US2690181A - Enema applicator - Google Patents

Description

p 28, 1954 R. c. BOYER 2,690,181

ENEMA APPLICATOR Filed Oct. 23, 1952 INVENTOR. /?l/55//6 fioyer' Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Clyserol Laboratories, Inc.,

Oklahoma City,

-kla., a corporation of Oklahoma Application October 23, 1952, Serial No. 316,498

2 Claims.

This invention relates to medical appliances in the specific nature of an enema applicator, and the primary aim of the invention is the provision of such a device that is capable of containing predetermined measured quantities of the enema solution from the time the applicator is filled until the solution is actually injected for use.

A further aim of the invention is the provision of an enema applicator comprising a unitary body of plastic material capable of storing, transporting and introducing the enema solution and which is so formed as to create a body and an integral nozzle extending outwardly therefrom, said nozzle being relatively rigid with respect to a container portion of the body and having a cap of pliable material fitted over the free end thereof.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide an enema applicator of the aforementioned character and which has a pair of external shoulders formed on the relatively rigid nozzle, which shoulders function to supportthe body during the filling operation and to form a stop and sealing element when the insertable portion of the nozzle is in the operative position within a user and to prevent accidental escape of the enema solution when pressure is being applied to the collapsible container.

Further objects of the invention include a large number of specific details of construction and definite relationships between components of the unitary body, all of which will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an enema applicator made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, detailed, central, sectional View through a portion of the enema applicator, including the nozzle forming a part thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the body constituting the enema applicator is supported during the filling operation.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises a unitary body formed of plastic material and. having a hollow, collapsible container [0 for the chosen type of enema solution l2, and provided with an opening M at one end thereof. This container I0 is elongated in general character and provided with six enclosing walls, two of which constitute the opposed side walls It of rectangular form. The opposed edge walls It join side walls It, and the end walls 20 complete the container it. Edge walls 18 are preferably transversely arcuate and merge with side walls l6, as illustrated in Fig. 2. All corners formed at the juncture between walls it, it and 26 are also arcuate in form so as to present a smooth surface devoid of harsh edges that may be objectionable to patient and. physician.

The nozzle portion 22 of the unitary body is integral with container It and is composed of a number of portions, all of which are hollow, intercommunicating and formed of the same material from which container It is created. Cylindrical neck portion 24 is in direct communication with container l0 through opening l t and extends longitudinally outwardly from container Ill at one end thereof. An intermediate portion 26 of truncated cone form is provided at the outermost end. of neck portion 24 and serves as an interconnecting length of nozzle 22 between neck portion 24 and tubular portion 23.

The walls of container it are thin and capable of being collapsed upon manual manipulation, but the walls of neck portion 26, intermediate portion 26, and tubular portion 28 progressively increase in thickness and, therefore, rigidity as the tubular portion 28 is approached from container l0. Thus, upon manipulation of the applicator during filling or actual use, the nozzle 22 will be self-sustaining and will not collapse.

A pair of shoulders 30 and 32 are formed externally of nozzle 22 adjacent the zone of juncture between this nozzle 22 and container NJ. Shoulder 30 is inwardly directed and its plane is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of neck portion 24 and container Hi. This shoulder 30 functions as a support for the entire body when solution 12 is being introduced. A rack 34 having suitably contoured notches 3b is used and the body of the enema applicator is hung as illustrated in Fig. 4 so that a predetermined quantity of enema solution [2 may be introduced into container l0 through the passage 38 extending longitudinally through nozzle 22.

After container It has received the desired amount of solution l2, a cap Ml is snugly fitted upon the outer end of nozzle 22. This cap will be efiective when produced from rubber or analagous material, and the same is the more easily slid into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 if the end of tubular portion 28 of nozzle 22 is moistened. The cylindrical or tubular portion 28 of nozzle 22 has the annular marginal edge thereof transversely arched, as at 42, to present a smooth surface both internally and externally, not only for the purpose of assisting in the placement of cap 40, but to prevent any possibility of injury to the user of the enema applicator when the same is inserted.

