9/10/94 JT's note: A.R.E. members, Mr. Zygmunt Wojcik and
his son, Karl Wojcik, obtained copies of the May 23, 1933
patent for the Dierker colonic irrigation machine making them
available to be published behind Dr. Reilly's reading [See
Source File Key #438 for drawings associated with colon
irrigator patent re 438-1]. Dr. Reilly always said that he
felt the Dierker style machine was superior to the gravity
discharge models as the suction action provided a far greater
degree of cleansing. This is especially important in dealing
with an existing problem.
Patented May 23,1933 1,910,756
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
HUGH E. DIERKER, OF OCEAN PARK, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO
EDGAR F. HUGHES, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
COLON IRRIGATOR - Application filed August 12, 1930,
Serial No. 474,784
My invention relates to the medical art and more particularly
to a colonic irrigating apparatus.
It has been customary in the practice of colon irrigation to
supply fluid to the colon and depend upon gravity or reflex
muscular action for the evacuation of this fluid. This
practice is a slow, tedious, and unsanitary one, inasmuch as
fecal matter and mucoid substances frequently become lodged
in a protuberance in the walls of the colon and become
hardened, and it is therefore desirable to provide means for
forcibly drawing off this fluid in order to dislodge the
foreign substances.
It is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus of
the class described which includes suction providing means
for quickly and efficiently carrying off, in a sanitary
manner, the discharged fluids. To accomplish this I provide
an insertion member connected to a fluid supply reservoir,
through which I supply a solution to the colon by gravity and
subsequently draw off this fluid through a discharge passage
connected to the insertion member and a means creating a
vacuum.
It is necessary that the extent of the suction exerted in the
discharge passage be varied at intervals. This necessitates
a variation in the vacuum with which the discharge passage
connects in order that the syphon effect may be retarded to a
desired extent.
It is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus of
the class described which includes means for controlling the
rate at which the fluid is drawn off from the colon through
the discharge passage, and for proportionately varying the
rate of flow in this passage and the degree of suction
created therein by the suction providing means.
In some cases it is desirable to supply solution to the colon
rapidly and at other times very slowly, and it is therefore
desirable to provide control means for varying the volume of
fluid provided by the supply reservoir.
It is another object of my invention to provide in an
apparatus of this class, means for varying the flow of the
solution from the supply reservoir to the colon or for
completely stopping this flow at intervals.
It is likewise desirable, for obvious reasons, to have
facilities for the observation of the fluid passing through
the discharge passage. It is therefore another object of my
invention to provide in a colonic irrigating apparatus means
for continuous observation of the character of the fluid
passing through the discharge passage.
It is a further object of the invention to provide check
means arranged in the discharge passage which permits the
discharged fluid to flow from the insertion member to the
suction providing means, but prevents a flow from the suction
providing means toward the insertion member.
It is frequently necessary during colonic irrigation as
practiced in the medical art, to stimulate the action of the
voluntary and the involuntary abdominal muscles to overcome a
partial paralysis of these muscles. This stimulation is
accomplished by a treatment known in the art as "sinusoidal
modality" or interrupted galvanic modality, these treatments
being performed by a device well-known in the art, which
comprises, in short, an apparatus including a pair of
electric conducting pads adapted to be placed on the back and
abdomen of a patient, there being conductors connecting these
pads to the device which is adapted to transmit intermittent
electrical impulses through the body of the patient with
stimulating effect upon the above mentioned abdominal
muscles.
The sinusoidal modality and the interrupted galvanic modality
treatments, as known in the art, are administered by a device
which is an entirely individual unit intended for use
independent of other apparatus, such as colonic irrigation
apparatus.
It is an object of my invention to provide a colonic
irrigation apparatus including means adapted for connection
to an auxiliary device for administering the sinusoidal
modality or the interrupted galvanic modality treatments so
that the last mentioned device is controlled by the
operating mechanism of the irrigating apparatus comprising my
invention.
