WO2008018025A2 - Apparatus to image blood vessel - Google Patents

Apparatus to image blood vessel Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008018025A2
WO2008018025A2 PCT/IB2007/053119 IB2007053119W WO2008018025A2 WO 2008018025 A2 WO2008018025 A2 WO 2008018025A2 IB 2007053119 W IB2007053119 W IB 2007053119W WO 2008018025 A2 WO2008018025 A2 WO 2008018025A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
infra
red
matrix
visible light
red light
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2007/053119
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2008018025A3 (en
Inventor
Aleksey Kharin
Sieglinde Neerken
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Publication of WO2008018025A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008018025A2/en
Publication of WO2008018025A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008018025A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0059Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/48Other medical applications
    • A61B5/4887Locating particular structures in or on the body
    • A61B5/489Blood vessels
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2562/00Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
    • A61B2562/02Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
    • A61B2562/0233Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2562/00Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
    • A61B2562/04Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
    • A61B2562/046Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type in a matrix array

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of medical imaging apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus to image blood vessels.
  • Veins and arteries in many patients are hard to find. When, for instance, dehydrated patients or young patients are treated, finding the veins and arteries is a classical medical problem involving pain, stress and distress. Further, unskilled technicians have grave difficulty in locating many subcutaneous structures in even normal patients. Thus, an aid in locating such structures is needed.
  • This system includes an infrared light source for generating infrared light and a structure for diffusing the infrared light to an object.
  • the system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the object and for generating a video image of the buried structure based on the reflected infrared light.
  • a calibration procedure is also described as well as embodiments for ensuring that the object is maintained in focus at the correct distance.
  • an apparatus to image blood vessels that comprises a flexible base having two parallel faces.
  • a first one of these faces comprises a first matrix of infra-red light sources.
  • the first matrix is interleaved with a second matrix of infra-red light detectors. These detectors are able to detect the infra-red light reflected by the body of a person when it is illuminated by the infra-red light sources.
  • the second face of the flexible base comprises a third matrix of visible light sources, each light source being back to back with an associated infrared detector of the second matrix. And the light of each visible light source is modulated by the quantity of infrared light detected by the associated infra-red detector.
  • the apparatus is advantageously applied on the surface of the examined tissue, so that the matrix of visible light sources presents to the operator a picture of scale 1 : 1 of the blood vessels underneath the examined tissue surface.
  • the apparatus works as a "look through screen” enhancing the visibility of blood vessels.
  • the flexible base comprises a hole or an extra slit to allow the access of the tissue surface by some medical tool.
  • Figure 1 is a bottom view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view along axis A-A of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a schematic of the operation of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention.
  • an apparatus 1 comprises a flexible base 2.
  • the flexible base 2 has two substantially parallel faces 3, 4.
  • a first matrix of infrared light sources 5 is disposed on one 3 of these faces.
  • the infrared light sources are symbolized by small circles.
  • the distance between sources is chosen to obtain a substantially constant infrared illumination at few millimetres of the face 3.
  • a second matrix of infrared detectors 6 is interleaved with the first matrix.
  • the density of detectors 6 is advantageously higher than the density of infrared light sources 5 as the area illuminated by one source can be detected by a plurality of detectors.
  • a third matrix of visible light sources 7 is disposed on the second face 4.
  • Each visible light source 7 is back to back with an associated infrared detector 6. Therefore, the density of visible light sources 7 per surface unit is the same as the density of infrared detectors 6.
  • the visible light sources 7 are controlled by modulators 8 so that the visible light emitted by each source 7 is modulated by the quantity of infrared light received by the associated infrared detector 6.
  • the operation of the apparatus 1 is described in relation to Figure 3.
  • the flexible base 2 is placed on the skin 10 of a patient, the face 3 having the infrared sources 5 and detectors 6 directed towards the skin.
  • the tissue is illuminated by the infrared light sources 5 and reflects partly the infra-red light. Depending on the type of tissue and on the chosen wavelength, the infrared light is more or less reflected. As it is known by a person skilled in the art, a near infra-red wavelength is particularly advantageous to distinguish blood vessels from surrounding tissues.
  • the infrared detectors 6 detect the reflected infrared light, creating an infrared picture of the area where the apparatus 1 is placed.
  • the matrix of visible light sources 7, on the other side of the base 2, provides a visualisation of this infrared picture.
  • each element seen by the operator through the matrix of visible light sources 7 is situated exactly underneath its image.
  • the apparatus works as a "look through screen”.
  • the definition of the picture is set by the density per surface unit of the detectors 6/visible light sources 7.
  • the insertion point at which the needle must penetrate the skin may be located at the edge of the apparatus.
  • the insertion direction of the needle can be such that the path of the needle and insertion point into the vessel is located under the apparatus.
  • an extra slit or an hole 11 may be present in the flexible base 2 to allow access of the tissue surface by some medical tool.
  • the modulators 8 may be decentralized, i.e. to each couple of detector/source is associated a modulator, or the control of the visible sources 8 may be centralized, Figure 4, into a central controller 20.
  • the matrix of infrared detectors may be a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) matrix connected to a microcontroller and the matrix of visible light sources may be a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen or an electronic ink device controlled by the microcontroller.
  • the microcontroller is programmed to geometrically calibrate the image on the LCD to obtain the relationship between each visible light source and its associated detector.
  • each visible light source may be composed of a plurality of pixels.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus is provided to map blood vessels of a patient by infra-red illumination and further reproduction of the blood vessels on the body part of the patient. The apparatus comprises a flexible base having two parallel faces. The first face comprises a first matrix of infra-red light sources interleaved with a second matrix of infra-red light detectors adapted to detect the infra-red light reflected by the body from the infra-red light sources. The second face comprises a third matrix of visible light sources, each of said sources being back to back with an associated infra-red detector of the first face. The light of each visible light source is modulated by the quantity of the infra-red light detected by the associated infra-red detector.