The shoulder 32 is opposed to shoulder 30, but the plane thereof is likewise substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of nozzle 22 and container I0, and this shoulder 32 is forced against the surrounding tissue when the enema applicator is moved to the operable position within the body of the user. Thus, this shoulder 32, in cooperation with the frusto-conical, intermediate portion 26, will serve as a means for precluding the accidental escape of any of the enema solution 12 when collapsing force is applied to the container l0.

Manifestly, cap 40 is removed from the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, before the nozzle of the body is inserted for the application of the enema solution 12, but when shoulder 32 has limited the inserting action a definite seal is established and the enema solution It may be quickly forced from container It by collapsing the container through pressure from the hands.

When the applicator has been emptied of the enema solution [2, the entire unitary body and the removed cap 60 are quickly and easily disposable, and such is contemplated by this invention. In fact, one of the outstanding problems solved by this invention is that of quickly and easily giving enemas without the necessity of contending with instrumentalities after the enema has been given. Likewise, the disposal of the enema applicator will prevent the necessity of sterilizing any appliance or instrumentality, and therefore likelihood of contamination by germs of disease through repeated employment of ordinary and well known enema applicators is avoided.

The relative dimensions apparent from the foregoing specification and the drawing have been found to be advantageous through commercial use of the enema applicators, but it is obvious that alterations in specific details herein defined may be made without departing from the broad concept of the invention.

Enema applicators contemplated by this invention are filled with predetermined, measured quantities of the solution i2 at the point of production and the solution remains intact and within a thoroughly sealed container during the time of transportation to the point of use. The enema applicators having the enema solution I2 therein are easily and conveniently stored and when desired for use may be withdrawn from storage in the number desired. Thus, for example, a physician may prescribe an enema of a given volume of solution and the number of applicators withdrawn from storage will be a definite means of arriving at the volume so prescribed. It has'been found convenient to store the applicators in racks such as that illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus, the relatively thin walled containers 19 will be held in spaced apart relation and no detrimental effects suifered due to prolonged stacking or contact during the time of storage.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An enema applicator comprising a unitary body of plastic material adapted for storing, transporting and introducing the enema solution in predetermined, measured quantities, said body having a hollow, collapsible container for the solution and provided with an opening in the wall thereof, and a hollow, elongated nozzle in communication with the opening and extending outwardly from the container, the walls of said nozzle being substantially thicker than the walls of the container to maintain the nozzle relatively rigid while manipulating the same during the filling and expelling operations, said nozzle having a tubular portion of uniform diameter throughout its length at the free end of the nozzle, a cylindrical neck portion of relatively greater diameter at the zone of juncture between the nozzle and said container, and a hollow, intermediate portion of frusto-conical form butween said tubular portion and saidl cylindrical portion, the walls of the nozzle progressively increasing in thickness from the container to the tubular portion.

2. An enema applicator comprising a unitary body of plastic material adapted for storing, transporting and introducing the enema solution in predetermined, measured quantities, said body having a hollow, collapsible container for the solution and provided with an opening in the wall thereof, and a hollow, elongated nozzle in communication with the opening and extending outwardly from the container, the walls of said nozzle being substantially thicker than the walls of the container to maintain the nozzle relatively rigid while manipulating the same during the filling and expelling operations, said nozzle having a pair of external, oppositely facing shoulders formed thereon adjacent the zone of juncture between the nozzle and container, one of said shoulders serving as a rack engaging means for supporting the container when filling the same, and the other shoulder of said pair thereof serving as a stop and .sealing element when expelling the enema solution from the container through the nozzle during normal use of the applicator, the said nozzle having a tubular portion of uniform diameter throughout its length at its free end, a cylindrical neck portion of relatively greater diameter at the zone of juncture between the nozzle and said container, the annular marginal edge of the nozzle at .its free end being transversely arcuate in form, and a hollow, intermediate portion of frusto-conical form between the said tubular'portion and the said cylindrical portion, the said pair of external shoulders on the nozzle being at the line of juncture between the said cylindrical portion and said intermediate portion, the walls of the nozzle progressively increasing in thickness from the container to the tubular portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,995,602 Cho Mar. 26, 1935 2,492,326 Scotti Dec. 27, 1949 2,500,639 Lermer Mar. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,175 Great Britain June 9, 1904 443,274 Great Britain Feb. 25. 1936

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