Patent GB-1417004-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for hygienically administering douches or enemas
IPC: A61M3/02
Filed: 1972-11-08
Abstract: 1417004 Douche apparatus J L MURRAY and F R GARDINER 8 Nov 1972 [11 Nov 1971 2 March 1972] 51606/72 Heading A5R [Also in Divisions B8 and F1] Douche apparatus: Apparatus 10, Fig. 1, for administering a douche or enema, comprises a container 12 open at one end, a cap 14 sealing the open end; means defining a chamber 68 within the container 12 when the cap 14 seals the container 12 when screwed onto its open end of the chamber 68, means 86, Fig. 5, operable from the exterior of the chamber 68 to remove the cover 72 and allow a liquid in the container 12 to contact a compound in the chamber 68, which compound reacts with the liquid to produce a gas and which is present in a predetermined sufficient quantity such that the gas produced completely expels the liquid from the container 12, and a nozzle 56 adapted to be inserted in a passageway 48 to provide a continuous and non-interruptable passage through which the liquid is expelled. The container 12 is made of a moulded plastics material and has a capacity of between one half and two quarts. The cap 14 has a wall 32 which seals the container 12 when screwed onto its open end. A passageway 52 is defined by a tube 38 which is integral with the wall 32 and which terminates in a skirt 26 of the cap 14. A constricted part of the nozzle 56 is supported in a storage position by a collar 50 fixed on the tube 38. The nozzle 56 has a bulbous portion including apertures 66 between ribs 64. In an alternative embodiment, a container (12'), Fig. 6, (not shown) is of a soft, flexible, water impervious material and is provided with an interior frame (110) which provides rigidity. Compound chamber: The chamber 68 is sealed by the cover 72 which has a skirt 76 which fits over the wall 70 of the chamber 68. The cover 72 is pivotted about a pin 82 and has a tab (84), Fig. 2, (not shown) opposite the pin 82. The cover release mechanism 86 includes a rod 88 in a bore 92 in a protuberance 94 on the wall 70, and a button 102 which, when depressed, urges the rod 88 aginst the tab 84 to pivot the cover 72 away from the chamber 68. Compound: The compound may be provided in the form of a tablet 106 or in granulated or powdered form. The tablet 106 includes 7.35 gm anhydrous citric acid and 5.88 gm sodium bicarbonate when the container 12 contains 1 quart of water which is evacuated in about 30 seconds. The maximum pressure inside the container 12 is controlled by the size of the apertures 66 and is preferably between 1 and 1.5 p.s.i. The chamber 68 is provided with spikes 112 which crumble the tablet 106 when the cover 72 closes the chamber 68. Alternatively, the chemicals may be segregated in powdered form by using an envelope 200, Fig. 8, having compartments 210, 212. The envelope 200 is made of tea bag paper by heat sealing three layers of the paper around a substantial part of the edges to leave an opening 214. The chemicals are placed, one in each compartment, and the envelope sealed using a water soluble cement which dissolves when water contacts it. In an alternative embodiment, an envelope (200a), Fig. 9, (not shown) has perforations (216) which transmit water but not the powders. In another alternative embodiment, an envelope (200b), Fig. 10, (not shown) has separate pouches (220, 222) one of which has a flap (226) which is folded over the other and adhered thereto by water soluble adhesive 228. On contact with water, the flap 226 opens and allows the entry of water into the envelope. Operation: The cap 14 is removed from the container 12 and the nozzle 56 transferred from the collar 50 into the passageway 46. The container 12 is filled with water and a tablet 106 placed in the chamber 68 which is then sealed by the cover 72 and the cap 14 replaced on the container 12. The button 102 is depressed to uncover the chamber 68 whereupon the acid reacts with the water to release carbon dioxide which expels the water with sodium bicarbonate dissolved in it.