Enema device and its operation method

Abstract

The present invention provides an enema apparatus and an operating method thereof that can simultaneously administer an enema medicine and extract feces without leaking feces to the outside. The enema apparatus includes: (i) an inner insertion tube that extends in one direction to be inserted into the anus and includes a hollow support rod; and (ii) an outer insertion tube that is detachable from the inner insertion tube, extends in one direction, and is adapted to have the support rod inserted therein and surrounds the support rod. The outer insertion tube includes: (i) a cylindrical tube having a strength lower than that of the support rod; and (ii) a check valve located inside the outer insertion tube.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an enema apparatus and an operating method thereof, and more particularly to an enema apparatus and an operating method thereof that can simultaneously administer an enema medicine and extract feces without causing feces to leak out. [Background technology]

[0002] An enema is a procedure in which an enema liquid is injected into the large intestine to remove intestinal contents for the purposes of relieving constipation or for removing feces during surgery or childbirth. Enemas are generally performed when there is abdominal pain due to severe constipation, or for the diagnosis of colon disease, colon surgery, or colonoscopy for patients in hepatic coma.

[0003] However, severely ill patients, such as those in hepatic coma, have difficulty administering enemas themselves, so they must be administered by nurses. Enema administration involves inserting the enema and then extracting the feces, which requires separate procedures, making it inconvenient. Furthermore, due to the weight of the critically ill patient, it can be difficult to position them properly for the enema. Another problem is that feces can leak out of the patient's body during the enema. The technology behind the present invention is disclosed in Patent Documents 1-2: International Publication No. WO2010 / 122537 and Korean Publication No. 2016-0117168. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Patent Publication WO2010 / 122537 [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent Publication No. 2016-0117168 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention provides an enema apparatus that can administer an enema medicine and extract feces at the same time without causing feces to leak out, and also provides a method for operating the enema apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An enema apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: i) an inner insertion tube extending in one direction to be inserted into the anus and including a hollow support rod; and ii) an outer insertion tube detachably attached to the inner insertion tube, extending in one direction, and surrounding the support rod so that the support rod can be inserted therein. The outer insertion tube includes: i) a cylindrical tube having a strength lower than that of the support rod; and ii) a check valve located inside the outer insertion tube.

[0007] The cylindrical tube may be made of silicone, and the support rod may be made of polypropylene. The check valve may include a plurality of adjacent check valve pieces, which may form a cross-shaped opening / closing groove. One or more of the plurality of check valve pieces may include i) a first inclined surface, and ii) a second inclined surface connected to the first inclined surface and formed symmetrically with the first inclined surface. One end of the first inclined surface and one end of the second inclined surface may each be linear to form the opening / closing groove, and the other end of the first inclined surface and the other end of the second inclined surface may each be curved. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface may form a pocket space recessed toward the cylindrical tube.

[0008] The outer insertion tube may further include: i) a balloon adapted to be inflated around the middle side of the cylindrical tube to block the anus; ii) a plate-like member connected to one end of the cylindrical tube and having a diameter larger than that of the cylindrical tube; iii) a check valve casing located on the opposite side of the cylindrical tube across the plate-like member and having a diameter larger than that of the cylindrical tube but smaller than that of the plate-like member; iv) a guide ring attached below the check valve casing and including a guide side portion that forms a first hollow whose diameter gradually decreases toward the check valve; and v) a fastening member that covers the check valve casing and the guide ring, has a protrusion formed on its side, and has a center that penetrates through it.

[0009] The check valve may include: i) a hollow check valve support plate attached to the bottom of the check valve casing; ii) a side surface connected to the check valve support plate and forming a second hollow whose diameter gradually decreases as it approaches the cylindrical tube; and iii) a plurality of check valve pieces formed adjacent to each other on the side surface. The plurality of check valve pieces may form a cross-shaped opening and closing groove.

[0010] The inner insertion tube may further include i) a mounting plate to which the support rod is connected and mounted, and ii) a side portion spaced from the support rod and surrounding the mounting plate. The side portion may have i) a first guide hole formed to open in one direction, and ii) a second guide hole connected to the first guide hole and formed in a direction perpendicular to the first guide hole. A convex portion protruding toward the second guide hole in one direction is located in the second guide hole to secure the protrusion. The inner diameter of the side portion may be larger than the diameter of the outer surface of the fastening member. The inner insertion tube may further include a plurality of gripping columns protruding from the outer side of the side portion at equal intervals, and the first and second guide holes may be located between the plurality of gripping columns.

[0011] The enema apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a discharge tube detachable from the outer insertion tube, including a flexible discharge portion extending in one direction and communicating with the cylindrical tube. The discharge tube may further include i) another mounting plate identical to the mounting plate, ii) another side portion identical to the side portion, and iii) a fastening cover coupled to the other side of the flexible discharge portion and having a thread formed on its inner surface. The other side portion may be formed with i) another first guide hole identical to the first guide hole, and ii) another second guide hole connected to the other first guide hole and identical to the second guide hole. A yet another protrusion identical to the protrusion may be positioned in the yet another second guide hole to secure the protrusion.

