US3894539A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medication applicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-03
•
Granted: 1975-07-15
•
Expires: 1994-01-03
Abstract
Abstract An applicator for slowly applying medication to hermorrhoids while providing firm support for the swollen hemorrhoidal tissue. The applicator is a member of generally cylindrical shape having an enlarged bulletshaped head at the front end and a toroidal enlargement at the rear separated by a reduced tubular segment with a plurality of perforations in its wall. Additionally, it has a concentric hollow with an enlarged portion extending forwardly from the rear through the tubular segment. A tapered stopper for the hollow is provided for closure of its rear opening. The bullet-shaped head is sized to permit insertion of the applicator in the rectum with minimal discomfort, and the length of the perforated tubular segment is such as to assure support for the swollen hemorrhoidal tissue when the head is pushed into the rectum past the sphincter. Prior to such insertion, the enlarged portion of the hollow can be packed with anhydrous lanolin and plugged at the rear with the stopper. When the packed applicator is inserted into the rectum as described, the lanolin liquefies as it approaches body temperature and seeps or drains out of the perforations in the tubular segment onto the hemorrhoids.
Inventors
- 👤 L Dee Tallent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M31/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
A means for the automatic dispensing of medications, in the form of a salve at room temPerature and liquified form at body temperature, onto the walls of a body cavity by natural internal body fluid pressures comprising a body cavity insertion member having a tubular intermediate segment having a hollow interior for holding said medicament, said hollow interior being defined by a wall having penetrating holes through which the liquefied medicament can flow laterally outwardly from the applicator; a bulbous head portion integral with one end of the intermediate segment, said head portion being adapted to pass through the sphincter opening and into the body cavity; and an enlarged rear portion integral with the opposite end of the intermediate segment, said rear portion being adapted to provide an enclosure for the applicator at the rear; said bulbous head portion having a body fluid inlet opening spaced forwardly from the intermediate segment and a hollow passageway connecting the hollow interior of said intermediate segment with said inlet opening; and said intermediate segment being of a length to occupy the area of the sphincter opening in such manner that the applicator can be inserted in said sphincter opening until its bulbous head portion passes completely into said body cavity whereby said inlet opening is disposed within the cavity, and the intermediate segment is then held relatively firmly against longitudinal movement in the opening by the bulbous head and enlarged rear portions of the applicator sandwiching the sphincter at the ends of said intermediate segment; whereby said medicament can be packed, in salve form, into the hollow interior of said intermediate segment and said bulbous head portion then inserted into said body cavity, and whereby body temperature thereafter causes the medicament to liquefy, after which said medicament is forced through the holes in the wall of said intermediate segment onto the surrounding tissue by the pressures of internal body fluids in said body cavity acting through said inlet opening and said hollow passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
A means for the automatic dispensing of medications, in the form of a salve at room temPerature and liquified form at body temperature, onto the walls of a body cavity by natural internal body fluid pressures comprising a body cavity insertion member having a tubular intermediate segment having a hollow interior for holding said medicament, said hollow interior being defined by a wall having penetrating holes through which the liquefied medicament can flow laterally outwardly from the applicator; a bulbous head portion integral with one end of the intermediate segment, said head portion being adapted to pass through the sphincter opening and into the body cavity; and an enlarged rear portion integral with the opposite end of the intermediate segment, said rear portion being adapted to provide an enclosure for the applicator at the rear; said bulbous head portion having a body fluid inlet opening spaced forwardly from the intermediate segment and a hollow passageway connecting the hollow interior of said intermediate segment with said inlet opening; and said intermediate segment being of a length to occupy the area of the sphincter opening in such manner that the applicator can be inserted in said sphincter opening until its bulbous head portion passes completely into said body cavity whereby said inlet opening is disposed within the cavity, and the intermediate segment is then held relatively firmly against longitudinal movement in the opening by the bulbous head and enlarged rear portions of the applicator sandwiching the sphincter at the ends of said intermediate segment; whereby said medicament can be packed, in salve form, into the hollow interior of said intermediate segment and said bulbous head portion then inserted into said body cavity, and whereby body temperature thereafter causes the medicament to liquefy, after which said medicament is forced through the holes in the wall of said intermediate segment onto the surrounding tissue by the pressures of internal body fluids in said body cavity acting through said inlet opening and said hollow passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 1 particularly adapted for use in the treatment of hemorrhoids, where said opening is the anus and said body cavity is the bowel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 2 in which said enlarged rear portion has an access opening and an interior passage joining the hollow interior of said intermediate segment with said access opening, and which includes a closure for said access opening, the closure being removable to permit the packing of said hollow interior with said medicament, through said interior passage, and subsequent sealing of the access opening against fluid movement therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 3 of generally cylindrical character in which said bulbous head portion is bullet-shaped, said tubular intermediate segment is cylindrical and the hollow passageway in said bulbous head portion, the hollow interior of said intermediate segment and the passage of said enlarged rear portion form a longitudinal hollow concentrically disposed conduit means within the applicator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 4 in which said enlarged rear portion is of toroidal shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 5 formed substantially from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber compositions sufficiently rigid for the purpose, harmless and nonirritating to those human tissues with which it will come into contact in use and resistant to chemical attack by acidic and other substances of the type found in body tissues and fluids which it will encounter in use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 6 formed substantially from polyethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 7 having a length of about 3 inches and in which said bulbous head portion has a maximum cross-sectional diameter of approximately 3/4 -inch, said enlarged toroidal rear portion has a maximum crosS-sectional diameter of approximately 3/4 -inch, and said tubular intermediate segment has a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 1/2 -inch and is approximately 1 1/4 inches long.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A medication applicator in accordance with claim 8, in which the wall of said tubular intermediate segment contains 12 round perforations of approximately 1/16-inch diameter each.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |