Colonic irrigation apparatus and method

• US 6,228,048 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CM Robbins Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CM Robbins Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Robbins, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Application Number:
  US09/178,375
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/48, 604/65, 604/67, 604/73, 604/113, 604/114, 604/246, 604/247, 604/257, 604/271, 604/131, 604/151, 604/275-277, 604/30-36, 4/420, 4/420.1, 4/420.5, 4/443, 4/445
• US Class Current: 604/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1064 Large intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0241 the liquid being supplied by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means

Abstract

A colonic irrigation apparatus for cleaning bodily orifices such as the large intestine, which converts pressurized water from a building'"'"'s water supply into a gravity flow and which provides precise temperature control even at extremely low flow rates. Water temperature is regulated by alternating the flow from separate hot and cold water inlets around a preset temperature set point, and sending the water into a filter. The filter blends the water, evening the temperature, whereupon the water passes through a temperature safety valve and on to an elevated pressure-to-gravity converter. Pressure is regulated by the converter, which receives the pressurized water, drains most of it under the flow of gravity to the patient at a preset flow rate, and vents the excess pressure by diverting a variable flow of the incoming water down to a drain.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the temperature of a liquid used for irrigating a bodily orifice, comprising:

(a) contacting a first liquid with a temperature sensor;

(b) comparing a first temperature measured by the temperature sensor with a predetermined temperature;

(c) when the first temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, thereafter contacting a second liquid having a second temperature that is more than the predetermined temperature with the temperature sensor and, when the first temperature is more than the predetermined temperature, thereafter contacting a third liquid having a third temperature less than the predetermined temperature with the temperature sensor;

(d) thereafter mixing the first liquid with at least one of the second and third liquids to form an orifice irrigation liquid; and

(e) introducing at least a portion of the orifice irrigation liquid into a bodily orifice.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) measuring a fourth temperature of the orifice irrigation liquid prior to the introducing step.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein in the comparing step (b) the predetermined temperature is the sum of (i) the first temperature and (ii) the difference between a selected temperature and the fourth temperature.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein in the comparing step (b) the predetermined temperature is the selected temperature when the fourth temperature varies substantially during a selected time interval and the predetermined temperature is the sum of (i) the first temperature and (ii) the difference between a selected temperature and the fourth temperature when the fourth temperature is substantially constant during the selected time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third liquids are water, at least two of which have different temperatures, and step (c) comprises first contacting the temperature sensor with one of the second and third liquids and thereafter contacting the temperature sensor with the other of the second and third liquids.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

(g) determining if the fourth temperature is within a selected temperature range and

(h) when the fourth temperature is outside of the selected temperature range, maintaining a portion of the orifice irrigation liquid free of contact with the bodily orifice.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second liquid portions are water having different temperatures.

7. A system for controlling the temperature of a liquid used for irrigating a bodily orifice, comprising:

determining means for determining a predetermined temperature;

a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a liquid in contact with the temperature sensor;

comparing means for comparing a first temperature measured by the temperature sensor when in contact with a first portion of the liquid with the predetermined temperature, the comparing means being in communication with the determining means and the temperature sensor;

control means for generating a control signal, wherein, when the first temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, a second portion of the liquid having a second temperature more than the predetermined temperature is contacted with the temperature sensor;

mixing means for mixing the first portion of the liquid with the second portion of the liquid to form an orifice irrigation liquid; and

introducing means for introducing the orifice irrigation liquid into the bodily orifice.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein, when the first temperature is more than the predetermined temperature, a third portion of the liquid having a third temperature less than the predetermined temperature is contacted with the temperature sensor and wherein the liquid is water, at least two of the first, second, and third portions of which have different temperatures, and further comprising:

a second temperature sensor for measuring a fourth temperature of the orifice irrigation liquid.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined temperature is the sum of (i) the first temperature and (ii) the difference between a selected temperature and the fourth temperature.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined temperature is the selected temperature when the fourth temperature varies substantially during a selected time interval and the predetermined temperature is the sum of (i) the first temperature and (ii) the difference between a selected temperature and the fourth temperature when the fourth temperature is substantially constant during the selected time interval.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the control signal causes the temperature sensor to be first contacted with one of the second and third portions of the liquid and thereafter to be contacted with the other of the second and third portions of the liquid.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for determining if the fourth temperature is within a selected temperature range such that when the fourth temperature is outside of the selected temperature range, a portion of the liquid is diverted from contact with the bodily orifice.

