A pharmaceutical composition may be used in administering oxygen to a subject. The pharmaceutical composition may contain a perfluorocarbon dissolving oxygen therein. Further, a pharmaceutical composition may be used in decreasing the blood carbon dioxide partial pressure of a subject, and the pharmaceutical composition may contain a perfluorocarbon. Such a composition may be suitable for administered oral administration, nasogastric administration, trans-fistula gastric administration, or administration into a large intestine.

A portable base for a system for irrigation of the bowels of a user is provided. The portable base comprises a canister unit for an irrigation liquid, and a lid unit for engaging with the canister unit. In particular, the lid unit of the portable base comprises a rim portion comprising an annular skirt that is movably arranged around the rim portion. The portable base is adapted to be shifted to a locked configuration by rotating the annular skirt. The arrangement of the annular skirt around the rim portion facilitates easier shifting to the locked configuration because less torque is required to be applied by the user for the locking/scaling. A system for irrigating the bowels of a user and a method of sealing the system are also provided.

A system for anal and/or stomal irrigation of a user's bowel comprises a reservoir (102) for an irrigating liquid, a catheter (100) for insertion into the rectum and/or stoma of a user and for expelling of the irrigating liquid from a catheter tip, and an expandable retention element (104), such as a balloon, for fixation of the catheter tip within the user's rectum or stoma. Tubing and valve systems provide conduits for the irrigating liquid between the reservoir and the catheter and between the reservoir and the expandable retention element, a pump (101) being provided within the tubing system. The pump and the valve system is controllable to selectively pump the irrigating liquid into the expandable retention element, transfer the irrigating liquid through the catheter for expelling of the irrigating fluid from the catheter tip and into the user's rectum or stoma, and to withdraw the irrigating liquid from the retention element for purging thereof.

A system for anal and/or stomal irrigation comprises a reservoir (102) for an irrigating liquid, a catheter (100) comprising a catheter tip for insertion into the rectum or stoma of a user and for expelling of the irrigating liquid from the catheter tip, and a tubing system (121) providing a conduit for the irrigating liquid between the reservoir and the catheter tip. A pump (101) is provided to pump the irrigating liquid from the reservoir to the catheter tip, and a control system (103) controls a flow condition, such as the amount of liquid expelled at the catheter tip. A sensor (153) determines a measure of pressure in at least one first predetermined position in the tubing system and/or the catheter during operation of the pump, on the basis of which the flow condition is estimated. The control system is configured to control the pumping operation of the pump in response to the measure of pressure.

A rectal drainage appliance is disclosed comprising a tubular element having an inflatable balloon at a distal end for anchoring the appliance in the rectum. The appliance includes one or more of: (i) first and second auxiliary lumens communicating with the inflatable balloon to provide independent inflation and pressure monitoring paths coupled to the balloon; (ii) a pressure state indicator defined by a mechanical element configured to flip between first and second states or shapes responsive to sensed pressure; and (iii) a collapsible auxiliary lumen larger than the inflation lumen, and configured to permit admission of irrigation fluid. The pressure state indicator may also be used in intestinal drains.

The invention is directed to a catheter-like system which dwells temporarily or even continuously in the body of a patient and which serves for the closed delivery and/or discharge of odour-intensive substances, wherein the release of foul-smelling substances is reduced to the greatest possible extent by the system wall having a multi-layer structure that incorporates a proportion of barrier materials, and an odour-neutral decompression of gaseous fractions arising in the body and discharged into the system is ensured. The system comprises in particular a structure like a tubular film, by which an internal space to be reached in the body is connected to a container, arranged outside the body, for receiving the respective substances that are to be delivered and/or discharged. At the end positioned inside the body, the tube structure is provided with a retaining and/or sealing balloon element, which secures the system in the body. All of the film-based constituent parts of the system that are arranged outside the body, including the film-like delivering and/or discharging tube structure and the container preferably configured in the form of a bag, incorporate at least one barrier-producing layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and/or polyamide (PA), which is combined with at least one carrier layer made of a robust, mechanically loadable, preferably elastic material, for example polyurethane (PUR). The system moreover ensures a continuous decompression of gaseous constituents from the internal space of the system, by a degassing device which is arranged in a particular manner relative to the delivering and/or discharging lumen and by which the adsorbing or filtering, degassing unit is protected against direct exposure to the substances that are to be delivered and/or discharged.

Systems and methods for cleaning a colon or other portion of an intestine include optional use of sensors to detect conditions of blockage of flow of materials within an evacuation channel used to remove fecal material from the body; and devices and methods for purging such blockages from the evacuation channel.

Disclosed is a colonic irrigator capable of cleansing the inside of the large intestine and removing impacted feces remaining inside the large intestine by spraying a cleansing solution into the large intestine. The colonic irrigator includes a cleansing body 10 having a laid down egg shape, having a spray hole 12 formed at a lifted portion 11 provided on the upper part thereof and having a cleansing solution channel 13 formed therein to communicate with the spray hole 12, and a connector 20 which has a screw part 21 formed at one side thereof so as to be connected to a shower hose 40, is bent at 90 degrees such that the other side is connected to the lower part of the cleansing body 10, and has a cleansing solution channel 23 formed therein to communicate with the cleansing solution channel 13 of the cleansing body 10, where the cleansing body 10 and the connector 20 are integrated.

Systems and methods for the removal of carbon dioxide from circulating blood via the use of microbubbles within a body cavity, optionally including the simultaneous provision of oxygen to the circulatory system. Through placement of microbubbles within a body cavity and the use of a carbon dioxide scavenging catheter, carbon dioxide and/or oxygen exchange may occur. Overall improvement in extending survival rate time during emergency situations caused by pulmonary or similar ventilation restricting injury and/or failure may be achieved.

This disclosure features methods and compositions for treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with a TLR agonist.