WO2008015192A1

WO2008015192A1 - Device for the rectal insertion of suppositories

Info

Publication number: WO2008015192A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057842
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gian Battista Bellinato
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-03
Filing date: 2007-07-30
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-03
Also published as: ITBO20060068U1

Abstract

Device for the rectal insertion of suppositories, characterised in that it comprises a cylindrical tube (1) open at both ends, of diameter such as to contain at a first end at least one suppository (S); a piston (2) comprising a piston head (102) and a piston rod (202); said piston (2) being slidably inserted in said tube (1) from a first extracted position in which said piston head (102) bears against the bottom of a suppository (S)housed in one end of said tube (1), to a second position in which it expel said suppository (S) from said tube (1); means for the operation of said piston (2) from said first position to said second position of expulsion of the suppository (S); means (301) to facilitate and limit the insertion of said first end of the tube (1) into the anus; and means (201; 302) to permit the operation of said piston (2) from said first position to said second position.

Description

TITLE: DEVICE FOR THE RECTAL INSERTION OF SUPPOSITORIES

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a device for the improved hygienic insertion of suppositories.

At the present time, suppositories are inserted into the rectum by hand, using sterile gloves, by nurses, or often even without gloves when a patient administers them himself at home. The present procedure for the insertion of suppositories often proves to be complicated and difficult, apart from the fact that it is not very hygienic, either because the medications are mainly taken as suppositories by elderly persons, who usually move with difficulty, or because if the suppository is not thoroughly inserted into the rectum, beyond the anal sphincter, the suppository tends to be rejected through the action of the progressive closure of the sphincter and also because of the normally oily composition of the suppository.

The invention is designed to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages with a device according to claim 1 ), made of suitable plastics material, of low production cost, comprising a tube into which the suppository is loaded and in which a piston moves. The tube is suitably rounded at the anterior edge and posteriorly has a pair of collars or projections, one of which initially acts as thrusting means for inserting the tube into the anus and therefore provides a stop for insertion of the said tube, while the other acts as a reaction support for the operator, who on pressing the piston causes the suppository to leave the tube and to be correctly inserted in the rectum. The device can easily be packed in sterile envelopes, in the same way as the ordinary disposable syringes currently on the market.

The features of the device in question and the advantages deriving therefrom will be more apparent from the following description made with reference to the figures in the single appended sheet of drawings, in which: - Figure 1 illustrates the device in longitudinal cross-section, with the piston withdrawn in the resting position and with a suppository already inserted in the device,

Figure 2 illustrates the device in Figure 1 inserted into the user's anus and with the piston forward in the position bringing about easy insertion of the suppository into the rectum,

Figure 3 illustrates the device in lateral elevation combined with a manipulator which makes it easy for the device to be used directly by the user, even if partially disabled or having difficulty in movement,

Figure 4 illustrates details in cross-section IV-IV in Figure 3.

The device according to the invention is completely made of suitable non-toxic plastics material and comprises tube 1 which purely by way of example may be approximately 70 mm long, with walls approximately 1 mm thick and with an internal diameter of approximately 10 mm. These dimensions are suitable for use of the device by an adult person, and therefore the said dimensions may be varied when the said device is intended for non-adult persons.

The anterior extremity of tube 1 has a rounded edge 101 to assist insertion of the tube into the user's anus. Suppository S is inserted into the tube 1 from the said extremity having rounded edge 101. At the posterior extremity tube 1 has a projecting part 201 and at a suitable distance from this, for example at a distance of approximately 30 mm, the said tube has a second projecting part 301 which is preferably wider than first projection 201. As illustrated in Figure 2, tube 1 is seized by fingers D of the operator's hand in the section between collars 201 , 301 and with a thrusting action on projection 301 , the tube is correctly inserted into the user's anus until the said projection 301 comes into contact with the anal sphincter. Operator's fingers D then hold tube 1 through outer projection 201 in order that an axial force can be exerted by the thumb onto a piston 2 which is progressively pressed into tube 1 in such a way as to cause suppository S to exit therefrom correspondingly and therefore be inserted into the rectum to the correct depth (Figure 2). Suppository S leaves the tube completely in that the forward party of the piston (see below) projects for a short distance beyond rounded edge 101 , so that when in the next stage the operator pulls on outer projection 201 and extracts the tube the said suppository remains in the rectum without any danger of being rejected, in that it has been inserted beyond the anal sphincter.

Piston 2 has a head 102 designed in any manner such as to operate as a distributed contact with suppository S and if necessary such as to act together to form a lateral seal with tube 1 , while the rod 202 of piston 2 has a cross-shaped or equivalent type transverse cross-section which ensures satisfactory mechanical strength and reduces the use of plastics material to render production of the device economic. At the extremity opposite to the head 102, piston 2 has a projection 302 which is useful as a thrust surface for application of the thumb and as a stop for insertion of the suppository (Figure 2).

