US2420586A - Colon therapy apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1947.

R. w. DE WELLES 2,420,586

COLON THERAPY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1943 IN V EN TOR. Pay M4 fleil/fles Patented May 13, 1947 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLON THERAPY APPARATUS Roy W. De Welles, Kansas City, Mo.

Application September 24, 1943, Serial No. 503,619

I (Cl. 128-227 1 Claim.

This invention relates to colon therapy apparat'us and particularly means for irrigating the colon of the human body, and simultaneously applying to the lining thereof, for absorption by the blood stream, a predetermined amount of oxygen, the supply whereof is controllable through the instrumentality of the apparatus embodying the invention.

Another important aim of this invention is the provision of colonic irrigating means having as a major portion thereof, a system of pipes for introducing to the colon, under a desired pressure head, a quantity of liquid wherein may be entrained a volume of oxygen, to the end that healing is assisted and the killing of bacteria is promoted.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the aforementioned character, having means for injecting fluids and associated elements for relieving pressure when the capacity of the person being treated reaches its maximum.

Other objects of the invention include selfcontained parts for evacuating certain sections of the overflow tubing in the apparatus, means for maintaining the desired pressure head, and

manually controllable units for selectively intro- 4 ducing to the liquid being injected, an amount of air and/or oxygen.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a colon therapy apparatus made in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical illustration of the system employed in the apparatus.

In commercial practice the instrument is usually hung on the surface of a vertical wall and housed within a case 4 having a basin 6 connected to a conventional sewer through waste pipe 8.

Case 4 is formed to expose to View sight tube I and level indicating tube I2, joined to tank I4 in which is stored such medication as the operator desires to introduce to the fluid being injected.

A quick acting gate valve I6 controls the passage of fluid to the patient and a flexible tube I8 isin connection with gate valve l6 at its one end, while the otherend thereof, not here shown, may be joined to suitable injection nozzles.

The apparatus is joined to a source of hot water through the medium of a conduit 20 and to a source of cold water by a conduit 22. These 'themanually manipulatable portion 42 thereof exteriorly of case 4. Conduit 44 extends from the lower end of conduit 38 to gate valve I6.

For purpose of supplying water of desired temperature to tank I4, a conduit 46 is attached to T 36 and joined to the top of tank l4. This conduit 46 is equipped with a valve 48, the handle 56 whereof is projected beyond the outer wall of case 4 for convenient access. A filler tube 52 extends to tank I4 from a point at the top of case 4 and it is through this tube that any medication that is to be introduced to the stream of liquid entering the patient, is placed in tank I4. Obviously the level of the liquid in tank I4 may be observed by the exposed, transparent level tube I2.

Conduits 38 and 44 from sight tube II) to gate valve I6 usually have a column of water therein when the patient is being treated. This column of water may be medicated by opening valve 54, the handle 56 whereof is exposed on case 4. Valve 54 controls the passage of the medication through conduit 55.

The water destined for the patient may be charged with oxygen which is introduced into the water as it enters conduit 38. Conduit 58 having a suitable connection 60 directly to a bottle of oxygen, not here shown, extends to T 36 and has a control valve 62 therein. Tube 64 connects a source of compressed air, not here shown, with conduit 66, one end of which is joined to conduit 58 by coupling 68. Two-way valve 10 controls the passage of air from tube 64 to conduit 66 and likewise controls the passage of air from tube 64 to pipe 12, the function whereof will later be set forth.

An unique overflow system is provided in the colon therapy apparatus made as illustrated, and the same insures a positive relief of pressure when capacity of the patient or a desired pressure is reached. Pipe I4 extends vertically for a considerable distance to a connection 16 to pipe 18, extending to waste 8 by way of basin 6, pipe and I T 82. Pipe 18 continues upwardly from T 16 to its open end near the top of case 4 and is provided with a valve 84. Another vertical pipe 86 has its lower end joined to T 82 and its upper end connected to pipe 88 which serves as means for placing into communication pipes 18 and 86. The upper end of pipe 86 is joined to pipe 12.

When operating the apparatus it is desired to have a continuous flow of liquid through the colon for a period of from thirty-five minutes and during this time, air is introduced to the water from tube 6.4. Under such conditions valve 10 is set to close pipe 12 and allow the flow of air from tube 64 to conduit '66 and thence to conduit 38 where the water from conduit 34 is charged with said air. The charged air passes through conduit 44 to tube [8 and thence to the patient. A column of water having a level, observable through sight tube l0, may. first be collected. in conduit 44 before opening gate valve [6, if such a pressure as will be exerted by the said. column of water is desired. Agny medicant may be introduced into the water from tank [4 through eqndu t 5 by me ely o ening V 1 e-5 A column of; water will appear inpipe 14. during the operation of theapparatus andin the event back pressurein tube l8. becomes great enough to overcome'the' atmospheric pressure on the top of the-column of; water in pipe 14, the level of that column will arise and escape through pipe 18 to wasteliby way of pipe 80. Valve 84, of course, mpe ial; It back; pressure becomes so great as to, oyercome the; ability of pipe 18 to carry off the-liquid; itwillrise pipe '18 and pass through pipe-8&topipe BI Where it will escape to waste through pipe 80. Valve 10 is in the position where pipe i2; isclosedand the action of gravity on the'liquid at the. connection of pipe 88 with pipe 86, will insure that pipe 12 will not become filled. If this pipashould become filled and the has]; pressure so great as toovercome the ability of; i es l8. and 86 to carry off the waste in the then an. emergency. overflow will come intoplay throughtheupper end of pipe 18. which isopemto the atmosphere.

Aiterair and waterhas been fedto the patient 9? period of; time determined by the particular case-bein treated, valve 10. is closed, valve Q2; is opened; and; oxygen is introduced through conduit 53,-,b way ofv T. 6.8, conduit 58 and T- 36 to theinpoming liquid. from conduit 34-. Pure oxygen will be carried to the patient through conduits 38 and 44 and tube IS. A treatment of from ten to fifteeen minutes with oxygen will cleanse the colonic walls and permit the absorption of the oxygen by the blood stream. The introduction of oxygen to the colon is also for the purpose of killing any bacteria.

It is obvious from the foregoing that proper manipulation of the exposed valves of the system as they appear in Fig, 1 of, the drawing. will permit a prope and safe treatment; the pressure exerted will not be detrimental to the patient; and the several ways of relieving excessive pressuredefinitely insures comfort and safety. Apparatus of a specific character difierent from that illustrated may be made to embody the invention, and therefore, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

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

Incolonic irrigating apparatusof the character described, avertical closely looped conduit having connection with a source of. liquid; means for introducing oxygen under pressure to the liquid as, itv enters saidvertical. conduit; means for introducing compressed. air tosaid. liquid as it enters said vertical conduit;v apparatus at. the lowermost end. of. the conduit for connecting the same toan iniectionmedium; and manually operable means. for selectively introducing controlled amounts ofv the. air and said. oxygeninto thevertical conduitior admixingwith the liquid.

RQY' DE WELLES'.

REFERENCES CITED Thefol-lowingreferences; are of record in the file: of this; patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number, Name Date.

402,302 Casey et al Apr. 30, 1889 2,074,374- De Mendoza Mar. 23, 1937 2,313,805.- Crawford et a1 Mar. 16, 19.43.

FOREIGN PATEN I'S Number Country Date 139,975, Great. Britain Mar. 18,1930

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