Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a therapeutic device or
appliance useful in applying dry (radiant) heat to the perineal
area of the body and more particularly, the anal region
afflicted with hemorrhoids.
Heretofore, one conven-tional home or post-operative
treatment for hemorrhoid sufferers has been a warm water bath or
wash preferably localized to the perineal region employing a
bidet or sitz bath appliance such as those disclosed in United
States patent 3,416,529 issued December 17, 1968, W.W. Weisman
and United States patent 3,795,015 issued March 5, 1974, H.J.
Talge et al. While these known devices advantageously can be
made portable, the conventional application of heat to the
infected or swollen area has been by way of direct water
application. Furthermore, although these bidet-like devices can
be positioned over a toilet bowl, where supported on another
object such as a chair, prior to use, the basin portion of the
device must first be filled with water and in some instances, an
adequate drainage system must be hooked up to the appliance in
situations where the water in the basin is to be continuously
changed.
In accordance with this invention, I have devised a
therapeutic device which is particularly suitable in treating
hemorrhoid disorders and which is both portable and lightweight
and which can also be positioned and supported by a toilet bowl
or stationed on any substantially flat surface or platform such
as a chair or floor without the need for a water supply. This
additional versatility imparted to my device over those known in
the art is attributable to the fact that rather than using water
to impart therapeutic effect, I have realized that water itself,
although hygienic, may not be the best form of hemorrhoidal
treatment particularly in instances where discomforture of this
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region is more responsive to dry or radiant heat application.
As hemorroidal tissue is prone to being moist, the
traditional methods of treatment merely compliment this
characteristic, and, I believe, have a somewhat deleterious
effect upon healing when compared to the application of dry heat
and the drying effect imparted to the moist tissue. Compared to
the various hot water methods, my therapeutic device is more
versatile, portable, faster and probably most important, less
inconvenient. This latter feature enables a person suffering
from hemorroids to obtain more frequent periodic relief or
treatment which I have found results in faster healing. Indeed,
using my appliance, one need only lower one's underpants for
treatment.
In accordance with this invention, the therapeutic
device or appliance is thus intended to subject the perineal
region of the body to dry heat, and comprises a dry heat source
dimensioned so as to radiate heat on this region, first means
for supporting the heat source, attachment means for connecting
the heat source to the support means, second support means
. . .
co-operating with firsc support means and being remote from said
heat source for connecting said first support means and said
heat source to a base and wherein the heat source and the first
and second support means are constructed so as to avoid body
contact when the perineal region thereof is positioned over the
heat source. The device, which is relatively inexpensive to
construct, in its preferred construction when intended to be
placed on a toilet bowl, is relatively compact, particularly
when compared to the water applicator devices such as Talge et
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al discussed above. Furthermore, as my novel construction also
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admits of the use of a basin similar to those used in a
conventional portable bidet or sitz bath, lt can also be used on
other stationary objects such as a chair or bench in situations ~
where a toilet bowl is not conveniently to hand. `
Where the device is intended to be used with a toilet `
bowl, the second support means for the heat source desirably
comprises two or more elongate support brackets which radiate
from the heat source and which are intended to be supported by a
base, which, in this application, is the upper limits of the
toilet bowl. As the support means or support brackets ~`
effectively position and hold the heat source substantially
centrally of the bowl itself, the bowl seat can then be lowered
over the appliance in order to avoid direct body contact with
it. Moreover, it will be evident that the heat source may be
powered by conventional household current, by a suitable battery
supply or by any other suitable power source such as an
automobile electrical outlet most commonly appearing in the form
of a cigarette lighter. ;'
As the device may be exposed to water, the heat source
is preferably made water proof so as to meet all electrical -
standards and minimize short hazard. Furthermore, in order to
control the amount of radiated heat within tolerable limits,
suitable rheostat means may be included between the heat source
and power source.
Although the base, as above described, may in fact
constitute the upper perimeter of a toilet bowl or commode, ;;
where the device is to be effectively self-contained as is the ;;
case in situations where it is to be located on a chair, floor `
or the like, the base itself may be an integral component of the
device wherein the base includes an open seat substantially ~,
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centrally positioned above the heat source and which itself
supports the seat and the heat source a spaced distance from a
foundation on which the device is positioned. Advantageously,
in this form of construction, the base may in fact comprise a
basin the upper limits of which define the upper open seat and
wherein the first support means which is connected to the heat
source is connected to the basin bottom by the second support
means.
