Colonic Lavage Catheter

A colonic lavage catheter, comprising:

• a catheter head having a plurality of rearward discharge openings oriented to discharge a fluid in the rearward direction, and a plurality of lateral discharge opening oriented to discharge a fluid laterally from the body;
• a first fluid supply tube operatively connected to the rearward discharge openings to place the rearward discharge openings in fluid communication with a first pressurized fluid source;
• a second fluid supply tube connected to the lateral discharge openings to place the lateral discharge openings in fluid communication with a second pressurized fluid source;
• and
• a suction tube connected to a rearward end of the catheter head and having a plurality of suction orifices through a portion of an outer wall of the suction tube proximate the catheter head such that loose matter proximate the suction orifices is drawn into the suction tube when a vacuum is created by a vacuum source connected to the suction tube.

A method for performing a rapid cleaning procedure of the colon using a colonic lavage catheter having a catheter head with a plurality of rearward fluid discharge openings and a plurality of lateral fluid discharge openings, and a suction tube attached at a rearward end of the catheter head and having a plurality of suction orifices proximate the catheter head, the method comprising:

• inserting the catheter head into the colon;
• inserting additional portions of the suction tube into the colon;
• discharging pressurized liquid through the rearward discharge openings of the catheter head to create a force advancing the catheter within the colon;
• discharging pressurized liquid through the lateral discharge openings of the catheter head to lavage the walls of the colon;
• and
• applying suction through the suction orifices of the suction tube to draw semi-solid and liquid material proximate the suction orifices into the suction tube to evacuate material dislodged from the colon walls from the colon.