Vein detection using vein transillumination and contrast differentiation for practitioner aid

A common problem that medical practitioners experience is the inability to successfully locate a vein for intravenous access procedures. Currently, there are several methods that can allow for increased venous visibility. However, these are expensive processes that involve infrared detectors and high-end processing capabilities. The system proposed can successfully make a clear image of a vein using low-cost, nearinfrared LEDs and photographs taken with a smartphone. The near-infrared lights, when under the correct specifications, will highlight the location of a vein described by the principles of vein transillumination. By applying edge-finding algorithms and contrast differentiation, a clear image and relative location of a vein can be produced to aid practitioners. As a result, low cost materials can capture and process an image of a vein and return the vein location. These results can be applied to current research to create medical devices that aid practitioners in locating a vein and completing intravenous procedures.