Patent Publication Number: US-2007106263-A1

Title: Intravenous identification luminaire (IV-ID) and light pipe, and light conductive intravenous delivery system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to the field of intravenous (IV) drug administration. More particularly, the invention relates to the identification of individual IV lines.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Patients in emergency, critical care, cardiac and operating room situations are almost without exception treated with fluid and drug delivery regimens that require single or multiple intravenous (IV) access lines to deliver the prescribed fluid and drug treatment. In some extreme situations, the number of IV lines can, for a given patient, exceed 32 separate IV lines. These IV lines may be routed through infusion pumps or simply connected as stand alone gravity based IV lines. This fluid and drug therapy regimen can therefore create a complex web of these IV lines.  
      An implication of this web is the importance of managing drugs and fluids to ensure that incompatible drugs and fluids are not mixed together. This problem can be described as an IV line identification management issue that is ordinarily managed by the clinician visually identifying each IV line and literally following the IV by hand to confirm the right line has been chosen. This process is time consuming and thwarted with potential error. Incorrect drug delivery into the wrong line can create serious and potentially dangerous implications for the patient. What is needed is clinician assistance in identifying IV lines in this situation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An intravenous identification luminaire (IV-ID) and light pipe, and a light conductive intravenous delivery system is described. The light pipe preferably includes a female and male luer fitting, a fluid port, and a light source socket such that the light pipe is configured to be spliced into an IV line, and the IV-ID is coupled to the light pipe. The light pipe allows normal flow of the prescribed fluid through the light pipe while conducting light from the IV-ID, through the light source socket and along a conductive light path. The conductive light path continues into the IV line. The system also includes an indicator panel at the distal end of the IV line configured to reflect and make obvious the color of that particular IV line to a user.  
      A light pipe for conducting light from an identification luminaire to an intravenous line comprising a fluid port configured to be spliced into the intravenous line, wherein the fluid port allows continuous flow of a fluid through the intravenous line, a light conducting medium configured to define the fluid port, a first fitting and a second fitting configured on a first end and a second end of the fluid port, such that the fittings effectuate connection to the intravenous line, and a light source connection socket configured to removably house the identification luminaire, and further configured to channel light from the identification luminaire into the light conducting medium, wherein the light conducting medium is configured to conduct the light into the intravenous line. The light pipe, wherein the first fitting and the second fitting are a luer fitting, wherein the intravenous line is coated with a translucent coating, wherein the light pipe is coated with a translucent coating, wherein the identification luminaire emits colored light, and wherein the identification luminaire is a light emitting diode. The light pipe, further comprising an indicator panel configured on a distal end of the intravenous line, wherein the indicator panel is a reflective material, configured to reflect the light in the light conducting medium out of the light conducting medium, wherein the indicator panel is affixed to the outside surface of the intravenous line, and wherein the indicator panel is embedded in the intravenous line.  
      The light pipe, wherein the indicator panel includes a housing configured to enclose a portion of the intravenous line and an extension of the light conducting medium, such that the extension is in contact with the intravenous line and the housing, wherein the housing includes a transparent portion configured to allow the conducted light to leave the housing.  
      A light conductive IV system comprising an intravenous line configured to deliver a fluid from a fluid container to a patient, a light pipe inserted along the path of the intravenous line and including a fluid port configured to allow continuous flow of the fluid through the intravenous line, wherein a light conducting medium defines the fluid port, an identification luminaire coupled to the light pipe, wherein the light pipe channels light from the identification luminaire into the light conducting medium, wherein the light conducting medium is configured to conduct the light into the intravenous line, and an indicator panel configured on a distal end of the intravenous line, wherein the indicator panel is a reflective material, configured to reflect the light in the light conducting medium out of the light conducting medium. The light conductive IV system, further including a first fitting and a second fitting configured on a first end and a second end of the fluid port, such that the fittings effectuate connection to the intravenous lines, wherein the first fitting and the second fitting are a luer fitting, wherein the light pipe is molded into the intravenous line in a permanent fashion, and wherein the intravenous line and the light pipe are coated with a translucent coating. The light conductive IV system, wherein the identification luminaire emits colored light, and further wherein when the system includes a plurality of intravenous lines, a plurality of identification luminaires are utilized, each identification luminaire emitting a different color light. The light conductive IV system, wherein the identification luminaire is a light emitting diode, wherein the indicator panel is affixed to the outside surface of the intravenous line, and wherein the indicator panel is embedded in the intravenous line.  
