Patent Application
20180036473
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the delivery and application of medicine. More specifically, aspects of the present invention provide a solution for delivering and/or applying medicine to a region of the body (e.g., perianal region) that may difficult for the user to access. More specifically, aspects of the present invention provide a method and a wash system with nozzles for washing and applying medication, to a region of a human body (e.g., skin, genital or anal area, intimate parts, perianal region) and cleaning thereof.
Many maladies that are treated today existed in antiquity. Bodily sores, lesions, rashes, hemorrhoids, and the like have a long history whose treatment often included the application of a medicinal substance of one kind or another to the source of irritation. Although medicine has advanced greatly in recent times, existing medicinal delivery methods still usually involve the same principles of application as those used in antiquity; the patient must hold the medicinal applicator by hand, and then contort their body to enable the medicine (be it in the form of aerosol spray, pump mist, cream, etc.) to reach the affected area. This often results in an uncomfortable, imprecise method of delivery when self-administered by the user. Alternatively, having a third-party administer the medicine can be embarrassing. Thus, there is a need to provide a remote-controlled guidance system for delivery of a medicine to a region of a body.
On the other hand, bidets and other modern toilet seat systems have been used to spray water and clean private parts of a user using a toilet. The bidet systems are used for washing the genital and anal areas using cleaning water of appropriate temperature sprayed from the center of the bidet system, instead of a toilet paper after relief stool or urination. Originally being developed for washing the pubic area for females, bidet systems have now been popular among people of all ages and both sexes because it is known to be more hygienic to wash the intimate parts and anus with water instead of paper after relief. In addition, cleansing the pubic/anal regions with water may help to avoid infection and prevent hemorrhoids and other anal disease. Furthermore, it is very effective for women with gynecology diseases. It is also very useful for the elderly or obese people to relieve themselves with great convenience. Thus, it is contemplated to provide a remote-controlled system to be incorporated to a bidet toilet seat system to be used for washing a body part and applying and delivery of a medicine.
The present invention generally provides a remote-controlled delivery system for delivering and applying medicines to a region of the body that may not otherwise be easily accessible (e.g., to the perianal region). A method of operating the remote-controlled delivery system is also provided. The remote-controlled delivery system is designed to enable the user to administer their medicine at an angle they control, while the user is in a relatively comfortable and efficacious position for the treatment. The system can present a safer, more hygienic, and more effective alternative method to self-administer perianal medicines than any option currently available. To this extent, the system can present a discreet, “hands-free” alternative to the current options, thereby substantially eliminating any discomfort, ineffectiveness, and/or embarrassment a user might otherwise experience.
A first aspect of the invention provides a remote-controlled system for the delivery of medicine, comprising: a nozzle delivery assembly having a remote nozzle applicator that delivers the medicine across a space to a localized region of a body of a user; a set of navigation control units that receive a user input; and a dynamic steering motor unit that adjusts at least one of an angle or a location of the medicine delivery apparatus based on the user input.
A second aspect of the invention provides a system for delivery of medicine to a perianal region of a user, comprising: a base unit (e.g., a bidet toilet seat washing system, a bidet medicine delivery seat, a toilet seat assembly, a bedpan, a hydraulic chair, a commode, a hospital bed, among others) adapted to receive the perianal region of the user; a nozzle delivery apparatus coupled to the base unit and having one or more remote nozzle applicator that delivers the medicine across a space to a localized region of the perianal region; a set of navigation control units that receive a user input; and a dynamic steering motor unit that adjusts at least one of an angle or a location of the medicine delivery apparatus based on the user input.
In one embodiment, a remote-controlled delivery system is provided and includes a toilet seat assembly, a nozzle delivery assembly inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly, a set of dynamic remote controls that receive a user input; and one or more dynamic steering motor units that adjusts at least one of an angle or a location of the nozzle delivery assembly based on the user input. In another embodiment, the remote-controlled delivery system further includes a medicine delivery assembly. In one aspect, one or more nozzles of the nozzle assembly are adapted to move back and forth, sideway, and/or rotatably in three-dimensional direction.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention.
The present invention generally includes a remote-controlled delivery system for delivering and applying medicines to a region of the body that may not otherwise be easily accessible (e.g., to the perianal region), a method of operating the remote-controlled delivery system. In one embodiment, the remote-controlled delivery system include a removable control unit coupled to a nozzle delivery assembly for the delivery of water and medication, etc., to a surface area of a human subject.
In another embodiment, a remote-controlled delivery system is provided and includes a nozzle delivery assembly, a first motor being connected to the nozzle delivery assembly and capable of directing one or more extending and retracting movements of the nozzle delivery assembly, one or more second motors being connected to the nozzle delivery assembly and capable of directing one or more three-dimensional rotational movements of the nozzle delivery assembly, and one or more dynamic steering remote control units adapted to be communicating with both the first motor and the one or more second motors and directing one or more movements of the first motor and the one or more second motors.
In one embodiment, the nozzle delivery assembly includes a wash nozzle and a medicinal delivery nozzle. In one example, the wash nozzle may include a water jet head. In another example, the medicinal delivery nozzle includes a medicinal liquid inlet being connected to a medicinal storage assembly. In addition, the medicinal storage assembly includes one or more cartridges that store medicines to be applied, and a pressurized pump adapted to pump and deliver the medicines from the one or more cartridges to the medicinal liquid inlet. The medicinal delivery nozzle may further include a medicinal atomizer head adapted to modify a medicine to achieve a consistency that can be applied over a distance and deliver a stream of the medicine to an user. In one aspect, the medicinal delivery nozzle is adapted to deliver one or more medicines across a space to a localized region of a body of an user. One example of the localized region is a perianal region of the body of the user.
In another embodiment, the remote-controlled delivery system provided herein include one or more dynamic steering remote control units that receive a user input to direct the one or more movements of a first motor and one or more second motors and adjust at least one of an angle or a location of the delivery nozzle assembly based on the user input. In still another embodiment, the remote-controlled delivery system further includes a base unit coupled to the nozzle delivery assembly and adapted to receive a perianal region of an user. Examples of the base unit include, but are not limiting to, a bidet toilet seat washing system, a bidet medicine delivery seat, a toilet seat assembly, a bedpan, a hydraulic chair, a commode, a hospital bed, among others. In one example, the base unit of the remote-controlled delivery system is a toilet seat assembly, which contains a housing and a base seat.
In one aspect, the nozzle delivery assembly is positioned inside the housing of the toilet seat assembly. In another aspect, one or more nozzles of the nozzle delivery assembly of the remote-controlled delivery system are controlled by one or more dynamic steering remote control units and adapted to be moving in and out of the housing of the toilet seat assembly.
Additional embodiments of the invention provide one or more methods of operating and/or using a remote-controlled delivery system. The method includes controlling one or more movements of a nozzle delivery assembly by one or more dynamic steering remote control units. In one aspect, the one or more movements of a nozzle delivery assembly is controlled by one or more dynamic steering remote control units remotely via wireless means or long-wired means.
For example, the one or more dynamic steering remote control units are adapted to direct one or more extending and retracting movements of a nozzle delivery assembly by communicating the one or more dynamic steering remote control units with a first motor connected to the nozzle delivery assembly. In another example, the one or more dynamic steering remote control units are adapted to direct one or more three-dimensional rotational movements of the nozzle delivery assembly by communicating the one or more dynamic steering remote control units with one or more second motors.
In one aspect, the method includes jetting out a liquid solution from a water jet head of a wash nozzle of the nozzle delivery assembly. In another aspect, the method includes delivering one or more medicines from a medicinal storage assembly connected to a medicinal delivery nozzle of the nozzle delivery assembly, and spraying out the one or more medicines from a medicinal atomizer head of the medicinal delivery nozzle.
In still another aspect, the method further includes modifying the one or more medicines by the medicinal atomizer head so as to achieve a consistency that can be applied over a distance and deliver a stream of the one or more medicines to an user. In addition, the method further includes receiving an user input from the nozzle assembly by the one or more dynamic steering remote control units to direct one or more movements of the first motor and the one or more second motors and adjust at least one of an angle or a location of the delivery nozzle assembly based on the user input.
The nozzle assembly of the remote-controlled delivery system is easy-to-handle and easy to apply and spray water, fluids, solutions, suspensions, in combination of one or more medicament to a region (e.g., a skin area, etc.) of a person, and allow for easy operation and easy handling by an user controlling the dynamic remote control units manually. In one embodiment, a remote-controlled delivery system is incorporated into a base unit, such as a wash bidet system and is deigned to easily dispense water, liquid and medication from a wash, clean and dry bidet system to a surface area of a human subject.
The dynamic steering remote control units 40, 42 are adapted to be communicating with the motors 31, 32, 33 and directing one or more movements of the motors 31, 32, 33. The motors 31, 32, 33 may be coupled together by the one or more gears 331 in order to coordinate and direct the movements of the nozzle delivery assembly 20. In addition, the remote controlled delivery system may further include a medicinal storage assembly 50.
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The dynamic steering unit 30 may include a motor 31 being connected to the nozzle delivery assembly 20 and capable of directing one or more extending and retracting movements of the nozzle delivery assembly 20 (also see
In
In operation, the water jet head of the wash nozzle device 21 sprays out and applies a fluid to a region of the body of the user that is currently being targeted by a remote applicator, i.e., the nozzle delivery assembly 20. In this way, the currently targeted area can be indicated and it can be determined whether the currently target area is a localized region to which one or more medicine are to be applied by the medicinal deliver device 22. In one example, the water jet head of the wash nozzle device 21 uses water or a liquid other than the medicine to be used, the water jet head can be used (e.g., by being coupled to a sensor) to indicate whether the target area is the localized region to which the medicine is to be applied without the potential of wasting any medicine being applied on a region other that where it is intended. Further, the liquid applied by water jet head can be used to clean the region of the body (e.g., perianal region) prior to the application of the medicine by the medicinal delivery device 22.
As indicated above, aspects of the present invention provide a remote-controlled liquid and medicinal delivery system for delivering and applying water, liquid in combination with one or more medicines to a region of the body that may not otherwise be easily accessible (e.g., to the perianal region). To this extent, the remote controlled delivery system can present a discreet, “hands-free” alternative to the current options, thereby substantially eliminating any discomfort, ineffectiveness, and/or embarrassment a user might otherwise experience.
As indicated, the nozzle delivery system 20 also includes a medicinal atomizer head at the tip of the medicinal delivery device 22. The medicinal atomizer head delivers medicines to the target area. Medicines can be in the form of a liquid, a gel, a foam, a paste, or any other form that is now known or later developed that can be taken by a medicine. To this extent, the medicinal atomizer head of the medicinal delivery device 22 can modify the consistency of the medicine to achieve a consistency that can be applied over a distance (e.g., across a space). This modification can include, but is not limited to: aeration of a liquid medicine, aquafication of a gel or paste, and/or the like. In any case, the medicinal atomizer head is connected to the medicinal liquid inlet 23 for delivering one or more medicines from the medicinal storage assembly 50 to the medicinal atomizer head. To this extent, the water and medicinal atomizer can have the same target area on a surface region of a human user subject but function independently in terms of substances to be applied.
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In any case, navigation controls, such as the one or more dynamic steering remote control units 40, 41, 42 can receive an input from an user of the remote-controlled medicine delivery system and transmits the user input to the dynamic steering unit 30. Such transmission can occur via any wired or wireless solution now known or later developed. The dynamic steering unit 30 can receive the user input and adjust the angle and/or location of nozzle heads of the wash nozzle device 21 and the medicinal delivery device 22, based on the user input, and/or can begin the delivery of fluid from the water jet head or the medicinal atomizer in response to the user input. To this extent, navigation control commands for the one or more dynamic steering remote control units 40, 41, 42 can include controls for adjustment of the angle, adjustment of the locations of nozzles heads of the wash nozzle device 21 and the medicine delivery device 22 of the nozzle delivery assembly 20, indicating a start and/or stop to delivery of fluid from the water jet head, indicating a start and/or stop to delivery of medicine from the medicinal atomizer, and/or the like.
The one or more dynamic steering remote control units 40, 41, 42 may be further coupled to one or more power switches or control units such that various motors and electric circuits contained within the system can be turned on for powering up the system and operating water or liquid washing, and the delivery of one or more medicines, and/or other functions of the remote controlled medicinal delivery system. The control dynamic steering remote control units 40, 41, 42 can be positioned, in one example, on the top or the side of the system, and can be easily visible to a user for the user to grasp and manually controlled the system.
In one embodiment, at least one of the dynamic steering remote control units 40, 41, 42 is a remote control unit. In addition, one or more power indicators can be positioned on the dynamic steering remote control units 40, 41, 42 to indicate turning on of the electric power and proper functioning and control of the remote controlled medicinal delivery system.
In one example, as shown in
In
Alternatively, an user can direct the control of the remote control medicinal delivery system by directly touches one or more sensor pads, sensor mouse-like or joystick-like sensor controls. The sensor pads or joystick-like sensor controls may include one or more user control bases 408B, 418B, and 428B, and one or more input sensors 408A, 418A, 428A, etc., positioned on top of the base bodies 410, 412, 414. Each input sensor 408A, 418A, 428A, etc., may be adapted to direct to all of the functioning commands (e.g., washing, moving up and down, moving left and right, extending and retracting, medicine delivery, etc.) for the functioning of various parts and components of the remote controlled medicinal delivery system to be carried out by the dynamic steering remote control units 40, 41, 42.
In one aspect, the remote controlled medicinal delivery system is connected to a power cord via a power connector. The power cord is adapted to be connected to an electric outlet and provides electric power to power up the system. In another aspect, the wash and dry system is connected to a battery power pack in order to conveniently power up the wash and dry system without the need to find an electric outlet.
In operation, once the electric power is turned on and the motors within the system are adapted to deliver all desirable liquids (e.g., water and liquid from a water hose assembly via a water inlet, a medication liquid solution from the medicine storage assembly 50, and combinations thereof) from one or more channels therein to the nozzle delivery assembly.
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While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/201,815, filed Aug. 6, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.
