Motorized irrigation system

• US 9,968,728 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dentsply IH AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dentsply IH AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Andersson, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUCHELLE, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US13/929,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/58 Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1064 Large intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1067 Anus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0237 the pressure being generated in the reservoir, e.g. by gas generating tablets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0262 manually, e.g. by squeezing a bulb
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0295 with inflatable balloon

Abstract

A portable irrigation system comprising a reservoir for an irrigating liquid; a probe for arrangement in a user; and an electrical system.

Claims

1. A portable rectal irrigation system comprising:

a reservoir for an irrigating liquid;

a rectal probe for arrangement in a user;

an electrical system, comprising;

an electrical pump for indirectly pumping irrigation liquid from the reservoir to the rectal probe, the electrical pump configured to pump air into the reservoir to create a pressure in the reservoir to displace the irrigation liquid therefrom and feed it to the probe;

a control unit for controlling the electrical pump, and thereby also the transfer of said irrigation liquid, said control unit forming a unitary, hand-held unit enclosing the electrical system, including said electrical pump, and comprising a display and at least one manually operable control element, to control said electrical pump; and

tubing providing fluid communication between said reservoir, control unit and rectal probe, wherein the control unit is distantly arranged from both the reservoir and the probe, and connected to the reservoir and probe, respectively, through the tubing;

wherein the rectal probe further comprises an inflatable retention member,

wherein said at least one manually operable control element being switchable between an activated state, in which the electrical pump is controlled to pump irrigation liquid, and a deactivated state, in which the electrical pump is controlled not to pump irrigation liquid, and wherein the control element is brought into the activated state by continuous application of a predetermined condition thereto, and wherein the control element is immediately brought to the deactivated state when the predetermined condition ceases to be applied, thereby aborting pumping of the irrigation liquid, and

wherein the at least one manually operable control element is a control button.

2. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition to bring the control element into the activated state is at least one of depression, twisting, rotating, pulling and pushing.

3. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to the rest of the irrigation system by means of wire.

4. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a remote control, which is wirelessly connected to the rest of the irrigation system.

5. The irrigation system of claim 4, wherein the remote control is at least one of:

a smart phone, a tablet computer and a laptop computer.

6. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is programmable.

7. The irrigation system of claim 6, wherein the control unit is set to at least one of:

total irrigation liquid volume to be discharged or irrigation liquid discharge flow rate.

8. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises at least two control elements.

9. The irrigation system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the control element(s) is a multi-purpose control element having different functions in different operation states.

10. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical pump is useable both for pumping irrigation liquid for discharge through the rectal probe and for pumping a fluid for filling of the inflatable retention member on the rectal probe.

11. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical pump is useable for pumping irrigation liquid for discharge through the rectal probe, and wherein a second pump is provided for inflation of an inflatable retention member on the rectal probe.

12. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to transmit operation related data to a remote unit via wireless communication.

13. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical pump is also useable for pumping air for inflation of the inflatable retention member.

14. The irrigation system of claim 13, wherein separate control elements are provided for inflation and deflation of the inflatable retention member, said control elements being operative when depressed, and immediately stopping the inflation/deflation processes upon release.

15. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein a second electric pump is arranged within the electric system to pump air for inflation of the inflatable retention member.

16. The irrigation system of claim 15, wherein separate control elements are provided for inflation and deflation of the inflatable retention member, said control elements being operative when depressed, and immediately stopping the inflation/deflation processes upon release.

17. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises an overpressure release valve to release pressure over a predetermined maximum pressure.

18. The irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the unitary, hand-held unit is provided within a waterproof housing.

19. A portable rectal irrigation system comprising:

a reservoir for an irrigating liquid;

a rectal probe for arrangement in a user;

an electrical system, comprising;

an electrical pump for indirectly pumping irrigation liquid from the reservoir to the rectal probe, the electrical pump configured to pump air into the reservoir to create a pressure in the reservoir to displace the irrigation liquid therefrom and feed it to the probe;

a control unit for controlling the electrical pump, and thereby also the transfer of said irrigation liquid, said control unit forming a unitary, hand-held unit enclosing the electrical system, including said electrical pump, and comprising a display and at least one manually operable control element, to control said electrical pump; and

tubing providing fluid communication between said reservoir, control unit and rectal probe, wherein the control unit is distantly arranged from both the reservoir and the probe, and connected to the reservoir and probe, respectively, through the tubing;

wherein the rectal probe further comprises an inflatable retention member,

wherein said at least one manually operable control element configured to immediately return to a deactivated state, in which the electrical pump is controlled not to pump irrigation liquid, when manual operation of the control element is aborted, thereby functioning as a dead man'"'"'s handle, and

wherein the at least one manually operable control element is a control button.