Figure 3 illustrates an easily made low-cost manipulator on which the device in question can be easily mounted in order to permit direct use by users, even though elderly or partly disabled, or having limited capacity for movement. Manipulator 3 substantially comprises two levers 103 and 203 in an "L" shape hinged together at the 4 at the corner. One of the said levers, for example 103, bears a clamp 303 for easy and rapid fixing of tube 1 of the device, for example by nesting (see Figure 4), holding the portion of tube between projections 201 and 301. The corresponding extremity of other lever 203 is profiled in any suitable way to act together with posterior projection 302 of piston 2. In order to restrict the size of manipulator 3 when packed and when replaced after use, levers 103 and 203 are for example provided with arms 103' and 203' which can be held by the user, which are advantageously connected to the other arms of the said levers by means of quick-fit attachments 5 and 6 of any suitable type such as to permit easy coupling or uncoupling of these operating arms 103', 203' as necessary. By gripping arm 103' and raising it upwards the user can easily insert the anterior portion of tube 1 with the suppository into the anus without having to make any special movements or bending, after which, by performing a simple, scissor-like closing action with the arms 103', 203', the user is able to operate piston 2 in order to insert suppository S wholly independently and with limited effort thanks to the advantageous conformation of levers 103 and 203.

The device according to the invention is preferably disposable and may be packed in a sterile way by any practical means which can easily be implemented on industrial scale. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention piston 2 is inserted in tube 1 and the whole assembly, of small size, is packed in a sterile envelope in a similar way to the disposable syringes currently available on the market. In this case the user can use suppositories normally available on the market and taking them one at a time can load them into tube 1 of the applicator device according to the invention.

According to another arrangement which is not illustrated as it is easy to envisage and construct in different ways by those skilled in the art, the suppository may be originally packed in tube 1 of the device directly by the suppository manufacturer and piston 2 may or may not be inserted in tube 1 , the whole being enclosed in a suitable easily-openable sterile pack or packs.

Claims

1. Device for the rectal insertion of suppositories, characterised in that it comprises a cylindrical tube (1 ) open at both ends, of diameter such as to contain at a first end at least one suppository (S); a piston (2) comprising a piston head (102) and a piston rod (202); said piston (2) being slidably inserted in said tube (1 ) from a first extracted position in which said piston head (102) bears against the bottom of a suppository (S)housed in one end of said tube (1 ), to a second position in which it expel said suppository (S) from said tube (1 ); means for the operation of said piston (2) from said first position to said second position of expulsion of the suppository (S); means (301 ) to facilitate and limit the insertion of said first end of the tube (1 ) into the anus; and means (201 ; 302) to permit the operation of said piston (2) from said first position to said second position.

2. Device according to claim 1 ), in which the tube (1 ), has posteriorly a pair of collars or projections (201 , 301 ), one of which (301 ) initially acts as thrusting means for inserting the said tube into the anus and then as a stop for insertion of the said tube, while the other (201 ) acts as a reaction support for the operator who by pressing the piston (2) causes the suppository (S) to leave the tube and be correctly inserted in the user's rectum (P).

3. Device according to claim 1 ), characterised in that the anterior extremity of the tube (1 ) has a rounded edge (101 ) which assists insertion and removal of the said extremity of the tube into and from the user's rectum (P).

4. Device according to claim 1 ), characterised in that the piston (2) has a head(102) shaped in such a way as to form a distributed contact with the suppository (S) and if necessary such as to act together to provide a lateral seal with the tube (1 ), while at its opposite extremity the piston has a projection (302) which is useful as a surface for supporting the operator's thumb and as an end stop for insertion of the suppository (S) into the user's rectum.

5. Device according to claim 1 ), characterised in that the rod (202) of the piston (2), which has overall a length related to that of the tube (1 ), has a cross-shaped or equivalent type transverse cross-section which ensures satisfactory mechanical strength and reduces the use of plastics material to render production of the device economical.

6. Device according to claim 1 ), characterised in that it can be easily and removably fitted to a manipulator (3) which permits easy use of the device directly by the user.

7. Device according to claim 6), in which the said manipulator (3) comprises two levers (103, 203) in an "L" shape and with an intermediate hinge (4) at the corner, the extremity of one of the said levers (103) being fitted with a clamp (303) for easy and rapid fixing of the tube (1 ) of the device by means of the length of the tube between its collars (201 , 301 ), all constructed in such a way that the user can by gripping one of the vertical arms (103') of the said levers and raising it easily bring about insertion of the anterior portion of the tube (1 ) with the suppository (S) into the anus without having to make special movements or bending, after which, by performing a simple, scissor-like closing action with the said anterior arms (103', 203') of the lever, the user can operate the piston (2) in order to insert the suppository (S) into the rectum in a very convenient and wholly independent way.

8. Device according to the previous claims, characterised in that the anterior arms (103', 203') of the manipulator (3) are attached to the corresponding levers

(103, 203) of the manipulator by quick-fit attachment means (5, 6) of any suitable type permitting the arms to be easily connected to or disconnected from the levers in such a way as to reduce the size of the manipulator during the stages of packaging and storage after each use.

9. Device according to the previous claims, characterised in that it can be packed in a sterile envelope, preferably with the piston (2) inserted in the tube (1 ), in such a way that the user can use suppositories (S) normally available on the market, taking them one at a time and loading them in the tube (1 ) of the device.

10. Device according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the suppository (S) may be originally packed in the tube (1 ) of the device directly by the producer of the suppositories and the piston (2) may or may not be inserted into the said tube (1 ), the whole assembly being enclosed in a suitable easily-openable sterile pack or packs.