[0012] The enema apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a reservoir detachably connected to the discharge tube. The reservoir may include: (i) an injection port formed on the inside of the fastening cover and adapted to be screwed to the fastening cover via a screw thread; (ii) a cap detachably attached to the injection port to open and close the injection port; and (iii) a plastic bag connected to the injection port. A through-hole that contacts the outer surface of the check valve casing may be formed in the plate-shaped member. The enema apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include: (i) an air injection tube inserted through the through-hole and having an air injection port connected to one end thereof; and (ii) a needle connected to the other end of the air injection tube and inserted between the balloon and the cylindrical tube. The diameter of the air injection tube may be larger than that of the needle.

[0013] An enema apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is adapted to communicate with the anus and includes a tube that extends in one direction and has a hollow interior. The enema apparatus further includes a check valve positioned within the tube. The check valve includes a plurality of adjacent check valve pieces that form a cross-shaped opening and closing groove. At least one of the plurality of check valve pieces includes i) a first inclined surface and ii) a second inclined surface that is connected to the first inclined surface and formed symmetrically with the first inclined surface. One end of the first inclined surface and one end of the second inclined surface are each linear to form the opening and closing groove, and the other end of the first inclined surface and the other end of the second inclined surface are each curved. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface form a pocket space that is recessed toward the anus.

[0014] An enema apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is adapted to communicate with the anus and includes a tube that extends in one direction and has a hollow interior. The enema apparatus further includes a check valve positioned within the tube. The check valve includes a plurality of adjacent check valve pieces that form a cross-shaped opening and closing groove. At least one of the plurality of check valve pieces includes i) a first inclined surface and ii) a second inclined surface that is connected to the first inclined surface and formed symmetrically with the first inclined surface. One end of the first inclined surface and one end of the second inclined surface are each linear to form the opening and closing groove, and the other end of the first inclined surface and the other end of the second inclined surface are each curved. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface form a pocket space that is recessed toward the anus.

[0015] A method for operating an enema apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: i) inserting the inner insertion tube into the outer insertion tube, and rotating the side part to sequentially pull and move the protrusion into the first guide hole and the second guide hole to fix the protrusion with the convex part; ii) injecting air into the balloon to inflate the balloon; and iii) removing the inner insertion tube from the outer insertion tube.

[0016] A method for operating an enema apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include the steps of i) inserting a syringe through the check valve to inject enema liquid and then removing the syringe, and ii) connecting the flexible discharge portion to the cylindrical tube. The discharge tube may further include i) another mounting plate identical to the mounting plate, ii) another side portion identical to the side portion, and iii) a fastening cover connected to the other side of the flexible discharge portion and having a thread formed on its inner surface. The other side portion may have i) another first guide hole identical to the first guide hole, and ii) another second guide hole connected to the other first guide hole and identical to the second guide hole. The other second guide hole may have another protrusion identical to the protrusion. In the step of connecting the flexible discharge portion to the cylindrical tube, the other side portion may be rotated to sequentially pull and move the protrusion into the other first guide hole and the other second guide hole, thereby securing the protrusion with the other protrusion. The enema apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a storage member detachably connected to the discharge tube, which may include: (i) an injection port having another thread formed thereon and adapted to be threadably connected to the fastening cover by the threads, (ii) a cap detachably connected to the injection port to open and close the injection port, and (iii) a plastic bag connected to the injection port.

[0017] The method of operating the enema apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include the steps of i) separating the cap from the injection port, and ii) turning the injection port to couple it to the inside of the fastening cover. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The present invention allows a patient to easily receive an enema while preventing feces from leaking during the enema treatment, thereby reducing the workload of nurses in hospitals or nursing homes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an enema apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an outer insertion tube included in the enema apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the check valve of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic drawing of a drainage tube and reservoir that can be included in the enema apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method of operating the enema apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 6 is a schematic diagram of the enema operation process of the step of FIG. 5; [Figure 7] 6 is a schematic diagram of the enema operation process of the step of FIG. 5; [Figure 8] 6 is a schematic diagram of the enema operation process of the step of FIG. 5; [Figure 9] 6 is a schematic diagram of the enema operation process of the step of FIG. 5; [Figure 10] 6 is a schematic diagram of the enema operation process of the step of FIG. 5; [Figure 11] 6 is a schematic diagram of the enema operation process of the step of FIG. 5; [Figure 12] 6 is a schematic diagram of the enema operation process of the step of FIG. 5; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to clearly explain the present disclosure in the drawings, parts that are not relevant to the description are omitted, and similar parts are designated by similar reference numerals throughout the specification. In the specification, when a part "includes" a certain element, this does not mean excluding other elements, but may further include other elements, unless otherwise specified. Devices that make up a network may be embodied in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The term "applied" in this specification is to be interpreted as including both the appropriate state and the state before the appropriate state. Furthermore, expressions in the singular in this specification can be interpreted as singular or plural unless expressly stated as "one" or "single." In this specification, terms including ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. Terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, a second component may be named a first component, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In the flowcharts described with reference to the drawings in this specification, the order of operations may be changed, multiple operations may be combined, some operations may be divided, and certain operations may not be performed.

