US4175543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Venipuncture method
Assignee: Liquid Crystal Products Inc
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Filing: 1978-03-23
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Granted: 1979-11-27
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Expires: 1998-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of effecting venipuncture in the human body includes the steps of cooling the skin over a venous area of the body by applying a cold pack thereto and providing on the cooled skin in heat exchange relation thereto a layer of an enantiotropic cholesteric liquid crystalline phase material exhibiting a mesophase color change at a temperature reached by the skin due to venous blood flow, warming the cooled skin by venous blood flow in such area thereby to produce a mesophase color change in the material delineating a vein therebeneath, and directing an instrument for venipuncture to a site in such area indicated by the delineation to constitute the location of a vein.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred K. Suzuki
- 👤 Thomas W. Davison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/48; A61B5/4887; A61B5/489; A61B5/01; A61B5/015; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/32; A61M5/42; A61M5/427; C; C09; C09K; C09K19/00; C09K19/52; C09K19/60; G; G01; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/12; G01K11/16; G01K11/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of effecting venipuncture in the human body which comprises the steps of: (a) cooling the skin over a venous area of the body by applying a cold pack thereto for a period of at least 3 seconds and providing on the cooled skin in heat exchange relation thereto a layer of an enantiotropic cholesteric liquid crystalline phase material exhibiting a mesophase color change at a temperature reached by the skin upon warming by venous blood flow, the lower limit of the mesophase temperature range of said material being below the initial temperature of the skin over said area, said cooling being effected to bring the skin over said area to a temperature below said lower limit; (b) warming the cooled skin by venous blood flow in said area thereby to produce a mesophase color change in the material in said layer delineating a vein beneath the layer; and (c) directing an instrument for venipuncture to a site in said area indicated by said delineation to constitute the location of a vein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of effecting venipuncture in the human body which comprises the steps of: (a) cooling the skin over a venous area of the body by applying a cold pack thereto for a period of at least 3 seconds and providing on the cooled skin in heat exchange relation thereto a layer of an enantiotropic cholesteric liquid crystalline phase material exhibiting a mesophase color change at a temperature reached by the skin upon warming by venous blood flow, the lower limit of the mesophase temperature range of said material being below the initial temperature of the skin over said area, said cooling being effected to bring the skin over said area to a temperature below said lower limit; (b) warming the cooled skin by venous blood flow in said area thereby to produce a mesophase color change in the material in said layer delineating a vein beneath the layer; and (c) directing an instrument for venipuncture to a site in said area indicated by said delineation to constitute the location of a vein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and wherein said site is the site over which appears the initial mesophase color change indicating a vein selected for venipuncture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and wherein said mesophase temperature range lies between about 29° C. and 33° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and wherein said mesophase temperature range lies between about 20° C. and 40° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and wherein said layer comprises an organic solvent-free paste of said material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and wherein said layer comprises a dispersion of said material in a plastic film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as defined in claim 6 and wherein said plastic is polyvinyl butyral.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and wherein said material is encapsulated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and wherein said cold pack includes a coolant at a temperature in the range of about 0° C. to -10° C., and said mesophase temperature range lies between about 20° C. and 40° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as defined in claim 9 and wherein said coolant is ice.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as defined in claim 9 and wherein said coolant is icewater.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 9 and wherein said layer comprises a dispersion of said material in a polyvinyl butyral film.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of effecting venipunctue in the human body which comprises the steps of: (a) cooling the skin over a venous area of the body by applying a cold pack thereto for a period of at least 3 seconds and providing on the cooled skin in heat exchange relation thereto a layer of an enantiotropic cholesteric liquid crystalline phase material having a mesophase temperature range width of about 1° C. to 7° C., the upper limit of said range being at most about equal to and the lower limit of said range being below the initial temperature of the skin over said area, said cooling being effected to bring the skin over said area to a temperature below said lower limit; (b) warming the cooled skin by venous blood flow in said area thereby to produce a mesophase color change in the material in said layer delineating a vein beneath the layer; and (c) directing an instrument for venipuncture to a site in said area indicated by said delineation to constitute the location of a vein.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of effecting venipunctue in the human body which comprises the steps of: (a) cooling the skin over a venous area of the body by applying a cold pack thereto for a period of at least 3 seconds and providing on the cooled skin in heat exchange relation thereto a layer of an enantiotropic cholesteric liquid crystalline phase material having a mesophase temperature range width of about 1° C. to 7° C., the upper limit of said range being at most about equal to and the lower limit of said range being below the initial temperature of the skin over said area, said cooling being effected to bring the skin over said area to a temperature below said lower limit; (b) warming the cooled skin by venous blood flow in said area thereby to produce a mesophase color change in the material in said layer delineating a vein beneath the layer; and (c) directing an instrument for venipuncture to a site in said area indicated by said delineation to constitute the location of a vein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 13 and wherein said site is the site over which appears the initial mesophase color change indicating a vein selected for venipuncture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method s defined in claim 13 and wherein said mesophase temperature range lies between about 29° C. and 33° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 13 and wherein said mesophase temperature range lies between about 20° C. and 40° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 13 and wherein said cold pack includes a coolant at a temperature in the range of about 0° C. to -10° C., and said mesophase temperature range lies between about 20° C. and 40° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as defined in claim 17 and wherein said coolant is ice.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as defined in claim 17 and wherein said coolant is icewater.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 17 and wherein said layer comprises a dispersion of said material in a polyvinyl butyral film.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2237971A
Cited
US3998210A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-26 | 1983-05-28 | 1983-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-26 | 1987-05-28 | 1987-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-26 | 1991-05-28 | 1991-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |