US 12,471,844 B2
Scanned laser vein contrast enhancer with full stopping of scanner movement during scan line reversals
Fred Wood, Medford, NY (US); Ron Goldman, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (US); Vincent Luciano, Shoreham, NY (US); and Stephen P. Conlon, Glen Mills, PA (US)
Assigned to AccuVein, Inc., Medford, NY (US)
Filed by AccuVein Inc., Medford, NY (US)
Filed on Jul. 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/761,390.
Application 18/761,390 is a division of application No. 17/356,558, filed on Jun. 24, 2021, granted, now 12,193,838.
Application 17/356,558 is a continuation of application No. 16/238,646, filed on Jan. 3, 2019, granted, now 11,051,755, issued on Jul. 6, 2021.
Application 16/238,646 is a continuation of application No. 14/855,502, filed on Sep. 16, 2015, granted, now 10,238,294, issued on Mar. 26, 2019.
Application 14/855,502 is a continuation of application No. 14/168,158, filed on Jan. 30, 2014, granted, now 9,186,063, issued on Nov. 17, 2015.
Application 14/168,158 is a continuation of application No. 13/649,234, filed on Oct. 11, 2012, granted, now 8,706,200, issued on Apr. 22, 2014.
Application 13/649,234 is a continuation of application No. 11/807,255, filed on May 25, 2007, granted, now 8,380,291, issued on Feb. 19, 2013.
Application 11/807,255 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/478,322, filed on Jun. 29, 2006, granted, now 8,478,386, issued on Jul. 2, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2024/0415453 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 5/489 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0062 (2013.01); A61B 5/0064 (2013.01); A61B 5/0079 (2013.01); A61B 5/742 (2013.01); A61B 90/36 (2016.02); A61B 2090/366 (2016.02); A61B 2560/0425 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0233 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A portable hand-held miniature vein enhancer, for use in imaging subcutaneous veins beneath a target surface, said vein imager comprising:
a laser, said laser configured to emit a beam consisting of light at a selective wavelength;
one or more mirrors, said one or more mirrors configured to receive said beam of light from said one laser, said beam of light thereby reflected onto the target surface to create a spot of light thereon;
a mirror drive system, said mirror drive system configured to drive said one or more mirrors to respectively oscillate about one or more corresponding fulcrums, to scan said spot of light upon the target in a pattern; wherein each said oscillation comprises: said one or more mirrors being driven to scan said spot in a first direction during a first part of said pattern, said one or more mirrors being decelerated to a full stop during a second part of said pattern, said one or more mirrors subsequently being accelerated in a reverse direction during a third part of said pattern, and said one or more mirrors being driven to scan said spot in the reverse direction during a fourth part of said pattern;
a housing for the portable hand-held miniature vein enhancer, said housing configured to house said laser, said one or more mirrors, and said mirror drive system; said housing comprising an exit window;
wherein said mirror drive system is configured to drive said one or more mirrors to direct a first portion of said laser light out through said exit window; and
wherein a periphery of said exit window is positioned to cause a portion of said housing to block a second portion of said laser light during each said oscillation when said mirror drive system causes said spot to accelerate and decelerate in proximity to said full stop during said second and third parts of said pattern, to clip brighter parts of said scan that are unusable because of slowed movement of said one or more mirrors.