[0021] 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an enema apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the enema apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 is merely for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, the structure of the enema apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 can be modified in various ways.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the enema apparatus 100 includes an inner insertion tube 10 and an outer insertion tube 20. Both the inner insertion tube 10 and the outer insertion tube 20 are formed in the shape of a tube. The inner insertion tube 10 includes a support rod 101. The support rod 101 extends in one direction, i.e., along the z-axis direction, so as to be inserted into the anus. The inside of the support rod 101 may be hollow.

[0023] The outer insertion tube 20 is detachably attached to the outside of the inner insertion tube 10. The outer insertion tube 20 extends along the z-axis. As a result, the support rod 101 is inserted into the outer insertion tube 20 along the dotted line, so that the outer insertion tube 20 surrounds the support rod 101. The outer insertion tube 20 includes a cylindrical tube 201. The cylindrical tube 201 has a strength lower than that of the support rod 101. For example, the cylindrical tube 201 may be made of silicone, and the support rod 101 may be made of polypropylene. The outer insertion tube 20 is inserted into the anus for an enema. The outer insertion tube 20 comes into contact with the anus. Because the cylindrical tube 201 is made of soft silicone, the patient does not feel pain when the outer insertion tube 20 is inserted into the anus. In contrast, if the outer insertion tube 20 were made of a material with a certain strength, the patient may feel pain when the outer insertion tube 20 is inserted into the anus due to its strength. Therefore, the cylindrical tube 201 is made of silicone.

[0024] However, since the cylindrical tube 201 is made of a material with a relatively low strength, the cylindrical tube 201 easily bends during insertion into the anus, making it difficult to insert the outer insertion tube 20. Therefore, the support rod 101 inserted into the cylindrical tube 201 can be used to reinforce the strength required for insertion of the cylindrical tube 201 into the anus. That is, the support rod 101 is made of a material with a higher strength than the cylindrical tube 201. As a result, when the outer insertion tube 20 is inserted into the anus for an enema, the cylindrical tube 201 reinforces the strength of the outer insertion tube 20 and supports it so that it does not bend, thereby making it easier to insert the outer insertion tube 20 into the anus.

[0025] 1, the inner insertion tube 10 further includes a mounting plate 103, a side portion 105, and a gripping column 107. The support rod 101 is connected to and mounted on the mounting plate 103. Therefore, the support rod 101 can be stably supported by the mounting plate 103. The mounting plate 103 has a circular shape and is located on the xy plane.

[0026] The side portion 105 is spaced apart from the support rod 101 in the xy plane. The side portion 105 is formed in the form of a wall surrounding the circumference of the mounting plate 103. A first guide hole 1051 and a second guide hole 1053 are formed in the side portion 105. The first guide hole 1051 is formed open in one direction, i.e., along the z-axis direction. The second guide hole 1053 is connected to the first guide hole 1051. The second guide hole 1053 is formed in a direction perpendicular to the first guide hole 1051, i.e., along the x-axis.

[0027] The protrusion 2131 in FIG. 1 moves sequentially along the first guide hole 1051 and the second guide hole 1053 in the direction of the dashed-dotted arrow and is fixed to the end of the second guide hole 1053. That is, the protrusion 2131 can be moved to the end of the second guide hole 1053 by rotating the inner insertion tube 10 inserted into the outer insertion tube 20. A convex portion 1055 protrudes in the -z-axis direction from the second guide hole 1053. Therefore, the protrusion 2131 is inserted into the convex portion 1055 and is stably fixed by the convex portion 1055. As a result, the inner insertion tube 10 can be stably coupled to the inside of the outer insertion tube 20. Therefore, the support rod 101 stably supports the cylindrical tube 201 made of a soft material, allowing the enema apparatus 100 to be easily inserted into the anus.

[0028] The gripping columns 107 protrude outward from the side portion 105 at equal intervals. Therefore, a user of the enema apparatus 100 can easily connect the inner insertion tube 10 to the outer insertion tube 20 by gripping the gripping columns 107 with their hands and rotating the side portion 105. Meanwhile, the first guide hole 1051 and the second guide hole 1053 are positioned between the gripping columns 107 to avoid interference.

