US3032036A - Applicator for treating hemorrhoids - Google Patents

Description

May 1, 1962 s. RADER ETAL APPLICATOR FOR TREATING HEMORRHOIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1960 INVENTORS SIDNEY RADER MINNIE NA k? M y 1 s. RADER ETAL APPLICATOR FOR TREATING HEMORRHOIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1960 INVENTORS SIDNEY RADER 1 -5 MINNIE RADER ,BY ATTOP/VZY United States Patent C) 3,032,036 APPLICATOR FOR TREATING HEMORRHOIDS Sidney Rader and Minnie Rader, both of 168-09 19th Ave., Whitestone, N.Y. Filed Oct. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 63,576 Claims. (Cl. 128-463) This invention relates to the art of rectal applicators, and particularly concerns an improved appliance for treating rectal hemorrhoids.

According to the invention, a fabric member is inserted into the rectum to a point just beyond the sphincter muscle. The fabric member is chilled by refrigeration or by saturation with cold water prior to insertion. In order to facilitate insertion of the fabric member there is provided an instrument having a bulbous head with a slidable core adapted to grip .the fabric member which is in the form of a cloth sleeve. After insertion of the fabric member into the rectum, the instrument is withdrawn. The instrument permits the cloth sleeve to be fully extended or to be drawn partially outside with a portion of thesleeve protruding from the anus for withdrawing the fabric member after treatment. The application of the chilled fabric member may be repeated to stop bleeding, contract swollen blood vessels and alleviate the hemorrhoid condition;

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an instrument for applying a treatment member to alleviate a hemorrhoid condition.

It is another object to provide an instrument including a clamp for engaging a fabric member and inserting the same into a rectum to treat hemorrhoids.

' Still another object is to provide an instrument of the character described, wherein the fabric member is a cloth sleeve and the instrument may turn the sleeve outside in to provide a doubly thick fabric body at a selected portion of the anal canal.

A further object is to provide an instrument of the character described which permits the cloth sleeve to be turned outside in while being pulled to withdraw it from the rectum in which it is inserted.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an applicator instrument embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the applicator and cloth sleeve engaged thereon.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the cloth sleeve.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a rectum showing the fabric member in partially reversed position.

FIG. 7 is another diagrammatic sectional view through a rectum showing the fabric member in an extended position.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of another applicator instrument according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the instrument of FIG. 8 with the instrument in an extended position and with a cloth sleeve engaged thereon.

In FIGS. 1-4, there is shown an applicator 10 in the form of a rigid plastic tubular body having a tapered shank 12 terminating at its upper end in a hollow bulbous portion 14. The lower narrow end of the body has an annular bead 15. Axially slidable in the tubular body 3,932,036 Patented May 1, 1962 is a plastic clamping member including a cylindrical shaft 18 having a head in the form of a flange 20 at its upper end. To the shaft is secured an annular knob 22 defining a handle at its other end. A cylindrical cavity or recess 24 is formed axially in the bulbous portion 14 of the applicator body. The recess 24 communicates with axial bore 26in which slides shaft 18.

The applicator is especially adapted to receive a cloth sleeve 30, best shown in FIGS. 35. This sleeve has an elongated tapered form with an opening 32 at the Wider upper end. The lower narrow end is open at 33. Openings 32 and 33 are substantially equal in diameter. The sleeve may be formed of knit or woven gauze or other cloth fabric and is rather resilient to fit snugly but not tightly on the body of the applicator. The outer walls of the applicator are smooth and rounded at opposite ends. The sleeve can be mounted on the applicator as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. To engage the rim 31 of opening 32 of the sleeve under flange 20 the shaft 18 will be inserted fully so that the knob 22 abuts bead 15 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the flange will extend just beyond the bulbous portion 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

After the wider end of the sleeve is engaged on the head of the clamping member, the clamping member will be retracted downwardly to the position of FIGS. 3 and 4. This will pull the wider portion of the sleeve into cavity 24 and engage the rim of opening 32 on the annular wall 25 defining a shoulder in the cavity. The applicator with sleeve 30 thereon may now be inserted into the rectum R just beyond the constriction C maintained by the sphincter muscle in the large bowel B; see FIGS. 6 and 7.

' After the applicator is fully inserted, the clamping member may be operated to release the sleeve by moving or retracting the shaft 18 axially upward into the tubular body to the position of FIGS. 1 and 2. If the applicator is now slowly withdrawn, the sleeve 30 will be gripped by the walls of the bowel B and will be drawn off of the shaft head and tapered applicator body. The sleeve 30 will then assume the extended position in the rectum as shown in FIG. 7. Narrow end portion N extends just beyond the rectum and can be grasped for pulling the sleeve out when treatment is completed.

Instead of releasing the sleeve when it is fully extended, the applicator can be withdrawn from the rectum R while the clamping member continues to grip the wider end of the sleeve. The sleeve will then be caused to turn partially outside in as shown in FIG. 6. This occurs because the walls of the large bowel grip the lower portion N of the sleeve and prevent it from sliding outwardly while the smooth body of the applicator slides out of the lower portion of the sleeve pulling the upper portion W in and through the lower portion N. The sleeve can be disengaged from the applicator after the applicator is fully withdrawn. This will leave the end portion W of the applicator extending just beyond the rectum as shown in FIG. 6. When treatment is completed, the patient or an attendant will pull out the sleeve by grasping the protruding end W. The sleeve will continue to reverse outside in as it is being withdrawn from the rectum.

