Intestinal treatment apparatus for self-use

Abstract

An intestinal treatment apparatus for self-use. The apparatus comprises a seat which can be fitted onto a toilet bowl, provided on the rear portion with a duct for feeding an intestinal lavage or treatment fluid; an injection speculum for injecting the lavage fluid, is upwardly protruding inside the toilet bowl, to penetrate the anal tract of the intestine by a self-insertion action. The speculum is of disposable type, and is removably connected to an end fitting of the feeding conduit or to a removable tubular element forming an extension of the feed duct. A one-way valve prevents the back flow of the organic substance towards the feed duct, while a pressure regulator prevents accidental injection of strong jets of fluid during use. The apparatus may also be provided with a dispenser for a curative substance which is mixed into the lavage fluid fed to the injection speculum.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for intestinal lavages and the like, particularly suitable for use on a toilet bowl, comprising: 
 a shaped seat for a toilet bowl, having a rear side and an inner edge;    a feed duct for feeding a lavage fluid, said feeding duct extending at the rear side of the seat, said feeding duct comprising an end fitting at the rear side of the seat;    a disposable injection speculum, or probe, for injecting a lavage fluid, removably connected to the end fitting of the feed duct, said speculum having a portion which extends upwards from the inside of the toilet bowl, for a length sufficient to penetrate the anal tract of the intestine;    manually actuable flow control valve for adjusting the flow rate and for connection to a lavage fluid source; and    manually actuable pressure control valve for controlling the pressure of the lavage fluid fed to the injection speculum.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , comprising means for containing and delivering a curative substance into the lavage fluid fed to the injection speculum.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 2 , wherein said means for delivering the curative substance comprise a container for drop feeding the curative substance, and a one-way check valve branched off from the feed duct for the lavage fluid.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , comprising a maximum pressure valve branched off from the feed duct.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , comprising a one-way check valve, upstream of the injection speculum.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection speculum is removably connected to a V-shaped extension pipe.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 6 , wherein the extension pipe is removably connected to a pipe fitting of the feed duct.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection speculum is provided with a weakened breakage portion to prevent reuse.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection speculum comprises a flexible probe and a rigid tubular supporting member coaxially arranged at an end of the flexible probe.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 9 , wherein said flexible probe and/or tubular supporting member present weakened breakage points to prevent their reuse.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1  or  9 , wherein the injection speculum is connected to the pipe fitting of the feed duct, or to its tubular extension, by means of a pivotable joint.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the lavage fluid source comprises a storage tank.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 12 , comprising means for mixing a curative substance, connected to said storage tank.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 12 , wherein the storage tank comprises electric heating means and a control thermostat.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises stop means resting against the internal edge of the toilet bowl.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed duct and the pipe fitting for the lavage fluid are embedded into the seat.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 6 , wherein the pipe fitting and the extension pipe are tiltably arranged on the seat.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the speculum comprises a plurality of differently oriented injection holes on its fore end.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for intestinal treatment, according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow control valve and the pressure control valve, as well as a pressure gauge and a container for the curative substance are provided inside a movable housing.