KR102463549B1 - Sanitary plug - Google Patents

Abstract

A sanitary plug comprises: a plug body which is formed to be inserted into the rectum in a contracted state, and to expand to be in close contact with the inner wall of the rectum; a withdrawing member which is connected to the plug body and is configured to withdraw the plug body from the outside of the anus; and a stopper which is formed to pass the withdrawing member therethrough, and allows the relative movement with respect to the withdrawing member, while providing stopping fixing force in a state in which the plug body is inserted into the rectum, so that the plug body does not move toward the inner side of the rectum. The sanitary plug is easy to insert into the body, can minimize leakage, and can be used hygienically.

Description

Sanitary Plug {SANITARY PLUG}

The present invention relates to a sanitary plug for insertion into the body for patients with fecal incontinence or after surgery.

Fecal incontinence refers to the inability to control stool or gas at will. These symptoms may include structural disorders of the rectum that control and support defecation, damage to the anal muscles or nerves, or the cause of which cannot be clearly identified.

When fecal incontinence is accompanied by paralysis of the lower body, terminal cancer, or nursing patients, it is difficult to manage hygiene, but it is easy to cause pressure sores or skin troubles due to restrictions or inability to move. Due to long-term hospitalization or long-term medication, the gastrointestinal tract becomes sensitive and the anal sphincter relaxes, causing stool to continue to leak even when posture is changed or moved. make it In addition, frequent fecal incontinence makes rehabilitation treatment difficult, stopping treatment or delaying examination.

In this situation, apart from treating fecal incontinence with a medical method, a plug-type device has been developed and used to temporarily prevent fecal leakage.

*Related prior art

International Patent Publication No. WO 2009/060437 (published on May 14, 2009)

An object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary plug that can be easily inserted into the body, can minimize leakage, and can be used hygienically.

A sanitary plug according to an example related to the present invention comprises: a plug body formed to be in close contact with the inner wall of the rectum by expanding when it is inserted into the rectum in a contracted state; a pull-out member connected to the plug body to draw out the plug body from the outside of the anus; and provided to allow the withdrawal member to pass through, and to allow relative movement with respect to the withdrawal member, but to provide a stopping and fixing force so that the plug body does not enter the inside of the rectum while the plug body is inserted into the rectum It may include a stopper that

As an example related to the present invention, the stopper includes a through hole through which the drawing member passes, and at least one of an inner wall of the through hole or a surface of the drawing member may generate a friction force between the through hole and the drawing member. A concave-convex shape that can be formed may be formed.

As an example related to the present invention, the concave-convex shape may include a plurality of protrusions, and the plurality of protrusions may be inclined to have directionality.

As an example related to the present invention, each of the plug body and the stopper may be formed of a resin material in the form of a foam.

As an example related to the present invention, the withdrawing member may be integrally formed of the same material as the plug body.

As an example related to the present invention, the plug body may include a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature, and a cable connected to the temperature sensor and extending along the lead-out member may be disposed in the middle of the lead-out member.

According to the sanitary plug according to an example related to the invention, the stopper is pushed against the pull-out member connected to the plug body to ensure that the plug body is in close contact with the rectal inner wall, and it is possible to effectively prevent the leakage of feces or excrement. also easy Such a sanitary plug can be expanded in use, such as for treating residual blood after surgery, such as a woman's uterus, as well as fecal incontinence patients.

According to the sanitary plug according to another embodiment related to the invention, when the plug body having contraction and expandability is inserted through the insertion guide while being connected to the pull-out member, the internal plug body expands and adheres to the rectal inner wall to effectively prevent stool leakage can do. In addition, by arranging the sensor module on the plug body, it is possible to not only grasp the patient's exact condition, but also accurately manage the replacement time of the sanitary plug without opening the diaper, which is advantageous in terms of manpower and care time.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a sanitary plug 10 according to an example related to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the insertion of the sanitary plug 10 of FIG. 1 .
3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a stopper 40 as an example related to the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a sanitary plug 10' according to another example related to the present invention.
5 is a view conceptually showing a sanitary plug 10 ″ according to another example related to the present invention.
6 is a perspective view schematically showing a sanitary plug 100 according to another example related to the present invention.
7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sanitary plug 100 of FIG. 6 .
8 is a cross-sectional view showing the disassembled state of the sanitary plug 100 of FIG.
9 is a control block diagram of a sanitary plug according to the present invention.
10 to 13 are cross-sectional views showing the insertion process of the sanitary plug 100 related to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a sanitary plug related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a sanitary plug 10 according to an example related to the present invention. The sanitary plug 10 includes a plug body 20 , a pull-out member 30 and a stopper 40 .

When the plug body 20 is inserted into the rectum in a contracted state, it expands and is formed to be in close contact with the inner wall of the rectum. In the drawing, the plug body 20 is in a freely expanded state. The plug body 20 may be formed of a resin material in the form of a foam, such as urethane foam. Such a plug body 20 may be preferably manufactured in a relatively small size that can block the rectum so as to reduce the feeling of foreign body or rejection received by the user or the patient.

The pull-out member 30 is connected to the plug body 20 so as to be able to withdraw the plug body 20 from the outside of the anus. The withdrawing member 30 has a function of removing the plug body 20 and a function of transmitting a force for adhering the plug body 20 to the workplace, which will be described later. The draw-out member 30 may be formed of fabric or resin foam, and may have a shape of a dagger with an empty middle. In addition, the draw-out member 30 may be in the form of a thread or string.

The stopper 40 has a shape through which the lead-out member 30 can pass, and is formed to allow relative movement with respect to the lead-out member 30 . Specifically, the stopper 40 provides a stopping and fixing force to prevent the plug body 20 from entering the rectum while the plug body 20 is inserted into the rectum.

As shown in Figure 2, when the stopper 40 is pushed toward the anus while holding the withdrawal member 30 to create an appropriate distance from the plug body 20, the plug body 20 is in close contact with the inner wall of the rectum (R). will keep going To this end, as shown in FIG. 3 , the stopper 40 has a through hole 41 through which the draw-out member 30 passes, and the inner wall of the through-hole 41 can generate a frictional force with the draw-out member 30 . A concave-convex portion 42 is formed. The through hole 41 may be circular or may have a cross section having a forked groove such as a slot. The concave-convex portion 42 may include a plurality of protrusions, and the plurality of protrusions are inclined to have directionality. That is, the plurality of protrusions of the downward slope constituting the concave-convex shape portion 42 in FIG. 3 do not receive resistance when the draw-out member 30 passes downward, but act as an obstacle resisting it when receiving a force upward. do. The through hole 41 or the concave-convex shape portion 42 may be integrally formed in the process of manufacturing the foam of the resin material.

4 shows another example of a sanitary plug 10 ′ related to the present invention, in which the pull-out member 22 is integrally formed of the same material as the plug body 21 .

5 is another example of a sanitary plug 10 ″ related to the present invention, showing that a temperature sensor 50 is installed in the plug body 20. The temperature sensor 50 can continuously detect a patient's body temperature. and the value sensed by the temperature sensor 50 is transmitted to the outside by the cable 55. That is, one end of the cable 55 is connected to the temperature sensor 50, and the middle of the lead member 30 is is extended to the outside along the withdrawing member 30, and the opposite end is connected in a plug-in form to the transmitter 60. The transmitter 60 transmits the patient's body temperature status to the server 70 in a wireless or wired manner. The temperature information of the patient that is stored and monitored by the server 70 may be provided to enable confirmation or notification through the terminal 80 of the guardian or caregiver.

This method of installing and using the temperature sensor 50 helps to more actively manage the condition of the patient as well as the primary function of effectively preventing the leakage of feces or secretions.

