Abstract:
A portable contact-washing device allows a user to wear a single-use finger cover for contact washing of rectal area using water that is delivered to the finger pad area through micro tubing by a mini water pump. This contact wash uses a limited amount of water for a sufficient hygienic wash to the rectal area after a bowel movement without causing irritation which is often associated of using toilet paper. The contact washing process is efficient and requires a small volume of water, and the contact-washing device is highly portable and easy to use outside of home. The finger cover may be made of biodegradable material and will be discarded after the use.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a portable washing device, specifically a portable contact-washing device for people, especially those with hemorrhoids symptoms to have an effective and flexible on-the-go method to achieve an adequate rectal hygiene. 
         [0002]    A hemorrhoid (Piles) is a common adult ailment. National Institute of Health (NIH) estimated that by age 50, about half of adults have hemorrhoids, signals with the signs of itching, discomfort and bleeding after a bowl movement (http://www.nationalhemorrhoiddirectory.org). A separate study reported that 75 percent of people will have the symptom of hemorrhoids at some point in their lives (Baker H. Hemorrhoids. In: Longe J L, ed.  Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine.  3rd ed. Detroit: Gale; 2006: 1766-1769.). Hemorrhoids is an ailment characterized by swollen and inflamed veins in ones anus and lower rectum; these hemorrhoidal symptoms may happen at any time due to excessive straining, rubbing, or cleaning around the anus, the irritation with bleeding and/or itching caused by inadequate hygiene may produce a vicious cycle of symptoms. The itching or pain is a sign of inflammation or a bodily reaction to allergy or cell-lining damage. Prolonged irritation and inflammation have been linked to other health problem, including obesity, heart disease and cancer. 
         [0003]    The best way to prevent hemorrhoids is to keep stools soft so they pass easily, thus decreasing pressure and straining. A high fiber diet which may help soften stools often adds to the difficulty of cleaning the rectal area after bowel movement. Cleaning up after stool release is another essential part of hemorrhoid prevention. Wiping with toilet paper, which is traditionally used, provides inadequate hygiene, and repeated use of toilet paper leads to excess friction and damage to the skin membrane and cause bleeding. Excess usage of toilet paper is often required for the symptoms of constipation and diarrhea. The presence of hemorrhoids can make it even harder to clean the area immediately outside the rectum, yet good hygiene is essential to avoid irritation and promote healings. 
         [0004]    A water wash is a better way to achieve adequate hygiene with minimal irritation. In addition to a regular shower, a bidet system or other similar washing systems provide adequate washing process to the rectal area. However people at works or at travel usually do not have the access to a washing device. A few portable washing devices were invented, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,954 and Patent No. US20080078847, which use portable washing bottles to spray water to the anus area for the cleaning. However, a portable water spray cannot provide an effective and hygienic wash. Due to its low efficiency, the water spay device has a larger size and is not easy to carry with. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A portable contact-washing device allows a user to wear a single-use finger cover for contact washing of rectal area using water that is delivered to the finger pad area through micro tubing by a mini water pump. This contact wash uses a limited but consistent flow of water for any period of time to deliver a hygienic wash to the rectal area after a bowel movement without the irritation often caused from using toilet paper. The washing process is efficient and uses a small volume of water, and the device is highly portable and easy to use outside of home. The finger cover may be made of biodegradable material and will be discarded after the use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  (A) is a perspective view of a contact-washing device with a mini water pump and a single-use finger cover, (B) is a front view of the single-use finger cover of (A), (C) is a perspective view of a variation of the single-use finger cover of (A), (D) is a front view of the single-use finger cover of (C). 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a contact-washing device in a portable form of design: (A) the contact-washing device is in packed form for easy to carry with; (B) the contact-washing washing device is in the state of using with a single-use finger cover attached. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a contact-washing device in a wrist wearable design: a water container and a mini water pump are integrated together in a flat, wrist wearable design; the water pump has a short connection distance to the single-use finger cover. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a contact-washing device in which a squeezing water bag is used to provide water when the batteries are dead. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a contact-washing device constructed in accordance with the invention. A water bag  11  has a cap  16  and anchoring holes  17  of holding string  15 . The string  15  is used to hold the water bag  11  on user&#39;s body or cloth. The bottom of the plastic bag  11  has an output tubing  18  which connect to the inlet  22  of a mini water pump  21 , the water pump  21  is powered by a battery  24  and has its outlet  23  connect to a coiled tubing  26 . Other end of tubing  26  connects to the micro tubing  28  through a micro tubing connector  27 . Micro tubing  28  partially integrates with finger cover  31  and has an opening  33  near the finger pad area. An electric switch  25  is used to turn on or turn off the water flow. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  (A) shows a detailed view of finger cover  31  in one style. The finger cover  31  has a variable size to use, and is preferably used on the index or middle finger as those two fingers are more flexible and longer. At the front of the finger cover, a small, smooth, sponge pad  32  attaches to the finger pad area ( FIG. 1  (B)). A micro tubing  28  reaches to the finger pad from the back of the finger cover and has openings inside of sponge pad  32 , the other end of micro tubing  28  extends to micro tubing connector  27 . The entire finger cover is made of bio-degradable materials and discarded into the toilet after the use. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1(C , D) shows a finger cover in a different style: no sponge pad is used, the micro tubing integrates with the finger cover at the front to reach the finger pad area; the finger pad area has round bumps  34  to improve the washing efficiency. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a portable water pump device in which the coiled tubing  26  and water pump  21  are made to be inside a portable container  13  when the device is not in use ( FIG. 2  (A)). A cover  20  seals the container  13 . A screw top  19  of Mini pump  21  connects to the screw top of the water container  12  directly with inlet  22  opening to water container. Micro tubing connector  27  has a small cover  30  at the end to prevent water dripping.  FIG. 2  (B) shows the device is in the form of using: the coiled tubing  26  is pulled out to allow the finger cover reaching a washing area. Coiled tubing  26  contracts automatically to its original position after release from finger cover  31 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows an integrated water pump device in which water pump  21  and battery  24  were assembled inside of a flat shape water container  40 , water is filled to the compartment  41  which is closed with cap  46 , container  40  is wrapped at a user&#39;s wrist using bands  44 . Bands  44  attach to container  40  at the anchors  45 . The water opens to the water pump inlet  22  directly at  42 . Container  40  close to user&#39;s hand, a shorter tubing  43  connect the water pump to the finger cover  31 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view of a squeezable water bag  14  which can be used as an alternate to the water pump device of  FIG. 1 . A squeezable water bag is smaller and can be hold by hand; it is highly portable and can be used when the battery powered device ( FIG. 1 ) is not available or the batteries are dead. A thumb ring  29  holds tubing  26  close to a user&#39;s hand. A cap  35  closes the water bag with the coiled tubing connected. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0016]      11  foldable water bag,  12  water container,  13  water pump container,  14  squeezable water bag,  15  strings,  16  water bag cap,  17  water bag string anchor,  18  water bag output tubing,  19  connecting screw ring,  20  container cover,  21  mini water pump,  22  water pump inlet,  23  water pump outlet,  24  batteries,  25  water pump switch,  26  coiled flexible tubing,  27  micro tubing connector,  28  soft micro tubing,  29  thumb ring,  30  micro tubing connector cover,  31  single-use finger cover,  32  sponge pad,  33  micro tubing opening,  34  mini round bumps,  35  cap,  40  a wrist wearable unit,  41  water filling space,  42  opening connects to pump inlet,  43  flexible tubing,  44  device holding bands,  45  bands anchors,  46  cap. 
       OPERATION 
       [0017]    In operation: a user fills water bag  11  ( FIG. 1 ) with water, closes cap  16 , and hangs water bag  11  around own neck using string  15 ; then put a single-use finger cover  31  on own index finger or middle finger and connects micro tubing  28  to micro tubing connector  27 . When it is ready for a wash, the user turns on the switch  25 , and uses finger pad to wash the rectal area with water delivered constantly to the finger pad area at the opening  33  of micro tubing  28 . When performing the washing, the user&#39;s hand and the finger with finger cover points downward, a slow flow of water from micro tubing  28  make little splash; the washing water drips to the toilet, and user&#39;s hand and other fingers are kept clean and dry. After the wash, the user turns off the power switch, and removes finger cover  31  by detaching the micro tubing  28  from micro tubing connector  27  and pull off used finger cover  31  from the finger with the help of the other hand. The used finger cover will be discarded into a trash or a toilet. The plastic water bag, mini pump and coiled tubing are folded and stored away for future use. A normal wash takes 10-20 seconds with a water flow rate of 50-100 ml per minutes; a volume of 50 ml of water provides an adequate wash. A user may choose to take a longer wash by using a large size water bag or refill the regular water bag. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a portable style of the contact-washing device: the coiled tubing  26  and water pump  21  are made to fit into a single portable container for easy carry and use. The coiled tubing  26  is made of a material that has a memory of its original position. The coiled tubing is stretched from its original position into fully extended length to reach a washing area for a contact wash, and is released after the use to returns to its original position. The use of the finger cover  31  is similar to the description above. The water container directly screws to the container  13 . A different size of water containers can be used with the water pump unit for an extended period of wash. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a portable style of the contact-washing device to be worn on user&#39;s wrist. After filled with water, the flat shape contact-washing device is worn at user&#39;s wrist with bands  44 . The use of the finger cover  31  is similar to the description above. The tubing  26  is shorter and does not need a coiled form. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a contact-washing device using a squeezable water bag  14  instead of a water pump  21 . The use of the finger cover  31  is similar to the description above, but the water is delivered by squeezing water bag  14  for the washing process. This manual contact washing device provides a similar washing results but is more difficult to control the flow of water in comparison with electric unit.