System and method for treating fecal impaction
AssigneeGrowth Armor, LLC
InventorMichael A. Bain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for irrigation devices for treatment of fecal impaction in a patient are contemplated. An irrigation device may comprise a distal portion comprising a disimpaction fluid inlet and a waste vacuum outlet. The disimpaction fluid outlet may be operative to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid into the anus of the patient so as to disimpact impacted feces associated with the anus. The irrigation device may additionally comprise a waste vacuum inlet configured to receive and remove the disimpacted feces. When the distal portion is placed at and aligned with the anus of a patient, the emitted disimpaction fluid may disimpact feces so that the disimpacted feces may be safely received by the waste vacuum inlet to be safely isolated from the surrounding environment.
Claims17
An irrigation device for treatment of fecal impaction in a patient, the irrigation device comprising:
- a body portion comprising a disimpaction fluid inlet and a waste vacuum outlet, the body portion further comprising a distal portion configured for placement at and alignment with the anus of a patient, the distal portion comprising a disimpaction fluid outlet and a waste vacuum inlet, the disimpaction fluid outlet comprising one or more outlet apertures arranged to define an annulus, each outlet aperture being configured to emit a jet of disimpaction fluid, the waste vacuum inlet comprising one or more inlet apertures positioned internal to the annulus defined by the disimpaction fluid outlet;
- wherein the disimpaction fluid inlet is configured to fluidly connect to a disimpaction fluid reservoir contained within the body portion for receiving a supply of disimpaction fluid;
- wherein the waste vacuum outlet is configured to fluidly connect to a waste vacuum reservoir contained within the body portion for supplying a source of vacuum and for receiving waste;
- wherein when the distal portion is placed at and aligned with the anus of a patient, the disimpaction fluid outlet is operative to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid into the anus of the patient so as to disimpact impacted feces, and the waste vacuum inlet is configured to receive and remove disimpacted feces;
- wherein the device is configurable to enable the disimpaction fluid outlet to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid according to two or more predefined jet configurations;
- wherein the two or more predefined jet configurations comprise the selection of a value for at least one adjustable parameter, the at least one adjustable parameter including a disimpaction fluid jet cone angle, the disimpaction fluid jet cone angle corresponding to alternative jet configurations between at least two of the two or more predefined jet configurations;
- wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet is configured to emit heated disimpaction fluid;
- and
- wherein the body portion is sized and configured to be manually held in one hand of an operator when in operation.
A method for treating fecal impaction in a patient, the method comprising:
- providing an irrigation device comprising a body portion sized and configured to be manually held in one hand of an operator when in operation, the body portion comprising a disimpaction fluid inlet, a waste vacuum outlet, and a distal portion configured for placement at and alignment with the anus of a patient, the distal portion comprising a disimpaction fluid outlet and a waste vacuum inlet, the disimpaction fluid outlet comprising one or more outlet apertures arranged to define an annulus, each outlet aperture being configured to emit a jet of disimpaction fluid, the waste vacuum inlet comprising one or more inlet apertures positioned internal to the annulus defined by the disimpaction fluid outlet;
- fluidly connecting the disimpaction fluid inlet to a disimpaction fluid reservoir contained within the body portion for receiving a supply of disimpaction fluid;
- fluidly connecting the waste vacuum outlet to a waste vacuum reservoir contained within the body portion for supplying a source of vacuum and for receiving waste;
- and
- placing the distal portion at and in alignment with the anus of a patient such that the irrigation device is not inserted into the anus of the patient, and actuating the irrigation device in order to cause the disimpaction fluid outlet to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid into the anus of the patient so as to disimpact impacted feces, with the disimpaced feces being received by and removed from the patient via the waste vacuum inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.