Fecal Impaction Removal Device With Depth Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fecal impaction removal tools face challenges in accurately judging the depth of insertion and preventing over-insertion, which can lead to patient harm, and often cause discomfort and inefficiency due to the inability to effectively engage and dislodge impacted stool.
Innovation Solution
A fecal impaction removal device featuring an elongated shaft with a dilation body and a stop member, including a tapered helical band and a bulbous depth indicator, designed to minimize discomfort and prevent over-insertion by providing a clear indication of insertion depth and facilitating engagement with the impacted stool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device is inserted too far into the rectum, then the risk of perforation or other harm to the patient is greatly increased, but the device may fail to effectively engage the fecal mass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing depth markings and stop members on the device shaft before insertion occurs. These features pre-establish visual and physical cues that guide the practitioner to insert the device to the correct depth, preventing over-insertion and perforation risk while ensuring the dilation body reaches the fecal mass for effective engagement.
2Ease of operation
If manual manipulation is used to dislodge stool mass, then the practitioner can attempt to grasp the fecal mass, but the shape of a finger and inability to frictionally engage the mass makes this approach insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the dilation body with specific surface characteristics including a tapered shape and textured surface that provide enhanced friction and engagement capability with the fecal mass. This localized design at the distal end of the device enables effective grasping and dislodgement of stool, overcoming the limitations of manual finger manipulation.
3Ease of operation
If the practitioner attempts to curl the inserted finger to improve connection with the fecal mass, then frictional engagement may improve, but this flexion motion causes further distention of an already distended bowel and increases patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a specialized dilation body as a mediator between the practitioner and the fecal mass. This intermediate device provides the necessary engagement surface and mechanical advantage to dislodge stool without requiring the practitioner to curl or flex their finger, thereby avoiding additional bowel distention and patient discomfort.
4Productivity
If a practitioner repeatedly inserts their finger to manually dislodge stool, then attempts to relieve impaction can be made, but this approach is often ineffective and may require aborting the procedure due to pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the mechanical system of manual finger manipulation with a specialized device that has optimized mechanical properties. The device includes a rigid shaft for stable insertion, a tapered dilation body for effective engagement, and ergonomic handle for controlled manipulation, all of which work together to dislodge stool more efficiently and with less patient pain than repeated manual finger insertion.
Data Source
AI summary
A fecal impaction removal device includes an elongated shaft extending along a central longitudinal axis. A dilation body is secured at a distal end of the elongated shaft for insertion into a rectum of a patient. The dilation body has a maximum radial extension in a direction orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis. The fecal impaction removal device includes a stop member that extends from a central region of the elongated shaft. The stop member has a length along a major axis that is greater than the maximum radial extension of the dilation body.