Bowel management system

Abstract

A bowel management system includes a waste collection catheter having at least two distinct sections. The first section is patient proximal when disposed in the patient's rectum and has durometer hardness in the range of about 50A to about 90A. The second catheter section is connected to the first section and has durometer hardness in the range of about 5A to about 49A. A selectively collapsible, substantially spherical retention balloon is attached coaxially and exterior of the first catheter section such that the proximal-most end of the retention balloon is coincident to the proximal-most end of the first section of the waste collection catheter, the substantially spherical retention balloon having an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large enough to retain the patient proximal end of the catheter in the patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in the patient.

1 . A bowel management system comprising: 
 a first section of the catheter having a patient proximal opening that, when in position for normal use, is in a patient's rectum to receive bowel waste,    a second section of the catheter located distal to the first section that, when in position for normal use, can be collapsed by a patient's anal sphincter muscles;    the first section being sufficiently pliable to permit folding for insertion into a patient's rectum but following insertion permits flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening;    the second catheter section permitting passage of bowel waste from the patient and being sufficiently soft to permit retention within a patient's anal canal for extended periods of time; and    a retainer for retaining the patient proximal opening in a position for normal use where it opens into the rectum of the patient.    
   
   
       2 . The bowel management system of  claim 1  wherein the retainer is a balloon extending outward relative to the patient proximal opening for retaining the patient proximal opening in a position for normal use to permit passage of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening.  
   
   
       3 . The bowel management system of  claim 2  wherein the balloon is attached coaxially about and exteriorly of the first catheter section.  
   
   
       4 . The bowel management system of  claim 2  wherein the balloon has an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large to retain the patient proximal opening of the first catheter section in a position for normal use where it opens into the rectum of a patient without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in the patient.  
   
   
       5 . The bowel management system of  claim 2  further including a lumened member substantially smaller in diameter than the first catheter section and having a first end in communication with the balloon and a second end connectable to a port for introduction or removal of a fluid to or from the balloon.  
   
   
       6 . The bowel management system of  claim 5  including a second lumened member substantially smaller in diameter than the first catheter section and having a first end in communication with a patient's rectum and a second end connected to an irrigation port for administering substances.  
   
   
       7 . The bowel management system of  claim 6  wherein the administered substances include at least one of a medication or an enema solution.  
   
   
       8 . The bowel management system of  claim 2  wherein the balloon has an inflated volume of about 44 cc to about 69 cc.  
   
   
       9 . The bowel management system of  claim 2  wherein the balloon has an inflated length to diameter ratio in the range of about 0.75 to about 0.61.  
   
   
       10 . The bowel management system of  claim 1  further comprising a third catheter section positioned distal to the second catheter section and coated internally with a substance to facilitate passage of bowel waste.  
   
   
       11 . The bowel management system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first catheter section and the second catheter section includes silicone.  
   
   
       12 . The bowel management system of  claim 1  further comprising a third catheter section positioned distal to the second catheter section and coated externally with a substance to facilitate milking.  
   
   
       13 . The bowel management system of  claim 1  wherein the retainer includes a strap.  
   
   
       14 . The bowel management system of  claim 13  wherein the strap is provided on a faceplate, the faceplate being mountable to an exterior of a third catheter section positioned distal to the second catheter section.  
   
   
       15 . The bowel management system of  claim 1  and further comprising an intralumenal balloon mounted to an interior of the first catheter section.  
   
   
       16 . A waste collection catheter having at least two sections for receiving, carrying and removing bowel waste from a patient, comprising: 
 a rectal catheter section having a patient proximal opening that, when in a position for normal use, opens into a patient's rectum to receive bowel waste;    the rectal catheter section being sufficiently pliable to permit folding longitudinally for ease of insertion into a patient's rectum while also being sufficiently stiff following insertion to maintain an open position in a patient's rectum for free flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening;    a trans-sphincter catheter section distal to the rectal catheter section that can be collapsed by a patient's anal sphincter muscles when in a position for normal use;    the trans-sphincter catheter section being sufficiently soft to be retained in a patient's anal canal for extended periods without distending a patient's anal sphincter muscles or otherwise causing discomfort and extending from internally of a patient, through the anal sphincter muscles, to externally of a patient; and    means for retaining the patient proximal opening of the rectal catheter section in a position for normal use where it opens into a patient's rectum.    
   
   
       17 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 16  wherein the rectal catheter section and the trans-sphincter catheter section are formed of the same material.  
   
   
       18 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 17  wherein the material includes silicone.  
   
   
       19 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 16  including means for receiving, carrying and removing bowel waste from a patient, said means being associated with the trans-sphincter catheter section externally of a patient and cooperating with the retaining means for maintaining the waste collection catheter in a position for normal use.  
   
   
       20 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 16  wherein the retaining means is an inflatable balloon extending radially outwardly of the patient proximal opening for retaining the patient proximal opening in a position for normal use in an open position for flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening.  
   
   
       21 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 20  wherein the balloon is attached coaxially about and exteriorly of the rectal catheter section.  
   
   
       22 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 20  wherein the balloon has an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large to retain the patient proximal opening of the rectal catheter section in a position for normal use where it opens into a patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in a patient.  
   
   
       23 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 20  further including a lumened member substantially smaller in diameter than the rectal catheter section and having a first end in communication with the balloon and a second end connectable to a port for introduction or removal of a fluid to or from the balloon.  
   
   
       24 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 23  including a second lumened member substantially smaller in diameter than the rectal catheter section and having a first end in communication with a patient's rectum and a second end connected to an irrigation port for administering substances.  
   
   
       25 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 24  wherein the administered substances include at least one of a medication or an enema solution.  
   
   
       26 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 20  wherein the balloon has an inflated volume of about 44 cc to about 69 cc.  
   
   
       27 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 20  wherein the balloon has an inflated length to diameter ratio in the range of about 0.75 to about 0.61.  
   
   
       28 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 16  further comprising a third catheter section positioned in normal use distal to the trans-sphincter catheter section, coated internally with a substance to facilitate flow through of bowel waste.  
   
   
       29 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 28  wherein the third catheter section includes a connector for connection to a collection bag.  
   
   
       30 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 28  wherein the third catheter section is sufficiently soft to be milked to force fecal matter through the third catheter section to a collection bag.  
   
   
       31 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 28  wherein the retaining means is a strap provided on a faceplate mountable to an exterior of the third catheter section.  
   
   
       32 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 16  wherein at least one of the rectal catheter section and the trans-sphincteral section includes silicone.  
   
   
       33 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 16  further comprising an intralumenal balloon mounted to an interior of the rectal catheter section.