Medical apparatus for intestinal and vaginal treatments

Abstract

A self-irrigation medical apparatus for intestinal and/or vaginal irrigations, comprises a shaped support frame, a disposable irrigation tube; the support frame comprises a central portion conformed to face inside the toilet bowl, and two side arms to be locked between opposite surfaces of the bowl and the seat. A flow duct extends along the support frame, and into an upwardly facing pipe fitting, for the irrigation tube; the apparatus comprises a pressure control unit, and a manually actuable push bottom tap on a side of the support frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention concerns a medical apparatus for self-irrigation treatments, for example for intestinal irrigations of the colon and vaginal irrigations, suitable for use both as a portable apparatus, and for permanent installation in the bathroom of a home or a hotel, for totally independent use, without the need for any assistance or help of an operator. [0002] In particular, the invention is directed to a medical apparatus of the aforementioned kind, which can be used directly on toilet bowls, easily fitted and removed by a patient, and proves to be extremely easy and hygienic to use. [0003] Although the medical apparatus is described hereunder with reference to hydrotherapeutic treatment of the colon, it is understood that the same apparatus can also be used for other types of irrigation, for example in the treatment of diseases or for vaginal douches. STATE OF THE ART [0004] As described in a previous application EP 1 240 911, hydrotherapeutic ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026] The general object of this invention is to provide a medical apparatus for intestinal self-irrigation treatments or for other similar applications, improved in use, whereby it is possible to obviate the drawbacks and the limitations of the previously known apparatuses.

Problems solved by technology

Although similar apparatuses have proved to be extremely useful, in that they have rendered the patient wholly independent in carrying out intestinal irrigation and / or lavage treatments, in practice they have a number of drawbacks.

In particular, the seat must be suitably conformed and provided with the necessary ducts for passage of the water, and means for supporting the irrigation tube; consequently, they call for a fixed installation which does not allow the apparatus to be transported or fitted onto another toilet bowl located elsewhere.

Even though the solution may seem to be apparently simple, from the hygienic standpoint the proposed solution is somewhat questionable, due to the difficulty in carrying out the necessary cleaning operations.

The total lack of any safety device or devices for controlling the incoming flow of water, especially whenever the apparatus is connected to a pressurised water supply, makes these apparatuses somewhat unpractical and wholly unsafe to use.

Although an apparatus of this kind is provided with the necessary safety devices, and with accessories capable of enabling it to be connected to a water supply tap, in practice, the apparatus still cannot be used in a universal manner or under different conditions of use.

The safety and control unit for controlling the pressure and the water flow is positioned far from the toilet bowl, in an uncomfortable position for a patient, which does not allow any easy and urgent intervention of the same patient during an emergency.

In all the cases, the previously known apparatuses call for the need to make use of a specially dedicated and expensive seat, which is not always pleasant to see in the bathroom of a modern home, and do not contemplate the possibility of transporting the apparatus itself.

In a way wholly corresponding to the previously known apparatuses, the irrigation tube is still fitted onto a tubular arm which extends overhanging towards the bottom of the bowl and then upwards after a wide curve; therefore sometimes it can be difficult to self-introduce the irrigation tube correctly into the anus, without causing an injury or possible lesions to the patient, due to the incorrect positioning of the apparatus and the possible bending of the tubular arm supporting the irrigation tube whenever the patient is hesitant or does not pay sufficient attention at the time of use.

In addition to the problem of greater hygiene and correct positioning of the irrigation tube in relation to the different requirements and physical characteristics of the patient, and besides the problem of safety, there are other requirements which have been wholly unsatisfied or which have not been sufficiently or completely solved by the previously known apparatuses.

Another problem related to the former, which has never been dealt with and solved with the previous apparatuses, concerns its universal use, and the possibility of connecting the apparatus to any source of water existing in a bathroom.

In fact, by an investigation it has been observed that the connection of the water supply line to the normal water taps or mixers is at times difficult if not impossible, due to the enormous variety of models of taps and mixers currently existing, unless special coupling devices are used.

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