Flexible Enema Nozzle Tip for Tissue Trauma Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional enema nozzles made of stiff materials cause discomfort, trauma, and injuries due to their rigidity, making self-administration difficult and painful, especially for patients with impaired bowel control or anatomical obstructions.
Innovation Solution
An enema nozzle with a flexible insertion tip having a shore A hardness of 30 to 80 and an insertion body with a hardness above 100, made of elastomeric polymers, allowing for a smooth and pain-free insertion by flexing when encountering intestinal tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the enema nozzle is made from a relatively stiff material to provide longitudinal rigidity and strength for easy insertion, then the insertion process becomes easier to control, but the rigid tip intercepts anatomical obstructions such as hemorrhoids, fistulas, and abscesses, causing discomfort, trauma, and injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The enema nozzle is divided into two distinct segments with different mechanical properties: a stiff insertion body (shore A hardness above 100) for structural support and a flexible insertion tip (shore A hardness 30-80) for gentle tissue interaction. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the enema nozzle have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The insertion body uses stiff material for pushability and control, while the insertion tip uses soft, flexible material for comfortable tissue penetration. This local differentiation of material qualities resolves the contradiction between overall rigidity and local gentleness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the enema nozzle tip is made flexible to reduce tissue trauma, then patient comfort is improved, but the nozzle may lack sufficient rigidity for easy advancement through the body opening
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into a flexible tip portion and a rigid body portion, allowing the tip to flex gently over tissue obstacles while the rigid body provides the necessary pushability for advancement. The segmentation enables simultaneous optimization of both comfort and ease of insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The enema nozzle is constructed as a composite structure combining materials with different Shore A hardness values (flexible tip: 30-80, body: above 100). This composite construction integrates the benefits of both soft and stiff materials in a single device, achieving both tissue compatibility and mechanical performance.
3Ease of operation
If a lubricant is added to facilitate insertion, then the insertion process becomes smoother, but the device complexity increases and additional steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a lubricant, the solution changes the physical parameter (Shore A hardness) of the insertion tip material to 30-80, making it inherently soft and flexible. This material parameter change provides the necessary smoothness for insertion without requiring external lubricants, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
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
Minimizes tissue trauma and discomfort during enema administration, enabling easy and safe self-administration even in the presence of anatomical obstructions, suitable for patients with reduced hand strength or dexterity.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible insertion tip has a shore A hardness from 30 to 80, and the insertion body has a shore A hardness above 100. The flexible insertion tip is located at the insertion end of the insertion body, and since said tip is flexible the tip will flex when it abuts intestinal tissue.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7~9a
AI summary
The present invention relates to an enema nozzle (1) for an enema device (37), and wherein said enema nozzle (1) comprises an insertion body (2) with a flexible insertion tip (3). The flexible insertion tip (3) is located at the insertion end of the insertion body (2), and said tip will flex when it abuts intestinal tissue. This will provide a smoother insertion, which effectively will alleviate the physical discomfort and pain that a patient may expire during insertion of an enema nozzle.