[0029] 1, the outer insertion tube 20 further includes a balloon 205, a plate-like member 207, a check valve casing 209 (shown in FIG. 2), a guide ring 211, and a fastening member 213. In addition, the outer insertion tube 20 may further include other components.

[0030] The balloon 205 surrounds the middle side of the cylindrical tube 201. The balloon 205 is adapted to be inflated by injected air to fix the outer insertion tube 20 in the anus. As a result, the outer insertion tube 20 can be stably placed on the anal muscles. For this purpose, the balloon 205 can be formed in a donut shape. A needle 60 is inserted between the balloon 205 and the cylindrical tube 201. The needle 60 communicates with the air injection tube 50.

[0031] An air injection port 501 is attached to one end of the air injection tube 50, and a needle 60 is connected to the other end. Although not shown in FIG. 1 , a syringe is connected to the air injection port 501, and air can be injected into the balloon 205 through the air injection tube 50 and the needle 60 using the syringe. The diameter d50 of the air injection tube 50 is larger than the diameter d60 of the needle 60. That is, a relatively large amount of air flows into the air injection tube 50 through the syringe, and the air injection tube 50 needs to have a volume large enough to withstand this. Therefore, the diameter d50 of the air injection tube 50 is formed relatively large. On the other hand, because the needle 60 must be inserted between the balloon 205 and the cylindrical tube 201, its diameter d60 is formed small in consideration of the space.

[0032] Meanwhile, the plate-like member 207 is connected to one end of the cylindrical tube 201. As the diameter of the cylindrical tube 201 gradually increases, the cylindrical tube 201 is naturally connected to the plate-like member 207. The diameter d207 of the plate-like member 207 is larger than the diameter d201 of the cylindrical tube 201. Because the diameter d207 of the plate-like member 207 is larger than the diameter d201 of the cylindrical tube 201, the plate-like member 207 stably supports the cylindrical tube 201.

[0033] The fastening member 213 covers the check valve casing 209 (shown in FIG. 2) and the guide ring 211 and has a through-hole at its center. A protrusion 2131 is formed on the side of the fastening member 213. The protrusion 2131 can be inserted into the first guide hole 1051 in the direction of the dashed arrow to stably connect the inner insertion tube 10 and the outer insertion tube 20. To achieve this, the inner diameter d105 of the side portion 105 is slightly larger than the diameter d213 of the outer surface of the fastening member 213. For example, the difference between the inner diameter d105 and the outer diameter d213 can be greater than 0 and less than 0.2 mm. Because a fine gap is formed in this manner, the fastening member 213 can be stably inserted and fixed within the side portion 105. The outer insertion tube 20 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a schematic exploded view of the outer insertion tube 20 included in the enema apparatus 100 of FIG. 1. The enlarged circle in FIG. 2 shows the front view of the check valve 203 as viewed in the -z direction. The exploded view of the outer insertion tube 20 in FIG. 2 is merely for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the structure of the outer insertion tube 20 in FIG. 2 can be modified in various ways.

[0035] 2, the outer insertion tube 20 includes a cylindrical tube 201, a check valve 203, a balloon 205, a plate-like member 207, a check valve casing 209, a guide ring 211, and a fastening member 213. In addition, the outer insertion tube 20 may further include other components.

[0036] The check valve 203 may be made of thin silicon. Therefore, the check valve 203 can be used to block bodily contents such as feces and enema fluid from leaking out in the -z-axis direction. The check valve 203 is located inside the outer insertion tube 20. More specifically, the check valve 203 is located inside a check valve casing 209.

[0037] As shown in the enlarged circle in FIG. 2, the check valve 203 includes adjacent check valve pieces 2031. Because the check valve pieces 2031 are formed separately, they adjoin each other to form a cross-shaped opening / closing groove G. However, the cross-shaped opening / closing groove G merely provides a minimum space for the check valve pieces 2031 to flow while minimizing contact with each other. Therefore, it is too narrow for a fluid with a certain degree of viscosity to pass through the cross-shaped opening / closing groove G. Therefore, the check valve 203 prevents leakage of contents inside the body or enema liquid in the -z-axis direction. Even while operating in this manner, because the check valve pieces 2031 are formed separately, the enema liquid can be injected into the body by penetrating the check valve 203 with a syringe.

[0038] Furthermore, the check valve 203 has a shape that is concave in the -z-axis direction, i.e., each check valve piece 2031 forms a pocket. Therefore, the check valve 203 has a shape that blocks the flow of fluid in the -z-axis direction, and can therefore block the passage of fluid.

[0039] A through hole 2071 is formed in the plate-like member 207. The through hole 2071 is formed in contact with the outer surface of the check valve casing 209. That is, the through hole 2071 is not exposed to the outside and is positioned in contact with the outer surface of the check valve casing 209, which prevents the air injection tube 50 (shown in FIG. 1) from being damaged by external impact and ensures durability.

