ILLUMINATED TUBING SET

• US 20130123579A1
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Adams, Grant, Wilkowske, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6009 for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0026 Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor

Abstract

An illuminated medical tubing set that provides visual indications of characteristics relating to the type and operating status of the tubing. An illuminated tubing set system generally comprises an optical element, a fluid conduit, and a power source. In general, the fluid conduit is used to transmit fluid in a critical care environment. The power source interfaces with the optical element. The optical element is configured to illuminate the tubing set after being powered by the power source. Optionally, the illuminated tubing set can further comprise a pressure sensor and a microcontroller. Additional sensors, such as to monitor other characteristics of the tubing, fluid, or surrounding environment, can also be included. For example, an occlusion sensor, temperature sensor, or flow sensor, or any combination thereof, can be included.

Claims

1. A medical tubing set comprising:

a fluid conduit adapted to convey a medical fluid;

an optical element coupled to the fluid conduit and configured to provide illumination; and

a power source configured to power the optical element.

2. The medical tubing set of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a fiber optic coating and a light-generating element.

3. The medical tubing set of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a light-emitting diode and the power source is a voltage to power the light-emitting diode.

4. The medical tubing set of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises an electroluminescent wire and the power source is an alternating current to power the electroluminescent wire.

5. The medical tubing set of claim 1, wherein the optical element is located in the fluid conduit.

6. The medical tubing set of claim 1, wherein the medical tubing set further comprises dual lumen tubing and the fluid conduit and optical element are located in discrete conduits.

7. The medical tubing set of claim 6, wherein the dual lumen tubing further comprises a nested lumen set having an outer lumen and an inner lumen.

8. The medical tubing set of claim 1, wherein the optical element displays colored light.

9. The medical tubing set of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic related to the medical tubing system.

10. The medical tubing set of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor, an occlusion sensor, a temperature sensor, a fluid flow sensor, a liquid density sensor, an air bubble sensor, a salinity sensor, a pH sensor, a dissolved oxygen sensor, a conductivity sensor, or an electrolyte sensor.

11. The medical tubing set of claim 10, further comprising:

an integrated circuit configured to transmit a signal to a device interface.

12. The medical tubing set of claim 9, further comprising:

a microcontroller configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor.

13. The medical tubing set of claim 12, further comprising an interface adapted to program the microcontroller.

14. The medical tubing set of claim 13, wherein the interface adapted to program the microcontroller is configured to program a standardized profile.

15. The medical tubing set of claim 12, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to manage at least one operating mode related to the medical tubing system.

16. The medical tubing set of claim 12, wherein the medical tubing set is operably coupled to a medical device and the interface is operable via the medical device.

17. The medical tubing set of claim 16, wherein the microcontroller is housed in the medical device.

18. A method of operating a medical tubing set, the method comprising:

installing the medical tubing set in a medical device at a first end and in a patient at a second end;

setting at least one operating parameter of the medical tubing set;

sensing at least one characteristic of the medical tubing set;

comparing the at least one sensed characteristic against the at least one operating parameter; and

illuminating the medical tubing set based on at least the comparison of the at least one sensed characteristic and the at least one operating parameter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein setting at least one operating parameter further comprises setting an illumination color.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein setting at least one operating parameter further comprises setting a pressure upper limit and a pressure lower limit.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein illuminating the tubing set further comprises intermittently illuminating the tubing set to create a flashing effect when the at least one sensed characteristic is outside of an operating range of the at least one characteristic set by the at least one operating parameter.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein illuminating the tubing set further comprises continuously illuminating the tubing set.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein setting at least one operating parameter is done automatically upon installation of the medical tubing set in the medical device.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein illuminating the tubing set further comprises applying a concentrated beam of light to a conduit having walls coated in a fiber optic coating.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein illuminating the tubing set further comprises applying a voltage to a light-emitting diode.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein illuminating the tubing set further comprises applying an alternating current to an electroluminescent wire.

27. A method of operating a medical tubing set, the medical tubing set comprising a fluid conduit adapted to convey a medical fluid, an optical element coupled to the fluid conduit and configured to provide illumination, and a power source configured to power the optical element, the method comprising:

installing the medical tubing set in a medical device at a first end and in a patient at a second end;

providing a source of power with the power source;

applying the source of power to the optical element; and

illuminating the fluid conduit with the optical element.