Infusion line systems
An IV-line identification system to enable ready identification of an IV line and its associated fluid source and output from other IV lines with their fluid sources and outputs. The IV-line identification system includes an optical member affixed along a longitudinal length of an elongated member that transmits light when a light source provides a light to the optical member.
1. An intravenous (IV) infusion line assembly, comprising:
an elongated member having a fluid conduit for administering therapeutic fluid to a patient, the fluid conduit configured to provide fluid communication between a first end of the elongated member and a second end of the elongated member; and
an optical member disposed along a longitudinal length of the elongated member between the first end and the second end of the elongated member, wherein the optical member is at least partially optically transmissive to internally reflect light within the optical member,
wherein the optical member is affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member by a partial melting between the optical member and the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
2. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is affixed along an outer surface of the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
3. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is disposed along an interior of an outer surface of the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
4. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is additionally affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member by an adhesive between the optical member and the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
5. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is breakably affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
6. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is affixed continuously along the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
7. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal length of the elongated member extends from a point that is proximate to the first end of the elongated member to a point that is proximate to the second end of the elongated member.
8. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein substantially an entire length of the optical member is affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
9. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member without clips or clamps.
10. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the optical member between a first end of the optical member and a second end of the optical member is not affixed to the elongated member.
11. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is configured to transmit light through a sidewall of the optical member.
12. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , the optical member including one or more diffraction optical elements (DOEs) thereon, the one or more DOEs being configured to in-couple a light into the optical member.
13. An intravenous (IV)-line identification system, the IV-line identification system comprising:
an IV therapy system for administering therapeutic fluid to a patient, the IV therapy system comprising:
a therapeutic fluid input in which the therapeutic fluid can be introduced;
a therapeutic fluid output configured to communicate the therapeutic fluid to an outlet;
an elongated member providing fluid communication from the therapeutic fluid input to the therapeutic fluid output; and
an optical member affixed along a longitudinal length of the elongated member, the optical member being at least partially optically transmissive to internally reflect light within the optical member,
wherein the optical member is affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member by a partial melting between the optical member and the longitudinal length of the elongated member; and
a light source selectively couplable to the optical member and configured to provide light to the optical member.
14. The IV-line identification system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the light source is selectively attachable to the elongated member.
15. The IV-line identification system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the optical member is affixed continuously along the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
16. The IV-line identification system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal length of the elongated member extends from a point that is proximate to the first end of the elongated member to a point that is proximate to the second end of the elongated member.
17. The IV-line identification system as recited in claim 13 , wherein substantially an entire length of the optical member is affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
18. The IV-line identification system as recited in claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the optical member between a first end of the optical member and a second end of the optical member is not affixed to the elongated member.
19. A method for implementing an intravenous (IV)-line identification system, the method comprising:
providing an IV infusion line comprising an optical member affixed along a longitudinal length of the infusion line by a partial melting between the optical member and a longitudinal length of the infusion line;
selectively coupling a light source to the optical member; and
directing a light from the light source into the optical member, the optical member being at least partially optically transmissive to internally reflect light within the optical member.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the optical member is affixed continuously along the infusion line.