Rectal Irrigation Apparatus

Abstract

A rectal irrigation apparatus for irrigating a patient's rectum with irrigation fluid (also called lavage) and evacuating feces therefrom. The apparatus comprises several components that work together for integrated operation. The spray nozzle is designed to swirl the spray irrigation fluid in a vortex motion to break-up or loosen feces in the rectum. For example, the spray nozzle may contain a spinning auger to create the vortex motion. The fecal waste is suctioned out into a waste container. The apparatus further comprises a control module that integrates the operation of the various components, such as the vortex generator, the water pump, suction pump, or toilet mechanism. This apparatus could be particularly useful in the treatment of fecal impaction.

Claims

1. A rectal irrigation apparatus comprising: a spray nozzle comprising a nozzle body and a soft nozzle tip; an irrigation fluid container; a water pump for pumping irrigation fluid out from the irrigation fluid container to the nozzle body, wherein the water pump has connections to the irrigation fluid container and the spray nozzle; a vortex generator contained inside the nozzle body; a waste container for receiving fecal waste, wherein the waste container has a connection to the spray nozzle; a suction pump for suctioning fecal waste out of the nozzle body and discharging the fecal waste into the waste container, wherein the suction pump has a connection to the waste container; a control module that is coupled to the water pump and the suction pump.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electric motor connected to the vortex generator, wherein the vortex generator is a spinning tool.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a toilet flush actuator that is designed to actuate flushing of a toilet, wherein the toilet flush actuator is coupled to the control module.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a toilet flush actuator that is designed to actuate flushing of a toilet, wherein the waste container comprises a fluid level or volume sensor, and wherein the toilet flush actuator is coupled to the fluid level or volume sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a colonic catheter tube, wherein the colonic catheter tube has a length of 38-102 cm and a width of 4-13.3 mm in outer diameter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module includes a start program that causes: activation of the water pump; then after a delay, activation of the vortex generator; then after a further delay, activation of the suction pump.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soft nozzle tip has a diameter of 4-20 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a platform for the waste container, wherein the platform has a hole through which a purge port of the waste container passes therethrough, wherein the purge port is located at a bottom part of the waste container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module has control interface elements for controlling the water pump and the suction pump.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waste container comprises a purge port at a bottom location of the waste container.

11. A method of performing rectal irrigation on a patient, comprising: having a rectal irrigation apparatus of claim 1; having irrigation fluid in the irrigation fluid container; inserting the soft nozzle tip of the spray nozzle into the rectum through the patient's anus; operating the water pump to spray irrigation fluid out of the spray nozzle and into the rectum at a flow rate in the range of 400-1,500 ml/min; activating the vortex generator, wherein the sprayed irrigation fluid has a swirling motion inside the rectum; stopping or slowing the water pump to stop or slow the flow rate of irrigation fluid; continuing to maintain the vortex generator for at least a partial duration while the water pump is stopped or slowed; activating the suction pump to suction fecal waste out of the rectum, wherein the suction pump generates a suction pressure in the range of 5-100 kPa, and wherein the fecal waste is deposited into the waste container; continuing to maintain the vortex generator for at least a partial duration while the suction pressure is applied.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises an electric motor connected to the vortex generator, wherein activating the electric motor activates the vortex generator.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the swirling motion of the irrigation fluid works to break-up or loosen the feces inside the rectum.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting the waste container over a toilet.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the waste container has a purge port located at a bottom of the waste container to allow outflow of fecal waste from the waste container, and the method further comprises discharging the fecal waste out of the purge port into the toilet by gravity flow.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sensing the fluid level or volume inside the waste canister.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the purge port has a valve to control the flow through the purge port, and wherein the valve is opened when the fluid level or volume reaches a threshold level, thereby causing the fecal waste to drain out of the waste container into the toilet by gravity flow.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the waste container has an air inlet port, and the air inlet port is opened when the fluid level or volume in the waste container reaches a threshold level.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises a toilet flush actuator that is designed to actuate flushing of a toilet, wherein the toilet flush actuator is activated to flush the toilet when the irrigation procedure is completed.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further comprises a platform for the waste container, wherein the platform has a hole through which the purge port of the waste container passes therethrough, wherein the method further comprises: setting the platform on a toilet; setting the waste canister on the platform with the purge port passing through the hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic layout of an example rectal irrigation apparatus of this invention.

[0031] FIGS. 2A-2C show an example of how the rectal irrigation apparatus could be operated. FIG. 2A shows the patient having a mass of hardened feces. FIG. 2B shows the results of the vortex irrigation spray. FIG. 2C shows the fragmented feces being evacuated out of the rectum.

[0032] FIGS. 3A-3C show another design for a rectal irrigation apparatus. FIG. 3A shows a detailed illustration of a design for a waste canister. FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the waste canister and the platform on which it is mounted. FIG. 3C shows an example of how the fecal waste section of the apparatus could operate.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a different example of a control module of the apparatus.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a partial view of an alternate embodiment of the rectal irrigation apparatus that can provide a colonic enema via a colonic catheter in addition to rectal irrigation.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus that has more useful features for an irrigation fluid container.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows another design for a waste container of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0037] To assist in understanding the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The drawings herein are not necessarily made to scale or actual proportions. For example, lengths and widths of the components may be adjusted to accommodate the page size.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic layout of an example rectal irrigation apparatus 10 of this invention. At the distal end of the rectal irrigation apparatus 10 is a spray nozzle that comprises a nozzle body 12 and a soft insertion tip 14 for insertion into the patient's rectum via the anus. At the distal portion of the soft insertion tip 14 is a spray outlet 18. The nozzle body 12 is a sealed enclosure to contain an irrigation fluid (liquid). There is a continuous fluid passage from the nozzle body 12 through the insertion tip 14 out through spray outlet 18. Irrigation fluid enters the nozzle body 12 through an inflow port 26. Also, fecal waste exits the nozzle body 12 out through the outflow port 30.

[0039] Pumped irrigation fluid enters inside the nozzle body 12 of the spray nozzle via a supply hose 34 and connected to inflow port 26. The pumped irrigation fluid continues passing through the insertion tip 14 and is then sprayed out through spray outlet 18. Inside the nozzle body 12 is a helical augur 20, which is connected to an electric motor 24 via a turnshaft 22. Upon activation of the electric motor 24, the helical augur 20 is made to spin. This spinning of the helical augur 20 generates a vortex of the irrigation fluid inside the nozzle body 12. The vortexed agitation of irrigation fluid is maintained as it passes through the insertion tip 14 and then out of spray outlet 18.

[0040] The apparatus 10 further comprises a supply reservoir 70 containing the irrigation fluid 44 for supply to the spray nozzle. The apparatus 10 further comprises a water pump 50 that pumps the irrigation fluid 44 out of the supply reservoir 70 and pushes the irrigation fluid 44 into the nozzle body 12. The water pump 50 draws irrigation fluid 44 out of the supply reservoir 70 via a reservoir hose 36. The irrigation fluid 44 is driven by the water pump 50 into the nozzle body 12 via the supply hose 34. The supply hose 34 is connected to the inflow port 26. Thus, the pumped irrigation fluid 44 flows into supply hose 34, through inlet port 26, and into the nozzle body 12 of the spray nozzle.

[0041] The apparatus 10 further comprises a waste canister 40 for receiving the discharged fecal waste. The waste canister 40 is connected to a vacuum pump 52 via a suction hose 38. The waste canister 40 is also connected to the outflow port 30 of nozzle body 12 via a discharge hose 32. In operation, activation of the vacuum pump 52 creates suction inside the waste canister 40. This suction is transmitted through the suction hose 38, through waste canister 40, through discharge hose 32, through the outflow port 30, and into the nozzle body 12. This suction draws fecal waste out of the nozzle body 12, out through the discharge hose 32, and deposits the fecal waste into the waste canister 40.

[0042] Operation of the water pump 50, the electric motor 24, and the vacuum pump 52 are controlled by a control module 60. The control module 60 has control lines (with wires) to the various components. Control line 66 connects the control module 60 to the electric motor 24. Control line 62 connects the control module 60 to the water pump 50. Control line 64 connects the control module 60 to the vacuum pump 52. The control module 60 has various user interface components for controlling the operation of the apparatus 10 (e.g. buttons, switches, display screens, touchscreens, etc.). A more detailed embodiment of a control module and its functions is shown in FIG. 4, as explained below.

[0043] FIGS. 2A-2C show an example of how the rectal irrigation apparatus 10 could be operated. FIG. 2A shows the patient having a mass of hardened feces 120 (fecal impaction) in the rectum 124. The soft insertion tip 12 is inserted into the patient's anus 122. Irrigation fluid is pumped into the nozzle body 12 and sprayed out in a vortex fashion. The vortex irrigation spray 128 fragments the hardened feces 120.

