RU209146U1 - Infrared vein imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

This utility model relates to medical technology and medical equipment, namely to a non-invasive portable device for visualizing saphenous veins using infrared (IR) light sources and an IR camera. The proposed device can be used for non-invasive visualization of peripheral saphenous veins during such venous manipulations as: intravenous injections, blood sampling from a vein, installation of intravenous catheters, sclerotherapy, diagnostics and examination of blood vessels and vascular disorders.

Through the use of near-IR wavelengths, contrast visualization of veins occurs, as light with a wavelength of more than 700 nm penetrates deeper into the skin. At the same time, near-IR light is minimally absorbed by melanin (a high-molecular skin pigment), but is strongly absorbed by the blood in the veins. This allows differentiation between blood vessels and surrounding tissues.

In particular, near-IR light that hits a part of the human body is absorbed by the blood vessels. The more near-IR light is absorbed, the less it is reflected, which is captured by the IR camera. The less the surrounding tissues absorb near infrared light, the more they reflect it. Therefore, the image of the veins obtained by the IR camera has a dark contrast structure, and the surrounding tissues have a lighter shade.

The essence of the utility model lies in the fact that a device for visualizing veins in the infrared range, consisting of a receiving device, a housing, an infrared camera with infrared LEDs and a light sensor connected to each other by the first printed circuit board, a microcontroller, a battery controller and an infrared LED driver connected between themselves, the second printed circuit board, the power button and the battery, connected to the second printed circuit board by a wired connection, transmits the image of the veins via a Wi-Fi wireless connection to the receiving device (tablet, monitor, personal computer, etc.) in real time. The image of the veins can be broadcast to several receiving devices in real time via a wireless Wi-Fi connection. The case has a cylindrical shape with grooves for a fixing strap. The brightness of the LEDs is controlled by the IR LED driver to produce a high contrast vein image based on the light sensor of the room in which the device is being used.

Description

This utility model relates to medical technology and medical equipment, namely to a non-invasive portable device for visualizing saphenous veins using light sources in the infrared infrared range and an infrared camera. The proposed device can be used for non-invasive visualization of peripheral saphenous veins during such venous manipulations as: intravenous injections, blood sampling from a vein, installation of intravenous catheters, sclerotherapy, diagnostics and examination of blood vessels and vascular disorders.

A medical device is known, containing a stand for holding the imaging device, a support post and a base for supporting the device on the patient. When using the device, the support is attached to the arm or leg of the patient and additionally contains a strap that holds the support in place on the patient's limb, and when tightened, can also function as a tourniquet. The imaging device holder is a shallow rectangular box sized to hold the intended imaging device (smartphone or tablet) tightly. A hole is provided at the base of the stand that matches with the camera lens of the imaging apparatus. The top of the stand is open to allow viewing of the display screen of the imaging apparatus. An additional hole is provided in the side wall of the stand for access to the controls of the imaging device. The base has a U-shape and contains a pair of elongated elements, which, when the support is fixed to the limb of the patient, run parallel to the axis of this limb. The strap passes through the holes formed in the elongated elements, close to the ends of those elements on which they are connected by a transverse bridge. The strap is usually a fabric strip with a buckle to fasten the strap after it has passed around the patient. The support column extends between the underside and a rod that connects the ends of the elongated base members and holds the support and base apart. The imaging device is typically a smart phone adapted to create an image using IR light. The imaging device may be supplied by its manufacturer with this capability, or software may be loaded onto the device (eg, as a downloadable "app") to provide this capability. [UK patent No. 2542132 IPC A61B 5/00, publ. 09/08/2015].

Device disadvantages:

• Imaging device (smartphone) is placed directly on the patient, which increases the weight of the overall design when using a tablet with a large display as a peripheral device;

• There is no possibility to output images to several peripheral devices;

• No IR camera with NIR sensitivity. Most cameras on existing smartphones and tablets have an optical filter that cuts off the near-IR range. This filter increases the quality of visible spectrum images, but when imaging veins, the image contrast becomes worse compared to using a full-fledged IR camera.

A device for detecting veins is known, consisting of a base; a transmitter configured on said base, wherein the transmitter is attached to an open portion to emit infrared light; a detection lever configured on the base; a first receiver configured on the detection arm to receive a first infrared image emanating from the exposed portion; display configured on the base and electrically connected to the specified first receiver to display the image of the veins [US patent No. 20190388023A1 IPC A61B 5/489, publ. December 26, 2019].

Device disadvantages:

The device has a massive base, which can complicate the process of diagnosing and examining the patient's veins, since the examination of veins can be carried out not only on the hands, but also on the patient's other limbs;

The peripheral device is fixed in the base, which also leads to difficulty in the process of diagnosing and examining the patient's veins;

It is not possible to output images to multiple peripheral devices.