[0040] 2, a check valve casing 209 is located opposite the cylindrical tube 201 across the plate-like member 207. The check valve casing 209 houses the check valve 203. The diameter d209 of the check valve casing 209 is larger than the diameter d201 of the cylindrical tube 201 but smaller than the diameter d207 (shown in FIG. 1) of the plate-like member 207. Therefore, the check valve casing 209 is stably housed under the plate-like member 207.

[0041] The guide ring 211 is attached to the bottom of the check valve casing 209. The guide ring 211 includes a guide side portion 2111 and a support plate 2113. The guide side portion 2111 is formed on the support plate 2113. The guide side portion 2111 forms a hollow C1 whose diameter d2111 gradually decreases toward the check valve 203. The structure of the check valve 203 of FIG. 2 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0042] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the check valve 203 of FIG. 2. The structure of the check valve 203 of FIG. 3 is merely illustrative of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, the structure of the check valve 203 of FIG. 3 can be modified in various ways. While the check valve 203 of FIG. 3 is shown as being located within the outer insertion tube 20 of FIG. 1, it can alternatively be installed within a hollow tube (not shown) that is included in the enema syringe and extends in one direction. The tube can be connected to the anus.

[0043] 3, each check valve piece 2031 includes a first inclined surface 2031a and a second inclined surface 2031b. The first inclined surface 2031a and the second inclined surface 2031b are formed symmetrically to each other and open in the +z-axis direction. Therefore, the first inclined surface 2031a and the second inclined surface 2031b have a shape that blocks the flow of fluid that may flow back in the -z-axis direction.

[0044] One end 2031c of the first inclined surface 2031a and one end 2031d of the second inclined surface 2031b are each formed in a straight line. Therefore, one ends 2031c and 2031d of the check valve piece 2031 meet to form a cross-shaped opening / closing groove G. Meanwhile, the other end 2031e of the first inclined surface 2031a and the other end 2031f of the second inclined surface 2031b are each formed in a curved line. The other ends 2031e and 2031f correspond to the inner circumference of the cylindrical tube 201. That is, the other ends 2031e and 2031f are fixed opposite to the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 201. As a result, the first inclined surface 2031a and the second inclined surface 2031b form a pocket space S that is recessed toward the cylindrical tube 201 along the circumference.

[0045] That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a pocket space S is formed in the +z-axis direction, i.e., toward the cylindrical tube 201 (shown in FIG. 2). The pocket space S serves as a space that can contain enema liquid or other bodily contents that may leak from the anus in an emergency. As a result, the leakage of such fluids can be prevented by using the check valve 203. The structure of the check valve 203 will be described in more detail below.

[0046] The check valve 203 further includes a check valve support plate 2033 and a side surface 2035. The check valve support plate 2033 is hollow. The check valve support plate 2033 is attached to the bottom of the check valve casing 209 (shown in FIG. 2) to form a support structure. The side surface 2035 is connected to the check valve support plate 2033. The diameter of the side surface 2035 gradually decreases in the +x-axis direction, i.e., toward the cylindrical tube 201 (shown in FIG. 2), forming a hollow C2. The side surface 2035 is integrally formed around the inner circumference of the check valve casing 209. The check valve pieces 2031 are formed on the side surface 2035 and are adjacent to each other. The check valve pieces 2031 can be integrally formed with the side surface 2035. That is, the side surface 2035 can be manufactured from the same thin silicon as the check valve pieces 2031.

[0047] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the discharge tube 30 and reservoir 40 included in the enema apparatus 100 of FIG. 1. The discharge tube 30 and reservoir 40 of FIG. 4 are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the discharge tube 30 and reservoir 40 can be modified in various ways. The mounting plate 103, side portion 105, and gripping column 107 included in the discharge tube 30 of FIG. 4 are the same as the mounting plate 103, side portion 105, and gripping column 107 included in the inner insertion tube 10 of FIG. 1, and therefore the same reference numerals are used and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted for convenience. Because the inner insertion tube 10 and the discharge tube 30 use the same components, the manufacturing costs of the enema apparatus 100 can be reduced, and the enema apparatus 100 (shown in FIG. 1) can be easily and interchangeably attached and detached to the outer insertion tube 20 during operation.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 4, the discharge tube 30 extends longitudinally in one direction, i.e., the z-axis direction. The discharge tube 30 includes a flexible discharge portion 301, a fastening cover 303, a mounting plate 103, a side portion 105, and a gripping column 107. In addition, the discharge tube 30 may include other components. For example, although not shown in Fig. 4, a clip may be attached to the middle of the flexible discharge portion 301 to press the flexible discharge portion 301 and restrict the flow of fluid passing therethrough.

[0049] The discharge tube 30 is detachable from the outer insertion tube 20 (shown in FIG. 1) through the side portion 105. That is, the discharge tube 30 can be attached to and detached from the outer insertion tube 20 (shown in FIG. 1) in the same way as the inner insertion tube 10 (shown in FIG. 1) including the side portion 105. As a result, the flexible discharge portion 301 communicates with the cylindrical tube 201 (shown in FIG. 1). Therefore, bodily contents, such as feces, that are discharged from the anus through the cylindrical tube 201 (shown in FIG. 1) can be continuously discharged through the flexible discharge portion 301.

[0050] A fastening member 213 (shown in FIG. 1) is attached to the mounting plate 103 to stably support the connection between the outer insertion tube 20 and the discharge tube 30. The mounting plate 103 is attached to one side of the flexible discharge portion 301, and the fastening cover 303 is attached to the other side of the flexible discharge portion 301. The side portion 105 is spaced from the flexible discharge portion 301. A screw thread 3031 is formed on the inner surface of the fastening cover 303. The screw thread 3031 can be used to firmly connect the discharge tube 30 and the reservoir 40. That is, the reservoir 40 can be attached to and detached from the discharge tube 30 in the direction of the dotted arrow.

[0051] 4, the reservoir 40 includes a plastic bag 401, an inlet 403, and a cap 405. In addition, the reservoir 40 may further include other components.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the injection port 403 has a thread 4031 formed thereon that corresponds to the thread 3031 formed on the inside of the fastening cover 303. The threads 3031, 4031 are formed as recesses or reliefs and are connected to each other, so that the injection port 403 and the fastening cover 303 are firmly joined to each other to prevent leakage of the contents inside the body. The cap 405 can be attached and detached to the injection port 403. That is, when the plastic bag 401 connected to the injection port 403 is not in use, the cap 405 is used to close the injection port 403. When the reservoir 40 is connected to the discharge tube 30 to collect the contents inside the body discharged after an enema, the cap 405 is opened and the injection port 403 is fastened to the fastening cover 303. As a result, the contents inside the body discharged through the outer insertion tube 20 after an enema are collected in the plastic bag 401 through the discharge tube 30 to prevent leakage, and the injection port 403 can be separated from the fastening cover 303, the cap 405 is closed, and the bag can be disposed of as is. The operation of the enema apparatus 100 (shown in FIG. 1) will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0053] Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart of a method for operating the enema apparatus 100 of Figure 1. The method for operating the enema apparatus 100 of Figure 5 is merely for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the method for operating the enema apparatus 100 of Figure 5 can be modified in various ways.

[0054] Meanwhile, Figures 6 to 12 each show a schematic diagram of the operation of the enema apparatus at each stage in Figure 5. The operation of the enema apparatus shown in Figures 6 to 12 is merely illustrative of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, each operation of the enema apparatus can be modified in various ways. Below, a method of operating the enema apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 6 to 12, which correspond to the respective stages in Figure 5.

[0055] 5, the method of operating the enema apparatus 100 includes the steps of inserting the inner insertion tube into the outer insertion tube, rotating the side portion to sequentially pull and move the protrusion into the first and second guide holes to secure the protrusion with the convex portion (S10), inflating the balloon by injecting air into it (S20), removing the inner insertion tube from the outer insertion tube (S30), inserting a syringe through the check valve to inject enema liquid and then removing the syringe (S40), connecting the flexible discharge part to the cylindrical tube (S50), separating the cap from the injection port and rotating the injection port to connect it to the inside of the fastening cover (S60), separating the injection port from the fastening cover and closing the fastening cover with the cap (S70), and removing air from the balloon and removing the outer insertion tube (S80). The method of operating the enema apparatus may also include other steps.

[0056] First, in step S10 of FIG. 5, the inner insertion tube 10 is inserted into the outer insertion tube 20, and the side portion 105 is rotated to sequentially pull and move the protrusion 2131 into the first guide hole 1051 and the second guide hole 1053 in the direction of the dashed arrow, thereby securing the protrusion 1055 (see FIG. 1). As a result, the inner insertion tube 10 and the outer insertion tube 20 are firmly joined together. Then, for an enema, the inner insertion tube 10 and the outer insertion tube 20 are inserted into the anus. Because the outer insertion tube 20 includes a cylindrical tube 201 made of silicone, the patient does not feel much pain when the outer insertion tube 20 is inserted into the anus and comes into contact with the outer insertion tube 20. Meanwhile, because the cylindrical tube 201 is supported by the support rod 101 made of polypropylene included in the inner insertion tube 10, the silicone cylindrical tube 201 does not bend or warp, allowing for easy insertion into the anus.