In order to enhance the amount of radiated heat from
the heat source to the perineal region, a reflecting plate or
the like can be positioned below the heat source in order to
reflect the radiated heat in a localized manner upwardly towards
the perineal body region.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate two
working embodiments of my invention and in which like reference
numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various
views:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one construction of
the device suitable for use with a conventional toilet bowl and
toilet seat which are shown in broken chain-line,
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Figure 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in
Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the heat source
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 with radiating spacer components
thereon, and
Figure 4 illustrates in partial cut-away, a further
embodiment of the invention, wherein the heat source is
positioned within a basin.
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Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the therapeutic
device therein illustrated is designed to be placed above the :
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upper rim of a toilet bowl which is generally indicated by
reference numeral 1 and over which can be placed toilet seat 2;
bowl 1 and seat 2 being outlined in broken chain-line.
The device includes a dry or radiant heat source 3
which in the embodiment illustrated, is cylindrical in form, and
preferably, water immersable. Heat source 3 is located within a
fi st support means 4 which is preferably formed from a single
piece of stainless steel or the like having the shape of an
inverted and opened "w" and which includes backwall 5 which
functions as an a~tachment support for the heat source 3.
Source 3 overlies concave reflective surface 6 forming part of
support means 4 and is intended to contain and reflect heat
generated by source 3 upwardly. The first support means further
includes two depending wings 7 (which are effectively the free
ends of the "w"). These wings are connected to co-operating
second support means, which, as illustrated, comprises opposed
wire-like supports 8 positioned on either side of support 4 and
which overly base or toilet seat 1. In order to have heat
source 3 depend within the confines of the toilet bowl, supports
8 extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom and where they overly
the bowl rim as shown, include a complimentary flat portion 9
and which thereafter depend downwardly as at 10 so as to
eEfectively hook onto the bowl's outer perimeter. In this
particular embodiment, the support means 8 is preferably made of
flexible material such as vinyl coated wire which enables the
heat source to be raised or lowered relative to the perineal
region of the body merely by bending the wire so as to avoid
body contact therewith when seat 2 is lowered. Support 4 may be
attached to support wire 8 by welding the two together as shown.
It will be evident, however, that the two can be attached in any
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other suitable for as, for example by extending wire 8 through
holes in wings 7 (not shown). Indeed, support 4 may be lowered
relative to support 8 merely by connecting the two together
proximate the top of support 4.
The heat source 3 is advantageously supported in
spaced relationship from reflecting surface 6 by means of two
spacing washers 11 each having radiating arms 12, the
extremities of which contact reflective surface 6. An AC power
cord 13 extends from one end of heat source 3 through the
backwall 5 via grummet 14 position therein so as to be connected
to a suitable power source such as a household socket (not
shown) employing plug 15.
It will also be appreciated that the second support
means 8 may be made telescopic or through the use of hinges,
made collapsible, so that it may be reduced in overall size for
compactness when not in use. Similarly, back 5 may be made
removeable or the heat source 3 otherwise made detachable
therefrom in order to withdraw heat source 3 and its associated
power cord from its location above reflective surface 6 for
cleaning separately from the remaining components.
In a further embodiment of this invention, and with
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reference to Figure 4, a heat source 3, first support means 4
and power cord 13 is employed as before. However, in this
embodiment, rim or seat 16 forms an integral portion of the base
or basin 17. In this construction, the interior of wings 7
forming a part of support 4 are designed to frictionally engage
the second support means which, as illustrated, comprises two
upwardly extending abutments or flanges 18 which themselves may
be an integral part of the basin bottom as shown. These flanges
are designed to abut the interior sides of wings 7 of the
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1~335~;8
support means 4 for the purpose of enabling the latter and the
associated heat source to be vertically or laterally manually
moved in order to ensure there is no body contact and
strategically position the heat source in line with the body
area requiring heat treatment. ~;
Power cord 13 with plug 15 extend through grummet 19
located in the wall of the basin 17. In order to independently
clean basin 14 and heater element 3, grummet 19 may be ~.
dimensioned so as to permit the withdrawal of plug 15
therethrough, or heat source 3 may be made otherwise removable ~ `
from support 4 and washers 11 to effect the same purpose.
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