FIGS. 1A to 1D), the blood vessel crosses the row of light sources regardless of the orientation of the blood vessel position detecting device. Thus, the blood vessel position can be reliably detected.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the progress of light from a light source in contact with the skin. When the light hits the skin at an angle close to the skin, the reflection on the skin surface is small and the rate of traveling into the skin is large. However, when the angle between the light and the skin is shallow, the rate of reflection on the skin surface increases. When the light emitted from the light source 4 is reflected on the surface of the skin 11, the intensity of the reflected light is so large that the field of view becomes too bright and the position information of the blood vessels contained in the scattered light from the inside of the skin cannot be identified. appear.

In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG. 9, a light shielding wall 9 for blocking reflected light from the skin surface can be provided above and to the side of the light source 4. Thereby, the reflected light from the skin surface is confined by the light shielding wall 9 and does not reach the eyes of the observer, and the observer can mainly observe the scattered light from the inside of the skin. Confirmation becomes possible.
The light shielding wall may be arranged in any way as long as the reflected light does not leak from the space including the light source surrounded by the light shielding wall and the skin.

  Since such a light-shielding wall is required to reliably prevent leakage of light emitted from the light source, it is desirable that the light-shielding wall has elasticity so as to be in close contact with the skin without any gap. Examples of the material used include silicone rubber and polyurethane rubber.

  In order to reduce the reflected light from the skin surface, as shown in FIG. 10, the blood vessel position detecting device can be pressed firmly against the skin so that the light source 4 dents the skin 11. By eliminating a layer of air between the light source and the skin, reflection on the surface of the skin is reduced, light is efficiently irradiated inside the skin, contrast is improved, and blood vessels are easily identified.

  Depending on the shape and material of the light source, it may be uncomfortable for the subject to be pressed too hard, so that it is also effective to use it together with the light shielding wall 6 as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 11, by placing the lower end of the light shielding wall and the lower end of the light source at the same level, the light source is pushed into the skin as much as the light shielding wall is bent due to its elasticity. be able to. The depth to which the light source should dent the skin can be determined by the position of the lower end of the light shielding wall and the elastic force.

As a situation in which the blood vessel position detection device is used, there are most injections and infusions into the vein on the inner side when the arm from the elbow to the forearm 5 is bent. In order to bring the blood vessel position detection device into close contact with the skin at such a site, it is necessary to consider the phase shape of the site to be used, as shown in FIG.
In addition to the substrate itself being made of a flexible material, the adhesion can be enhanced by previously forming the substrate into a curved surface in accordance with the shape of the arm to be used.

  In order to reduce leakage of light to the outside, the device itself must be thin and deformed so that the blood vessel position detection device is in close contact with the skin. However, it is also important to limit the amount of deformation so that the internal substrate is not damaged or disconnected. On the other hand, when performing injection, it is usual to stop the blood by attaching a finger to the blood vessel when removing the hollow needle. However, if the blood vessel position detection device is too thick, this operation becomes difficult. Considering these, the thickness of the blood vessel position detecting device is preferably 0.5 to 5 mm.

  The material of the substrate needs to satisfy the thinness, flexibility and strength of the blood vessel position detection device at the same time. Any material that satisfies this condition is not limited. However, in order to obtain flexibility, the substrate needs to be sufficiently thin, and the strength may not be sufficient with the substrate alone. Therefore, the blood vessel position detection device can further include a reinforcing plate for reinforcing the substrate. The reinforcing plate is preferably a flexible metal plate such as a stainless steel plate.

FIG. 13A shows a partial cross-sectional view of an example of a blood vessel position detecting device having a reinforcing plate.
A reinforcing plate 17 having substantially the same shape and size as the substrate is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 2, and a light shielding wall 9 is disposed thereon. The light shielding wall 9 has a top surface portion that is substantially the same shape as the substrate 2 and a side surface portion that extends downward from the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of the upper surface portion, and covers the substrate from above the substrate. On the other hand, a sealing material 18 that covers the light source and the lower surface of the substrate is provided on the lower surface of the substrate. The sealing material 18 protects the substrate and the light source from blood, chemicals, and the like. In this case, the thickness of the blood vessel position detecting device from the upper surface portion of the light shielding wall to the lower end of the sealing material is preferably 3 to 5 mm.

