Cannula for vaginal irrigations

Details Cannula for vaginal irrigations Cannula for vaginal irrigations

1998-12-30

2001-09-25

Sykes, Angela D. (Department: 3762)

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

C604S039000, C604S181000, C604S187000, C604S257000, C222S575000, C222S630000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06293928

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for female private hygiene, and in particular to a cannula for vaginal douche suitable to facilitate the carrying out of vaginal irrigations.
It is known that one of the most widespread practices for female private hygiene is the irrigation of the vagina with solutions having hygienic and/or therapeutic properties, i.e. products for periodical ablutions or medicaments for local treatments. In any case, prior art douches essentially consist of a bottle containing the solution and manufactured with an easily compressible structure, on which there is mounted a stiffer cannula to be inserted in the vagina.
The cannula is in practice a cylindrical tube, possibly tapered at the distal end, having a plurality of transverse holes, i.e. holes with their axes orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The proximal end of the cannula is provided with a connection for the mounting on the container, possibly in an inclined position with a 20°-30° angle so as to facilitate the insertion in the vagina. This inclination which is sometimes present is the only “concession” to the anatomy of the user, which for the rest often experiences troubles and difficulties due to the above-described structure of the cannula.
One of the most frequently experienced difficulties is the poor retention of the liquid inserted in the vagina, which clearly implies a poor efficacy of the treatment since the product does not remain in place for the time required to carry out its action. This is caused by the lack of adhesion between the cannula and the walls of the vaginal duct according to the tone and trophism of the latter, as well as by the poorly anatomical cylindrical shape of the cannula. As a remedy to this drawback, the user may carry out the irrigation in the bathtub in the supine position with her legs bent rather than simply crouched down or sitting on the bidet. As a matter of fact such a position favors the retention of the liquid in the vagina for a longer time, but on the other hand it requires the complete undressing, is more uncomfortable and a sufficiently long bathtub is needed.
Another frequent difficulty is the obstacle to the emission of the liquid from the cannula due to the transverse arrangement of the holes which may be temporarily obstructed by the contact with the vaginal walls. In fact, many users erroneously think that in the position taken for the irrigation the vaginal duct is directed upwards and consequently insert the cannula with the tip pointing upwards, where it meets the front vaginal wall which hinders a correct irrigation. On the contrary it results that, in both the above-mentioned positions, the vaginal duct is directed backwards and downwards, where it ends in the rear vaginal fornix which is the place of collection of most mucosa and inflammatory exudate. Therefore it is difficult to obtain with a conventional cannula an effective irrigation of the most delicate and treatment-requiring area which is located at the distal end of the vaginal duct, close to the cervix uteri.
However the most serious troubles which more hinder the use of conventional cannulae are pelvic pains and blood discharges, which are experienced both in concomitance with the irrigation and sometimes also in the following days. In these cases a shove occurs of the cannula tip against the portion of the cervix uteri projecting in the vaginal duct (portio). This mechanical stimulation often causes painful uterine contractions, especially in the presence of inflammatory conditions and other pre-existing troubles (ectopia of the portio, retroversion, etc.), which may accelerate the emission of blood already present in the uterus and/or favour the detachment of endometrium portions, and the shove itself may cause epithelial breakings of the vaginal walls or of an ectopia. Also in this instance, the structure of the conventional cannula proves inadequate for an irrigation which is correct, effective and without risks for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a cannula for vaginal irrigations which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks.
This object is achieved by means of a cannula having the characteristics disclosed in claim
1
.
A first fundamental advantage of the cannula according to the present invention is given by the terminal ogive which is anatomically shaped to adhere to the walls of the vaginal duct, whereby the early downflow of the treating solution is dramatically reduced. This allows to keep the product in contact with the vaginal mucosae for a time suitable for the achievement of an effective treatment without necessarily making use of the supine position when carrying out the irrigation. This results in a greater proneness of women towards the vaginal irrigations since they can be easily carried out by crouching down or sitting on the bidet even in the less comfortable situations, according to the therapeutic or prophylactic indications (periodical or post-coitus irrigations).
A second significant advantage of the anatomical shape of the terminal ogive is that of allowing an easy insertion in the vulvar entrance and of preventing the undesirable mechanical stimulation of the portio. In this way, the troubles which most worry the users, i.e. pelvic pains and blood discharges, are prevented.
A further advantage of the present cannula stems from the arrangement at its distal end of the holes for the emission of the treating solution. The position and inclination of said holes allow the emission of a jet of liquid which adequately reaches the rear vaginal fornix, whereby it acts in the area which mostly requires the treatment. Furthermore, the obstacle to the emission of the liquid caused by the lateral contact with the vaginal walls is avoided, thanks both to the nearly axial orientation of the holes and to their arrangement at the tip of the ogive which keeps away the vaginal walls.


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