Anal sphincter device and barium enema plug

• US 3,943,938 A
• Filed: 02/27/1974
• Issued: 03/16/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boguslav H. Fischer, Paul Wexler
• Original Assignee: Boguslav H. Fischer, Paul Wexler
• Inventors: Fischer, Boguslav H., Wexler, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/446,280
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 128/404, 128/407, 128/408, 128/419 R, 128/421 PE, 128/422, 128/423, 128/2 A
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/005 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0512 Anal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

An apparatus for stimulating the anal sphincter is provided in order to maintain the anal sphincter in a substantially continuously contracted condition. The apparatus includes a plug which is inserted in the anus such that a portion of the plug is surrounded by the anal sphincter. Electrodes are mounted on the plug in contact with anal sphincter and a signal generator generates a biphasic output signal having a positive pulse portion, a negative pulse portion and a zero output portion. The output signal is applied to the anal sphincter through the electrodes, thus causing the anal sphincter to contract and remain in a substantially contracted condition. The signal generator comprises a timer circuit which is used to operate a counter and an output driver which is controlled by the counter. The output signal from the output driver is applied to the anal sphincter through the electrodes. The plug comprises a suppository member which has an enlarged forward portion, a narrower central portion and an enlarged rear portion. The device may be used in conjunction with a barium enema to maintain the anal sphincter in a substantially contracted condition during barium enema examinations. In this arrangement, the plug has a channel which passes through the center along the axis thereof. The contrast material is then passed through this channel into the rectum and colon. The contrast material is held in the body because of the maintained contraction of the anal sphincter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stimulating the anal sphincter to maintain it in a continuously substantially contracted condition while a fluid is being introduced into the rectum, said apparatus comprising:

a. plug means for insertion into the anus such that a portion of said plug means is surrounded by the anal sphincter, said plug means having a central aperture therethrough for the introduction of fluid into the rectum when said plug means is inserted into the anus;

b. electrode means mounted on said plug means such that said electrode means contacts the anal sphincter when said plug means is inserted into the anus, said electrode means being adapted to apply an output signal to the anal sphincter to cause it to contract when fluid is introduced into the rectum through said central aperture in said plug means, said output signal being derived from an external signal generator means; and

c. said external signal generator means generating a biphasic output signal having a positive pulse portion, a negative pulse portion and a zero output portion, said external signal generator means being coupled to said electrode means such that said output signal is applied to the anal sphincter through said electrode means, said output signal having a frequency greater than or equal to 300 Hz. and less than or equal to 1000 Hz.

2. An apparatus for stimulating the anal sphincter to maintain the anal sphincter in a continuously substantially contracted condition, said apparatus comprising:

plug means for insertion into the anus such that a portion of said plug means is surrounded by the anal sphincter,

electrodes mounted on said plug means wherein said electrodes contact the anal sphincter,

signal generator means for generating a biphasic output signal having a positive pulse portion, a negative pulse portion, and a zero output portion, said signal generating means being coupled to said electrodes such that said output signal is applied to the anal sphincter through said electrodes, whereby the application of said output signal to the anal sphincter causes the anal sphincter to contract and remain in a contracted condition,

said signal generator means comprising timer means for generating a plurality of timing pulses, counter means coupled to said timer means for counting said timing pulses and for producing an output in accordance with the number of pulses counted, and output driver means coupled to said counter means for producing said output signal and for applying said output signal to said electrodes,

said counter means comprising a two stage counter and means for simultaneously applying the output of each stage to said output driver means for controlling said output driver means, and means for creating a feedback output from one of the counter stages to said timer means for changing the period of said timer means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plug means has a central aperture therethrough for the introduction of fluid into the rectum when said plug means is inserted into the anus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a tube is mounted within said central aperture of said plug means, said tube having a rear end portion extending rearwardly of said plug means and being adapted to be connected to an enema reservoir.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the frequency of said output signal is at least 100 Hz.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the frequency of said output signal equals or is less than 2000 Hz.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the frequency of said output signal equals or is greater than 300 Hz.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the frequency of said output signal equals or is greater than 300 Hz.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the frequency of said output signal equals or is less than 1000 Hz.