  Another example of the blood vessel position detection device is shown in FIG. 13B. In this example, the strength is maintained by integrally molding the substrate 2 on which the light source 4 is arranged and the reinforcing plate 17 inside the main body. The blood vessel position detection device can be made thinner. As the reinforcing plate 17, for example, a metal plate having the same shape as the substrate is used.

  By covering at least the surface in contact with the skin of the blood vessel position detecting device with a disposable protective sheet, it is possible to prevent blood and chemicals from adhering to the blood vessel position detecting device, and to improve the safety in terms of hygiene. The protective sheet may be attached or detached each time it is used, or may be formed of a multilayer thin film and sequentially peeled from an external layer. As a material of the protective sheet, a material generally used for disposable sterilized gloves can be used.

A contact switch can be used to light up when the blood vessel position detection device is pressed against the skin.
In order to search for a place suitable for injection or the like, it is necessary to move the surface of the skin while changing the position and direction of the blood vessel position detecting device. At that time, if the light source is turned on, the eyes are dazzled due to the reflected light from the skin surface, and the observer's identification ability decreases. Further, if the switch is manually switched every time the blood vessel position detection device is moved, the efficiency is deteriorated.
Therefore, a contact switch is provided so that the light source is turned on when the substrate is pressed against the skin, and the light is turned off when the substrate is separated from the skin. The contact switch is preferably provided on the contact surface side of the substrate with the skin.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, in the illumination region 10 due to light scattered inside the skin, a phenomenon in which blood vessels appear as shadows because blood absorbs light is used. When the field of view is bright due to light, it is difficult to identify blood vessels. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B or FIGS. 15A to 15C, a cover 13 can be provided on the upper part of the blood vessel position detecting device 1, and the contrast is improved by blocking light from the outside during observation. Identification becomes easier.

For example, when the cover is used for the forearm, the direction of the distal end of the arm is open, and the field of view and the hand necessary for performing a treatment such as injection can be prevented. Specific examples include a collapsible object such as a bellows (FIGS. 14A and 14B), and a cover that can be opened and closed by pivoting (FIGS. 15A to 15C).
The influence of contrast is large until the position of the blood vessel is found, but once the position of the blood vessel is recognized, the cover 13 can be folded, opened and closed, and / or detached because the surrounding brightness is not lost. Can be possible.

  The blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention as described above is fixed to a forearm portion 5 including an elbow joint as shown in FIG. The blood vessel 6 becomes a shadow against the background of scattered light from light in the visible region, and the position of the blood vessel can be confirmed with the naked eye.

  When the blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention is used, the position of the blood vessel can be easily confirmed, and injection can be performed while visually recognizing the blood vessel. However, since the position of the blood vessel cannot be accurately grasped, it is possible to reduce inconvenience at the time of injection such as repuncturing many times or leakage of the drug solution outside the blood vessel.

  The features of the present invention described above can be transformed into an optimum form and combined to be applied to various application examples. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such variations or combinations are implicitly indicated, even though not explicitly indicated herein.

Examples of the present invention will be described below.
1A to D as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, and a substrate having a shape in which a part of the ring and octagon are opened, and light sources are arranged at approximately equal intervals around the hole. I let you. As for the space of the hole 3, the inner diameter is 30 mm in a circular shape, and the diagonal length is 30 mm in an octagonal shape. The light source 4 was provided with LEDs every 15 degrees. In the circular circular substrate, 21 light sources were provided. The specification of the LED was a bullet-type chip having a monochromatic light with a peak wavelength of 615 nm and a luminance of 300 mcd.

A light shielding wall 9 made of silicone rubber was provided on each of the inner diameter, outer diameter, and upper surface of the substrate 2. When the blood vessel position detection device 1 was pressed against the skin, the light-shielding wall 6 was elastic and deformed so as to be in close contact with the skin without any gap, and the tip of the LED (light source 4) recessed the skin (see FIG. 11). When the LED was turned on, the tip of the LED was in close contact with the skin and there was no air layer, so that light was efficiently applied to the inside of the skin. On the other hand, the light reflected from the surface of the skin was blocked by the light shielding wall and reached the observer's field of view.
When observing from the space 3 in the center of the substrate, the red light is scattered inside the skin but is absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood, so that the blood vessel 6 becomes a shadow in the illumination region 10 due to the scattered light inside the skin 11. I was able to identify.

  Conventionally, when the blood vessel is difficult to see or when the blood vessel is thin, there is no choice but to rely on the tactile sensation. Furthermore, when the blood vessel is hard or thin, it may be displaced even if it tries to pierce the needle, so that injection may be performed at a branching portion of the blood vessel. However, if the blood vessel position detection device of the present invention is used, Since the injection can be performed while visually recognizing the blood vessel, the blood vessel can be reliably captured.

Different embodiments of the blood vessel position detecting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 16A and 16B. The same contents as those in the first embodiment are omitted.
The substrate 2 of the blood vessel position detecting device 1 has a shape excluding one side of the octagonal ring, the diagonal length of the space 3 in the center of the substrate is 30 mm, and the light source 4 has three LEDs arranged on one side at a total of 21 locations ( FIG. 1D). The specification of the LED was produced by direct bonding, and an LED element (light source 4A) having a peak wavelength of 615 nm and an LED element (light source 4B) having a wavelength of 589 nm were sealed in one resin (see FIG. 4E). If counted by the number of elements, there are 42 light sources. Since two types of LED elements having different peak wavelengths are used, either one can be lit or both can be lit simultaneously by switching the switches. Such control is performed by the controller 20. Since the wavelength of light that is easy to observe differs depending on the color and quality of the skin, the provision of two types of wavelengths has made it possible to cope with a wide range of individual differences.

  The substrate is made of polyimide having a thickness of 0.1 mm, and a reinforcing plate 17 made of stainless steel having a thickness of 0.2 mm is joined to the substrate 2 on which the light source 4 is disposed, and is further made of polyolefin having an upper surface portion and a side wall portion. A light-shielding wall was attached. The lower surface of the substrate was covered with an acrylic resin sealing material. Its cross section is the same as that shown in FIG. 13A. The thickness from the upper surface of the light shielding wall to the lower end of the sealing material is as thin as 4 mm and can bend following the curved surface of the skin surface.

  Furthermore, the device was provided with a band 14 for fixing the blood vessel position detecting device to a predetermined part of the human body. As shown in FIG. 16, the band 14 is formed by fixing a wide rubber band on both sides of the substrate by integral molding with the open side of the octagonal ring as the front, and a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 15 at each end. I have. Further, by providing the tension relaxation mechanism 16 in a part of the band 14, the load applied to the apparatus main body when the band is pulled strongly is reduced.

  Moreover, the bellows-like collapsible cover 13 is provided so as to be removable (FIG. 16B), and external illumination can be blocked. Observation was made with the cover closed at about 90 degrees, and it was possible to carry out injection as it was or to fold the cover and carry out injection.

  FIG. 17 shows a different embodiment of the blood vessel position detecting apparatus according to the present invention. The difference from the apparatus shown in FIG. 16A is that the controller is not connected to the substrate 2 and is incorporated in the band 14. The control part 21 is provided in the both ends of the band of FIG. 17, and it can control now lighting of LED. The controller 21 is coupled when the apparatus is fixed to the human body, and can place the substrate at a predetermined position. The other structure is the same as that of the apparatus of FIG. 16A, and it is the same that the cover 13 of FIG. 16B can be attached.