13. A system for controlling the temperature of a liquid used for irrigating a bodily orifice, comprising:

a sensing module having a first input for a first portion of the liquid having a first temperature less than a predetermined temperature, a second input for a second portion of the liquid having a second temperature more than the predetermined temperature, a temperature sensor in communication with each of the first and second inputs, and an output;

a mixing device in communication with the output to mix the first and second portions and form the irrigation liquid; and

a controller for comparing a temperature signal from the temperature sensor with the predetermined temperature and generating a control signal to open the first input and close the second input to contact the first portion of the liquid with the mixing device or close the first input and open the second input to contact the second portion of the liquid with the mixing device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the liquid is water, at least two of the first and second portions of the liquid, and a third portion of the liquid have different temperatures, and further comprising:

a second temperature sensor in communication with the mixing device for measuring a temperature of the irrigating liquid.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second inputs are in an opposing relationship and the temperature sensor is located between the first and second inputs.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a diversion valve located downstream of the mixing device and the second temperature sensor and wherein the controller generates a second control signal when the second temperature is outside of a selected temperature range to alter the state of the diversion valve.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a pressure-to-gravity converter including a tubular body having an input for the irrigation liquid, an overflow, an outlet to the atmosphere, and an outlet to a device for introducing the irrigation liquid into a bodily orifice, wherein the input is located below the output to the atmosphere and the overflow and above the output to the introducing device.

18. A method for controlling the flow of a liquid used for irrigating a bodily orifice, comprising:

(a) transporting an irrigation liquid;

(b) during the transporting step, measuring a temperature of the irrigation liquid with a temperature sensor;

(c) comparing the temperature of the irrigation liquid with a first predetermined temperature; and

(d) when the temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature, thereafter diverting the irrigation liquid away from the bodily orifice to a waste outlet.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first predetermined temperature is a lower temperature threshold of a predetermined temperature range and a second predetermined temperature is the upper temperature threshold of the predetermined temperature range and further comprising:

when the temperature of the irrigation liquid is more than the second predetermined temperature, thereafter diverting the irrigation liquid away from the bodily orifice to the waste outlet.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

(e) measuring a first temperature of a temperature sensor in contact with a first portion of the irrigation liquid;

(f) comparing the first temperature to a second predetermined temperature;

(g) when the first temperature is less than the second predetermined temperature, contacting a second portion of the irrigation liquid with the temperature sensor; and

(h) thereafter combining the first and second liquids to form the irrigation liquid.

21. A method for controlling the temperature of a liquid used for irrigating a bodily orifice, comprising:

contacting a first portion of a liquid with a temperature sensor;

comparing a first temperature measured by the temperature sensor with a determined temperature;

when the first temperature is less than the determined temperature or when the first temperature is more than the determined temperature, contacting a second portion of the liquid having a temperature different from the first portion of the liquid with the temperature sensor;

thereafter combining the first portion of the liquid with the second portion of the liquid to form an orifice irrigation liquid; and

introducing at least a portion of the orifice irrigation liquid into a bodily orifice.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

measuring a second temperature of the orifice irrigation liquid prior to the introducing step.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein in the comparing step the determined temperature is the sum of (i) the first temperature and (ii) the difference between a selected temperature and the second temperature.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein in the comparing step the determined temperature is the selected temperature when the second temperature varies substantially during a selected time interval and the determined temperature is the sum of (i) the first temperature and (ii) the difference between a selected temperature and the second temperature when the second temperature is substantially constant during the selected time interval.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining if the second temperature is within a selected temperature range and

when the second temperature is outside of the selected temperature range, diverting a portion of the orifice irrigation away from the bodily orifice.