      A light pipe comprising a fluid port configured to be spliced into an intravenous line, wherein the fluid port allows continuous flow of a fluid through the intravenous line, a light conducting medium configured to define the fluid port, and further configured to allow continuous light conduction through the intravenous line, a first luer fitting and a second luer fitting configured on a first end and a second end of the fluid port, such that the luer fittings effectuate connection to the intravenous line, and a light source connection socket configured to removably house an identification luminaire, and further configured to channel light from the identification luminaire into the light conducting medium, wherein the light conducting medium is configured to conduct the light into the intravenous line, and further wherein the light pipe is coated with a translucent coating. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a graphical representation of a light pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram illustrating a system of an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 3A-3C  are graphical representations illustrating various embodiments of an indicator panel of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      In  FIG. 1 , the intravenous identification luminaire (IV-ID) is a light emitting diode (LED) device, or a similar light source that is projected into a light pipe  100 . The light pipe  100  is connected to a compatible IV line and is preferably positioned proximally to the fluid source and upstream of IV junctions and IV line manifolds. The light emitted from the IV-ID is focused by the light pipe  100  and reflected into the plastic hose body of the IV line to illuminate the IV line such that it can be clearly identified along the hose line length from other non-illuminated lines, or lines illuminated with a different color. The light pipe  100  design is intentionally designed to focus the IV-ID light into the wall of the compatible IV line to “pipe” the light to an indicator panel  212  ( FIG. 2-3C ) on the distal end of the compatible IV line. When there is a need to track multiple lines, multiple IV-ID&#39;s can be used that emit different colors.  
      The light conductive intravenous delivery system of the present invention is specifically designed to incorporate the IV-ID and light pipe  100  to facilitate the incidence of light emitted from the IV-ID along the length of the IV delivery system. This design conducts the projected light to an indicator panel  212  on the distal end of the IV line. A translucent coating on the outside of the IV line, as well as on the outside of the light pipe, reduces loss of the light from the hose and system.  
       FIG. 1  depicts a light pipe  100  of an embodiment of the present invention. The light pipe  100  includes a fluid port  108  having a diameter  110  of preferably 3 millimeters. The internal diameter may be configured to fit any size IV line. The prescribed fluid preferably moves through the light pipe  100  as shown by the fluid path  114 . The light pipe  100  is fashioned such that it may be spliced into an existing IV line, on the end of the IV line proximate to the prescribed fluid source. Preferably, the light pipe  100  includes a female luer fitting  102  and a male luer fitting  104 , such that the appropriate luer lock fittings may be coupled to the light pipe  100  and spliced into the IV line. Of course, any method known in the art may be utilized to insert the light pipe  100  into the IV line. It is contemplated that one such solution may include permanently molding the light pipe  100  into the IV line.  
      Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a light conducting medium  111  surrounds the fluid port  108 , and preferably the female luer fitting  102  and the male luer fitting  104  are also fashioned from light conducting medium. Preferably, the light conducting medium  111  is the same material as the IV line. However, any light conducting medium known in the art may be utilized in the light pipe  100 . A light source socket  106  is fashioned on the outer surface of the light pipe  100  and provides an IV-ID entrance  116  to the light conducting medium  111 , such that the IV-ID may be removably coupled to the light pipe  100 , thus providing a light source along a conducted light path  112 . The IV-ID is preferably a light emitting diode (LED), but may be any light source appropriate to provide a light source to the light pipe  100 .  
      The light conducting medium  111  of the light pipe  100  will conduct the conductive light path  112  through the light pipe, as pictured in  FIG. 1 , and into the light conducting medium  111  of the IV line. In order to limit the amount of light escaping through reflection from the light pipe  100  and the IV line, the light pipe surface  118 , as well as the surface of the IV line may be coated with a translucent material that will reflect some of the light back into the light pipe  100 , while allowing a portion of the light to leave the light pipe  100  for identification purposes.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a light conductive IV system  200  of the present invention is depicted. Prescribed fluid  202 , including prescription medication, saline, or other prescribed fluids, are administered through an IV line  204  to the light pipe  100 . Once again, the light pipe  100  is spliced into the IV line  204  using the female luer lock fitting  206  and the male luer lock fitting  208 . As stated previously, the light pipe  100  may also be permanently molded into the IV line  204  during the manufacturing process. A light source  210  is coupled to the light pipe  100  via the light source socket  106 . The light source  210  is preferably a self-contained unit (as shown), but may also be implemented with a central light source system.  FIG. 2  illustrates how the light conductive IV system  200  utilizes a number of light pipes  100 , using varying colors of light sources  210 , in order to allow a user to easily distinguish between a number of prescribed fluid bags  202 .  
      Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the light conductive IV system  200  of the present invention also includes an indicator panel  212  to assist a physician or other medical staff in identifying the IV lines  204  at their entry point to the patient  214 . The indicator panel  212  is useful to the medical personnel so that the medical personnel can administer additional drugs through the appropriate IV line  204 .  
      The indicator panel  212  depicted in  FIG. 2  is illustrated in block diagram format, and should not limit the indicator panel  212  to the shape and size and manner of the indicator panel  212  in the figure. In fact,  FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate a number of embodiments of the indicator panel  212 .  FIG. 3A  depicts an indicator panel  212  in the form of a reflective material administered to the outside of the IV line  204 , or molded directly under the surface of the IV line  204 , and configured to reflect the light traveling down the IV line  204 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates the same type of reflective material as the indicator panel  212 , however, the indicator panel  212  is configured as a cross-section of the IV line  204 . In other words, a reflective indicator panel  212  may be molded into the IV line  204 .  FIG. 3C  depicts an IV line  204  having an indicator panel  212  that is a housing that encases a light conductive medium surrounding the IV line, such that the light conductive medium conducts the light to the indicator panel  212  on the outside of the housing.  
      The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.