Enema Device Two-Cavity Segmentation Reduces Squeeze Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional enema devices cause discomfort due to applicator nozzle insertion and require significant squeeze force for administration, often leading to air mixing with the enema, making self-administration difficult, especially for patients with limited dexterity, and result in inefficient delivery and reloading challenges.
Innovation Solution
A handheld enema device with a flexible delivery container featuring two cavities - an outer cavity for the enema and an inner cavity for air, where the enema is expelled through a non-return valve and air is drawn into the inner cavity to prevent mixing, ensuring the device is perceived as full until the dosage is complete, allowing for reduced squeeze force and easy self-administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the resistance to flow of liquid through the device is reduced to decrease squeeze force, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to compromised prevention of reflux and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery container is divided into two separate cavities: an inner cavity that holds the enema liquid and an outer cavity that provides structural support and defines the overall container shape. This segmentation allows the inner cavity to be optimized for fluid containment with appropriate resistance characteristics, while the outer cavity can be designed for ergonomic squeezing with lower resistance, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If pressure is released on the delivery container during administration, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to air being drawn into the container and mixed with the enema
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the enema liquid storage (inner cavity) from the air space (outer cavity), the design prevents air from contaminating the enema liquid even when pressure is released during administration. The structural outer cavity can be compressed and relaxed without affecting the sealed inner cavity, allowing patients to ease pressure during use without introducing air into the medication.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall separating the inner and outer cavities acts as an intermediary barrier that prevents air from the outer cavity from mixing with the enema liquid in the inner cavity. This intermediate structure allows independent pressure changes in each cavity, enabling easy operation while preventing harmful air mixing.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the device requires reloading during administration to prevent air delivery, then productivity is improved in terms of air prevention, but loss of time increases due to multiple reloading operations
Solution Approach 1:
The two-cavity design allows the entire enema dose to be loaded once into the inner cavity before administration begins. The outer cavity serves as a reusable structural element that can be compressed and relaxed multiple times without requiring reloading. This eliminates the need for repeated reloading operations while still preventing air mixing, thus reducing time loss.
4Ease of operation
If the device is designed for self-administration, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for reliable one-way valve mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented cavity design simplifies the valve requirements compared to single-cavity reloadable devices. The inner cavity needs only a single reliable one-way valve at its outlet to prevent reflux, while the outer cavity requires no valve mechanism at all since it only provides structural support and air containment. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity while enabling reliable self-administration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively prevents air from mixing with the enema, reduces the effort required for administration, and allows for complete enema delivery without reloading, enhancing patient compliance and ease of use, especially for self-administration.
Implementation Method 1
a first non-return valve placed in the outlet, said first non-return valve being arranged for preventing backflow of liquid and faeces from the colon into the enema device
Implementation Method 2
a second non-return valve placed in the air inlet, said second non-return valve being arranged for preventing air from escaping the air cavity when an enema is being administered
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3d
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to an enema device (1;1') comprising a delivery container (2) and an applicator nozzle (3), and wherein said delivery container (2) comprises two cavities (6,8;6',8'), an outer cavity (6;6') defined by an squeezable external body (7;7'), and an inner cavity (8;8') defined by an inner flexible bladder (9;9'), and wherein one of said cavities (6;8') is communicating with an outlet (10) for dispersing the enema though the applicator nozzle (3) and the other cavity (8;6') is communicating with the surroundings via an air inlet (12). Thereby is provided a simple, inexpensive and essentially maintenance free enema device (1;1') which can be used for self-administrating of an enema. The device (1;1') will not only effectively prevent air from being mixed with the enema, but also ensure that the user easily can expel the enema, as the device (1;1') will be perceived as full of enema at all times.