# US 10,912,878 B2 · Seat and cover system with medical units

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- Number: US 10,912,878 B2
- Document ID: US10912878B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/588,638
- Filed: 2017-05-06
- Published: 2017-11-09
- Granted: 2021-02-09
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-06
- Assignees: Whole Bath, LLC
- Applicants: Whole Bath, LLC.
- Inventors: Brian Schwab; Shao-Yu Peng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10912878B2

## CPC

- A61M 3/0279: {Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means}
- A47K 10/48: Drying by means of hot air
- A47K 13/24: Parts or details not covered in, or of interest apart from, groups A47K13/02 - A47K13/22
- A61M 3/0201: {Cassettes therefor}
- A61M 3/0225: {Devices on which the patient can sit, e.g. mounted on a toilet bowl (combined with bidets A61M3/06); Devices containing liquid pumped by the patient's weight}
- A61M 3/0245: {Containers therefor, e.g. with heating means or with storage means for cannula}
- A61M 3/0258: {by means of electric pumps}
- B05B 1/005: {Nozzles or other outlets specially adapted for discharging one or more gases}
- B05B 15/656: whereby the flow conduit length is changeable
- B05B 15/70: Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position
- E03D 9/08: Devices in the bowl producing upwardly-directed sprays; Modifications of the bowl for use with such devices (showers A47K3/28; bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00, for specific parts of the body A61H35/00 ){; Bidets; Combinations of bowls with urinals or bidets; Hot-air or other devices mounted in or on the bowl, urinal or bidet for cleaning or disinfecting}
- A61M 3/0202: {with electronic control means or interfaces}
- A61M 2210/1067: Anus
- B05B 13/0405: {with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads (B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0468 take precedence)}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR

## Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide a method for using an apparatus to deliver medicine and to wash, clean, and dry a region of a human body. The apparatus include a toilet seat assembly and a medicine delivery assembly. In addition, the apparatus may include a drying nozzle assembly and/or a spraying nozzle assembly. The medicine delivery assembly may include one or more medicine storage cartridges and/or one or more medicine base units, each medicine base unit includes at least a cartridge unit and at least a cartridges slot, wherein the cartridge slot is adapted to match with a medicine storage cartridge. The medicine delivery assembly may include a medicine delivery nozzle, which can be coupled to a spraying nozzle assembly, or may be operated by itself with a medicine delivery nozzle. Finally, the medicine delivery assembly can be controlled by one or more control units.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a toilet seat assembly comprising a seat and a base;
one or more control units configured to receive a user input;
a spray nozzle assembly for cleaning at least a portion of the human body, the spray nozzle disposed at a rearward position in the toilet seat assembly;
a medicine delivery assembly adapted to deliver one or more medicine-containing solutions to the human body via the toilet seat assembly, wherein the medicine delivery assembly is housed within the base and is disposed at a forward position in the toilet seat assembly;
at least one cartridge;
a pump and a first cartridge of the at least one cartridge disposed in a side of the seat and the medicine delivery apparatus is disposed in a rear position of the seat, wherein the rear position of the seat comprises a hinged side of the seat;
wherein the pump is fluidly connected to the first cartridge, wherein the first cartridge is fluidly connected to the medicine delivery apparatus and fluidly disposed between the pump and the medicine delivery apparatus;
wherein a driving motor is operably coupled to the medicine delivery assembly, and is activated in response to a user input to thereby deliver medicine to a user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medicine delivery assembly further comprises one or more medicine base units, each medicine base unit comprising the at least one cartridge and at least one cartridge slot, wherein the cartridge slot is adapted to correspond with and receive the at least one cartridge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one cartridge comprises:
a cartridge cover;
a medicine inlet; and
a sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the medicine delivery assembly further comprises a medicine storage assembly comprising:
a medicine storage tank adapted for storing a medicine-containing solution, the medicine storage tank having a tank cover and a tube;
wherein the tube is connected to the medicine inlet of the at least one cartridge.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the medicine storage assembly further comprises a medicine storage element adapted to store one or more medicines to be mixed with water to form the medicine-containing solution.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the medicine storage assembly further comprises a liquid solution indicator adapted to indicate the content level of the medicine-containing solution within the medicine storage tank.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pump delivers the medicine-containing solution from the medicine storage tank into the toilet seat assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medicine delivery assembly is adapted to deliver one or more medicine-containing solutions which are stored in the at least one cartridge to the region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medicine delivery assembly further comprises:
one or more steering gears; and
a medicine delivery nozzle comprising a retractable nozzle body, wherein the medicine delivery nozzle is adapted to deliver one or more medicine-containing solutions to the region of the human body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the medicine delivery nozzle further comprises an atomizer nozzle head adapted to atomize a medicine-containing solution.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the medicine delivery nozzle is adapted to deliver the medicine-containing solution across a space to a perianal region of a user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pump delivers the medicine-containing solution from a medicine inlet of at least one cartridge to the region.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the medicine delivery nozzle is separated from the spray nozzle assembly.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medicine delivery assembly is coupled to a spray nozzle channel of the spray nozzle assembly.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the spray nozzle channel further comprises a nozzle jet head opening adapted to deliver the one or more solutions at high speed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more solutions are selected from the group consisting of water, a cleaning solution, a barrier spray solution, a medicine-containing solution, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a drying nozzle assembly, which comprises a fan;
one or air channels connected to the fan;
one or more drying nozzle units connected to the one or more air channels; and
one or more driving motor units,
wherein the one or more driving motor units of the drying nozzle assembly further comprises:
one or more steering gears;
a first driving motor being connected to the one or more drying nozzle units and the one or more steering gears, wherein the first driving motor is adapted to move the one or more drying nozzle units in retracting-and-extending motion; and
a second driving motor being connected to the one or more drying nozzle units and the one or more steering gears, wherein the second driving motor is adapted to move the one or more drying nozzle units in three-dimensional circular rotational motion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein based on the user input, to the one or more control units, to cause movements of one or more motors and adjust the positions of one or more nozzles within the toilet seat assembly and the medicine delivery assembly.

