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, wherein the optical member is at least partially optically transmissive to light passed within the optical member,
wherein the optical member and the elongated member are affixed to one another by a bond formed by partial melting of the elongated member, the optical member, or both.
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 to the elongated member by an adhesive.
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 substantially an entire length of the optical member is affixed to the elongated member.
8. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is affixed to the elongated member without clips or clamps.
9. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein 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.
10. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is configured to transmit light through a sidewall of the optical member.
11. 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.
12. The IV infusion line assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical member and the elongated member are additionally affixed to one another with one or more clips or clamps.
13. An 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;
a therapeutic fluid output;
an elongated member providing fluid communication between the therapeutic fluid input to the therapeutic fluid output; and
an optical member affixed to the elongated member by a bond formed by partial melting of the elongated member, the optical member, or both, the optical member being at least partially optically transmissive to light passed within the optical 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 substantially an entire length of the optical member is affixed along the longitudinal length of the elongated member.
17. The IV-line identification system as recited in claim 13 , wherein 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.
18. A method for implementing an IV-line identification system, the method comprising:
providing an infusion line comprising an optical member affixed to the infusion line by a bond formed by partial melting of the elongated member, the optical member, or both;
selectively coupling a light source to the optical member; and
directing light from the light source into the optical member, the optical member being at least partially optically transmissive to light passed within the optical member.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the optical member is breakably affixed to the infusion line.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising breaking at least a portion of the optical member from the infusion line.