Lighted tubing

• US 20070103926A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Brooks, Nancy Brooks
• Original Assignee: James Brooks, Nancy Brooks
• Inventors: Brooks, Nancy, Brooks, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,374,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor

Abstract

Lighted tubing includes an elongate wall and a light source. The elongate wall defines an interior channel. A conductor may be positioned adjacent to and extending from the light source to conduct light produced by the light source along the wall. A method of securing medical tubing includes the steps of providing medical tubing, providing a light source, attaching the light source to an elongate wall of the medical tubing, and the light source indicating the location of the wall in a dark environment.

Claims

1. Lighted tubing, comprising:

an elongate wall defining an interior channel; and

a light source attached to the wall.

2. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, wherein the light source includes a chemical coating having glow-in-the-dark characteristics.

3. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, wherein the light source includes a LED.

4. The lighted tubing as in claim 3, wherein the LED is removably attached to the wall and in communication with a power source.

5. The lighted tubing as in claim 3, wherein a clip selectively attaches the LED to the wall.

6. The lighted tubing as in claim 3, further comprising means for selectively attaching the LED to the wall.

7. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, wherein:

the light source includes a piece of tape having glow-in-the-dark characteristics and having adhesive; and

the adhesive attaches the tape to the wall.

8. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of a chemical coating, a LED, a piece of tape having glow-in-the-dark characteristics, and a light bulb.

9. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, wherein:

the wall has a length; and

the light source extends substantially the entire length of the wall.

10. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, wherein the wall presents a circular cross-section.

11. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, wherein:

the light source includes a sleeve having glow-in-the-dark characteristics;

the sleeve has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the wall; and

the sleeve presents first and second ends, and an opening extends from the first end to the second end to allow the sleeve to be selectively positioned about the wall.

12. The lighted tubing as in claim 1, further comprising a flexible conductor having an end adjacent the light source for conducting light created by the light source, whereby marking a location of the wall.

13. Lighted tubing for medical use, comprising:

an elongate wall defining an interior channel for transporting a substance; and

a light source attached to the wall.

14. The lighted tubing as in claim 13, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of a chemical coating, a LED, a piece of tape having glow-in-the-dark characteristics, and a light bulb.

15. The lighted tubing as in claim 14, wherein the tape is a vinyl tape capable of being selectively affixed to the wall through an electrostatic interaction.

16. The lighted tubing as in claim 14, wherein:

the light source is operatively connected to a sleeve;

the sleeve has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the wall;

the sleeve presents first and second ends; and

an opening extends from the sleeve first end to the sleeve second end to allow the sleeve to be selectively positioned about the wall.

17. The lighted tubing as in claim 13, wherein:

the light source includes a LED in communication with a power source; and

the LED is removably attached to the wall.

18. The lighted tubing as in claim 13, wherein:

the light source includes a sleeve having flow-in-the-dark characteristics;

the sleeve has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the wall;

the sleeve presents first and second ends; and

an opening extends from the sleeve first end to the sleeve second end to allow the sleeve to be selectively positioned about the wall.

19. The lighted tubing as in claim 18, wherein the sleeve includes a respective flange extending outwardly from each side of the sleeve opening.

20. The lighted tubing as in claim 13, wherein the light source defines indicia providing information pertaining to the medical use.

21. The lighted tubing as in claim 13, wherein the light source defines indicia displaying a direction of flow for the substance.

22. The lighted tubing as in claim 13, wherein:

the wall is constructed of a flexible plastic material; and

the substance includes gaseous oxygen.

23. The lighted tubing as in claim 13, wherein the light source is a heat-shrink material having glow-in-the-dark characteristics.

24. Lighted tubing for medical use, comprising:

an elongate wall defining an interior channel for transporting a substance;

a luminator; and

a conductor adjacent to and extending from the luminator to conduct light produced by the luminator along the wall.

25. A method of securing medical tubing, comprising the steps of:

providing medical tubing having an elongate wall defining an interior channel for transporting a substance;

providing a light source;

attaching the light source to the wall; and

the light source indicating the location of the wall in a dark environment.

26. The method as in claim 25, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of a chemical coating, a LED, a piece of tape having glow-in-the-dark characteristics, a light bulb, a heat-shrink material having glow-in-the-dark characteristics, and a sleeve having glow-in-the-dark characteristics.