Vein Viewer / Finder

 

I had and appointment at the SDEC unit at St Helier Hospital this morning for them to look at my leg and to take blood and look at my infection markers. During the blood taking process they used this Vein Viewer / Finder as I told them that during my weeks stay they had put so many cannula's in my hands and the veins were so small that they failed and had to find another in, that both hands were mullered, bruised and tender to touch. 

My question was WTF had they not used this during my stay rather than try multiple unsuccessful attempts and caused so much damage to my hands? 

It appears it's a matter of cost "They are expensive, and we don't have many and not each ward has got one" The cost appears to be about £1,500 ish. These are not new they have been around for 10 years. IMHO Every ward where they fit cannula's should have access to one of these machines.

A vein viewer / finder is a medical device that uses infrared or LED transillumination to project a real-time map of blood vessels onto the skin. It helps healthcare professionals and phlebotomists successfully locate veins for IVs and blood draws on the first attempt, reducing patient pain and procedure time

These devices are particularly helpful for patients with difficult venous access, such as infants, the elderly, obese individuals, and those with dark skin tones.

Types of Vein Finders

• Infrared Projectors: Advanced devices (like the AccuVein or VeinViewer) project a digital image of veins directly onto the skin. They often feature multiple colour modes and brightness levels to adjust for different skin tones and room lighting
• Transillumination Flashlights: Handheld LED or UV devices that are pressed directly against the skin to illuminate superficial veins. They are highly portable, more affordable, and frequently used in smaller clinics or homecare settings.