Sustaining Belt For An Instrument For Administering Fluid Into The Intestinal Tract Per Rectum

Abstract

A belt for sustaining an article in site in the rectal or uro-genital area formed by a waist-surrounding band having dependent dorsal and frontal aprons laterally adjustably held thereon and a bridge, engageable against the article to be held in situ, engaged by the ends of the aprons. In a form of the device for sustaining a rectal nozzle having an enlargement surrounding the nozzle tube distally of its rectum entering end, whose frontal surface abuts the stoma surrounding the anal opening, the bridge is rigid and is formed with an opening fitting about the nozzle tube with its edges abutting the distal end of the enlargement. The aprons are die-cut in nested relation from a sheet of pliable material with spaced openings formed at their upper edges through which the waist band is interlaced.

Description

The present invention relates to an auxilliary device for use with instruments for the administration of fluids into the intestinal tract per rectum as, for instance, in the administration of barium contrast fluid in the X-ray diagnostic procedure of the barium enema.

The auxilliary device of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with the fluid administering instruments of the type described and claimed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,575,160 dated Apr. 20, 1971, issued jointly to me and to Clara Vass and in the prior patents enumerated therein. In the said patents, there are described instruments where nozzles for administering fluid per rectum are formed with a tube having spaced concentric enlargements including an enlargement distally of the rectum-entering end of the tube that both seals the anal opening and limits the movement of the tube inwardly into the rectum, and another enlargement, distally of the first, which is engageable by the body to each side of the rectal cleft for retaining the tube within the rectum.

While the instrument of the above patents are highly effective for their purposes in the vast majority of the cases, they are occasionally found insufficiently effective because of unusual body formation of certain individuals and in other instances, where due to pathological conditions within the rectum, the rectum-entering end of the tube is required to be completely immobilized against shifting.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an auxilliary device, especially adopted for use within the instruments described above, which will more fully inhibit the outward movement of the instrument from the rectum due to any outward pressures within the intestine, even when the body on which the instrument is used, is incapable of gripping the instrument against such movement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an auxilliary device of the character described which is simple and easy to use and highly effective for its purposes.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an auxilliary device of the character described which may be produced without any sewing, cementing or welding and is of, therefore relatively simple construction, which is simple and economical to produce, to an extent where it is expendable and economical to dispose of after a single use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the auxilliary device of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the belt of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the instrument-engaging bridge for use with the belt of FIG. 1 attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational and partly sectional view of the bridge;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the same;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a device of the invention illustrating another method of securing the bridge to the belt;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material with the portions of the belt die cut therefrom in nested relation;

FIG. 7 is a blown, perspective view illustrating the manner of the use of the belt with one form of a fluid administering instrument, the belt being shown in fragmentary form; and

FIG. 8 shows the belt fully assembled with the administering instrument of FIG. 7.

Generally stated, the present invention resides in the provision of a waist band adopted to be secured around the waist of a person, from which depend pliable bands adopted to be disposed on the anterior and posterior sides of the person, the ends of which bands are securable to the ends of a rigid bridge formed with a central opening that fits around the tube of the fluid administering instrument and is engageable against the more distal enlargement thereof, to thereby retain the tube within the rectum and seal the anal opening.

Referring more specifically to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a form of fluid-administering instrument, such as the one covered in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,160, with which the device of the invention is particularly adapted for use, is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing. It includes a tube 10, having a rectal entering end with a head 12 and, distally of said head, a first enlargement, 14, adapted having a frontal surface to engage against the body area surrounding the anal opening to seal the same, and a second enlargement, 16, distally of said first enlargement, whose projecting edges are engageable by the sides of the cleft buttocks to each side of the anal opening to thereby inhibit the movement of the instrument out of the rectum. Both enlargements are shown as being concentric with tube 10 and the second enlargement 16 is preferably formed with a circular distal flange spaced from tube 10 to provide the circular recess, 18, around the tube.

The instrument may be provided with an orienting member, generally designed as 20, which includes a circular opening defined by a collar, 22, that will fit around tube 10 and within the recess 18. The opening defined by the collar 22 may have in turn a distally enlarged portion, 26.

The auxilliary device of the present invention is shown to comprise a supporting belt section, generally designated as 28, and an instrument engaging bridge, generally designated as 30, removably securable on belt section 28. Belt section 28 may comprise an apron-like dorsal portion, 32, having a relatively narrow strip or band, 34, depending from its lower extremity. Band 34 may be provided with means for engaging one end of the bridge 30; such means being shown in FIG. 1 to comprise a slot, 38, and in FIG. 5 to comprise a loop, 39, formed at the end of the band 34, as by the snap fastener elements 40 secured thereon.

Belt section 28 also comprises the apron-like frontal portion, 42, which is preferably cut out at its center, for the convenience of the wearer of both sexes, and is likewise provided at its lower extremity with a depending band, 44, which is also formed or provided with bridge-engaging means, as slot 46. Belt portions 32 and 42 are each provided at its upper edge with horizontally spaced, vertically extending slots, 50 and 52 respectively, in which may be interlaced a waist band or strap 56 having the buckle 58, to thereby combine bands 32 and 42 into a supporting unit.

For purposes of such economy in production, as to render the belt section disposable after a single use, it may be formed without the requirement of costly labor and time consuming sewing, of a single blank of relatively thin-gauge, synthetic, plastic material of a size not exceeding the size of belt portion 42, by die-cutting belt portion 32 from the center of the blank to thereby form the opening in the belt portion 44, as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing. Likewise, the waist band or strap 56 and buckle 58 may be formed of cheap materials.