[0057] Returning to FIG. 5 again, in step (S20), air is injected into the balloon 205 to inflate the balloon 205 (shown in FIG. 6). The uninflated balloon 205 is located just inside the anus. A syringe (not shown) is connected to the air injection port 501, and a piston (not shown) is pushed to inject air into the balloon 205 through the air injection tube 50 and needle 60, thereby inflating the balloon 205. As a result, the balloon 205 expands into a donut shape, and the outer insertion tube 20 is stably placed on the anal muscles.

[0058] In step S30 of Figure 5, as indicated by the dotted arrow, the inner insertion tube 10 is removed from the outer insertion tube 20 (as shown in Figure 7). That is, the inner insertion tube 10 is removed to secure space for injecting the enema liquid. The balloon 205 is inflated to slide the outer insertion tube 20 so that it is stably placed in the anus.

[0059] In step S40 of Figure 5, the syringe Y is inserted through the check valve to inject the enema liquid L into the anus (as shown in Figure 8). Then, the syringe Y is removed. The syringe Y may be the same as that used in step S20. Since the check valve 203 (not shown, but the same hereinafter) has a shape that bulges toward the anus, it is easy for the syringe Y to penetrate the check valve 203. In addition, the check valve 203 prevents the enema liquid injected into the anus through the outer insertion tube 20 from leaking out.

[0060] 5, in step S50, the flexible discharge part 301 is coupled to the outer insertion tube 20 (as shown in FIG. 9). Thus, preparations are made for discharging the contents of the body produced by the enema through the flexible discharge part 301. The method for coupling the flexible discharge part 301 to the outer insertion tube 20 is the same as the coupling method in step S10.

[0061] In step S60 of FIG. 5, the cap 405 is separated from the injection port 403, and the injection port 403 is rotated and coupled to the inside of the fastening cover 303 (as shown in FIG. 10). The fastening cover 303 may then be rotated to couple to the injection port 403. As a result, the flexible outlet 301 and the injection port 403 are tightly coupled without leakage. Because the flexible outlet 301 is in an open state before coupling the injection port 403, a clip (not shown) can be installed in the middle of the flexible outlet 301 to press the flexible outlet 301 and prevent bodily contents being discharged through the anus from leaking out. After this procedure, the injection port 403 can be coupled to the fastening cover 303. The clip can then be removed, allowing the bodily contents being discharged through the flexible outlet 301 to be securely contained in the plastic bag 401.

[0062] 5, in step S70, the injection port 403 is separated from the fastening cover 303, and the fastening cover 303 is closed with the cap 405 (as shown by the arrow in FIG. 11). That is, since all the contents of the body expelled by the enema have been collected in the plastic bag 401, the cap 405 is closed and the reservoir 40 is discarded.

[0063] Finally, in step S80, the air is released from the balloon, and the outer insertion tube 20 is removed from the anus (see FIG. 12). That is, a syringe (not shown) is connected to the air injection tube 50, and the air inside the balloon 205 is removed through the air injection tube 50. Then, the outer insertion tube 20 and the connected flexible outlet part 301 can be completely removed by pulling them in the direction of the arrow. It is also possible to remove the flexible outlet part 301 first, and then remove the outer insertion tube 20. However, because the outer insertion tube 20 is made of a soft material and is short in length, it is preferable to pull the long flexible outlet part 301, which is firmly connected to the outer insertion tube 20, so that the outer insertion tube 20 can be removed from the anus together.

[0064] The enema can be easily performed through the above-described process. In addition, since the enema apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is manufactured to include all steps of the enema process, it is very convenient to use.

[0065] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. an inner insertion tube including a support rod extending in one direction to be inserted into the anus and having a hollow interior; an outer insertion tube that is detachably attached to the inner insertion tube, extends along the one direction, and is adapted to have the support rod inserted therein and surround the support rod; The outer insertion tube is a cylindrical tube having a strength less than that of the support rod; and a check valve located inside the outer insertion tube, through which the inner insertion tube passes, adapted to block external leakage of feces from the anus; An enema apparatus characterized by the above.

2. The cylindrical tube was made of silicone and the support rod was made of polypropylene.

2. The enema apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The check valve includes a plurality of adjacent check valve pieces, and a cross-shaped opening / closing groove is formed by the plurality of check valve pieces.

2. The enema apparatus according to claim 1.

4. At least one of the plurality of check valve pieces is a first inclined surface; and a second inclined surface connected to the first inclined surface and formed symmetrically with the first inclined surface, One end of the first inclined surface and one end of the second inclined surface are each formed in a straight line to form the opening and closing groove, and the other end of the first inclined surface and the other end of the second inclined surface are each formed in a curved line.

4. The enema apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface form a pocket space recessed toward the cylindrical tube.