The doubled partially reversed disposition of the sleeve shown in FIG. 6 is desirable since it provides a double thickness of the fabric in the location of the sphincter muscle where many painful hemorrhoids and piles occur. Furthermore, the extraction of the sleeve is accomplished by a rolling outside-in movement rather than by a frictional sliding motion. This is desirable since the removal of the sleeve is then accomplished without irritating or rubbing tender tissues.

The sleeve 30 should be in a chilled condition when inserted in the rectum. This may be accomplished by placing the applicator with sleeve mounted thereon in a refrigerator or by immersing them in ice water. It is preferable that the sleeve be wet with ice water rather than chilled dry since the water has a lubricating effect which facilitates insertion of the applicator in the rectum. The bulbous end effectively spreads the normally con stricted sphincter muscle in circumferential fashion. Due to the tapered form of the applicator it releases readily from the sleeve and is readily drawn out of the rectum. The applicator may be left in place in the rectum during treatment if desired, but in general it is preferred that the applicator be removed and the fabric member alone be left in the rectum to accomplish the therapeutic purposes intended.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown a modified form of applicator 10 The plastic clamping member is formed with a pair of flexible jaws 40, 41 having mating teeth 42, 44. The jaws separate when the shaft 18* is fully inserted or retracted into the tapered shank 12 of the tubular body of the applicator. After mounting of a sleeve 30 on the applicator 10 end portion W can be fitted between the jaws and the shaft 18- will be retracted to the position of FIG. 9. The walls of the recess 24 are generally conical or flared so that the jaws are pressed together as the clamping member is withdrawn. The end W of the sleeve 30 will be securely gripped by the jaws. The applicator with sleeve saturated with ice water can be inserted into a rectum and the sleeve can be released therein to leave the sleeve extended in the position of FIG. 7. Alternatively and preferably the clamping member can be held engaged with the sleeve until the applicator is withdrawn so that the sleeve is partially reversed as shown in FIG. 6. Portions of applicator 10 corresponding to applicator 10 are identically numbered.

To improve the therapeutic effect the applicator can be of any suitable shape and may be chilled in a refrigerator or freezer prior to placing the sleeve 30 thereon and wetting with ice water. The sleeve will then retain its chilled condition for a longer time while it is being inserted into the rectum and thereafter to improve the therapeutic effect. Swollen blood vessels will be contracted, inflamed tissues will be soothed and pain will be eased.

It is to be understood that the cool wet fabric in the inserted area acts as a cushion, reduces the pain, stops bleeding and will prevent irritation during the walk of the user. The fabric member after use can be discarded.

The smooth plastic structure of applicator permits it to be readily washed and sterilized after use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions here disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An applicator instrument for treating hemorrhoids in a rectum, comprising a tubular plastic body having a tapered shank terminating in a bulbous portion at its wider end, said bulbous portion having a cavity therein, said shank having an axial bore therethrough communicating with said cavity, a clamping member having a head movable in said cavity and a shaft slidable in said bore, and a fabric sleeve mounted on said body and having one end releasably engaged by said head in the recess.

2. An applicator instrument for treating hemorrhoids in a rectum, comprising a tapered tubular body having a bulbous wider open end and a narrow open end, said wider end being formed with a cavity therein, said body having an axial bore communicating with said cavity, a clamping member carried by said body, said clamping member having a shank portion slidably disposed in said bore and a clamping portion disposed in said recess, and a fabric member having one end gripped by said clamping portion in said recess for inserting said fabric member into said rectum.

' 3.'An applicator instrument for treating hemorrhoids in a rectum, comprising a tapered tubular body having a bulbous wider open end and a narrow open end, said wider end being formed with a cavity therein, said body having an axial bore communicating with said cavity, a clamping member carried by said body, said clamping member having a shank portion slidably disposed in said bore and a clamping portion disposed in said recess, and a fabric member having one end gripped by said clamping portion in said recess for inserting said fabric member into said rectum, said clamping portion being formed with apair of flexible jaws having teeth engaging the fabric member.

4. An applicator instrument for treating hemorrhoids in a rectum, comprising a tapered tubular body having a bulbous wider open end and a narrow open end, said wider end being formed with a cavity therein, said body having an axial bore communicating with said cavity,

- and a clamping member carried by said body, said clamping member having a shaft portion slidably disposed in said bore, and a clamping portion disposed in said recess when the shaft is retracted in the bore, said clamping portion being formed with a pair of flexible jaws having teeth for engaging a fabric member to be inserted into said rectum, said jaws extending beyond said bulbous wider end of said body when said shaft is fully inserted in said bore.

5. An applicator instrument for treating hemorrhoids in a rectum, comprising a tapered tubular body having a bulbous Wider open end and a narrow open end, said wider end being formed with a cavity therein, said body having an axial bore communicating with said cavity, a clamping member carried by said body, said clamping member having a shank portion slidably disposed in said bore and a clamping portion disposed in said recess, and a fabric member having one end gripped by said clamping portion in said recess for inserting said fabric member into said rectum, said fabric member being a cloth sleeve fitted on the tubular body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,710,007 Greiner et al. June 7, 1955 2,826,198 Van Sickle Mar. 11, 1958 2,877,767 Kramer Mar. 17, 1959,

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