10. An apparatus for stimulating the anal sphincter to maintain it in a continuously substantially contracted condition while a fluid is being introduced into the rectum, said apparatus comprising:

a. plug means for insertion into the anus such that a portion of said plug means is surrounded by the anal sphincter, said plug means having a central aperture therethrough for the introduction of fluid into the rectum when said plug means is inserted into the anus;

b. electrode means mounted on said plug means such that said electrode means contacts the anal sphincter when said plug means is inserted into the anus, said electrode means being adapted to apply an output signal to the anal sphincter to cause it to contract when fluid is introduced into the rectum through said central aperture in said plug means; and

c. a signal generator means for generating a biphasic output signal having a positive pulse portion, a negative pulse portion, and a zero output portion, said signal generator means being coupled to said electrodes such that said output signal is applied to the anal sphincter through said electrodes, said signal generator means having a timer means for generating a plurality of timing pulses, a counter means, coupled to said timer means, for counting said timing pulses and for producing an output in accordance with the number of pulses counted and an output driver means, coupled to said counter means for producing said output signal and for applying said output signal to said electrodes, said output driver means including voltage regulation means for regulating the magnitude of the positive and negative pulse portions of the output signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said output driver means further includes current limiter means for limiting the magnitude of the current of said output signal.

12. An apparatus for stimulating the anal sphincter to maintain it in a continuously substantially contracted condition while a fluid is being introduced into the rectum, said apparatus comprising:

a. plug means for insertion into the anus such that a portion of said plug means is surrounded by the anal sphincter, said plug means having a central aperture therethrough for the introduction of fluid into the rectum when said plug means is inserted into the anus;

b. electrode means mounted on said plug means such that said electrode means contacts the anal sphincter when said plug means is inserted into the anus, said electrode means being adapted to apply an output signal to the anal sphincter to cause it to contract when fluid is introduced into the rectum through said central aperture in said plug means; and

c. a signal generator means for generating a biphasic output signal having a positive pulse portion, a negative pulse portion, and a zero output portions, said signal generator means being coupled to said electrodes such that said output signal is applied to the anal sphincter through said electrodes, said signal generator means having a timer means for generating a plurality of timing pulses, a counter means, coupled to said timer means, for counting said timing pulses and for producing an output in accordance with the number of pulses counted and an output driver means, coupled to said counter means for producing said output signal and for applying said output signal to said electrodes, said counter means having a two-stage counter and means for simultaneously applying the output of each stage to said output driver means for controlling said output driver means, and wherein means are provided to create a feedback output from one of the stages to said timer means for changing the period of said timer means.

13. An apparatus for stimulating the anal sphincter to maintain it in a continuously substantially contracted condition while a fluid is being introduced into the rectum, said apparatus comprising:

a. plug means for insertion into the anus such that a portion of said plug means is surrounded by the anal sphincter, said plug means having a central aperture therethrough for the introduction of fluid into the rectum when said plug means is inserted into the anus;

b. electrode means mounted on said plug means such that said electrode means contacts the anal sphincter when said plug means is inserted into the anus, said electrode means being adapted to apply an output signal to the anal sphincter to cause it to contract when fluid is introduced into the rectum through said central aperture in said plug means; and

c. a signal generator means for generating a biphasic output signal having a positive pulse portion, a negative pulse portion, and a zero output portion, said signal generator means being coupled to said electrodes such that said output signal is applied to the anal sphincter through said electrodes, said signal generator means having a timer means for generating a plurality of timing pulses, a counter means, coupled to said timer means, for counting said timing pulses and for producing an output in accordance with the number of pulses counted, an output driver means, coupled to said counter means for producing said output signal and for applying said output signal to said electrodes, and a meter means coupled to said output driver means for detecting and indicating the peak output voltage of said output signal.