5. The enema apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The outer insertion tube is a balloon adapted to expand around a medial side of the cylindrical tube to block the anus; a plate-like member connected to one end of the cylindrical tube and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical tube; a check valve casing located on the opposite side of the cylindrical tube across the plate-like member, the check valve casing having a diameter larger than that of the cylindrical tube but smaller than that of the plate-like member; a guide ring attached below the check valve casing and including a guide side portion defining a first hollow having a diameter gradually decreasing toward the check valve; and a fastening member that covers the check valve casing and the guide ring, has a protrusion formed on a side surface thereof, and has a center that penetrates the fastening member; The check valve is a hollow check valve support plate attached below the check valve casing; a side surface that is connected to the check valve support plate and forms a second hollow, the diameter of which gradually decreases as it approaches the cylindrical tube; and a plurality of check valve pieces formed on the side surface and adjacent to each other; The plurality of check valve pieces form a cross-shaped opening and closing groove.

2. The enema apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The inner insertion tube is a mounting plate to which the support rod is connected and to which the support rod is mounted; and a side surface spaced apart from the support rod and surrounding the circumference of the mounting plate; The side surface portion has a first guide hole formed to be open along the one direction; and a second guide hole connected to the first guide hole and extending in a direction perpendicular to the first guide hole; A convex portion protruding toward the second guide hole along the one direction is positioned in the second guide hole to fix the protrusion.

7. The enema apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The inner diameter of the side surface portion is larger than the diameter of the outer surface of the fastening member, The inner insertion tube further includes a plurality of gripping columns protruding outward from the side surface at equal intervals, and the first guide hole and the second guide hole are positioned between the plurality of gripping columns.

8. The enema apparatus according to claim 7.

9. a discharge tube detachable from the outer insertion tube, extending in one direction and including a flexible discharge portion communicating with the cylindrical tube; The discharge pipe is a further mounting plate identical to said mounting plate; Further, another side surface portion identical to the side surface portion, and a fastening cover coupled to the other side of the flexible discharge portion and having a screw thread formed on an inner surface thereof; The further side surface portion has a still another first guide hole identical to the first guide hole; and a second guide hole that is connected to the first guide hole and is identical to the second guide hole; The second guide hole has a second protrusion, the second protrusion being the same as the first protrusion, positioned therein to fix the protrusion.

8. The enema apparatus according to claim 7.

10. further comprising a reservoir detachably coupled to the discharge pipe; The storage facility includes: a further threaded inlet formed on the inside of the fastening cover and adapted to be threadedly coupled to the fastening cover by the threads; a cap adapted to be detachably attached to the injection port to open and close the injection port; and A plastic bag connected to the inlet 10. The enema apparatus according to claim 9.

11. a through hole that contacts the outer surface of the check valve casing is formed in the plate-shaped member; an air injection tube inserted through the through hole and having an air injection port connected to one end thereof; and a needle communicating with the other end of the air injection tube and inserted between the balloon and the cylindrical tube; The diameter of the air injection tube is larger than the diameter of the needle.

7. The enema apparatus according to claim 6.

12. The device further includes a discharge tube that is detachable from the outer insertion tube and includes a flexible discharge portion that extends long in one direction and communicates with the cylindrical tube.

2. The enema apparatus according to claim 1.

13. A method for operating the enema apparatus according to claim 9, comprising: inserting the inner insertion tube into the outer insertion tube, and rotating the side portion to sequentially pull and move the protrusion into the first guide hole and the second guide hole, thereby fixing the protrusion to the convex portion; injecting air into the balloon to expand the balloon; and removing the inner insertion tube from the outer insertion tube. A method for operating an enema apparatus, comprising:

14. inserting a syringe through the check valve to inject the enema liquid, and then removing the syringe; and further comprising the step of coupling the flexible discharge portion with the cylindrical tube. A method for operating the enema apparatus of claim 13.

15. The discharge pipe is a further mounting plate identical to said mounting plate; Further, another side surface portion identical to the side surface portion, and a fastening cover coupled to the other side of the flexible discharge portion and having a screw thread formed on an inner surface thereof; The further side surface portion has a still another first guide hole identical to the first guide hole; and a second guide hole that is connected to the first guide hole and is identical to the second guide hole; a still further convex portion identical to the convex portion is positioned in the still further second guide hole, In the step of connecting the flexible discharge portion to the cylindrical tube, the further side portion is rotated to sequentially pull and move the protrusion into the further first guide hole and the further second guide hole, and the protrusion is fixed by the further convex portion. A method for operating the enema apparatus of claim 14.

16. The discharge pipe further includes a storage member detachably connected to the storage member. The storage member is a filler port having a screw thread formed thereon, the filler port being positioned inside the fastening cover and adapted to be screw-coupled with the fastening cover by the screw thread; a cap adapted to be removably attached to the injection port to open and close the injection port; and a plastic bag connected to the inlet; separating the cap from the inlet; and The method further includes rotating the injection port to couple it to the inside of the fastening cover. A method for operating the enema apparatus of claim 15.

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