Fecal incontinence assistance device

• US 20050277805A1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dignity Limited (Dignity PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dignity Limited (Dignity PLC)
• Inventors: Hatton, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US10/382,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a reusable medical device including a disposable portion and a processor. The disposable portion includes a probe capable of insertion into an opening of the human body for detecting a condition within the body and a memory associated with the probe for storing a value representing an amount of time that the probe has been in use. The processor is electrically connected to the disposable portion and reads and updates the value stored within the memory. The processor further alerts the human or a caretaker of the presence of the condition and/or the expiration of the disposable portion.

Claims

1. A device for blocking an opening in the human body comprising:

a disposable portion comprising;

a probe capable of insertion into the opening that is adapted to detect a quantity of effluent;

an inflatable balloon for blocking the opening;

a memory associated with the probe for storing a value representing an amount of time that the probe has been in use;

a processor electrically connected to the catheter for reading and updating the value stored within the memory and communicating with the effluent detector to determine whether an effluent is present near the probe.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the effluent detector within the probe comprises two contacts having a potential difference such that when moisture is present electrical current passes between the contacts through the moisture.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor further monitors an air pressure within the inflatable balloon and provides an alert when the air pressure drops below a predetermined value.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising an air pump and wherein the processor further monitors an air pressure within the inflatable balloon and operates the pump when the air pressure drops below a predetermined value.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor alerts a user of the device of the presence of an effluent by a tactile alert.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor alerts a user of the device of the presence of an effluent by an audible alert.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor alerts a user of the device of the presence of an effluent by a visual alert.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the memory is coated in a generally nonconductive protective coating.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the probe further comprises a guard which controls the ability of a fluid to reach the contacts.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor will no longer communicate with the probe to determine whether an effluent is present near the probe after a predetermined value stored within the memory is reached.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor will provide an alert after a predetermined value stored within the memory is reached.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a RF transmitter for transmitting to an alert to a caretaker.

13. A medical device for detecting moisture in the human body comprising:

a disposable portion comprising;

a probe capable of insertion into the opening comprising a moisture sensor;

a memory associated with the probe for storing a value representing an amount of time that the probe has been in use;

a processor electrically connected to the catheter for reading and updating the value stored within the memory and communicating with the moisture sensor to determine whether moisture is present near the probe.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the moisture sensor within the probe comprises two contacts having a potential difference such that when moisture is present electrical current passes between the contacts through the moisture.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the processor alerts a user of the device of a moisture condition by at least one of a tactile alert, an audible alert and a visual alert.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the memory is coated in a generally nonconductive protective coating.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the probe further comprises a guard which controls the ability of a fluid to reach the contacts.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor will no longer communicate with the moisture sensor to determine whether moisture is present near the probe after a predetermined value stored within the memory is reached.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor will provide an alert after a predetermined value stored within the memory is reached.

20. The device of claim 13 further comprising a RF transmitter for transmitting to an alert to a caretaker.

21. A reusable medical device comprising:

a disposable portion comprising;

a probe capable of insertion into an opening of the human body for detecting a condition within the body;

a memory associated with the probe for storing a value representing an amount of time that the probe has been in use;

a processor electrically connected to the disposable portion for reading and updating the value stored within the memory and alerting the human or a caretaker of the presence of the condition.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the memory is updated to represent the number of times the device has detected the presence of the condition.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the microprocessor will no longer alert the user or caretaker when a predetermined number of times the device has detected the presence of the condition has been reached.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein the microprocessor will no longer alert the user or caretaker when a predetermined amount of time has been reached.

25. The device of claim 21 wherein the microprocessor will provide an alert after a predetermined value stored within the memory is reached.

26. The device of claim 22 wherein the microprocessor will provide an alert after a predetermined value stored within the memory is reached.