Device and method to facilitate colonoscopy by externally supporting the colon
OwnerRalph James Klingensteininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A medical device, and related method of use, for supporting a patient's colon during a colonoscopy includes a wrap which embraces the patient's abdomen and defines a palpation aperture. The wrap is able to be seemed snugly around the patient's abdomen with a closing mechanism. The wrap includes at least one inflatable bladder which may be inflated to apply to a force to the patient's abdomen, thereby compressing the colon. The palpation aperture exposes a section of the patient's abdomen which allows that section of the patient's abdomen to be palpated during insertion of the colonoscope to verify proper insertion of the scope tip.
Claims19
A therapeutic device for supporting the colon during a colonoscopy, said device comprising:
- a wrap of predetermined length adapted for embracing a patient's abdomen, said wrap having an outer surface and an inner surface and defining a palpation aperture, wherein said inner surface corresponds to the surface of said wrap which is adjacent the patient when the wrap embraces the patient's abdomen;
- and
- an inflatable bladder disposed against said inner surface of said wrap such that, when said wrap is secured around the patient's abdomen, inflation of said bladder applies a force to said inner surface of said wrap and to the left side of the patient's abdomen,
- said palpation aperture being disposed along the length of said wrap with respect to said bladder so as to expose the patient's lower right abdomen for palpation.
A therapeutic device for supporting a patient's colon during a colonoscopy, said device comprising:
- a wrap of predetermined length adapted for embracing a patient's abdomen, said wrap having an outer surface and an inner surface and defining a palpation aperture, wherein said inner surface corresponds to the surface of said wrap which is adjacent the patient when the wrap embraces the patient's abdomen;
- an inflatable bladder disposed against said wrap such that, when said wrap is secured around the patient's abdomen, inflation of said bladder applies a force to said inner surface of said wrap and the lower left side of the patient's abdomen;
- and
- a belt having a length sufficient to encompass a patient's abdomen and coupled to said bottom edge of said wrap for securing the bottom edge of said wrap around the patient's abdomen.
A method for supporting a patient's colon during a colonoscopy, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) encompassing the patient's abdomen with a wrap having an inflatable bladder and defining a palpation aperture which exposes the lower right quadrant of the patient's abdomen;
- (b) inflating said inflatable bladder to apply a force to the patient's abdomen;
- and
- (c) palpating the portion of the patient's abdomen exposed by said palpation aperture to verify proper insertion of the scope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.