[0044] FIG. 2B shows the results of the vortex irrigation spray 128. The feces 120 have been fragmented into smaller pieces. In FIG. 2C, the vacuum pump 52 is activated and the fragmented feces 120 are evacuated out of the rectum 124 and into the nozzle body 12. In the nozzle body 12, the helical auger 20 (not shown here) will further fragment the feces 120 so that it can be suctioned out through the discharge hose 32 and into the waste canister 40.

[0045] FIGS. 3A-3C show another design for a rectal irrigation apparatus of this invention with particular focus on the fecal waste section of the apparatus. FIG. 3A shows a detailed illustration of a design for a waste canister 130 used in this apparatus. Here, waste canister 130 has a lid 144 and a base 142. The waste canister 130 is set on top of a transparent hard plastic platform 140 (e.g. Plexiglass). The waste canister 130 has a sloped bottom 132 that allows the fecal waste to drain down into a discharge hole 134 at the floor of the waste canister 130. The fecal waste then passes through a drainage channel 138 in the base 142 of the waste canister 130. The fecal waste then exits out by gravity from a purge port 136 that extends downward from the bottom of the waste canister 130. FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of waste canister 130 and platform 140 in isolation. Platform 140 has a hole 134 through which purge port 136 is inserted therethrough.

[0046] FIG. 3C shows an example of how the fecal waste section of the apparatus could operate. Platform 140 is set on top of the toilet seat 154 of a flush toilet 150. Waste canister 130 is set on top of platform 140 with outlet port 136 inserted into hole 134 of platform 140. There is an electro-mechanical flush actuator 160 attached to flush toilet 150. Flush actuator 160 has an arm 162 that is set against the flush handle 152 of toilet 150. In operation, the fecal waste is collected into waste canister 130 and from there, drains out of purge port 136 and into the toilet 150. When the procedure is completed, the control module sends an actuation signal to flush actuator 160 via control line 164. This causes arm 162 to pivot down and press flush handle 152. Thus, the fecal waste is automatically flushed out of the toilet 150.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a different example of a control module 100 of the invention in more detail. The user or an assistant may interact with this control module 100 to operate the rectal irrigation apparatus 10 described above. Control module 100 has buttons for operating various components of the apparatus 10. Button 92 activates or deactivates the water pump 50 for pumping the irrigation fluid. Pressing buttons 116 and 118 incrementally increase or decrease the water pump speed or flow rate of the irrigation fluid. Display window 110 shows the water pump speed or the flow rate.

[0048] Button 94 activates or deactivates the vortex motor 24. Corresponding (+) and (−) buttons incrementally increase or decrease the speed of the vortex motor 24. Display window 112 shows the vortex motor speed. Button 96 activates or deactivates the vacuum pump 52. Corresponding (+) and (−) buttons incrementally increase or decrease the amount of suction being applied. Display window 114 shows the amount of vacuum suction being applied.

[0049] Control module 100 also has a quick start button 102. Pressing this button activates the water pump 50 to bring irrigation fluid into the nozzle body 12. After a short delay to allow filling of the nozzle body 12 with irrigation fluid, the vortex motor 24 is automatically activated. The water pump 50 is set to provide a flow rate of about 800 ml/min. The user/assistant may then adjust the flow of irrigation fluid or amount of vortex by pressing the relevant (+) or (−) buttons, as described above. In situations where a colon catheter is also being used (see FIG. 5 as explained below) and needs to be supplied with irrigation fluid, the water pump 50 is set to provide a total flow rate of about 1,050 ml/min for both the colon catheter and the spray nozzle.

[0050] Then after another short delay, as the patient's rectum 124 begins filling will irrigation fluid, the vacuum pump 52 is activated to suction out the waste irrigation fluid into the waste canister 40. The vacuum pump 52 is set to provide a suction pressure of 7.4 psi (51 kPa). This can be adjusted up or down as needed by pressing the relevant (+) or (−) buttons, as described above. Control module 100 may operate to balance the irrigation volume with the evacuation volume. For example, the inflow port 26 and the outflow port 30 on the spray nozzle may have flow sensors that are read by control module 100. Control module 100 could balance these inflow and outflow rates by adjusting the operation of the water pump 50, vacuum pump 52, or valves in the flow network.