Description

APPARATUS TO IMAGE BLOOD VESSELS
Field of the invention
The invention relates to the field of medical imaging apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus to image blood vessels.
Background of the invention
Veins and arteries in many patients are hard to find. When, for instance, dehydrated patients or young patients are treated, finding the veins and arteries is a classical medical problem involving pain, stress and distress. Further, unskilled technicians have grave difficulty in locating many subcutaneous structures in even normal patients. Thus, an aid in locating such structures is needed.
The patent application US 2006/0122515 discloses a system which is able to locate subcutaneous veins and project real-time images of their location onto the surface of the skin. Therefore, clinicians have the ability to visualize the location of the target area and observe any movement of the vasculature regardless of a patient's age, body type or skin tone.
This system includes an infrared light source for generating infrared light and a structure for diffusing the infrared light to an object. The system further includes a video imaging device for receiving the infrared light reflected from the object and for generating a video image of the buried structure based on the reflected infrared light. A calibration procedure is also described as well as embodiments for ensuring that the object is maintained in focus at the correct distance.
Problem with such a system is its complexity in term of manufacturing and usage. It is complex to manufacture and therefore costly as it integrates a lot of technologies with moving parts to adapt and focus the system to the object to analyze. It is complex to use as it is necessary to focus the optical subsystems to the object to analyse. Therefore, for instance, the ability of the object to move during operation is reduced.
Summary of the invention
It would advantageous to achieve an apparatus to image blood vessels which is easy to use. It would be also desirable to reduce the manufacturing cost of such an apparatus. To better address one or more concerns, in a first aspect of the invention an apparatus to image blood vessels is presented that comprises a flexible base having two parallel faces. A first one of these faces comprises a first matrix of infra-red light sources. The first matrix is interleaved with a second matrix of infra-red light detectors. These detectors are able to detect the infra-red light reflected by the body of a person when it is illuminated by the infra-red light sources. The second face of the flexible base comprises a third matrix of visible light sources, each light source being back to back with an associated infrared detector of the second matrix. And the light of each visible light source is modulated by the quantity of infrared light detected by the associated infra-red detector.
The apparatus is advantageously applied on the surface of the examined tissue, so that the matrix of visible light sources presents to the operator a picture of scale 1 : 1 of the blood vessels underneath the examined tissue surface. The apparatus works as a "look through screen" enhancing the visibility of blood vessels.
In a particular embodiment, the flexible base comprises a hole or an extra slit to allow the access of the tissue surface by some medical tool.
Brief Description of the Drawings
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment described hereafter where:
Figure 1 is a bottom view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view along axis A-A of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a schematic of the operation of the apparatus of Figure 1 ; and
Figure 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description
In reference to Figures 1 and 2, an apparatus 1 comprises a flexible base 2. The flexible base 2 has two substantially parallel faces 3, 4.
On one 3 of these faces, a first matrix of infrared light sources 5 is disposed.
On figure 1, the infrared light sources are symbolized by small circles. The distance between sources is chosen to obtain a substantially constant infrared illumination at few millimetres of the face 3. On the same face 3, a second matrix of infrared detectors 6 is interleaved with the first matrix. The density of detectors 6 is advantageously higher than the density of infrared light sources 5 as the area illuminated by one source can be detected by a plurality of detectors.
On the second face 4, a third matrix of visible light sources 7 is disposed.
Each visible light source 7 is back to back with an associated infrared detector 6. Therefore, the density of visible light sources 7 per surface unit is the same as the density of infrared detectors 6.
The visible light sources 7 are controlled by modulators 8 so that the visible light emitted by each source 7 is modulated by the quantity of infrared light received by the associated infrared detector 6.
The operation of the apparatus 1 is described in relation to Figure 3. The flexible base 2 is placed on the skin 10 of a patient, the face 3 having the infrared sources 5 and detectors 6 directed towards the skin.
The tissue is illuminated by the infrared light sources 5 and reflects partly the infra-red light. Depending on the type of tissue and on the chosen wavelength, the infrared light is more or less reflected. As it is known by a person skilled in the art, a near infra-red wavelength is particularly advantageous to distinguish blood vessels from surrounding tissues.
The infrared detectors 6 detect the reflected infrared light, creating an infrared picture of the area where the apparatus 1 is placed.
The matrix of visible light sources 7, on the other side of the base 2, provides a visualisation of this infrared picture.
As there is a one to one association between detectors 6 and visible light sources 7, the visualisation of the infrared picture is done at a 1:1 scale.
Therefore, each element seen by the operator through the matrix of visible light sources 7 is situated exactly underneath its image. The apparatus works as a "look through screen".
The definition of the picture is set by the density per surface unit of the detectors 6/visible light sources 7.
In the case that an invasive medical procedure is required, for instance the insertion of a needle into a blood vessel, the insertion point at which the needle must penetrate the skin may be located at the edge of the apparatus. The insertion direction of the needle can be such that the path of the needle and insertion point into the vessel is located under the apparatus. Depending on the application, an extra slit or an hole 11 may be present in the flexible base 2 to allow access of the tissue surface by some medical tool.
Depending on the type of embodiment, the modulators 8 may be decentralized, i.e. to each couple of detector/source is associated a modulator, or the control of the visible sources 8 may be centralized, Figure 4, into a central controller 20.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in details in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment.
For instance, the matrix of infrared detectors may be a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) matrix connected to a microcontroller and the matrix of visible light sources may be a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen or an electronic ink device controlled by the microcontroller. In this case, the microcontroller is programmed to geometrically calibrate the image on the LCD to obtain the relationship between each visible light source and its associated detector.
In another embodiment, each visible light source may be composed of a plurality of pixels.
Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled on the art in practising the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

