System and method for treating fecal impaction

1 . An irrigation device for treatment of fecal impaction in a patient, the irrigation device comprising:

a body portion comprising a disimpaction fluid inlet and a waste vacuum outlet, the body portion further comprising a distal portion configured for placement at and alignment with the anus of a patient, the distal portion comprising a disimpaction fluid outlet and a waste vacuum inlet, the disimpaction fluid outlet comprising one or more outlet apertures arranged to define an annulus, each outlet aperture being configured to emit a jet of disimpaction fluid, the waste vacuum inlet comprising one or more inlet apertures positioned internal to the annulus defined by the disimpaction fluid outlet;

wherein the disimpaction fluid inlet is configured to fluidly connect to a disimpaction fluid reservoir contained within the body portion for receiving a supply of disimpaction fluid;

wherein the waste vacuum outlet is configured to fluidly connect to a waste vacuum reservoir contained within the body portion for supplying a source of vacuum and for receiving waste;

wherein when the distal portion is placed at and aligned with the anus of a patient, the disimpaction fluid outlet is operative to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid into the anus of the patient so as to disimpact impacted feces, and the waste vacuum inlet is configured to receive and remove disimpacted feces;

wherein the device is configurable to enable the disimpaction fluid outlet to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid according to two or more predefined jet configurations;

wherein the two or more predefined jet configurations comprise the selection of a value for at least one adjustable parameter, the at least one adjustable parameter including a disimpaction fluid jet cone angle, the disimpaction fluid jet cone angle corresponding to alternative jet configurations between at least two of the two or more predefined jet configurations;

wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet is configured to emit heated disimpaction fluid; and

wherein the body portion is sized and configured to be manually held in one hand of an operator when in operation.

2 . The irrigation device of claim 1 , wherein the disimpaction fluid is selected from the group consisting of: water, an intravenous fluid, a crystalloid solution, a colloidal solution, a buffer solution, a gas, or combinations thereof.

3 . The irrigation device of claim 1 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet comprises a plurality of individual outlet apertures arranged in an annular configuration, the plurality of individual outlet apertures being configured to collectively emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid.

4 . The irrigation device of claim 1 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet comprises a single annular outlet aperture configured to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid.

5 . The irrigation device of claim 1 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet is configured to emit heated disimpaction fluid via the body portion further comprising a heating element for heating disimpaction fluid supplied by a disimpaction fluid reservoir.

6 . The irrigation device of claim 1 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet is configured to emit heated disimpaction fluid via the body portion being configured to receive disimpaction fluid that is heated prior to the disimpaction fluid being received at the disimpaction fluid inlet.

7 . The irrigation device of claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises one or more pumps for pumping disimpaction fluid through one or more conduits within the body portion.

8 . The irrigation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable parameter further includes: disimpaction fluid velocity, disimpaction fluid flow rate, disimpaction fluid temperature, or combinations thereof.

9 . A method for treating fecal impaction in a patient, the method comprising:

providing an irrigation device comprising a body portion sized and configured to be manually held in one hand of an operator when in operation, the body portion comprising a disimpaction fluid inlet, a waste vacuum outlet, and a distal portion configured for placement at and alignment with the anus of a patient, the distal portion comprising a disimpaction fluid outlet and a waste vacuum inlet, the disimpaction fluid outlet comprising one or more outlet apertures arranged to define an annulus, each outlet aperture being configured to emit a jet of disimpaction fluid, the waste vacuum inlet comprising one or more inlet apertures positioned internal to the annulus defined by the disimpaction fluid outlet;

fluidly connecting the disimpaction fluid inlet to a disimpaction fluid reservoir contained within the body portion for receiving a supply of disimpaction fluid;

fluidly connecting the waste vacuum outlet to a waste vacuum reservoir contained within the body portion for supplying a source of vacuum and for receiving waste; and

placing the distal portion at and in alignment with the anus of a patient such that the irrigation device is not inserted into the anus of the patient, and actuating the irrigation device in order to cause the disimpaction fluid outlet to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid into the anus of the patient so as to disimpact impacted feces, with the disimpaced feces being received by and removed from the patient via the waste vacuum inlet.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the disimpaction fluid is selected from the group consisting of: water, an intravenous fluid, a crystalloid solution, a colloidal solution, a buffer solution, a gas, or combinations thereof.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet comprises a plurality of individual outlet apertures arranged in an annular configuration, the plurality of individual outlet apertures being configured to collectively emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet comprises a single annular outlet aperture configured to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet is configured to emit heated disimpaction fluid via the body portion further comprising a heating element for heating disimpaction fluid supplied by a disimpaction fluid reservoir.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the disimpaction fluid outlet is configured to emit heated disimpaction fluid via the body portion being configured to receive disimpaction fluid that is heated prior to the disimpaction fluid being received at the disimpaction fluid inlet.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the body portion further comprises one or more pumps for pumping disimpaction fluid through one or more conduits within the body portion.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the device is configurable to enable the disimpaction fluid outlet to emit a generally annular jet of disimpaction fluid according to one or more predefined jet configurations.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more predefined jet configurations comprise the selection of a value for at least one adjustable parameter, the at least one adjustable parameter being selected from: disimpaction fluid velocity, disimpaction fluid flow rate, disimpaction fluid temperature, disimpaction fluid jet cone angle, or combinations thereof.