Fecal management systems and methods
AssigneeCM Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAmit Kumar Sharma, Nishith Chasmawala, Geetika Garg, Shreyas Dighe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fecal management methods and apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc.) are described herein. The fecal management apparatuses may apply one or more fecal removal cycles of suction and irrigation (and in some examples air) to actively remove fecal material. The apparatus may control the timing of delivery of the fecal removal cycles as well as the parameters of the applied suction, irrigation and/or air within and between fecal removal cycles. The invention additionally provides methods, and computer program products for controlling an apparatus or system that is configured for removal of fecal material from a patient's rectum.
Claims19
A method for controlling an apparatus configured for removal of fecal material from a patient's rectum, wherein the apparatus includes a receptacle configured to be positioned at least partially at a patient's anorectal junction, a connecting tube comprising at least a suction channel, the connecting tube configured to couple the suction channel to a suction port of the receptacle, one or more sensors in communication with the receptacle, and a controller configured to apply a plurality of fecal removal cycles including applying suction through the suction port and by controlling a source of negative pressure to deliver suction, the method comprising preventing buildup of fecal material within the rectum for the duration of the plurality of fecal removal cycles by:
- responding to detection of a first suction operation session initiation event, by implementing a first suction operation session wherein implementation of the first suction operation session comprises:
- applying suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- and
- responding to detection of a first suction operation session termination event by terminating the first suction operation session, and wherein terminating the first suction operation session comprises terminating application of suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- implementing a next suction operation session in response to elapse of a predetermined time duration from termination of the first suction operation session, wherein implementation of the next suction operation session comprises:
- applying suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- and
- responding to detection of a next suction operation session termination event by terminating the next suction operation session, and wherein terminating the next suction operation session comprises terminating application of suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- wherein during the predetermined time duration between the termination of the first suction operation session and implementing of the next suction operation session, none of suction, irrigation or fluid movement is implemented within the apparatus and within the patient's rectum;
- wherein triggering of pain signals from somatic nerves is avoided by positioning the receptacle at the patient's anorectal junction above the somatic nerve boundary at the anorectal junction, for the duration of the plurality of fecal removal cycles;
- and
- wherein the controller determines parameter(s) of one or more of the applied fecal removal cycles using sensor data received from the one or more sensors, wherein said sensor data indicates a condition within the patient's rectum.
An apparatus configured for removal of fecal material from a patient's rectum, the apparatus comprising:
- a receptacle configured to be positioned at least partially at a patient's anorectal junction;
- a connecting tube comprising at least a suction channel, the connecting tube configured to couple the suction channel to a suction port of the receptacle;
- one or more sensors in communication with the receptacle;
- and
- a processor implemented controller configured to apply a plurality of fecal removal cycles including applying suction through the suction port and by controlling a source of negative pressure to deliver suction;
- wherein the controller is configured for preventing buildup of fecal material within the rectum for the duration of the plurality of fecal removal cycles by:
- responding to detection of a first suction operation session initiation event, by implementing a first suction operation session wherein implementation of the first suction operation session comprises:
- applying suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- and
- responding to detection of a first suction operation session termination event by terminating the first suction operation session, and wherein terminating the first suction operation session comprises terminating application of suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- implementing a next suction operation session in response to elapse of a predetermined time duration from termination of the first suction operation session, wherein implementation of the next suction operation session comprises:
- applying suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- and
- responding to detection of a next suction operation session termination event by terminating the next suction operation session, and wherein terminating the next suction operation session comprises terminating application of suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- wherein during the predetermined time duration between the termination of the first suction operation session and implementing of the next suction operation session, none of suction, irrigation or fluid movement is implemented within the apparatus and within the patient's rectum;
- wherein triggering of pain signals from somatic nerves is avoided by positioning the receptacle at the patient's anorectal junction above the somatic nerve boundary at the anorectal junction, for the duration of the plurality of fecal removal cycles;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to determine parameter(s) of one or more of the applied fecal removal cycles using sensor data received from the one or more sensors, wherein said sensor data indicates a condition within the patient's rectum.
A non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for controlling an apparatus configured for removal of fecal material from a patient's rectum, wherein the apparatus includes a receptacle configured to be positioned at least partially at a patient's anorectal junction, a connecting tube comprising at least a suction channel, the connecting tube configured to couple the suction channel to a suction port of the receptacle, one or more sensors in communication with the receptacle, and a controller configured to apply a plurality of fecal removal cycles including applying suction through the suction port and by controlling a source of negative pressure to deliver suction so as to prevent buildup of fecal material within the rectum for the duration of the plurality of fecal removal cycles,
- the computer readable program code comprising instructions for implementing at a processor, the steps of:
- responding to detection of a first suction operation session initiation event, by implementing a first suction operation session wherein implementation of the first suction operation session comprises:
- applying suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- responding to detection of a first suction operation session termination event by terminating the first suction operation session, and wherein terminating the first suction operation session comprises terminating application of suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- implementing a next suction operation session in response to elapse of a predetermined time duration from termination of the first suction operation session, wherein implementation of the next suction operation session comprises:
- applying suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- and
- responding to detection of a next suction operation session termination event by terminating the next suction operation session, and wherein terminating the next suction operation session comprises terminating application of suction for generating negative pressure at the receptacle;
- wherein during the predetermined time duration between the termination of the first suction operation session and implementing of the next suction operation session, none of suction, irrigation or fluid movement is implemented within the apparatus and within the patient's rectum;
- wherein triggering of pain signals from somatic nerves is avoided by positioning the receptacle at the patient's anorectal junction above the somatic nerve boundary at the anorectal junction, for the duration of the plurality of fecal removal cycles;
- and
- wherein the controller determines parameter(s) of one or more of the applied fecal removal cycles using sensor data received from the one or more sensors, wherein said sensor data indicates a condition within the patient's rectum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.