Patent attributes
A system and method for confirming the proper placement of a penetrating catheter into a venous region using principles of oximetry in which blood is subjected to light of a plurality of wavelengths and detected for absorption levels. The result is analyzed by a processor and the level oxygen saturation of the blood is indicated. The characteristic level of saturation informs the practitioner whether oxygenated arterial blood is present due to an inadvertent puncture. The catheter is introduced using an introduction needle and thereafter removed to allow blood to communicate with sensing elements that consist of a light-emitter and opposed photodetector. Light in the infrared and visible red wavelengths can be provided by separate LED units. Aspiration of blood through the catheter by an attached syringe allows the processor to compute the level of oxygen saturation or other blood constituent, based upon detected light absorption of passing blood.