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System and method for enhanced visualization of subcutaneous structures
| Details |
Inventors: Crane, Robert L.; Edmonds, Byron P.; Lovett, Charles C.; Johnson, Walter E.;
Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air (Washington, DC)
Primary Examiner: Casler; Brian L.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Scearce; Bobby D., Kundert; Thomas L.
System and method for enhancing visualization of veins, arteries or other subcutaneous natural or foreign structures of the body and for facilitating intravenous insertion or extraction of fluids, medication or the like in the administration of medical treatment to human or animal subjects are described which comprise a light source (11) for illuminating or transilluminating the corresponding portion of the body with light of selected wavelengths and a low-level light detector (12) such as an image intensifier tube (including night vision goggles), a photomultiplier tube, photodiode or charge coupled device, for generating an image of the illuminated body portion, and optical filter(s) (17) of selected spectral transmittance which can be located at the light source(s) (11), detector (12), or both. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A system for enhancing the visualization of veins, arteries and other subcutaneous natural or foreign structures in the body, comprising: (a) a light source for illuminating a portion of the body in at least one of a reflection mode and a transillumination mode; (b) at least one low level light detection means for detecting low light levels having spectral characteristics defined by the relative light absorption properties of subcutaneous structures within said portion of the body, said low light levels reflected from or transmitted through said portion of the body, and for generating an image of subcutaneous structures within said portion of the body, and means for displaying said image; and (c) wherein said at least one low level light detection means includes a device selected from the group consisting of an image intensifier tube, a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode and a charge coupled device.
2.
The system of claim 1 wherein said image intensifier tube is a night vision device.
3.
The system of claim 1 wherein said light source includes wavelengths in a wavelength range defined from about 0.
3 to about 1.
0 micron and said at least one low level light detection means is sensitive to selected wavelength bands within said wavelength range.
4.
The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one low level light detection means is one of a monocular arrangement providing independent viewing of two spectral visual fields of said image and a binocular arrangement providing depth perception of said image.
5.
A system for enhancing the visualization of veins, arteries and other subcutaneous natural or foreign structures in the body, comprising: (a) a light source for illuminating a portion of the body in at least one of a reflection mode and a transillumination mode; (b) at least one low level light detection means for detecting low light levels having spectral characteristics defined by the relative light absorption properties of subcutaneous structures within said portion of the body, said low light levels reflected form or transmitted through said portion of the body, and for generating an image of subcutaneous structures within said portion of the body, and means for displaying said image; and (c) an optical filter disposed between said source and said at least one low level light detection means for transmitting light only within preselected narrow wavelength bands
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Image Analysis 