I have discovered that the most effective time to administer
these stimulating electrical impulses to inactive abdominal
muscles is during the period in which suction is being
applied to the colon of the patient, these impulses greatly
assisting in loosening the hardened fecal matter adhering to
the colon and encouraging reflex action of both the voluntary
and involuntary abdominal muscles.
It is therefore another object of my invention to provide in
the colonic irrigating apparatus described, means operable by
the control mechanism embodied in the apparatus to close a
circuit included in a device for administering the sinusoidal
modality or an equivalent treatment simultaneously with the
syphon effect exerted on the colon of the patient, as
previously described.
It is another object of my invention to provide novel means
of administering these stimulating electrical impulses to
the abdominal muscles of a patient by providing a single
conducting pad adapted to be applied to the abdomen of the
patient, and novel means for completing an electric circuit
through the body of the patient by using the fluid within the
discharge passage of the apparatus and the insertion member
inserted in the colon of the patient as a current conductor.
It is also an object of my invention to provide a method and
apparatus whereby it is possible to treat the entire colonic
tract electrically or electrochemically by use of a liquid
electrode filling the colon and a moveable external electrode
which may be applied to the abdomen or back and which is
adapted to be moved across the exterior of the abdomen or of
the back so as to concentrate the electric activity at
various portions of the colon. By placing the electrode on
the exterior of the body adjacent one end of the colon,
conducting electrical energy from one electrode to the other,
and moving the exterior electrode progressively along the
portions of the body lying adjacent the colon, the entire
colonic tract may be electrically treated, but the electrical
application, instead of being general, will be localized
progressively throughout the entire extent of the colon.
When chemical solutions are employed, the polarity of the
electric current may be reversed.
Other objects and advantages will be made apparent in the
following specification and the accompanying drawing.
Referring to the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic utility view illustrating a complete
apparatus embodying the features of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the control mechanism of the
device with the housing thereof broken away for simplicity of
illustration.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the suction providing
means of the invention taken as indicated by the line 3--3 of
Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on a median horizontal plane
through the operating valve of the device, as indicated by
the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of an insertion member, such
as is readily obtainable commercially, and which is
particularly adapted for use with my invention.
In the drawing, 11 indicates a fluid supply reservoir which
may be of any desired type and be arranged in any well-known
manner to supply a solution at various predetermined
temperatures. The numeral 12 indicates an insertion member
adapted for insertion in an orifice of the body, this
insertion member being connected through control mechanism
generally designated by the numeral 13 to the fluid supply
reservoir 11.
Referring to Fig. 2 in particular, in which the details of
construction of the control mechanism are shown, I provide a
housing 14 which may be of a rectangular shape having side
walls 15, end walls 16, a bottom 17, and a removable cover
plate 18. Extending longitudinally through the housing 14
is a tubular member generally designated by the numeral 19 in
which is provided a three-way valve 20, a check valve 21 of
an ordinary type, and an ejector 22. All of these members
threadedly connected together by suitable lengths of tubing
comprise the tubular member 19, which I will hereinafter
refer to as the discharge passage. Threadedly connected to
the third side of the three-way valve 20 is a laterally
extending pipe 19a which projects through the side wall 15
of the housing 14, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with
a nipple 23 adapted to be connected to a supply pipe 24 in
such a manner as to directly connect the pipe 19a to the
fluid supply reservoir 11.
As shown in Fig. 2, the extreme outer ends of the tubular
member 19 are formed to provide nipples 25 and 26, the nipple
25 being adapted for connection to the insertion member 12 by
a suitable length of flexible tubing 27, indicated in Fig. 1,
and the nipple 26 being adapted for connection with a
discharge line 28 leading to a sewage system.
In Fig. 3 I show the ejector 22 as comprising a body portion
30 having a longitudinally extending primary bore 31 into
each end of which a section of the tubular member 19 is
threadedly connected, as previously described. Extending
obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the primary
bore 31 and in communication therewith, is a secondary bore
32 into which is threadedly inserted a water supply tube 33.
As indicated in Fig. 2, the water supply tube 33 is connected
to a water main 34 which extends through an opening in one of
the walls 15, this supply tube being connected in any
operable manner to a pressure gauge 35 which is positioned
exteriorly of the housing 14 to afford visible evidence of
the pressure within the tube 33. Placed in the tube 33 at a
point adjacent the three-way valve 20 is a quick-throw valve
36 which may be of any well-known type.
Connected to the valve plug 40 of the three-way valve 20 is
an operating lever 41 adapted to extend outwardly through a
longitudinally extending slot 42 in one of the walls 15 of
the housing 14, this lever being operable to rotate the valve
plug 40 in such a manner as to cause the supply line 19a to
be thrown into communication with the insertion member 12,
and subsequently rotated to throw the insertion member 12
into communication with the discharge line 28 for a purpose
hereinafter described. Formed integrally with the lever 41
at a point adjacent the three-way valve 20 is an arm 45
adapted to be pivotally connected as by a pin and slot
connection 46 to a link 47 which is secured to the gate of
the quick-throw valve 36 in the water supply line 33 as
indicated at 48 in Fig. 2.
The operation of my invention is as follows. With the fluid
supply reservoir 11 containing a predetermined amount of
solution at any desired temperature, the insertion member 12
is inserted in the colon of a patient, the operating lever 41
is then moved into the position indicated in dotted lines 50
of Fig. 2 and 4, which causes the valve gate 40 to assume the
position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, this position
allowing the solution to flow by gravity through the lateral
fluid supply pipe 19a, the valve 20, and the flexible tube 27
to the insertion member 12.
If at any time in the period during which the solution is
being delivered to the insertion member 12 it is desired to
reduce the flow of the solution or to completely stop the
flow thereof, the lever 41 may be moved into the position
shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, at which time the valve gate
40 of the valve 20 will assume the position indicated by the
dotted lines 51 of Fig. 4, which completely stops the flow of
the solution.
After the solution has remained in the colon of the patient a
desired period of time the lever 41 may be moved into the
position indicated by the dotted lines 52 of Fig. 2, which
causes the valve gate 40 to assume the position indicated by
the dotted lines 53 in Fig. 4, throwing the insertion member
12 into communication with the discharge passage 19. It will
be understood by an inspection of Fig. 2 that when the lever
41 is thrown into the position indicated by the dotted lines
52, the arm 45 will swing in the direction indicated by the
arrow 55 of Fig. 2, this movement being operable to open the
quick-throw valve 36, placing the water supply pipe 33 in
communication with the water main 34 and causing water to be
delivered under pressure into the secondary orifice 32 in the
direction of the arrow 60. It will be seen that this flow of
water under pressure when delivered into the primary bore 31,
as indicated by the arrow 61 in Fig. 3, will, according to a
well-known principle of physics, create a vacuum in the
primary bore 31 which tends to exert a suction throughout the
length of the discharge passage 19 in the direction of the
arrow 62, tending to draw the fluid from the colon of the
patient with sufficient force to dislodge foreign substances
that may have been secreted therein.
If at any time during the withdrawal of the fluid from the
colon of the patient it is desired to reduce the flow or to
entirely stop the flow of fluid, the lever 41 may be moved
from the position indicated by the dotted lines 52 of Fig. 2
into the position shown in solid lines. The lever 41, the
arm 45, and the link 47 cooperate to simultaneously actuate
the quick-throw valve 36 and the three-way valve 20 to
proportionately reduce the flow of fluid through the
discharge passage 19 and the flow of water under pressure
through the water supply tube 33 and the secondary bore 32 of
the ejector 22, thereby reducing the degree of suction
exerted by the ejector upon the discharge passage 19.
The insertion member 12 may be provided with a transparent
portion 65, as indicated in Fig. 1, for the continuous
observation of the character of the fluid which is being
drawn through the discharge passage 19.
In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, as is somewhat
diagrammatically indicated, is a device adapted to administer
the sinusoidal modality or an equivalent treatment. This
device, generally designated by the numeral 70 of Fig. 1, is
adapted to be operable as a subsidiary apparatus to the
colonic irrigating apparatus of my invention, it being
understood that the irrigating apparatus as above described
may be operated independently of the apparatus 70. The
apparatus 70 includes an electric conducting pad 71,
preferably formed of a fibrous material such as felt, which
is saturated with water, and is positioned upon the abdomen
of the patient. Connecting the pad 71 to a terminal 72 of a
current interrupter 72a is a conductor 73 in which is
interposed a potential source of current, indicated at 73a in
Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, I provide a bracket member 74
mounted within the housing 14 upon one of the walls 15
thereof, this bracket preferably being formed of an
insulating material. Secured to the bracket 74 is a spring
contact 75 adapted to extend into a position adjacent the end
76 of the arm 45 and in the path of travel thereof. Secured
to the bracket 74 is a terminal post 77 connected to the
contact 75, this post being connected to the terminal 78 of
the current interrupter 72a by a conductor 79, this
interrupter being operable to intermittently break and
complete the circuit including the conductors 73 and 79.
It will be seen that in the operation of this subsidiary
device the contact 75 will be engaged by the end 76 of the
arm 45 when the lever 41 is thrown into the position
indicated by dotted lines 52 in Fig. 2, which position, as
previously described, is operable to throw the insertion
member 12 into communication with the discharge passage 19 of
the invention. This contact causes current to be delivered
from the source of current 73a through the interrupter 72a,
the conductor 79, the contact 75, the arm 45, and the body of
the valve 20 to the fluid flowing through the discharge
passage 19, this fluid acting as an electrode which
cooperates with the pad 71, comprising another electrode, to
deliver intermittent electrical impulses to the abdominal
muscles of the patient.
It is an important feature of my invention that the solution
may be delivered to the colon of the patient and be allowed
to remain therein for any desired period and then be forcibly
withdrawn therefrom without necessitating the removal of the
insertion member 12.
It is another important feature of my invention that the flow
of the fluid through the discharge passage 19 may be varied
in direct proportion to the degree of suction created therein
by the suction providing means, this being accomplished by
the simultaneous operation of the valves in the water supply
pipes and the exhaust passage by the operating lever of the
device.
It should be understood that the details of construction of
the suction providing member described herein are unimportant
to the operation of the device, inasmuch as any well-known
syphon, vacuum pump, or suction apparatus may be used
satisfactorily in the operation thereof.
It should also be understood that the insertion member herein
described has been shown merely for the purpose of
illustration, as various types thereof are readily obtainable
commercially and equally efficient for use in connection with
an apparatus of the type described.
It is another important feature of the invention to provide
check means positioned in the discharge passage and being
operable to permit fluid to flow from the insertion member to
the suction providing device of the invention, but to
effectively prevent fluid under pressure from being forced
backwardly from the suction providing device to the insertion
member. This is important because if the discharge line,
connecting the outlet end of the pressure providing device to
the sewage, becomes inadvertently obstructed the check means
provided in the exhaust passage obviates the possibility of
water under pressure being forced backwardly into the colon
of the patient.
It is also another important feature in the operation of my
irrigating apparatus that when used in connection with the
apparatus for administering the sinusoidal modality or an
equivalent treatment, the stimulating electrical impulses are
delivered simultaneously with the suction that is applied to
the colon of the patient, this combination being extremely
efficient, inasmuch as the subsidiary apparatus is controlled
by the operating mechanism of the irrigating apparatus at the
most effective time and without the removal of the insertion
member from the colon of the patient.
Although the apparatus herein shown and described is fully
capable of performing all the purposes primarily stated, I
do not wish to be restricted thereto, as it is apparent that
my invention is capable of being embodied in various other
forms, all of which come within the scope of the appended
claims.
I claim as my invention:
1. In a colonic irrigating apparatus, the combination of: a
fluid supply reservoir providing a supply passage arranged to
supply a fluid under pressure; a discharge passage having a
three-way valve therein, said valve connecting said supply
passage to said discharge passage; an insertion member
connected to said discharge passage on one side of said
valve, said insertion member having a single fluid passage
therein and being adapted for insertion in a colon; an
ejector connected to said discharge passage on the other side
of said valve, said ejector utilizing a fluid under pressure
and in motion to create a suction in said discharge passage;
and an operating lever for said three-way valve selectively
movable between two alternate positions to close said
discharge passage and open communication between said supply
passage and said insertion member to allow fluid to flow from
said reservoir to said colon to expand said colon by the
pressure under which said fluid is delivered thereto, and to
close said supply passage and open communication between said
discharge passage and said insertion member to allow said
suction created by said ejector to forcibly draw off said
fluid from said colon through said insertion member for the
purpose of suddenly contracting said colon.
