Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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S P E C I E; I C A T I O N
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
BE IT KNOWN, that we, Thomas John Gianopoulos and Wallace
William Becklin, citi~èns of the United States, residing in
Bloomington, Hennepin County, State ol Minnesota and Maple Grove,
Hennepin County, State of Minnesota, respectively, havs invented
new and useful improvements in HEMORRHOID RETAINERS of which the
following is a specification.
Field of the Invention
_
This invention relates primaril~ to medical devices and,
more specifically, to disposable hemorrhoid retainers that can be
~uickly applied to securely and firmly hold hemorrhoids within the
anal orifice.
Backaround_of the Irvention
External protruding hemorrhoids ~enerally cause pain and
discomfort. In addition, if the hemorrhoids become bruisedl
the~ may bleed which may cause the person alarm and concern.
Bleedin~ hemorrhoids may eventually require surgery since the avail-
able ointments, creams, ~ells and the like offer only temporary
relief to the pain and itching and do not protect the hemorrhoid
membranes from further brulsing and bleedin~. Typically, when ex~er-
nal protruding hemorrhoids become bothersome, one must push the
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hemorrhoids into the anal area with one's fin~ers. However,
insertion of the hemorrhoids into the anal area does not
prevent the hemorrhoids from coming out again, particularly
if the person moves about. If the hemorrhoids continually
protrude, usually the only option is to have surgery to
remove them.
A disadvantage of available hemorrhoid preparations
is that many people are hesitant about using them because
they are, to some extent, invasive since some of the
hemorrhoid preparations have to be placed inside the anal
orifice.
The purpose of the present invention is to hold or
retain hemorrhoids inside the anal orifice. If the
hemorrhoids are held inside the ana:L orifice there is less
ahange of injury to the hemorrhoid membrane.
Description of the Prior Art
Other than surgery, the primary types of relief
from the pain of external hemorrhoids is the use of
ointments, jells and creams which, by their own claims, give
only temporary relief from hemorrhoidal pain. The
hemorrhoid preparations presently on the market are intended
as temporary relief agents. In addition, the available
hemorrhoid preparations are messy and also soil the persons
undergarments. Furthermore, none of these creams, ointments
or jells truly solve the problem of keeping the hemorrhoids
inside the anal orifice. That is, exertion or improper
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functioning of the anal sphincter may force the he~orrhoids
out. The present invention, in contrast to the prior art
jells and creams, supports and holds the hemorrhoids inside
the anal orifice for prolonged periods of time.
There are known breathablP tapes and bandaids which
have been employed for other purposes. However, such
devices are not suitable for use as a hemorrhoid retainer
since they do not permit rapid escape of air therethrough.
For example, Stenwell, U.S. patent 3,888,247 shows a first
aid bandage comprises of a microporous breathable surgical
tape and a flexible backing. The Stenwell bandage is
applied directly to the wound to maintain a proper
positioning of the wound edges without interfering with the
ventilation and drainage of the wound. This type oE bandage
is generally for wounds that require slow migration of air
through the bandage, is unsuitable for use in anal areas
sinae the flatulence would dislodge the bandage.
~ he Busee U.S. patent 3,763,858 shows a composlte
material with an adhesive for fastening two dif~erent
materials together for form a breathable bandaid.
The Hodgson U.S. patent 3,645,835 shows a
moisture-vapor-permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive
material for use on animal skin and nails. However, no
suggestion is made for use as a hemorrhoid retainer.
The Goldman U.S. patent 3,654,060 shows a multi-ply
film or breathable sheeting which can be used as a
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23267
protective covering in drapes or clothing for medical
personnel and for hospitals.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention there is
provided a hemorrhoid support device for a user having
hermorrhoids that extend outside the anal orifice comprising
a sheet having an adhesive layer on one side for attachment
of said sheet to the anal area of the user having
hemorrhoids that extend outside the anal orifice, said
adhesive extending entirely across said sheet to thereby
provide hemorrhoid support;
said sheet having sufficient flexibility so as to
conform to the user's body movement yet sufficient strength
so as to hold hemorrhoids within the anal orifice when said
sheet is fastened over the anal orifice;
said sheet including at least one aperture to
permit rapid egress of flatulenc:e to thereby prevent
flatulence from dislodging said hemorrhoid support device.
An advantage of our invention i5 that if the
hemorrhoids are held within the anal orifice the bleeding is
lessened and eventually may stop if our hemorrhoid retainer
is used correctly and regularly.
Proper use o~ the support device assists in
preventing hemorrhoids from popping out at inopportune
times. Consequently, it is unnecessary to continually have
to push the hemorrhoids into the anal orifice such as with
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products such as jells, ointments, creams and the like.
It may be possible to avoid hemorrhoidal surgery
through regular and continual use of our retainer which
holds the hemorrhoids inside the anal orifice.
