A device for carrying out a lavage-like, repetitive supply and draining of a flushing, cleaning or other therapeutically active substance in the context of a return-flow enema, the device comprising: a catheter unit (SK) for receiving and draining feces, which can be permanently placed atraumatically and anorectally; a flushing and collecting bag unit (5, SB) with a combined flushing and collecting function; and a hose unit (4) connecting the catheter unit (SK) to the flushing and collecting bag unit (5, SB), comprising a single-lumen or multi-lumen, film-like, flatly collapsible, hose, and enabling a bidirectional flow communication between the catheter unit (SK) and the flushing and collecting bag unit (5; SB); characterized by at least one throughflow element with a flow-direction-dependent throttle function, providing a large lumen for draining of the patient's intestinal contents into the flushing and collecting bag unit (5; SB), so that shaped stool fractions can be drained, and which facilitates a supply of liquid from the flushing and collecting bag unit (5; SB) towards the patient, but wherein the supply of liquid towards the patient is throttled, so as to be reduced in flow amount or flow speed in relation to the draining of the patient's intestinal contents and thereby reduces the supply of liquid to the patient to a non-irritating amount that is compatible with the patient avoiding painful sensations and/or vegetative responses by an immediate dilation of the patient's colon and/or a triggering of a premature or only partially coordinated defecation reflex.

A method is provided that includes intranasally dispensing nasal wash fluid into a nasal cavity of a subject. Thereafter, a specimen sample is collected by performing an anterior nares nasal swab. The specimen sample is tested for the presence of a virus using a lateral flow immunoassay test strip. Other embodiments are also described.

A skin treatment device and a method to cleanse and balance pH value of skin. The skin treatment device includes a nozzle to be directed into contact with the skin of a subject. A vacuum pump may be operably coupled to the nozzle for generating a suction force of the nozzle to evacuate impurities from the skin. A liquid replenishing assembly may be operably coupled to the nozzle for atomizing liquid at a pre-defined pH value. The liquid from the liquid replenishing assembly may pass into the nozzle based on the pre-defined pH value. The first control valve may be connected to an outlet of the vacuum pump and an outlet of the liquid replenishing assembly for communication with the nozzle.

Fecal management methods and apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc.) 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.

Systems and methods for nasal irrigation are provided in which a nasal irrigation device includes a source of saline solution, an effluent receptacle, a nasal interface, a vacuum source, a fluid passageway to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle through the nasal interface and a nasal cavity of the user, and a switch and valve assembly for selectively controlling the vacuum source and flow of the saline solution through the fluid passageway. The saline solution source bottle is disposed relative to the device to provide gravitational inducement of saline solution to the nasal interface in engagement to the device user's nostrils. A combination of the gravitational inducement and the relative vacuum from an effluent receptacle generates a fluid flow for irrigating, cleansing and massaging the nasal cavity and ostia of a user. The entire device is assembled as a hand-held device for convenient lifting and disposal against the user's nostrils.

A method is provided that includes intranasally dispensing nasal wash fluid into a nasal cavity of a subject such that the nasal wash fluid washes biological material into an oropharynx of the subject from (a) the nasal cavity, (b) a nasopharynx of the subject, or (c) the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. The method further includes, thereafter, collecting a specimen sample that passed out of an anterior opening of an oral cavity of the subject and contains at least a portion of the biological material washed into the oropharynx by the nasal wash fluid. Thereafter, information is derived from extracellular vesicles present in the specimen sample. Other embodiments are also described.

A low-cost and simple-to-use system and method to facilitate a prophylactic pleural lavage protocol at the time of thoracostomy tube placement for traumatic hemothorax in order to reduce the need for secondary intervention for the management of retained hemothorax. The invention may be used in conjunction with existing chest tubes and be administered at the time of initial chest tube placement, and continued at the bedside (by a bedside nurse) over the duration of chest drainage, as necessary. The system includes an operator device that semi-automatically administers a pleural lavage protocol consisting of saline instillation, and suction to slow the clotting process, prevent “gelling” of blood, and maintain drainability.

A device, method, and system are provided for treating pleural effusion by administration of a chemical agent through a pleural catheter to achieve pleurodesis. A first embodiment includes a dual barreled syringe to deliver the sclerosing agent; one barrel includes a sclerosing agent, and the other barrel includes a flushing fluid. A kit of the invention comprises a plurality of syringe devices each preloaded with a sclerosing agent matched with a presumptive diagnosis regarding the etiology of the pleural effusion to be treated. A device of the invention includes a handheld, disposable, electronic delivery device with preloaded chambers holding selected medicaments and flushing fluid. Automatic delivery of medicaments is achieved in which a microcontroller of the device controls evacuation of the selected chambers by one or more actuators that communicate with the chambers.

A method is provided that includes intranasally dispensing nasal wash fluid (26) into a nasal cavity (22) of a subject such that the nasal wash fluid (26) washes biological material into an oropharynx (30) of the subject from (a) the nasal cavity (22), (b) a nasopharynx (32) of the subject, or (c) the nasal cavity (22) and the nasopharynx (32). Thereafter, a specimen sample (24) is collected that passed out of an anterior opening (34) of an oral cavity (36) of the subject and contains at least a portion of the biological material washed into the oropharynx (30) by the nasal wash fluid (26). Other embodiments are also described.

An apparatus for supporting an extremity during tissue irrigation and debridement and containing and capturing fluid and tissue debris resulting therefrom includes an extremity-supporting base and barrier shroud. The apparatus can be used to control drainage of fluid and tissue debris during irrigation and debridement. The apparatus supports and encloses a patient extremity, such as an arm or a leg. The base has a length, proximal end (i.e., nearest the patient's body), and distal end (i.e., farthest from the patient's body). The base may comprise an open-cell foam that is non-collapsible to provide a support surface with a fixed length. The shroud has a top portion, bottom portion, and shroud drainage opening. The shroud can be selectively moveable between a first position in which the support surface is unobstructed to facilitate placement of an extremity thereon and a second position in the shroud at least partially encloses the extremity.