METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ANAL INCONTINENCE

• US 3,650,275 A
• Filed: 08/13/1968
• Issued: 03/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hans A. Von Der Mozel
• Original Assignee: Hans A. Von Der Mozel
• Inventors: Von Der Mozel, Hans A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US04/752,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 128/404,407,408,419,421,422 331/51,111,113 307/261,291 328/35,39
• US Class Current: 607/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0512 Anal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/25 Artificial sphincters and devices for controlling urinary incontinence

Abstract

An electrostimulation probe comprising a suppository body formed with a rounded bulbous head, a reduced neck, and a broadened hilt, is inserted into the anus of a patient suffering from incontinence. The rounded bulbous tip and reduced neck facilitate anal insertion and subsequent retention. The rounded neck is clasped by the sphincter rectalis, and is provided with a pair of spaced electrical contacts which rest against the sphincter. The broadened hilt limits insertion of the suppository body, and has a substantially flat base so as to permit the patient to sit or lie down comfortably with the device inserted. A pair of electrical leads are connected respectively to the contacts, which are energized by a square wave signal having an average value of zero volts, a peak potential between 1 and 2 volts, and in the frequency range from about 18 to Hertz. 20 hertz. Such electrostimulation causes tonic and physiological contraction of the sphincter muscle, with significant results in the control of incontinence.

Claims

1. The method of controlling anal incontinence due to failure of the sphincter rectalis function, comprising the steps of:

putting a pair of spaced electrodes against the sphincter rectalis;

applying an alternating signal having an average value of about zero across said spaced electrodes to contract said sphincter rectalis, and maintaining said sphincter in a steady contracted condition by continuing to apply said signal to said electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said signal is a voltage having a frequency rate in the range from about 18 to about 90 Hertz.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said signal is substantially a square wave.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the peak potential of said signal is not greater than about 10 volts.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the peak potential of said signal is between about 1 and 2 volts.

6. In apparatus for use in controlling incontinence, a rectal probe including:

a suppository body formed of an insulating material and including a rounded bulbous tip adapted for insertion into and subsequent retention within the anus of a patient, a reduced neck joined at one end to said bulbous tip, and a broadened hilt joined to said reduced neck at the other end thereof to limit anal insertion of said suppository device so that said reduced neck rests against the sphincter rectalis; and

a pair of spaced-apart electrical contacts energizable by an external voltage source and secured to the external surface of said reduced neck whereby to rest against said sphincter rectalis during insertion;

a pair of electrical leads for connection to said external voltage source and connected to said contacts respectively for energization thereof; and

an electrical generator connected to said leads for energizing said contacts, said generator comprising;

a time base oscillator for producing a series of timing pulses; and

a bistable circuit arranged to switch between alternate states in response to successive ones of said timing pulses, and to apply a substantially square wave output to said leads as a result of said switching.