Competitive Real-Time Near Infrared (NIR) Vein Finder Imaging Device to Improve Peripheral Subcutaneous Vein Selection in Venipuncture for Clinical Laboratory Testing

Mark D Francisco; Wen-Fan Chen; Cheng-Tang Pan; Ming-Cheng Lin; Zhi-Hong Wen; Chien-Feng Liao; Yow-Ling Shiue

doi:10.3390/mi12040373

Competitive Real-Time Near Infrared (NIR) Vein Finder Imaging Device to Improve Peripheral Subcutaneous Vein Selection in Venipuncture for Clinical Laboratory Testing

Micromachines (Basel). 2021 Mar 30;12(4):373. doi: 10.3390/mi12040373.

Authors

Mark D Francisco^{1

2

3}, Wen-Fan Chen⁴, Cheng-Tang Pan^{2

5}, Ming-Cheng Lin^{2

6}, Zhi-Hong Wen⁷, Chien-Feng Liao⁸, Yow-Ling Shiue^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
² Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, NSYSU, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
³ College of Medical Technology, Trinity University of Asia (TUA), Quezon City 1102, Philippines.
⁴ Institute of Medical Science and Technology, NSYSU, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
⁵ Institute of Precision Medicine, NSYSU, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Mechanical Engineering, R.O.C. Military Academy, Kaohsiung 83059, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, NSYSU, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung City 80284, Taiwan.

Abstract

In this study, near-infrared (NIR) technology was utilized to develop a low-cost real-time near infrared (NIR) guiding device for cannulation. A portable device that can be used by medical practitioners and also by students for their skills development training in performing cannulation.

Methods: First, is the development of a reflectance type optical vein finder using three (3) light emitting diode (LED) lights with 960 nm wavelength, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-infrared (CMOS-IR) sensor camera with 1920 × 1080 UXGA (1080P), IR filter set for the given wavelength, and an open-source image processing software. Second, is the actual in-vitro human testing in two sites: the arm and dorsal hand of 242 subjects. The following parameters were included, such as gender, age, mass index (BMI), and skin tone. In order to maximize the assessment process towards the device, the researchers included the arm circumference. This augmented subcutaneous vein imaging study using the develop vein finder device compared the difference in the captured vein images through visual and digital imaging approaches. The human testing was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Trinity University of Asia-Institutional Ethics Review Committee (TUA-IERC).

Results: The NIR imaging system of the developed vein finder in this study showed its capability as an efficient guiding device through real-time vein pattern recognition, for both sites. Improved captured vein images were observed, having 100% visibility of vein patterns on the dorsal hand site. Fourteen (5.79%) out of 242 subjects reported non-visible peripheral subcutaneous veins in the arm sites.

Conclusions: The developed vein finder device with the NIR technology and reflected light principle with low-energy consumption was efficient for real-time peripheral subcutaneous vein imaging without the application of a tourniquet. This might be utilized as a guiding device in locating the vein for the purpose of cannulation, at a very low cost as compared to the commercially available vein finders. Moreover, it may be used as an instructional device for student training in performing cannulation.

Keywords: (LED) light emitting diode; (NIR) Near-infrared; cannulation; deoxyhemoglobin; image processing; vein finder; venipuncture.