A cluster randomized trial in Curaçao evaluated the VascuLuminator vein finder in dark-skinned children. Overall first-attempt success improved from 51% to 63% but was not statistically significant. In the difficult-to-cannulate subgroup, median time to success dropped from 310 to 102 seconds, suggesting the device’s real value lies in challenging cases.

A study of 384 patients (768 observations) compared conventional unassisted eyesight with a new infrared vein finding device, VueTek's Veinsite™, for identifying intravenous cannulation sites. Conventional visualization identified an average of 5.8 veins, but was less effective in obese (4.5), African-American (4.6), and Asian (5.1) subjects. The infrared device identified an average of 9.1 possible cannulation sites overall. In obese subjects, visible veins increased from 4.5 to 8.2, and in dark-skinned subjects from 5.4 to 9.1. The study concludes that African-American or Asian ethnicity and obesity are associated with decreased vein visibility, but that infrared vein finding technology significantly improves vein visibility across all subgroups.

The AV 300 LCD Screen Vein Finder is designed to display subcutaneous vein patterns on an HD LCD screen, supporting vein assessment and puncture site positioning in appropriate clinical settings. Featuring multi-site imaging, six optional pseudo-color display modes, and a fixed-bracket configuration, the device is intended for applications involving the arm, hand, foot, and other areas illustrated in the product materials. Its potential applications include routine veinpuncture and assessment of difficult venous access in selected patient groups. Medical equipment importers and distributors can explore its suitability for hospitals, clinics, and vascular access support workflows.

Venipuncture in children can be challenging due to small veins, difficult-to-see vessels, dark skin, chronic diseases, and repeated puncture history. A clinical trial in Brazil compared infrared near-infrared (NIR) vein visualization technology with LED transillumination in children at risk for difficult puncture. The results highlight the value of vein visualization technology in improving confidence and supporting successful vascular access in pediatric care.

Venous access can be particularly challenging in oncology patients because repeated venipuncture, long-term treatment, vascular fragility, edema, and other clinical factors may make veins difficult to identify. A 2025 prospective clinical study at Anyang Cancer Hospital investigated the use of optimized lighting combined with a vein visualization device during venipuncture in 240 patients. The reported results showed that the combined approach could improve first-attempt puncture success, with the highest reported success rate reaching 98.3%, while also reducing puncture time and pain scores. These findings highlight the potential value of vein visualization technology as an auxiliary tool for improving venipuncture efficiency and patient experience in oncology care.

A prospective randomized controlled trial evaluated a near-infrared vein finder device on 190 adult orthopedic preoperative patients. First-attempt success rose from 54.7% to 70.5%, mean cannulation time dropped from 3.5 to 2.0 minutes, VAS pain scores fell from 4.1 to 2.4, and local complications were consistently lower in the device group. Benefits were most pronounced in patients with difficult venous access.

This review examines the benefits and shortcomings of near-infrared (NIR) vein visualization technology in nursing care based on a systematic literature search of major electronic databases up to November 2021. The findings show that NIR-assisted intravenous cannulation in pediatric patients significantly reduces cannulation time and the number of attempts. The technology proves effective in real-time vein identification, improves first-time insertion success rates, and is particularly beneficial for patients with difficult venous access, including those with low vein visibility associated with Asian and African-American ethnicity or obesity. The review concludes that NIR technology is a useful, low-cost tool for locating veins for cannulation, blood sampling, and other medical purposes, especially in pediatric and elderly patients.