### Claim 19

An apparatus for delivering medicine to a region of a human body, comprising:
a toilet seat assembly comprising a seat and a base;
a spray nozzle assembly for cleaning at least a portion of the human body, the spray nozzle assembly disposed at a rearward position in the toilet seat assembly;
a medicine delivery assembly adapted to deliver one or more medicine-containing solutions to the toilet seat assembly, wherein the medicine delivery assembly is housed within the base, and wherein the medicine delivery assembly includes one or more nozzles and is disposed at a forward position in the toilet seat assembly;
a pump and a cartridge disposed in a side of the seat and the medicine delivery apparatus is disposed in a rear position of the seat, wherein the rear position of the seat comprises a hinged side of the seat;
wherein the pump is fluidly connected to a cartridge, wherein the cartridge is fluidly connected to the medicine delivery apparatus and fluidly disposed between the pump and the medicine delivery apparatus; and
one or more control units adapted to receive a user input and, based on the user input, to cause one or more motors to adjust the positions of the one or more nozzles.

### Claim 20

A method for delivering one or more medicines to a region of a human body, comprising:
providing one or more medicines to a medicine delivery assembly which is coupled to and housed within a toilet seat assembly at a rearward position in the toilet seat assembly, wherein the toilet seat assembly comprises a seat and a base;
washing a portion of the human body via a spray nozzle assembly coupled to the toilet seat assembly, the spray nozzle disposed at a rearward position in the toilet seat assembly, separately from the medicine delivery assembly; and
disposing a pump and a cartridge in a side of the seat;
disposing the medicine delivery apparatus in a rear position of the seat, wherein the rear position of the seat comprises a hinged side of the seat;
controlling one or more movements of the medicine delivery assembly by one or more control units, wherein the controlling includes:
directing one or more extending and retracting movements of a medicine delivery nozzle of the medicine delivery assembly by communicating the one or more control units with one or more first driving motors connected to the medicine delivery nozzle.

### Claim 21

An apparatus for delivering medicine to a region of a human body, comprising:
a toilet seat assembly comprising a seat and a base;
one or more control units configured to receive a user input;
a spray nozzle assembly, disposed at a rearward position in the toilet seat assembly;
a medicine delivery assembly housed within the base and is disposed at a forward position in the toilet seat assembly;
a driving motor is operably coupled to the medicine delivery assembly and is activated in response to a user input to thereby deliver medicine to a user;
a drying nozzle assembly comprises a fan, one or more air channels connected to the fan, one or more drying nozzle units connected to the one or more air channels, and
one or more driving motor units, wherein the one or more driving motor units of the drying nozzle assembly further comprises one or more steering gears;
a first driving motor being connected to the one or more drying nozzle units and the one or more steering gears, wherein the first driving motor is adapted to move the one or more drying nozzle units in retracting-and-extending motion;
a second driving motor being connected to the one or more drying nozzle units and the one or more steering gears, wherein the second driving motor is adapted to move the one or more drying nozzle units in three-dimensional circular rotational motion;
the medicine delivery assembly comprises: one or more steering gears, a medicine delivery nozzle, one or more medicine storage cartridges, a medicine storage assembly, and one or more medicine base units;
wherein each medicine base unit comprises at least a cartridge unit and at least a cartridge slot, wherein the cartridge slot is adapted to correspond with and receive a medicine storage cartridge;
wherein the medicine storage assembly comprises: a medicine storage tank adapted for storing a medicine-containing solution, the medicine storage tank having a tank cover and a tube, wherein the tube is connected to the medicine inlet of the medicine storage cartridge;
wherein the medicine storage cartridge comprises: a cartridge cover; a medicine inlet and a sensor;
wherein the medicine storage assembly comprises a medicine storage element adapted to store one or more medicines to be mixed with water to form the medicine-containing solution, a liquid solution indicator adapted to indicate the content level of the medicine-containing solution within the medicine storage tank, and a pressurized pump adapted to pump and deliver the medicine-containing solution from the medicine storage tank into the toilet seat assembly;
wherein the medicine delivery nozzle comprises a retractable nozzle body and an atomizer nozzle head adapted to atomize a medicine-containing solution, wherein the medicine delivery nozzle is: (i) adapted to deliver one or more medicine-containing solutions to the region of the human body, (ii) adapted to deliver the medicine-containing solution across a space to a perianal region of a user, (iii) separated from the spray nozzle assembly,
wherein the spray nozzle comprises a nozzle jet head opening adapted to deliver the one or more solutions at high speed, wherein the one or more solutions are selected from the group consisting of water, a cleaning solution, a barrier spray solution, a medicine-containing solution, and combinations thereof; and
wherein the user input to the one or more control units causes movements of one or more motors and adjusts the positions of one or more nozzles within the toilet seat assembly and the medicine delivery assembly.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second cartridge is fluidly connected to the medicine delivery apparatus.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second cartridge is disposed in a side of the seat different than that of the first cartridge.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first cartridge and second cartridge are disposed along a same side as the medicine delivery apparatus.