A (likely naive) medical device for locating veins for catheter insertion, injections and blood draws. Perhaps seeks the FE component of blood.
Advanced versions could show a subdural map of the vein and capillary structures and maybe even a tactical best angle-of-attack or best insertion display.
This is a product of experience--I've been punctured so many times in vain/vein at the hands of those who aren't anatomy astute or who have, at the most, poor intuition. Maybe it's just the way I'm built.-- bristolz, Mar 31 2004 The Site-Rite http://www.dymax-usa.com/Finds big veins great. Cant see small veins. [bungston, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004] (?) Doppler http://www.allheart.com/nvsd.htmlIt's not just for locating tornados [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004] (?) Vein Viewer http://www.webmd.co...ent/pages/26/114818This video describes a more recent development in an infrared imaging system (IRIS) developed to easily and plainly detect veins for intravenous injections in battlefield operating centers and your doctor's office. [jurist, Sep 05 2006, last modified Sep 06 2006] Once you find them, move them to where they'll be easier to get to next time Vanity_20in_20Vein [normzone, Sep 05 2006] Vein Viewer https://www.ashconm...ein-viewing-system/For your viewing pleasure. We use these. [whatrock, Jan 25 2021] My wife has the same problem, so croissant if it's doable. My veins are easy to find, but oddly enough, the most painless blood letting I've had was by an orderly doing it for the very first time.-- DrCurry, Mar 31 2004 Are you sure it is the finding that is so difficult? The problem I have always encountered was that the vein didn't stay in place after it was located. I once saw a paramedic use some kind of clamp that trapped the vein in a fold of skin. He said it is often the only way to get into a drug addict. I cannot find a link perhaps it was his own invention.-- kbecker, Mar 31 2004 Well, maybe the system could image in real time to track the drift. All I know is that it seems to be a problem and, while I am no drug addict, I probably have the veins of one at this point.-- bristolz, Mar 31 2004 + because mine are quite easy to find and they've still botched the job a few times.
Meanwhile, you can borrow my veins if you need them.-- half, Mar 31 2004 This is already possible... blood dyes and scans are already used to see the flow of blood to detect issues like blocked arteries and such. Problem is its not very practical, and the real point is that we know where veins are already...-- cheek, Apr 01 2004 Why is this in Computer:packaging? Some sort of sound scanner might work, listening for the pulse, or ultrasound over a small area.-- unclepete, Apr 01 2004 People talking about blood and veins and things arrgh!-- benjamin, Apr 01 2004 //but then punctures right on through it// That happened twice to me the other day until the nurse let another try successfully on the other arm.-- FarmerJohn, Apr 01 2004 Ah, vein rolling. That makes perfect sense. I never thought about that but can easily see why it happens and why it's hard to prevent.-- bristolz, Apr 01 2004 The siterite (link) finds big veins pretty well. My mom suggested once that a bright light in the far red spectrum might reflect from the veins, lighting them up black. I could not make this happen in my experiments with an IR heat lamp.
Vein rolling can be prevented with an injection of saline or lidocaine in the tissue around the vein. The resulting edema substitutes for subcutaneous fat, fixing the vein in place for the IV.-- bungston, Apr 01 2004 I'd say that the SiteRite is close enough that this idea is superfluous.-- bristolz, Apr 01 2004 Not at all. The siterite can only find the big ones. Little ones remain invisible. There is definitely room for technologic improvement here.-- bungston, Apr 01 2004 Doppler imaging? Some sort of PDA like scan/display device? Even if that's technologically possible, I'm not sure how to keep the image in place over the vein while allowing (attempted?) insertion of the needle though.-- half, Apr 01 2004 There is a guide which clips over the transducer through which you put the needle.-- bungston, Apr 01 2004 I like this idea, luckily I shouldnt have to use it as whenever people need to find a vein (on me) its done within 5 secinds, but my mother for instance.... the nurses usually have to send out an exploratory team to find the smallest vein! Good idea Bris, and a croissant for thee!-- The_Englishman_Abroad, Apr 02 2004 An excellent idea. There are sonic methods of measuring the flow in pipes using Doppler shifts. Perhaps this device could look for that. Oh, wait, [half] already said that—well, I second it.Once the veins are detected, the device would print their position on your skin, using a built-in ink jet printer, with the width of the lines indicating the size of the vein, and color-coded for depth. (You want to avoid those deep ones, ‘cause they might be arteries.)-- ldischler, Apr 02 2004 As a former phlebotomist, I humbly submit to you the following techniques for acquiring/providing blood samples from difficult patients.
As a phlebotomist: (1) Look around. (2) if the coast is clear, proceed to step three. Else, find another patient and return to the difficult stick later. (3) Pretend to be palpating the arm for the median cubitus vein. In reality, be looking for a pulse. (4) Collect sample quickly, with a steady hand. Apply pressure for 5 minutes after withdrawing the needle. If caught, claim accidental arteriopuncture while probing for a vein.
As a patient: (1) Acquire a supply of clean needles and heroin. (2) Become addicted. (3) When it is time for you to provide a blood sample, not only will you know exactly where your most obscure veins are, but you will likely be better at venipuncture than your phlebotomist. In fact, you will probably insist on drawing the sample yourself.-- Guncrazy, Apr 02 2004 Here's a few tips if you know you're going to get poked and prodded. 1. Drink plenty of fluids. This helps to increase vasculature. 2. Try taking Nitric Oxide tablets. These are supposed to help increase vein size temporarily. Don't if you have high-blood pressure. I've tried 'em before working out, and they do seem to give a boost. I have lowish blood pressure anyways, and small veins, so they're great for me.-- RayfordSteele, Oct 08 2004 Couldn't you use leeches to find the vein - they seem to be very good at it - and then take the leech off and stick a needle in?-- hippo, Oct 08 2004 It strikes me that a permanent canula might be helpful, rather like the drain-down point on a central heating system.-- wagster, Oct 08 2004 Catheter, you mean? Oh, they're so fun.-- bristolz, Oct 08 2004 A shunt might work.-- blissmiss, Oct 08 2004 female veins i find are the hardest to find. male veins bulge out like they need something prodded in there.-- benfrost, Oct 09 2004 Mmmm. Anti-dentist Rant Ahoy!
I had to go to the dentist to get two fillings.
So the dentist shoved a needle in my mouth, and walked out. The needle was still in my mouth. It hurt like hell.
5 minutes later, he comes in, injects the stuff, removes the needle, and sticks it in AGAIN.
So my mouth hurt like hell, even though he was injecting aenesthetic. One of the injections wasnt done properly. It made my face burn like hell, even more so than before. Imagine fire in your veins in your face.
Then he left a second time. This time he left for 2 hours before coming back to drill.
Here's the big part - the aenesthetic was only surposed to last ONE hour, so it was pretty much worn off.
I'd loved to have sued the guy.-- DesertFox, Sep 06 2006 Wow! How come you didn't?-- jutta, Sep 06 2006 [whatrock] That is quite cool. Also - good to see a [bristolz] idea on the Recent page.-- hippo, Jan 26 2021 random, halfbakery