Apparatus and method for removing fecal impaction

摘要

An apparatus for removing a fecal impaction from a patient's rectum is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a shaft which is inserted into the patient's rectum. Coupled to the shaft is a plurality of flexible spines. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for bowing at least one of the spines away from the shaft in order to cut through the fecal mass and define a volume that includes at least a portion of the fecal impaction to be removed. In one aspect, the mechanism for bowing at least one of the spines away from the shaft is a fixed collar which defines a plurality of flexible spine orifices. Each of the flexible spines passes a predetermined length through one of the spine orifices. In another aspect, the mechanism for bowing the spines is a collar slideably mounted to the shaft. In this aspect, each one of the plurality of flexible spines is coupled to the slideable collar. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a sheath having an edge fixed to the closer end of the flexible spines and a movable edge which can be extended to cover the flexible spines and encapsulate the fecal mass. Once the fecal mass is encapsulated by extending the sheath over the bowed spines, the fecal mass can be flattened by straightening the spines and subsequently removed.