Andy had thousands of blood tests and I’ve been following technology that helps doctors, nurses, phlebotomists and patients to find veins faster and more accurately.
Back in May 27, 2005 I found the Vein entry indicator device.
And back in October 7, 2004 I found the Vein Contrast Enhancer.
Today I received news about this gadget from Georgia Tech’s School of Mechanical Engineering; they invented a vein finder device that uses Doppler ultrasound technology.
They say,
“For example, IV (intravenous) insertion is especially difficult in dehydrated patients because their blood vessels lack normal volume,”
And according to the article, Doppler is electromagnetic and sound waves interacting with a moving object and blood is a moving substance, so ultrasonic waves reflected from blood vessels provide critical information about a vein’s location.
The patent-pending vein finder is composed of two parts: A reusable unit houses the electronics and signal processing components, while a disposable coupler box holds a reflector and needle guide. The needle guide is positioned parallel to the sound beam being transmitted by a transducer in the device’s reusable section.
As medics move the device along a patient’s arm or leg, the transducer emits a thin acoustical beam, about the size of pencil lead, into the reflector. Then the reflector directs the ultrasonic waves into the patient’s skin at a slight angle. The device can determine the direction of blood flow to distinguish arteries (which carry blood away from the heart) from veins (which carry blood to the heart). Once the device detects a vein, an alarm is triggered, and medics insert the needle.
Read the article via Georgia Tech Research News here.