Claims

Claims
1. Apparatus (1) to image blood vessels on the body of a person comprising a flexible base (2) having two parallel faces (3, 4), the first face (3) comprising a first matrix of infra-red light sources (5) interleaved with a second matrix of infra-red light detectors (6) adapted to detect the infra-red light reflected by the body from the infra-red light sources, the second face (4) comprising a third matrix of visible light sources (7), each of said sources being back to back with an associated infra-red detector of the first face, the light of each visible light source being modulated by the quantity of the infra-red light detected by the associated infra-red detector.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a hole (11) is present in the flexible base, said hole being adapted to the insertion of a needle.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modulation of visible light of the matrix of visible light sources is controlled by a unique controller (20) receiving as input the quantity of the infra-red light detected by each associated infra-red detector.
4 Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modulation of visible light of each visible light source is controlled by a modulator (8) receiving as input the quantity of the infra-red light detected by the associated infra-red detector.
PCT/IB2007/053119 2006-08-08 2007-08-07 Apparatus to image blood vessel WO2008018025A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06300865 2006-08-08
EP06300865.0 2006-08-08

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008018025A2 true WO2008018025A2 (en) 2008-02-14
WO2008018025A3 WO2008018025A3 (en) 2008-05-15

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2007/053119 WO2008018025A2 (en) 2006-08-08 2007-08-07 Apparatus to image blood vessel

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6122536A (en) * 1995-07-06 2000-09-19 Animas Corporation Implantable sensor and system for measurement and control of blood constituent levels
US6397099B1 (en) * 1992-05-18 2002-05-28 Non-Invasive Technology, Inc. Non-invasive imaging of biological tissue
US20060020212A1 (en) * 2004-07-26 2006-01-26 Tianning Xu Portable vein locating device

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6397099B1 (en) * 1992-05-18 2002-05-28 Non-Invasive Technology, Inc. Non-invasive imaging of biological tissue
US6122536A (en) * 1995-07-06 2000-09-19 Animas Corporation Implantable sensor and system for measurement and control of blood constituent levels
US20060020212A1 (en) * 2004-07-26 2006-01-26 Tianning Xu Portable vein locating device

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Publication number Publication date
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