Implementation and Design of a Blood Vessels IR Sensor

Abstract

Medical professionals often perform venipuncture or intravenous (IV) cannulation/treatment. They often face challenges in obtaining IV access. The usual methods involve visual inspection and palpation, which implies a high failure rate. The current alternatives include devices that are too expensive or could irritate neonates’ skin. Aim: Our device offers a low-cost, non-invasive, accessible alternative that uses Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology to locate blood vessels, to aid in IV treatments. Methodology: We revised the state of the art for blood vessel visualization in real-time, allowing us to detect areas of opportunity. After that we designed and assembled our portable NIRS device, using 3 IR-LEDs emitting a wavelength of 940nm, an HD Camera with Bluetooth capability, digital filters coded in Python, and an Android app for visualizing in real-time. Results: we observed difficulty detecting blood vessels in individuals with clear skin but found success visualizing blood vessels in darker skin complexions, an area where other devices usually fail.