Infrared aided method and apparatus for venous examination

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
An apparatus for aiding a user injecting the tip of a hypodermic needle into a subcutaneous vein in the flesh of a patient, said apparatus comprising: light source means for providing an infrared light beam such that, when said light beam is directed onto said flesh, one portion of said light beam is incident on a first area of flesh containing said vein and another portion of said light beam is incident on a second area of flesh that is vein free; said light beam containing a range of wavelengths selected such that said one portion of said light beam is substantially absorbed by said first area containing said vein and said second portion of said light beam is substantially reflected by said second area that is vein free whereby a view of said subcutaneous vein in said flesh is created; a first video camera having a response to said wavelengths and a line of sight such that when said line of sight of said first video camera is directed toward said view, a video signal representing said view is developed by said first video camera; a first monitor means having a first screen and connected to said first video camera for receiving said video signal from said first video camera and presenting on said first screen an image of said view generated from said video signal; head support means for supporting said light source means, said first video camera and said first monitor means on the head of a user adapted such that said light beam intersects said line of sight of said first video camera and said line of sight of said first video camera is coincident with a line of sight of one eye of said user when said one eye of said user is viewing said image on said first screen whereby said user wearing said head support means is enabled to position his/her head such that said first and second areas of flesh are located at a position where said line of sight of said first video camera intersects said light beam and said user is enabled to move said tip of said hypodermic needle into said line of sight of said first video camera and move said tip toward said second area of flesh preparatory to inserting said tip into said vein