Allowing flatulence to escape through the retainer
eliminates dislodgement of the hemorrhoid retainer once it
is installed.
As a consequence of using our invention over a
period of time, it may not be necessary to continue to use
our invention as the use of the invention may have a healing
effect by preventing the hemorrhoids from being exposed to
injury.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view oi. the invention shown in
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view oi a second embodiment of
the invention; and
Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the invention of
Fig. 3 in an applied position.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
~ eferring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, reference numeral
10 identifies a multiple layered hemorrhoid retainer which
comprises an oblong rectangular strip of non-toxic pure
latex rubber 10.
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Located on one side of rub~er 10 iq a double-faced non-~oxic tape
12 having an adhesive 14 on one side and an adhe~ive 15 on the
opposite side. Adjacent to adhesive lS i5 a ~ingle face non-toxic
tape 13 which i~ located on adhe~ive 15 with it~ adhesive 16
exposed for application of retainer 10 t~ the anal area. Located
in a spaced pattern that generally conforms ~o the shape of the
anal opening is a plurali~y o~ openings 11 that ~xtend completely
through retainer 10. The holes or openings 11 have sufficien~ly
open areas RO as to allow rapid escap~ of flatulence ~herethrough
without dislodging th~ retainer from ~he anal area.
In the application of our hem~rrhoid retainer ~o the anal
area one first pushe6 any external protruding hemorrhoid~ inside
the anal orifice to permit the sphincter muscle ~o ~ecurely closP.
In order to obtain proper adhesion o~ the hemorrhoidal retainer,
one should al~o clean and dry the anal area. Next, the hemorrhoidal
retainer i8 applied to the anal are~ by po~itioning the retainer
so ~hat the openings 11 are located proximate the anal orifice.
A~ter proper po~itioning the hemorrhoid retainer one rubs the back
of the hemorrhoid retainer 10 to force retainer 10 into adhesive
contact with the anal area.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 we preferably use
a strip of non-toxic latex rubber 10 in conjunction with adhe~ive
strips that can be used on humans. rhe u~e of latex rubber as the
backing i~ preferable ~ince it has ~u~ficient ~trength to hold the
hemorrhoids in~ide the anal orifice yat is sufficiently elastic
enough to flex as the u~er move~ about. In addition, the latex
rubber doe~ not irritate the u~er's skin and i~ thexefore comfortable
to wear for prolonged periods of time.
Referring to Fig. 3 there is shown our preferred embodi-
ment comprising an ova~ shaped hemorrhoid retainer 20 including a
~ingle layer o material 21 which has ~u~icient strength ts hold
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the hemorrhoids wi~hin the anal orifice ye~ ~ufficient:Ly ela~tic
so as to flex with movement of the u~e~. Re~er~nce nu~ral 27
denote~ the out~ ~dge of re~ainer 20. Located ln the cen~ral por-
tion of hemorrhoid retainer 20 are a plurality o~ hole~ ~2 having
diamet~r a. The hole~ or vent~ 22 have ~uf~icient o~en area - ~o
a~ ~o allow fla~ulenc~ to rapidly escape ~h~rethxough. Located on
the ~ides of r~tainer 20 are a plurality of ~elia~ ar~a~. A
first reli~f axea 23, a ~eco~d x~lief area 24, a third relief ~rea
25 and a fourth relief area 26. R~lie~ area~ 24-26 coac~ ~o pro-
duce cutaway por~ions ~hat permit ~ide tab 31 to be ~olded asshown in Fig. ~. The purpo6e of the reliaf area~ i~ to permit tbe
hemorrhoid retaine~ to be fas~ened to both the anal area and the
cheek area to thereby provide greater adhesion. ~ha relief areas
permit the ~ide tab~ of the he~orrhoid retaine~ to be folded over
without producing crea~es or :Eold~ which would irritate the user.
Consequently, our hemorrhoid retainex will s~curely and ~irmly hold
the hemorrhoids in place yet ~e su~ficiently com~o~able 80 as not
to annoy the UB9X.
Typically the adhe~lvea u~ed to ~aaten our hemorrhoid
retainer may be any adhesive which i8 non-toxlc and which will
adhere to the body. In use of the multilple layer embodiment in
Fig. 1, we have found double-faced tape manufactured by the 3M
medical group which can be.applied to the non-toxic pure latex strip
so that one si~e adheras to the la~ex. Next, a single-~aced tape
which is non-toxic and adheres to humans is applied to the opposite
face. Typically a suitable single-faced adhesive tape is m~ a by
the Colgate-Palmolive Company ~or use on th~ human body and i~ sold
under the nama CUREX ltrademark).
Although the embodiment of Fig. 1 shows two tapes in
humans, the embodiment of Fig. 2 shows an example of a device which
only one layer of support material is used and a ~ingle layer of
adhesive is applied thereto.
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