2. In a colonic irrigating apparatus, the combination of: a
fluid supply reservoir providing a supply passage arranged to
supply a fluid under pressure; a discharge passage having a
three-way valve therein, said valve connecting said supply
passage to said discharge passage; an insertion member
connected to said discharge passage on one side of said
valve, said insertion member having a single fluid passage
therein and being adapted for insertion in a colon; an
ejector connected to said discharge passage on the other side
of said valve, said ejector utilizing a fluid under pressure
and in motion to create a suction in said discharge passage;
an operating lever for said three-way valve selectively
movable between two alternate positions to close said
discharge passage and open communication between said supply
passage and said insertion member to allow fluid to flow from
said reservoir to said colon to expand said colon by the
pressure under which said fluid is delivered thereto, and to
close said supply passage and open communication between said
discharge passage and said insertion member to allow said
suction created by said ejector to forcibly draw off said
fluid from said colon through said insertion member for the
purpose of suddenly contracting said colon; and mechanism
operably associated with said ejector and controlled by said
lever to proportionately vary the rate of flow of said fluid
in said discharge passage and the degree of suction created
therein by said ejector.
3. In a colonic irrigating apparatus, the combination of: a
fluid supply reservoir providing a supply passage arranged to
supply a fluid under pressure; a discharge passage having a
three-way valve therein, said valve connecting said supply
passage to said discharge passage; an insertion member
connected to said discharge passage on one side of said
valve, said insertion member having a single fluid passage
therein and being adapted for insertion in a colon; an
ejector connected to said discharge passage on the other side
pressure under which said fluid is delivered thereto; and to
of said valve, said ejector utilizing a fluid under pressure
and in motion to create a suction in said discharge passage;
an operating lever for said three-way valve selectively
moveable between two alternate positions to close said
discharge passage and open communication between said supply
passage and said insertion member to allow fluid to flow
from said reservoir to said colon to expand said colon by the
close said supply passage and open communication between said
discharge passage and said insertion member to allow said
suction created by said ejector to forcibly draw off said
fluid from said colon through said insertion member for the
purpose of suddenly contracting said colon; mechanism
operably associated with said ejector and controlled by said
lever to proportionately vary the rate of flow of said fluid
in said discharge passage and the degree of suction created
therein by said ejector; and check means provided in said
discharge passage and operable to permit fluid to flow from
said insertion member through said discharge passage toward
said ejector but to prevent a return flow of fluid from said
discharge passage to said insertion member.
4. In a colonic irrigating apparatus, the combination of: a
fluid supply reservoir providing a supply passage arranged to
supply a fluid under pressure; a discharge passage having a
three-way valve therein, said valve connecting said supply
passage to said discharge passage; an insertion member
connected to said discharge passage on one side of said
valve, said insertion member having a single fluid passage
therein and being adapted for insertion in a colon; an
ejector means comprising a body providing a primary bore
connected to said discharge member on the other side of said
valve and a secondary bore converging with said primary bore;
a fluid supply tube connected to said secondary bore and
adapted to deliver a fluid under pressure convergently into
said primary bore to create a suction in said discharge
passage; ejector operating valve means in said fluid supply
tube; and lever means associated with said three-way valve
and said ejector operating valve, said lever being operable
when moved to one position to simultaneously operate said
valves to close said supply tube, close said discharge
passage, and open communication between said supply passage
and said insertion member to allow fluid to flow from said
reservoir to said colon to expand said colon by the pressure
under which said fluid is delivered thereto, and said lever
being operable when moved to another position to close said
supply passage, open communication between said insertion
member and said discharge passage and open said supply tube
to allow said suction created by said ejector to forcibly
draw off said fluid from said colon through said insertion
tube for the purpose of suddenly contracting said colon.
5. In a colonic irrigating apparatus, the combination of: a
fluid supply reservoir providing a supply passage arranged to
supply a fluid under pressure; a discharge passage having a
three-way valve therein, said valve connecting said supply
passage to said discharge passage; an insertion member
connected to said discharge passage on one side of said
valve, said insertion member having a single fluid passage
therein and being adapted for insertion in a colon; an
ejector means comprising a body providing a primary bore
connected to said discharge member on the other side of said
valve and a secondary bore converging with said primary bore;
a fluid supply tube connected to said secondary bore and
adapted to deliver a fluid under pressure convergently into
said primary bore to create a suction in said discharge
passage; ejector operating valve means in said fluid supply
tube; lever means associated with said three-way valve and
said ejector operating valve, said lever being operable when
moved to one position to simultaneously operate said valves
to close said supply tube, close said discharge passage and
open communication between said supply passage and said
insertion member to allow fluid to flow from said reservoir
to said colon to expand said colon by the pressure under
which said fluid is delivered thereto, and said lever being
operable when moved to another position to close said supply
passage, open communication between said insertion member and
said discharge passage and open said supply tube to allow
said suction created by said ejector to forcibly draw off
said fluid from said colon through said insertion tube for
the purpose of suddenly contracting said colon; mechanism
operably associated with said ejector and controlled by said
lever to proportionately vary the rate of flow of said fluid
in said discharge passage and the degree of suction created
therein by said ejector; and check means provided in said
discharge passage and operable to permit fluid to flow from
said insertion member through said discharge passage toward
said ejector but to prevent a return flow of fluid from said
discharge passage to said insertion member.
6. In a colonic irrigating device of the character described,
the combination of: a fluid reservoir having a delivery
passage arranged to deliver a fluid; an insertion member
having a single fluid passage therein adapted for insertion
in a colon; a discharge passage having an ejector therein
adapted to create a suction in said discharge passage; valve
means connecting said delivery passage, said insertion member
and said discharge passage, whereby communication between
said delivery passage and said insertion member, and said
insertion member and said discharge member is alternately
established for the purpose of alternately delivering fluid
under pressure to the colon to expand said colon and forcibly
withdrawing said fluid from said colon by suction created by
said ejector to suddenly contract said colon.
7. In a colonic irrigating device of the character described,
the combination of: a fluid reservoir having a delivery
passage arranged to deliver a fluid; an insertion member
having a single fluid passage therein adapted for insertion
in a colon; a discharge passage arranged to mechanically
provide a suction therein and being connected to said fluid
delivery passage and said insertion member; and means for
alternately establishing open communication between said
delivery passage and said insertion member, and between said
insertion member and said discharge passage for the purpose
of alternately delivering fluid to said colon to expand said
colon and forcibly withdrawing said fluid from said colon by
suction to suddenly contract said colon.
8. In a colon exercising device for rehabilitating normal
peristalsis of the colon, the combination of: an insertion
tube adapted to be inserted into the rectal portion of the
colon; means for delivering liquid to said colon through said
insertion tube to fill said colon and under sufficient
pressure to expand said colon; and means for withdrawing said
liquid from said colon through said insertion tube and for
producing in said colon sufficient vacuum to contract same.
9. In a colon exercising device for rehabilitating normal
peristalsis of the colon, the combination of: an insertion
tube adapted to be inserted into the rectal portion of the
colon; and means for alternately supplying liquid to said
colon through said insertion tube and removing said liquid
in such a manner as to alternately expand and contract said
colon to rehabilitate peristalsis.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los
Angeles, California, this 8th day of August, 1930.
HUGH E. DIERKER
DISCLAIMER - 1,910,756.--Hugh E. Dierker, Ocean Park, Calif.
Colon Irrigator. Patent dated May 23, 1933. Disclaimer
filed October 31, 1938, by the patentee. Hereby enters
this disclaimer to claims 8 and 9 in said Letters Patent.
[Official Gazette December 27, 1938]



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