[0051] Control module 100 also has a programmed stop button 104 to wind down the operation of the apparatus 10 for completing the irrigation procedure. Pressing button 104 deactivates the water pump 50 to stop the flow of irrigation fluid. Meanwhile, vortex motor 24 is allowed to continue operating to sustain the vortex action inside the nozzle body 12 and continue breaking up the fecal waste. Suction continues to be applied to empty out the nozzle body 12. The vortex motor 24 is then deactivated as nozzle body 12 empties. The vacuum pump 52 is deactivated when a fluid flow sensor detects no further flow out of the nozzle body 12 or a pressure sensor indicates no further resistance to the suction. There is also a big red button 108 for emergency stop of the apparatus 10, immediately deactivating the vortex motor 24, water pump 50, and vacuum pump 52. Relevant to the alternate apparatus design shown in FIG. 3C, the control module 100 could optionally also have a toilet flush button that activates the toilet flushing mechanism.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a partial view of an alternate embodiment of the rectal irrigation apparatus that can provide a colonic enema via a colonic catheter 46 in addition to rectal irrigation. This partial view focuses on the configuration of the supply hose 34. The pumped irrigation fluid flows into the nozzle body 12 (not shown) via inflow port 26. In this alternate design, the apparatus also has a two-way valve 54 on the supply hose 34. The valve 54 can be set to allow flow of irrigation fluid into an accessory hose 56, which has an adapter 58. The colonic catheter 46 is connected to the adapter 58. The colonic catheter 48 has a distal opening 48 from which the irrigation fluid is streamed out. The colonic catheter 48 has a length of about 20 inches (51 cm) so that it can be positioned in the upper rectum or sigmoid colon.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus that has more useful features for a supply reservoir 72. In this design for supply reservoir 72, there is a fluid level sensor 74 to monitor the amount of irrigation fluid 44 remaining in the supply reservoir 72. The readings from sensor 74 are transmitted to the control module via sensor line 77. The supply reservoir 72 also has a heater unit 76 to warm the irrigation fluid 44 for improved comfort. The supply reservoir 72 also has a temperature sensor (not shown) to monitor the fluid temperature and transmit the readings to the control module. The control module adjusts the heater unit 76 to maintain a desired warm temperature (e.g. 103° F.) for the irrigation fluid 44.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows another design for a waste container of this invention. Shown here is a waste canister 170 that could be used in the apparatus of this invention. Waste canister 170 has a lid 194 and a base 196. Waste canister 170 is designed to be set on top of a platform, such as the platform 140 shown in FIG. 3B. The waste canister 170 has a sloped bottom 190 that allows the fecal waste to drain down into a discharge hole 192 at the floor of the waste canister 170. The fecal waste then passes through a drainage channel 198 in the base 196 of the waste canister 170. The fecal waste then exits out by gravity from a purge port 174 that extends downward from the floor of the body 172 of the waste canister 170.

[0055] Waste canister 170 also has an air inlet valve 178 on the lid 194. During suction operation and standby situations, air inlet valve 178 is closed to seal waste canister 170 in air-tight condition. However, air inlet valve 178 is opened during purging of waste canister 170. This opening of air inlet valve 178 may be performed manually, but in this example embodiment, this is performed automatically. There is a float switch 184 that serves as a sensor for the fluid level inside waste canister 170. As the fluid level rises, the float bladder 188 on float switch 184 rises until it contacts the switch body 186. This causes float switch 184 to activate and open air inlet valve 178 (e.g. by electromechanical means). This also cause the float switch 184 to activate a purge valve 176 located on purge port 174. During suction operation and standby situations, purge valve 176 is closed. However, when activated by float switch 184, purge valve 176 opens to allow discharge of waste out through purge port 174 by gravity flow. Activation of float switch 184 may also turn off the vacuum suction operation.

[0056] Final Remarks: The descriptions and examples given herein are intended merely to illustrate the invention and are not intended to be limiting. Each of the disclosed aspects and embodiments of the invention may be considered individually or in combination with other aspects, embodiments, and variations of the invention. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the steps of the methods of the invention are not confined to any particular order of performance. Modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, and such modifications are within the scope of the invention.

[0057] Any use of the word “or” herein is intended to be inclusive and is equivalent to the expression “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As such, for example, the expression “A or B” means A, or B, or both A and B. Similarly, for example, the expression “A, B, or C” means A, or B, or C, or any combination thereof.