Perineal Heating Device

Abstract

A perineal heating device embodying a centrally disposed, open ended generally cylindrical portion carrying the heat source, such as an incandescent lamp. Leg rests or lateral wings extend outwardly from the central portion and are formed integrally therewith. An opening may be provided through the rear wall of the cylindrical portion or through the lateral wings so that air is thermally induced through the opening or openings and exists forwardly into contact with the patient's body.

Description

This invention relates to a device useful for heat treatment of the perineum of the human body and has for an object the provision of a simple, inexpensive and effective device of the character designated.

In the post operative or post natal care of patients it is desirable to subject the perineum to heat, preferably in the form of moving, heated air for the purpose of promoting circulation and for drying. This treatment preferably is carried out with the patient lying on his back and preferably with the knees slightly elevated above the general level of the lower torso. Prior devices known to me and used for such treatment usually consist essentially of a holder and shield for the heat source such as an incandescent lamp. Little attention has been paid to means for holding the heat lamp properly directed relative to the parts of the body to be heated nor to preventing veinous obstructions by lowering the leg rests nor to making such devices of material cheap enough for individual, disposable use by each patient. With prior devices problems of sterilization to prevent cross transmission of infection from one patient to another have been encountered. Further, so far as I am aware, no means heretofore has been devised to cause heated air, due simply to thermal action, to flow from a heat source outwardly into contact with the patient's body.

In view of the foregoing I propose a perineal heating device comprising an integral body of relatively cheap plastic material such as Styrofoam, a central cylindrical portion of which carries the heat source and from which central portion are carried laterally projecting leg rests or supports, the leg rests being contoured fore and aft and laterally for comfortable, elevated support of the legs of a patient lying on his back. The heat source may be an incandescent lamp and is located inwardly of the front face of the body to hold the same safely out of contact with the patient.

A device illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view;

FIG. 2 is a plan view with certain parts broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view; and,

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 .

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention the same may consist of an integrally formed body of relatively cheap, relatively light and fairly good heat insulating material such for instance as Styrofoam or similar product. Thus, the body portion may comprise the centrally disposed generally cylindrical portion 10 and laterally, outwardly projecting leg support portions 11 and 12. As shown, the leg supports are of less height than the central portion 10.

As stated, the portion 10 is provided with a centrally located opening generally cylindrical, and indicated at 13. This opening terminates in a vertically disposed wall 14 and the opening 13 is deep enough, fore and aft, to accommodate the usual incandescent heating lamp 16 which may be mounted in a socket 17 embedded in the solid rear portion 18, forming the back of the cylindrical portion 10.

Located beneath the lamp 16, and extending through the solid rear wall portion 18 is an opening 19. Also, lateral openings 19a extend through the leg support portions 11 and 12 and communicate with the opening 19, as shown. As will presently appear, the openings 19 and 19a permit air to be drawn thermally from the rear and sides of the device and propelled outwardly, into contact with the patient's body as shown by the arrows 21 in the drawings.

The leg rest portions 11 and 12 as viewed in front elevation are concave that is, they are shaped as shown in FIG. 1 generally to the shape of the rear of a person's legs, in the thigh areas. As viewed in side elevation, and at a point generally along section line 4--4, the forward sloping surfaces 11a and 12a rise upwardly, on a rather gentle slope to the apex 11b and 12b and thence downwardly at more of a slope, to the rear of the body portion. Thus, it will be seen that the leg portions 11 and 12 are so contoured and shaped as to support in comfortable manner the legs of the person and to largely eliminate veinous obstruction.

It will also be understood that current for the lamp may be supplied to the same through the usual wires 22. Furthermore, the opening 13 in the central portion 10 may be flared so that the diameter of the same at the front of the device, that is, the side facing the patient, is slightly larger than the rear of the opening 13. This affords a somewhat greater opportunity for the heated air to take the course indicated by the arrows, and to impinge outwardly onto the body of the patient.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised an improved, simple, economical and effective perineal heating device. Since the device is constructed of extremely cheap material one may be provided each individual patient, while being treated in the hospital and the patient may take the device home as a part of the post hospital treatment. It will be seen that with a patient lying on his back and the device positioned so that the front thereof is approximately 6 to 8 inches from his body, and current supplied to the lamp, with the legs resting on the leg rests 11 and 12, heated, drying air moves in accordance with the arrows from the openings 19 and 19a into the cylindrical opening 13 and thence outwardly into contact with the patient's body as shown by the arrows 21. The flow of air thus produced is due solely to the thermal action, and no mechanical devices such as fans and the like are required.

My invention has proven to be extremely practical and satisfactory and as stated eliminates two of the major difficulties with prior devices, namely, the cross transmission of infection due to the reuse of the same device by different patients and by and large, due to the contour of the leg rests 11 and 12, eliminates veinous obstruction in the leg areas.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. In a perineal heating device,

a. an integrally formed body comprising a central portion and leg rest portions extending outwardly from the central portion,

b. said central portion embodying a forwardly opening cylindrical section, and

c. a source of heat in the cylindrical portion inset thereinto inwardly of the forward face of the body, whereby heat from said source may be directed against the perineum of a person using the device.

2. A heating device according to claim 1 in which there is an opening through the rear end of the cylindrical portion thereby to provide a flow of air through the device and outwardly thereof in response to heat generated by the heat source, whereby a circulation of heated air is maintained against the perineum of a person using the device.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which the opening is located beneath the heat source so that air is thermally drawn through said opening from the rear of the device and passes upwardly about and thence outwardly of the heat source for impingement against the body of a person using the device.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said leg rest portions are of less height than the top of the central portion and have upper surfaces which are concave as viewed in front elevation.

5. A device defined in claim 1 in which the leg rest portions are of less height than the top of the central portion and are concave as viewed in front elevation and which as viewed in end elevation slope upwardly from the front edges to a rounded apex and then downwardly toward the rear of the device, thereby to support in comfortable manner the legs of a person using the device and reduce veinous obstruction of the legs.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which there are openings through at least one of the leg rest portions in communication with the opening in the central portion, thereby permitting air to flow through said leg rest into the central portion and thence outwardly into contact with the perineum of a person using the device.