There are over 2,700,000 needle sticks every day just in the U.S. While vein illumination is important in every needle insertion, it is critically important when the patient is obese, very young, aged, and/or has dark skin.
The company New Infrared Imaging (NII) and the scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are developing revolutionary new technologies to visualize veins to detect and monitor brain injuries and malignant cancers plus identify brain diseases and cardiovascular disease.
NII, the City University of New York (CCNY), the Regents of the University of California, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, recently released the Vein-Eye camera which is FDA registered and should be ready for shipment in June. The camera enhances visualization of veins when drawing blood or placing IVs in a patient’s arm or hand.
The camera is a non-contact medical device that displays real-time video for accurate and stress free vein punctures the very first time. The device was developed by Dr. Stavros Demos using intellectual property developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Dr. Demos also used intellectual property developed at the Institute of Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers by Dr. Robert Alfano, Professor of Science and Engineering at CCNY.
An early prototype was sent to a hospital in the Philippines after that country was shaken by earthquakes and floods. It was used with the most difficult patients especially with very young children who were very sick with collapsed veins. The Vein-Eye prototype was extremely successful and a significant help to the medical practitioners.
For more information, go to www.nearinfraredimaging.com.