Motorized irrigation system

• US 10,569,008 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dentsply IH AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dentsply IH AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Andersson, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Bouchelle, Laura A
• Application Number:
  US15/978,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20180256808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/58 Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1064 Large intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1067 Anus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0237 the pressure being generated in the reservoir, e.g. by gas generating tablets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0262 manually, e.g. by squeezing a bulb
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0295 with inflatable balloon

Abstract

A portable irrigation system includes a reservoir for an irrigation liquid, a probe for arrangement in a user, an electrical system that directly or indirectly pumps the irrigation liquid from the reservoir to the probe, a control unit coupled to the electrical pump to control the electrical pump and to transfer the irrigation liquid, and tubing to provide fluid communication between the reservoir, the control unit and the probe. The control unit also includes at least one manually operable control element to control the electrical pump.

Claims

1. A portable irrigation system, comprising:

a reservoir for an irrigation liquid;

a probe for arrangement in a user;

an electrical system, comprising;

an electrical pump to directly or indirectly pump the irrigation liquid from the reservoir to the probe;

a control unit coupled to the electrical pump to control the electrical pump, and thereby also to transfer said irrigation liquid; and

tubing to provide fluid communication between said reservoir, said control unit and said probe;

wherein said control unit comprises at least one manually operable control element to control said electrical pump, said control element being switchable between an activated state, in which the electrical pump is controlled to pump irrigation liquid, and a deactivated state, in which the electrical pump is controlled not to pump irrigation liquid, and wherein the control element is brought into the activated state by continuous application of a predetermined condition thereto, and wherein the control element is immediately brought to the deactivated state when the predetermined condition ceases to be applied, thereby aborting pumping of the irrigation liquid, wherein the probe further comprises an inflatable retention member and wherein separate control elements are provided for inflation and deflation of the inflatable retention member, said control elements being operative when depressed and immediately stopping the inflation or deflation process upon release.

2. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition to bring the control element into the activated state is at least one of a depression, a twisting, a rotating, a pulling or a pushing.

3. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to the rest of the irrigation system by means of wire.

4. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a remote control, which is wirelessly connected to the portable irrigation system.

5. The portable irrigation system of claim 4, wherein the remote control is at least one of:

a smart phone, a tablet computer or a laptop computer.

6. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical pump is arranged within the control unit.

7. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is programmable.

8. The portable irrigation system of claim 7, wherein the control unit is programmable to set at least one of:

a total irrigation liquid volume to be discharged or an irrigation liquid discharge flow rate.

9. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises at least two control elements.

10. The portable irrigation system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the control element(s) is a multi-purpose control element having different functions in different operation states.

11. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical pump is useable both for pumping the irrigation liquid for discharge through the probe and for pumping a fluid for filling an inflatable retention member on the probe.

12. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical pump is useable for pumping the irrigation liquid for discharge through the probe, and wherein a second pump is provided for inflation of an inflatable retention member on the probe.

13. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to transmit operation related data to a remote unit via wireless communication.

14. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a display.

15. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises an overpressure release valve to release pressure over a predetermined maximum pressure.

16. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the irrigation system is a rectal irrigation system, and wherein the probe is a rectal probe.

17. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit forms a unitary, hand-held unit enclosing the electrical system, including said electrical pump and the at least one manually operable control element.

18. The portable irrigation system of claim 17, wherein the control unit forming the unitary hand-held unit further comprises a display.

19. The portable irrigation system of claim 17, wherein the unitary hand-held unit is provided within a waterproof housing.

20. The portable irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is distantly arranged from both the reservoir and the probe, and connected to the reservoir and the probe, respectively, through the tubing.

21. A portable irrigation system comprising:

a reservoir for an irrigation liquid;

a probe for arrangement in a user;

an electrical system, comprising;

an electrical pump to directly or indirectly pump the irrigation liquid from the reservoir to the probe;

a control unit to control the electrical pump, and thereby also control the transfer of said irrigation liquid; and

tubing to provide fluid communication between said reservoir, control unit and probe;

wherein said control unit comprises at least one manually operable control element to control said electrical pump, said control element configured as a dead man'"'"'s handle, thereby immediately returning to a deactivated state, in which the electrical pump ceases to pump the irrigation liquid, when manual operation of the control element is aborted, wherein the probe further comprises an inflatable retention member and wherein separate control elements are provided for inflation and deflation of the inflatable retention member, said control elements being operative when depressed and immediately stopping the inflation or deflation process upon release.

22. The portable irrigation system of claim 21, wherein the control unit is a unitary, hand-held unit enclosing the electrical system, including said electrical pump and the at least one manually operable control element.

23. The portable irrigation system of claim 21, wherein the control unit is distantly arranged from both the reservoir and the probe, and connected to the reservoir and the probe, respectively, through the tubing.