Segmented Pneumatic Balloon for Rectal Defecation Reflex Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for intermittent stool emptying from the rectum or large intestine often rely on liquid enemas, which are cumbersome, require continuous adjustment, and have inadequate sealing, leading to inefficiencies and patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A thin-walled balloon body designed to fill the rectum and optionally extend into the sigmoid colon, unfolding more in its longitudinal direction than radially when filled with air, to trigger a defecation reflex without the need for a liquid medium, using a catheter with a preformed balloon that unfolds like a bellows and is easily inserted and removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing balloon is used to maintain fluid volume in the intestine, then the sealing performance should be improved, but the balloon often breaks out as a lateral protuberance (herniation) which limits sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is divided into multiple segments (first balloon segment in the rectum, second balloon segment in the sigmoid colon) that can be independently filled and controlled. This segmentation allows each segment to maintain its shape independently, preventing herniation while ensuring reliable sealing at both the rectal and sigmoid levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon system is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the user to fill and deflate individual segments as needed. The balloon material and structure are optimized to maintain shape stability under varying pressure conditions, preventing lateral protuberances while adapting to intestinal movements.
2Reliability
If liquid enema is used to trigger defecation reflex, then the reflex can be triggered, but the procedure requires significant time (around 30 minutes for drainage) and repeated discharges
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces liquid enema with pneumatic pressure from air-filled balloon segments. The balloons are inflated to exert controlled pressure on the intestinal wall, triggering the defecation reflex through mechanical stimulation rather than fluid instillation. This eliminates the need for prolonged drainage periods and repeated discharges associated with liquid enemas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows precise control of pressure parameters by adjusting the air volume in each balloon segment. By optimizing the pressure and duration of stimulation, the defecation reflex can be reliably triggered while minimizing procedure time. The segmented design enables targeted pressure application to different intestinal regions.
3Ease of operation
If a torus-shaped balloon is used for sealing, then the balloon can be inserted, but it expands predominantly in the radial direction and surrounds a central catheter, making it unsuitable for triggering defecation reflex
Solution Approach 1:
The single torus-shaped balloon is replaced by segmented balloon sections that can be independently positioned and shaped. The first segment is configured for rectal sealing while the second segment extends into the sigmoid colon to provide the necessary surface area for triggering the defecation reflex. Each segment maintains insertion ease while adapting to the specific functional requirements of its location.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the balloon system are designed with different geometries and filling characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The rectal segment prioritizes sealing capability, while the sigmoid segment is designed to expand sufficiently to stimulate the defecation reflex. This local optimization resolves the conflict between insertion ease and reflex-triggering effectiveness.
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
This solution allows for efficient and comfortable triggering of the defecation reflex, reducing the need for liquid enemas and improving sealing, enabling patients to move freely during the process while minimizing equipment and procedure time.
Implementation Method 1
which, when filled with air, unfolds more in its longitudinal direction than in its radial direction without elastic stretching
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices for intermittently emptying stools from the colon or rectum of a patient by means of a thin-walled balloon which is introduced into the bowel via the anus and which, when filled with air, triggers a defecation reflex by gently expanding the bowel wall with uniform force. Therefore, depending on the individual situation of the patient, it is possible to dispense with the difficult handling of liquid triggering media.