The bridge 30 may comprise an elongated, preferably rigid body, 60, preferably molded of synthetic plastic material, substantially rectangular, and of slightly arcuate shape. It is provided with a central opening, 62, adopted to fit around tube 10 and defined on the concave side thereof by an upstanding flange or collar, 64, of a diameter adopted to fit within the recess 18 on the distal side of the enlargement 16, or within the enlarged opening portion 26 of the orienting member 20. The body 60 of the bridge 30 is provided at each end with an opening, 66, defining cross bars, 68, by which it may be engaged by the loops 39 formed by the ends of the bands 32 and 42, or from which bars may extend the facing hooks 70 projecting on the convex side of the bridge 30, that may engage within the slots 38 and 46 of the bands 34 and 44.

It will be understood that collar 64 may be formed of any desired height to conform to varying body shapes. It may also be of greater height when intended for use on the instrument without the orienting member 20.

In use, the waist band 56 is laced through the slots 50 and 52 of belt sections 32 and 42, and is tied around the waist of the wearer, with the dorsal and frontal sections 32 and 42 moved into proper position. The instrument is then placed in position on the body with the head 12 inserted into the rectum and enlargement 14 engaged against the stoma surrounding the anal opening, and with the second enlargement 16 engaged by the wearer's buttocks. Bridge 30 is then slipped over the tube 10 until the collar 64 engages within the recess 18 or 26 depending on whether or not orienting member 20 is used. Slots 38 and 46 are then engaged over the hooks 70 of the bridge 30. It is to be understood that waist band 56 may thereafter be adjusted as desired to tense the bridge 30 against the instrument and to immobilize the belt in place.

It may here be stated that the belt of the present invention may conveniently be used to retain past surgical dressings in the rectal and uro-genital areas, by suitable modification of the bridge connecting the band portions 34 and 44 and their interconnecting means.

This completes the description of the device of the present invention and of the manner in which it is used in association with a fluid administering instrument. It will be readily apparent that such device, as an auxilliary to the fluid administering instrument of the type described, complements the latter to render it of substantially universal utility for securing and substantially immobilizing the instrument once its administering end is disposed within the rectum. It will also be apparent that the use of the auxilliary device of the invention is very simple and easy; being easily assembled with and disassembled from the instrument. It will likewise be apparent that the device of the present invention is of simple construction and easy and economical to produce because of the type of and economy in the material used and the elimination of any sewing and is economically dispensable after a single use.

It will be further apparent that numerous modifications and variations may be made in the belt of the present invention, by any one skilled in the art in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A belt for sustaining an instrument for administering fluid into the intestinal tract per rectum when in administering position, said instrument including a tube having a rectal entry end and an enlargement around said tube distally of said end, the proximal surface of which is adapted to engage against the stoma around the anal opening; said belt comprising a waistband section, frontal and dorsal sections each dependently and laterally slidably supported by one end from said waistband section, a bridge formed with upper and lower operative surfaces and having a central opening adapted to fit around said tube with the marginal edge portion of said opening on said upper operative surface of said bridge engaging against the distal surface of said enlargement, and cooperating means on the opposed end of each of said belt sections and on said lower operative surface on each end of said bridge releasably interengaging the end of each of said belt sections with an end of said bridge.

2. The belt of claim 1, wherein said frontal and dorsal sections are each provided with a plurality of spaced openings formed at its opposed end, said waist band interlaced through said opening.

3. The belt of claim 1, wherein said bridge is rigid.

4. The belt of claim 3, wherein said bridge is arcuate and said opening therein is defined by an upstanding flange on its concave side, said flange engageable against the distal side of said distal enlargement.

5. The belt of claim 3, wherein said bridge is provided with a hook at each end thereof, the said hooks facing one another and said end of each of said frontal and dorsal belt sections is formed with a hook-engaging opening.

6. The belt of claim 3, wherein said bridge is provided with a hook at each of its ends on its convex side, said hooks facing one another and the end of each of said frontal and dorsal belt sections is formed with a hook-engaging opening.

7. The combination with an instrument for administering fluid into the intestinal tract per rectum, said instrument including a tube having a rectum entering end and an enlargement therearound distally of said end, the proximal surface of said enlargement adapted to engage against the stoma surrounding the anal opening, with a belt for sustaining said instrument in place when in administering position, said belt comprising a waist band section, frontal and dorsal sections each dependently supported on said waist band section by one end thereof and being laterally adjustable along said waist band section, a rigid bridge having a central opening fitting around said tube with its marginal edge portions engaged against the distal surface of said enlargement, each said section having engaging means on the free end thereof interengaging cooperating engaging means on one end of said bridge.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said frontal and distal belt sections are each provided with a plurality of spaced openings at its waist band connected end, said waist band interlaced through said openings.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein said bridge is arcuate and said opening herein is defined by an upstanding flange on its concave side, said flange engageable against the distal side of said enlargement.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein said bridge is provided with a hook at each end thereof, said hooks facing one another, and wherein the free end of each said frontal and dorsal sections is formed with an opening engageable over one of said hooks.

11. The combination of claim 9, wherein said bridge is provided with a hook at each of its ends on the convex side thereof, said hooks facing one another and the end of each of said frontal and dorsal sections is formed with a slot engaged over one of said hooks.

12. The combination of claim 7, wherein a second enlargement is formed around said tube distally of and of greater area than the first enlargement, said bridge engaged against the distal side of said second enlargement.