Each of the blood vessel position detection devices described above was used for 10 subjects (7 men and 3 women) to try to visually recognize blood vessels from the elbow to the inner side of the forearm, which is frequently used for intravenous injection and blood collection. However, nine blood vessels were clearly visible.
In this case, blood vessels are clearly visible when using a monochromatic light with a peak wavelength of 615 nm for men whose skin color is dark, and cases where the blood color is unclear when using 589 nm monochromatic light and for women whose skin color is white On the other hand, when 589 nm monochromatic light is used, there are cases where blood vessels are clearly visible and cannot be viewed with 615 nm monochromatic light.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a substrate and the arrangement of light sources. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a substrate and the arrangement of light sources. FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the shape of the substrate and the arrangement of the light sources. FIG. 1D is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a substrate and the arrangement of light sources. FIG. 1E is a schematic view showing an example in which a plurality of types of LED elements having different peak wavelengths are enclosed in one light source. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram in which the blood vessel position detection device is used for infusion. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a region illuminated by the light source. FIG. 4 is a schematic view in which a blood vessel position detecting device having a band-shaped substrate is used for infusion. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing an example of a blood vessel position detection apparatus having band-shaped attachment means. FIG. 5B is a side view of the blood vessel position detection device of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram showing a state in use of the blood vessel position detection device of FIG. 5A. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram in which a modified example of the blood vessel position detecting device having band-shaped attachment means is used for infusion. FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a positional relationship in which a row of light sources and a blood vessel are parallel to each other. FIG. 7B is a plan view showing the positional relationship where the blood vessel crosses the row of light sources. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing reflected light from the skin surface. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing reflected light from the skin surface when a light shielding wall is provided. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the reflected light from the skin surface when the light source is in close contact. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing light reflected from the skin surface when a light shielding wall is provided and a light source is brought into close contact therewith. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the substrate in accordance with the shape of the part to be used. FIG. 13A is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a blood vessel position detection device having a reinforcing plate. FIG. 13B is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating another example of a blood vessel position detecting device having a reinforcing plate. FIG. 14A is a perspective view illustrating a folded state of a foldable cover that blocks light from the outside. 14B is a perspective view showing a state where the cover of FIG. 14A is unfolded. FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing a closed state of an openable / closable cover that blocks light from the outside. FIG. 15B is a perspective view showing a state where the cover of FIG. 15A is half-opened. FIG. 15C is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover of FIG. 15A is almost completely opened. FIG. 16A is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a blood vessel position detection device according to the present invention. FIG. 16B is a schematic diagram showing a removable cover attached to the blood vessel position detecting device of FIG. 16A. FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the blood vessel position detecting apparatus according to the present invention.

Claims (37)

In the blood vessel position detection device for detecting the position of the blood vessel by visual contact with the subject's skin, the blood vessel position detection device comprises:
A flexible flat substrate having a hole;
A blood vessel position detecting device including a plurality of light sources arranged around a hole on one surface of a substrate.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is annular.   The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 2, wherein the annular substrate is one of a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a circular, oval, or polygonal part of the ring opened.   The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 4, wherein the substrate is U-shaped.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a band shape for fixing to a predetermined position of a human body.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising attachment means for bringing the substrate into close contact with a predetermined position of a human body.   The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 7, wherein the attachment means is a band for fixing to a predetermined position of a human body.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to claim 7, wherein the attachment means is an adhesive sheet adhered to a light source side surface of the substrate.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a maximum width of the hole of the hole portion is 20 to 40 mm.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the number of the light sources is 10 to 60.   The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 11, wherein the number of the light sources is 20 to 45.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the light sources are arranged at approximately equal intervals around the hole.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.   The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is manufactured by direct bonding.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the light source is a monochromatic light source having a peak wavelength of 400 to 800 nm.   The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 16, wherein the light source is a monochromatic light source having a peak wavelength of 550 to 800 nm.   The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 17, wherein the light source is a monochromatic light source having a peak wavelength of 580 to 620 nm.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the light source has two or more types of monochromatic light sources having different peak wavelengths.   The blood vessel position detection device further includes a switch for switching the light source, so that either one type of single color light source can be turned on or two or more types of single color light sources can be turned on arbitrarily. The blood vessel position detecting device according to claim 19.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the light source emits light having a luminance of 250 to 800 millicandelas.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the light source has a directivity characteristic of 60 degrees to 180 degrees.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, further comprising a control circuit for adjusting luminance of the light source.   24. The blood vessel position detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the blood vessel position detecting device further includes a light shielding wall so that the light source light reflected on the skin surface is shielded. Blood vessel position detection device.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the light shielding walls are provided above and laterally around each light source.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the blood vessel position detection device is formed into a curved surface in advance in conformity with a shape of a predetermined attachment position of a human body.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the substrate is made of an insulating organic resin.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the thickness of the substrate is 0.1 to 2 mm.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein at least a surface of the blood vessel position detection device that contacts the skin is covered with a disposable protective sheet.   30. The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 29, further comprising a contact switch configured to turn on the light source when the blood vessel position detection device is pressed against the skin.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 30, further comprising a cover that blocks light from outside.   32. The blood vessel position detection device according to claim 31, wherein the cover is foldable.   32. The blood vessel position detecting device according to claim 31, wherein the cover is openable and closable.   34. The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the cover is detachable.   The blood vessel position detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the blood vessel position detection device has a width of 100 mm or less and can be held with one hand.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein a lower surface of the substrate and the light source are sealed with a transparent organic resin.   The blood vessel position detecting device according to claim 36, wherein the organic resin is selected from an acrylic resin, a silicone resin, and a urethane resin.