6 is a schematic view of a sanitary plug 100 according to another example related to the present invention, wherein the sanitary plug 100 includes an insertion guide 120 having a plug body 110 built therein, and a plug body ( A pusher member 140 for pushing 110 into the anus and a pull-out member 130 for pulling out the plug body 110 from the outside of the body are provided.

The insertion guide 120 is in the form of a dagger, and the distal end has a slightly sharp and smooth round profile so that it can enter the anus. In addition, a radially cut opening 121 is formed at the front end of the insertion guide 120 so that the plug body 110 inside can be elastically pushed out by the pusher member 140 . A handle 122 may be formed at the lower end of the insertion guide 120 to hold the insertion guide 120 and easily push the pusher member 140 inside. The handle 122 may be formed or coated with a silicone resin or rubber having frictional force so as to maintain a firmly held state by the user.

The draw-out member 130 may be formed of a thread or a fabric band to reduce the feeling of foreign body and to naturally implement any direction or shape according to the patient's condition or posture.

7 shows a cross-section of the sanitary plug 100 of FIG. 6 , and FIG. 8 shows the disassembled state of the sanitary plug 100 of FIG. 7 .

As shown in these figures, the plug body 110 is in a form having contraction and expandability so as to be in close contact with the inner wall of the rectum. Such a plug body 110 may be formed of a material such as urethane foam that absorbs moisture and expands, and may have a concave portion 113 to maintain a state in which stools are collected inside the rectum.

The plug body 110 is accommodated in a compressed state in the insertion guide 120 in the form of a daerong as described above. The distal end of the insertion guide 120 includes an opening 121 and may have a smooth round shape to be easily inserted into the anus. As another example, the plug body 110 may be formed in a shape surrounded by a cover capable of maintaining a compressed state. Such a cover may be formed by water-soluble carbohydrates or proteins. In this case, since the plug body 110 surrounded by the cover has a certain degree of stiffness, when a force is applied, the plug body 110 can enter the anus without the insertion guide 120 .

A sensor module 150 having a sensor capable of detecting a patient's condition is installed inside the body of the plug body 110 . A pocket 115 having an accommodation space may be formed in the plug body 110 for installation of the sensor module 150 . The sensor module 150 is in the form of an assembly in which several sensors and components are small integrated. The sensor module 150 may be configured to operate by operating a separate reset switch before inserting the sanitary plug 100 into the patient. The sensor module 150 is detachable with respect to the plug body 110, and is mounted on the plug body 110 before being inserted into the patient, and after the sanitary plug 100 is removed from the patient, the sensor module 150 is installed. It can be configured in a form that can be used again after being separated from the plug body 110 .

The pusher member 140 may be formed in a piston-like structure to easily push the plug body 110 accommodated in the insertion guide 120 . In order not to interfere with the draw-out member 130 when the plug body 110 is inserted, the pusher member 140 may be in the form of a rod through which the draw-out member 130 passes therein or in the form of a rod parallel to the draw-out member 130. . In this example, the pusher member 140 in the form of a dagger is shown.

9 is a control block diagram of a sanitary plug related to the present invention. The sanitary plug may include a sensor module 150 and a control unit 160 for controlling other electrical elements.

The sensor module 150 may include several sensors for checking the condition of the patient. In such a case, the sensor module 150 may include a pressure sensor 151 to notify the replacement time when the pressure in the rectum reaches a certain level. The pressure sensor 151 detects a pressure caused by an increase in pressure or a contraction of a muscle, which is generated as the stool rises in the rectum. The control unit 160 monitors the change in pressure by the pressure sensor 151, and when the reference pressure is greater than the reference pressure, the time of replacement of the sanitary plug 100 or the diaper is notified to the outside. The control unit 160 may also be configured to monitor periodic fluctuations in the sensed value of the pressure sensor 151 and provide it to the outside as heart rate information of the patient.

The sensor module 150 may also include a timer 163 for detecting the lapse of time from the time point when the sanitary plug 100 is inserted into the patient. The controller 160 may be configured to notify the replacement time when the lapse of time by the timer 163 is equal to or greater than a reference value.

In addition, the sensor module 150 may include a temperature sensor 153 capable of measuring a patient's body temperature. By such a temperature sensor 153, it is possible to comprehensively monitor the patient's health condition.

As described above, the sanitary plug 100 may have a separate reset switch 161 to operate after the sensor module 150 is inserted into the patient. The reset switch 161 may be of a form that can be pressed by a user's hand on one side of the sensor module 150 or a form that is operated by a separate wired or wireless means. When the reset switch 161 is operated, power from the battery 163 is supplied from then on, so that the control unit 160 and the sensor module 150 are operated, and the sensor is transmitted to an external server or terminal through the wireless transmitter 162 . Measurement values or alarm signal information from the module 150 may be transmitted. The controller 160 controls the sensor module 150, the reset switch 161, and the wireless transmitter 162 to implement the set functions.

10 to 13 show the insertion process of the sanitary plug 100 related to the present invention. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the sanitary plug 100 is directed to the rectum (R), and is inserted into the anus by the insertion guide 120 (FIG. 11), and then pushes the pusher member 140 to the insertion guide ( Push the plug body 110 on the inside of the 120) into the rectum (R) (FIG. 12). The plug body 110 comes in close contact with the inner wall of the rectum (R) by an elastic restoration action or moisture expansion after coming out of the insertion guide 120 . Thereafter, when the insertion guide 120 and the pusher member 140 are removed, the withdrawing member 130 is exposed to the outside ( FIG. 13 ). The sensor module 150 installed inside the plug body 110 starts the operation in the manner described above and transmits information about whether there is a feces inside the rectum (R), or whether the temperature, pulse, or reference time has elapsed to the wireless transmitter It is transmitted to the outside through (162).

In this way, when the plug body 110 having contraction and expansion properties while being connected to the withdrawal member 130 is inserted through the insertion guide 120, the plug body 110 inside expands and comes into close contact with the rectum (R) inner wall. It can effectively prevent stool leakage. In addition, by arranging the sensor module 150 on the plug body 110, it is possible not only to grasp the patient's exact condition, but also to accurately manage the replacement time of the sanitary plug 100 without opening the diaper, so that the labor and care It is very advantageous in terms of time.

The sanitary plug described above is not limited to the configuration and method of the described embodiments. The above embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or part of each of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made.

R: rectal 10: sanitary plug
20: plug body 30: draw-out member
40: stopper 50: temperature sensor
55: cable 60: transmitter
70: server 80: external terminal

Claims (6)

When inserted into the rectum (直腸) in a contracted state, it expands and is formed to be in close contact with the inner wall of the rectum, the plug body having a concave portion to maintain a state in which the stools are gathered in the rectum;
a pull-out member connected to the plug body to draw out the plug body from the outside of the anus; and
It is formed so that the draw-out member can pass, and allows relative movement with respect to the pull-out member, but provides a stopping and fixing force so that the plug body does not enter the inside of the rectum while the plug body is inserted into the rectum including a stopper;
The draw-out member is in the form of a daerong, the middle of which is empty in the longitudinal direction,
The center of the stopper includes a through hole through which the withdrawal member passes,
A concave-convex portion capable of generating a friction force between the through hole and the drawing member is integrally formed with the stopper on the inner wall of the through hole,
The periphery of the stopper is integrally formed with the stopper in the form of a wing so that it can be hung in direct contact with the anus,
The uneven shape includes a plurality of projections,
The plurality of projections are inclined to have directionality,
The plug body and the stopper are formed of a resin material in the form of a foam, sanitary plug.
delete delete delete The method of claim 1,
The pull-out member is integrally formed with the same material as the plug body, sanitary plug.
The method of claim 1,
The plug body includes a temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature,
A sanitary plug connected to the temperature sensor in the middle of the lead-out member and disposed with a cable extending along the lead-out member.

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