Flexible Hygiene Irrigation Device with Adjustable Spray Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal irrigation devices for body hygiene are either unhygienic, require a live or pressurized water source, are cumbersome to maneuver, and lack portability and versatility for multiple uses.
Innovation Solution
A portable, flexible, and watertight tubular device with a spray member that can be filled with liquid and operated without a pressurized water supply, featuring an adjustable nozzle for controlled liquid flow, allowing for efficient irrigation of hard-to-reach areas without the need for a continuous water source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a small tub filled with water is used for irrigation, then the patient can be soothed by immersing the affected area, but the water becomes unhygienic due to exposure to the patient's crotch and anal areas
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the irrigation function into separate components: a reusable outer shell and a removable inner irrigation element. This allows the inner element to be easily removed and replaced after use, preventing cross-contamination and maintaining hygiene while still providing effective irrigation when a fresh element is inserted
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a flexible outer shell that can be collapsed and stored, and a flexible inner irrigation element that can be inserted and removed easily. This flexibility enables hygienic disposal or replacement of the inner element while maintaining the structural integrity of the outer shell for repeated use
2Adaptability or versatility
If a running water source connected to a faucet is used, then continuous irrigation is provided, but the device requires a pressurized water source and is not portable
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows water to be filled into the inner irrigation element before use, storing the irrigation medium in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for a pressurized water source during use, enabling portability while still providing effective irrigation through the pre-filled water
Solution Approach 2:
The device extracts the water storage function from a continuous pressurized supply and incorporates it into a self-contained, portable unit. The inner element serves as a portable water reservoir, eliminating dependence on external pressurized sources and enabling use anywhere
3Ease of operation
If a hose connected to a faucet is used to spray afflicted areas, then running water can reach difficult-to-reach areas, but the hose is cumbersome to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the irrigation function into a compact inner element that fits within the outer shell. This segmented design eliminates the need for a separate hose, making the overall device much easier to maneuver and handle while still allowing water to be directed to difficult-to-reach areas through the integrated spray mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges the water storage, delivery, and spray functions into a single integrated unit. The inner element combines the reservoir and spray mechanism, eliminating the separate hose and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the ability to reach difficult areas
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing devices are designed for specific purposes (douching, enemas, etc.), then they can effectively serve that one function, but they do not provide a general solution for multiple body hygiene needs
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a universal irrigation system where the inner element can be used for multiple purposes including hemorrhoid relief, douching, enemas, and general anal hygiene. By making the inner element removable and replaceable, a single outer shell can accommodate different inner elements for different applications, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices
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 provides a hygienic, portable, and versatile solution for personal irrigation, allowing for controlled pressure and flow of liquid to effectively soothe areas like hemorrhoids, facilitate douching, and perform enemas, while being easy to maneuver and use for various body hygiene needs.
Implementation Method 1
The device's tubular body is constructed of a flexible material, such as rubber or a waterproof fabric, whereby it can expand and contract to accommodate a volume of material, such as a liquid, in the cavity
Implementation Method 2
The spray member has a channel in its elongated body, which runs between two opposite ends of the spray member. The channel allows the flow of a material, such as a liquid, through the spray member's elongated body from one end to an opposite end
Implementation Method 3
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the amount of pressure applied on the flexible body will directly correspond to the pressure at which the material will exit the opening at an opposite end of the spray member
Data Source
AI summary
A personal hygiene device comprises a tubular body constructed of a substantially watertight flexible material. The tubular body defines a cavity. An opening in the tubular body provides access to the cavity, which opening is selectively closable to create a watertight seal. A spray member, having a first end and a second end, is operatively connected to the tubular body at the first end. A channel in the spray member extends from the first end to the second end. The channel is exposed to the cavity at the first end. The second end of the spray member has openings that are exposed to the channel. Material in the cavity can travel from the cavity through the channel in the spray member, and exit through the openings in its second end. An adjusting means is selectively operable to control the amount of material that flows into the channel.