Real-time dual-modal vein imaging system

• Published in: International journal for computer assisted radiology and surgery 2019-02, Vol.14 (2), p.203-213
• Main Authors: Mela, Christopher A., Lemmer, David P., Bao, Forrest Sheng, Papay, Francis, Hicks, Tyler, Liu, Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood vessels; Computer Imaging; Computer Science; Health Informatics; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Image transmission; Imaging; Infrared imagery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Optical Imaging - methods; Original Article; Pattern Recognition and Graphics; Radiology; Real time; Reflectance; Surgery; Veins; Veins & arteries; Veins - diagnostic imaging; Visible spectrum; Vision
• ISSN: 1861-6410; 1861-6429
• DOI: 10.1007/s11548-018-1865-9

Purpose In this paper, we present a vein imaging system to combine reflectance mode visible spectrum images (VIS) with transmission mode near-infrared (NIR) images in real time. Clear vessel localization is achieved in this manner with combined NIR–VIS dual-modal imaging. Methods Transmission and reflectance mode optical instrumentation is used to combine VIS and NIR images. Two methods of displaying the combined images are demonstrated here. We have conducted experiments to determine the system’s resolution, alignment accuracy, and depth penetration. Vein counts were taken from the hands of test subjects using the system and compared with vein counts taken by visual analysis. Results Results indicate that the system can improve vein detection in the human hand while detecting veins of a diameter