The closest set of essential features to the claimed solution is a vein imaging system that includes a light source, such as an array of light emitting diodes, which is configured to emit light to the target area (hand or other part of the patient's body); a light sensor (camera) that is sensitive to near infrared wavelengths emitted by the light source, so that the light sensor (camera) generates an image of the target area on the display device (display); battery [US patent No. 20140O39309A1 IPC A61B 5/00, publ. March 13, 2013].

Device disadvantages:

There is no possibility of displaying the image on several peripheral devices;

The head unit with an IR camera has the ability to transmit an image wirelessly, however, the dimensions and design features of the head unit do not allow fixing it with fixation elements (belt) on the doctor's head in order to free both hands.

The technical problem is the complexity of using the device in the study of veins, namely the lack of mobility associated with the design features of the implementation of the part of the device with an IR camera.

The technical result consists in the use of a wireless communication channel for transmitting real-time images of veins to one or more peripheral devices simultaneously.

To achieve the above technical result, a device for visualizing veins in the infrared range, consisting of a receiving device, a housing, an infrared camera with infrared LEDs and a light sensor, interconnected by the first printed circuit board, a microcontroller, a battery controller and an infrared LED driver, interconnected by a second printed circuit board, power button and battery connected to the second circuit board by a wired connection, transmits the image of the veins via a wireless Wi-Fi connection to the receiving device (tablet, monitor, personal computer, etc.) in real time. The image of the veins can be broadcast to several receiving devices in real time via a wireless Wi-Fi connection. The case has a cylindrical shape with grooves for a fixing strap. The brightness of the LEDs is controlled by the IR LED driver to produce a high contrast vein image based on the light sensor of the room in which the device is being used.

Figure 1 shows a sketch of a device for visualizing veins in the infrared.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a device for visualizing veins in the infrared range, where:

1 - Receiving device or group of receiving devices;

2 - IR camera;

3 - Battery controller;

4 - Microcontroller;

5 - Power button;

6 - Light sensor;

7 - IR LED driver;

8 - IR LEDs;

9 - Battery.

In FIG. 1 shows a device for visualizing veins in the infrared range, consisting of a body made in a cylindrical shape with slots for a fixing belt, an infrared camera 2 with infrared LEDs 8 and a light sensor 6, interconnected by the first printed circuit board, a microcontroller 4, a battery controller 3 and an infrared LED driver 7 connected to each other by a second printed circuit board, a power button 5 and a battery 9, which are connected to the second printed circuit board by a wired connection (figure 2).

Battery controller 3 has an input for connecting a charger. Wi-Fi transmitter placed on the first printed circuit board

The device for visualizing veins in the infrared range works as follows: the battery 9 generates an operating voltage of 3.7V for the battery controller 3, which generates the operating voltage for the microcontroller 4, the IR camera 2 and the IR LED driver 7. The device is started by pressing the button inclusion 5, which generates a starting pulse for the microcontroller. The microcontroller 4, controlling the battery controller 3, starts the device using an enable signal for the battery controller 3. The light sensor 6 transmits an analog signal to the microcontroller 4, the voltage level of which is equivalent to the illumination of the room in which the device is used. Next, the signal from the light sensor 6 is digitized using the microcontroller 4, depending on the digital code equivalent to the illumination of the room, the IR LED driver 7 generates voltage for the IR LEDs, the level of which determines the brightness of the IR LEDs 8. After starting the device, it is necessary to identify it in the Wi-Fi network, that is, add to the existing local Wi-Fi network of receiving devices that can receive images of veins captured by the IR camera 2 in real time.

Example. During a long-term diagnostic examination of superficial veins during sclerotherapy, thrombosis diagnostics or other studies, the doctor can fix the infrared vein imaging device on the head using a fixing elastic strap inserted into the grooves of the device body. This will allow the doctor to free both hands and use other instruments and devices necessary for venous or vascular manipulations (catheters, puncture needles, ultrasound sensors, etc.). In this case, the image of the veins can be transmitted to a large monitor and / or a nearby tablet in real time.

The proposed solution improves the efficiency and mobility of medical personnel during venous manipulations and diagnostics, through the use of Wi-Fi wireless data transmission technology, the possibility of simultaneously transmitting an image from an IR camera to several peripheral devices, and also by freeing both hands of the doctor in the process. research and diagnostics of veins.

Claims (3)

1. A device for visualizing veins in the infrared range, consisting of a body, an infrared camera with infrared LEDs and a light sensor interconnected by the first printed circuit board, a microcontroller, a battery controller and an infrared LED driver interconnected by a second printed circuit board, a power button and battery, connected to the second printed circuit board by a wired connection, while the device is configured to broadcast the image of the veins to the receiving devices in real time via a wireless Wi-Fi connection. 2. An infrared vein imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the brightness of the LEDs is controlled by an infrared LED driver to produce a high contrast image of the veins depending on the light sensor of the room in which the device is used. 3. An infrared vein imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body has a cylindrical shape, with grooves for a fixing strap.

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