Device and related method for reducing swelling of hemorrhoidal tissues
First Claim
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1. A device for reducing swelling of hemorrhoids, comprising:
- a body member in the form of a rectal insert;
a fluid material contained in said body member, said fluid material being hypertonic with respect to hemorrhoidal tissues, said fluid material including a non-aqueous molecular substance giving rise to an osmotic pressure tending to draw water into said fluid material; and
a semipermeable membrane permeable to water and impermeable to said molecular substance, said membrane being disposed along an outer surface of said body member so that said membrane is in substantial direct contact with hemorrhoidal tissues upon insertion of said body member into a rectum, whereby water is absorbed through said membrane from rectal tissues upon insertion of said body member into a rectum.
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Abstract
A device for reducing swelling of hemorrhoidal tissues comprises an at least partially hollow body member, a hypertonic solution contained in the body member, and a semipermeable membrane defining a wall or surface of the body member. The membrane is positioned along the body member so that the membrane is in substantial direct contact with hemorrhoidal tissues upon insertion of the body member into a rectum.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A device for reducing swelling of hemorrhoids, comprising:
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a body member in the form of a rectal insert; a fluid material contained in said body member, said fluid material being hypertonic with respect to hemorrhoidal tissues, said fluid material including a non-aqueous molecular substance giving rise to an osmotic pressure tending to draw water into said fluid material; and a semipermeable membrane permeable to water and impermeable to said molecular substance, said membrane being disposed along an outer surface of said body member so that said membrane is in substantial direct contact with hemorrhoidal tissues upon insertion of said body member into a rectum, whereby water is absorbed through said membrane from rectal tissues upon insertion of said body member into a rectum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for the treatment of hemorrhoids, comprising:
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a body member capable of being rectally inserted; a hypertonic fluid inside said body member, said fluid being hypertonic with respect to hemorrhoidal tissues, said fluid including a solute dissolved in water; and a semipermeable membrane permeable to water and impermeable to said solute, said membrane being disposed along a substantially cylindrical outer surface of said body member and extending substantially completely around said body member so that said membrane is in direct contact with hemorrhoidal tissues upon insertion of said body member into a rectum. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for treating hemorrhoids, comprising the steps of:
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providing a rectal probe containing a fluid material including a non-aqueous molecular substance giving rise to an osmotic pressure tending to draw water into said fluid material, said rectal probe having a semipermeable membrane permeable to water and impermeable to said fluid material, said semipermeable membrane being disposed along an outer cylindrical surface of said probe; inserting said probe through a rectal orifice so that said semipermeable membrane is in substantial direct contact with hemorrhoidal tissues; selectively drawing water from the hemorrhoidal tissues through said semipermeable membrane into said rectal probe; maintaining said rectal probe disposed at least partially in said rectal orifice during said step of drawing; and upon shrinkage of said hemorrhoidal tissues, removing said probe from said rectal orifice.
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21. A method for treating hemorrhoids, comprising the steps of:
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providing a rectal probe including a rigid member and a stop portion attached to said rigid member, said rectal probe further including a semipermeable membrane attached to said rigid member; inserting said rigid member of said rectal probe through a rectal orifice of a patient; upon completion of said step of inserting, maintaining said stop portion of said rectal probe in engagement with skin tissues of the patient outside of the rectal orifice, thereby maintaining said rectal probe in contact with the hemorrhoidal tissues; during said step of maintaining, drawing water from the hemorrhoidal tissues of the patient through said semipermeable membrane into said rectal probe; shrinking the hemorrhoidal tissues during and by virtue of said step of drawing; and only upon a substantial shrinkage of said hemorrhoidal tissues, removing said probe from said rectal orifice. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification