Lighted Tubing

Abstract

Lighted oxygen tubing and methods of method of reducing occurrence of accidents involving inadvertently dislodged medical tubing are disclosed herein. Lighted oxygen tubing of one embodiment includes an elongate wall defining a sterile interior channel for transporting oxygen. The elongate wall has ends and a central portion therebetween. A light source is attached to an outer surface of the wall to indicate location of the wall central portion when in a dark environment. One method of reducing occurrence of accidents involving inadvertently dislodged medical tubing includes: providing medical tubing having an elongate wall defining a sterile interior channel for transporting a medical substance and having a central portion; providing a light source; and attaching the light source to an outer surface of the wall central portion to indicate location of the wall central portion when transporting the medical substance in a dark environment to reduce inadvertent contact with the wall.

1 . A method of reducing the occurrence of accidents involving medical tubing, comprising the steps:
 (a) coupling glow-in-the-dark material to a central portion of an elongate piece of inert tubing having a sterile interior channel, the central portion of the piece of medical tubing being between first and second ends of the piece of medical tubing; and   (b) transporting a substance between the first and second ends of the piece of medical tubing;   wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is energized by light and emits light when in a dark environment.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material forms directional indicia and is at least one of:
 a chemical coating having glow-in-the-dark characteristics;   a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics and having adhesive, the adhesive attaching the tape to the piece of medical tubing;   a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics, the tape being a vinyl tape capable of being selectively affixed to the piece of medical tubing through an electrostatic interaction; and   a heat-shrink material having glow-in-the-dark characteristics.   
   
   
       3 . Oxygen tubing, comprising:
 an elongate wall surrounding a sterile interior channel for transporting oxygen, the elongate wall having first and second ends and a central portion therebetween, the elongate wall being constructed of inert material; and   directional indicia extending along the central portion substantially continuously from the first end to the second end to display a direction of oxygen flow;   wherein the directional indicia is formed by glow-in-the-dark material coupled to the elongate wall such that the directional indicia is visible when in a dark environment.   
   
   
       4 . The tubing of  claim 3 , further comprising non-medical comforting indicia on the central portion, the comforting indicia being formed by glow-in-the-dark material. 
   
   
       5 . The tubing of  claim 3 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is at least one of:
 a chemical coating having glow-in-the-dark characteristics;   a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics and having adhesive, the adhesive attaching the tape to the wall;   a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics, the tape being a vinyl tape capable of being selectively affixed to the wall through an electrostatic interaction; and   a heat-shrink material having glow-in-the-dark characteristics.   
   
   
       6 . The tubing of  claim 5 , further comprising non-medical comforting indicia on the central portion, the comforting indicia being formed by glow-in-the-dark material. 
   
   
       7 . The tubing of  claim 6 , wherein the wall presents a generally circular cross-section. 
   
   
       8 . The tubing of  claim 3 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a chemical coating having glow-in-the-dark characteristics. 
   
   
       9 . The tubing of  claim 3 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics and having adhesive, the adhesive attaching the tape to the wall. 
   
   
       10 . The tubing of  claim 3 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics, the tape being a vinyl tape capable of being selectively affixed to the wall through an electrostatic interaction. 
   
   
       11 . The tubing of  claim 3 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a heat-shrink material having glow-in-the-dark characteristics. 
   
   
       12 . Medical tubing, comprising:
 an elongate wall surrounding a sterile interior channel, the elongate wall having first and second ends and a central portion therebetween; and   directional indicia extending at regular intervals along the central portion;   wherein the directional indicia is formed by glow-in-the-dark material such that the directional indicia is visible when in a dark environment.   
   
   
       13 . The tubing of  claim 12 , further comprising non-medical comforting indicia on the central portion, the comforting indicia being formed by glow-in-the-dark material. 
   
   
       14 . The tubing of  claim 12 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is at least one of:
 a chemical coating having glow-in-the-dark characteristics;   a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics and having adhesive, the adhesive attaching the tape to the wall;   a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics, the tape being a vinyl tape capable of being selectively affixed to the wall through an electrostatic interaction; and   a heat-shrink material having glow-in-the-dark characteristics.   
   
   
       15 . The tubing of  claim 14 , further comprising non-medical comforting indicia on the central portion, the comforting indicia being formed by glow-in-the-dark material. 
   
   
       16 . The tubing of  claim 15 , wherein the wall presents a generally circular cross-section. 
   
   
       17 . The tubing of  claim 12 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a chemical coating having glow-in-the-dark characteristics. 
   
   
       18 . The tubing of  claim 12 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics and having adhesive, the adhesive attaching the tape to the wall. 
   
   
       19 . The tubing of  claim 12 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a piece of tape having non-electrical glow-in-the-dark characteristics, the tape being a vinyl tape capable of being selectively affixed to the wall through an electrostatic interaction. 
   
   
       20 . The tubing of  claim 12 , wherein the glow-in-the-dark material is a heat-shrink material having glow-in-the-dark characteristics.