Fecal impaction removal tool
First Claim
1. An article of manufacture adapted for use in removal of a fecal impaction from a human being in need thereof and insertable into the rectum of said human being in need to manipulate the impaction, comprising:
- a body member, at least a portion of which extends outwardly of the rectum of the human being experiencing an impaction on insertion of a distal portion of the body member into the rectum by a user, an outwardly extending anterior portion of the body member graspable by the user of the article to engage the impaction and to insert the distal portion of the article into the impaction;
at least one dilation body carried by the body member distally of said body member to facilitate entry of the body member into the rectum of the human being in need of removal of the impaction;
and,at least one grappling element carried by the body member on the distal portion of the body member and anteriorly of the at least one dilation body, the at least one grappling element for gripping at least portions of the impaction, at least one end of the at least one grappling element extending outwardly of the body member a distance greater than a volumetric space defined by passage of the at least one dilation body on insertion of the distal portion of the body member into the rectum, the volumetric space being defined by the at least one dilation body in an uncompressed condition prior to insertion into the rectum of a human being in need of removal of the impaction, the at least one grappling element being compressible toward the body member to a position essentially within the volumetric space, the grappling element being abducted from the body member within the rectum to grip at least portions of the impaction on sufficient insertion of the at least one grappling element into the rectum of the human being in need and to remove at least portions of the impaction on withdrawal of the body member from the rectum of the human in need of impaction removal; and
a second dilation body carried by the body member and proximally disposed with respect to the at least one grappling element, the second dilation body having a tapered configuration tapering to a narrower proximal section;
wherein the at least one grappling element is arcuately formed in a relaxed and uncompressed condition and comprises an inner body portion joined to the body member and ends extending outwardly away from the body member, the ends of the at least one grappling element being more proximally disposed relative to body member than the inner body portion.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A manually manipulatable tool for removing a fecal impaction, the tool is adapted for insertion into a patient'"'"'s rectum to engage and penetrate the impaction. The tool is fitted with flexible, arcuately configured elements collapsible at least partially during insertion into the rectum and penetration of the fecal impaction, withdrawal of the tool deploying the elements to exert traction on the impaction thus facilitating withdrawal of at least portions of the impaction. A body member of the tool is preferably elongated and can optionally be provided with a longitudinally extending lumen for introduction of an enema solution concurrently with or independently of impaction removal.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. An article of manufacture adapted for use in removal of a fecal impaction from a human being in need thereof and insertable into the rectum of said human being in need to manipulate the impaction, comprising:
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a body member, at least a portion of which extends outwardly of the rectum of the human being experiencing an impaction on insertion of a distal portion of the body member into the rectum by a user, an outwardly extending anterior portion of the body member graspable by the user of the article to engage the impaction and to insert the distal portion of the article into the impaction; at least one dilation body carried by the body member distally of said body member to facilitate entry of the body member into the rectum of the human being in need of removal of the impaction;
and,at least one grappling element carried by the body member on the distal portion of the body member and anteriorly of the at least one dilation body, the at least one grappling element for gripping at least portions of the impaction, at least one end of the at least one grappling element extending outwardly of the body member a distance greater than a volumetric space defined by passage of the at least one dilation body on insertion of the distal portion of the body member into the rectum, the volumetric space being defined by the at least one dilation body in an uncompressed condition prior to insertion into the rectum of a human being in need of removal of the impaction, the at least one grappling element being compressible toward the body member to a position essentially within the volumetric space, the grappling element being abducted from the body member within the rectum to grip at least portions of the impaction on sufficient insertion of the at least one grappling element into the rectum of the human being in need and to remove at least portions of the impaction on withdrawal of the body member from the rectum of the human in need of impaction removal; and a second dilation body carried by the body member and proximally disposed with respect to the at least one grappling element, the second dilation body having a tapered configuration tapering to a narrower proximal section; wherein the at least one grappling element is arcuately formed in a relaxed and uncompressed condition and comprises an inner body portion joined to the body member and ends extending outwardly away from the body member, the ends of the at least one grappling element being more proximally disposed relative to body member than the inner body portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An article of manufacture adapted for use in removal of a fecal impaction from a human being in need thereof and insertable into the rectum of said human being in need to manipulate the impaction, comprising:
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a body member, at least a portion of which extends outwardly of the rectum of the human being experiencing an impaction on insertion of a distal portion of the body member into the rectum by a user; a distally disposed tip portion of said body member to facilitate entry of the body member into the rectum of the human being; at least one grappling element carried by the body member on the distal portion of the body member, a lumen disposed within the body member and extending to the at least one grappling element and capable of delivering fluid to the at least one grappling element; at least one dilation body carried by the body member and proximally disposed with respect to the at least one grappling element, the dilation body having a tapered configuration tapering to a narrower proximal section; each grappling element being compressible toward the body member and abducted from the body member within the rectum to grip at least portions of the impaction on sufficient insertion of the at least one grappling element into the rectum of the human being, and to remove at least portions of the impaction on withdrawal of the body member from the rectum of the human in need of impaction removal; each grappling element extending outwardly of the body member a distance greater than a volumetric space defined by the at least one dilation body in an uncompressed condition; wherein each grappling element is arcuately formed in a relaxed and uncompressed condition and comprises an inner body portion joined to the body member and an outer portion including a pair of opposed ends extending outwardly away from the body member, the ends of the at least one grappling element being more proximally disposed relative to the body member than the inner body portion. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for engaging a fecal impaction in a human being with an article of manufacture adapted for use in removal of a fecal impaction from a human being in need thereof, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fecal impaction removal article including a body member, at least a portion of which extends outwardly of the rectum of the human being experiencing an impaction on insertion of a distal portion of the body member into the rectum by a user;
a distally disposed tip portion of the body member to facilitate entry of the body member into the rectum of the human being;
at least one grappling element carried by the body member on the distal portion of the body member, a lumen disposed within the body member and extending to the at least one grappling element and including ports capable of delivering fluid to the at least one grappling element;
at least one dilation body carried by the body member and proximally disposed with respect to the at least one grappling element, the dilation body having a tapered configuration tapering to a narrower proximal section;
each grappling element being compressible toward the body member, each grappling element extending outwardly of the body member a distance greater than a volumetric space defined by the at least one dilation body in an uncompressed condition;
each grappling element being abducted from the body member within the rectum to grip at least portions of the impaction on sufficient insertion of the at least one grappling element into the rectum of the human being, and to remove at least portions of the impaction on withdrawal of the body member from the rectum of the human in need of impaction removal, wherein each grappling element is arcuately formed in a relaxed and uncompressed condition and comprises an inner body portion joined to the body member and a pair of opposed ends extending outwardly away from the body member, the ends of the at least one grappling element being more proximally disposed relative to the body member than the inner body portion;inserting the distal portion into the rectum of the human being with a fecal impaction until at least one of the ports is disposed in a portion of the impaction; delivering fluid through the lumen and through at least one of the ports having a radial opening to direct fluid to contact at least an internal portion of the impaction with the fluid and to loosen the impaction; and removing the distal portion from the rectum of the human being while causing the at least one grappling element to engage and remove portions of the loosened impaction. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification