| CLAIMS 1. A device for circumcising a penis having a glans penis and a foreskin, said device comprising: an annular disk shaped ring comprising an open anterior end, an open posterior end and at least one groove circumferentially defined around an outer periphery of said annular disk shaped ring, said anterior end comprising at least two L-shaped protrusions mounted on an outer periphery of said anterior end ; a tubular support member comprising a plurality of V-shaped protrusions , said tubular support member being configured to couple to said anterior end of said annular disk shaped ring via at least one flexible joint; and a circular ring comprising at least one channel within a circumferential wall of said circular ring, wherein said plurality of V-shaped protrusions of said tubular support member maintain said foreskin of said penis in a proximal position. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of V-shaped protrusions of said tubular support member provide a guide for a surgical procedure to remove said stretched foreskin of said penis. 3. The device of claim 25 wherein said tubular support member comprises at least one recess on either side of frontal end of said tubular support member. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said device further comprises a guiding member for positioning at least one O-ring on said at least one groove circumferentially defined around said outer periphery of said annular disk shaped ring by sliding said guiding member over said tubular support member. 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said guiding member comprises an elongated hollow tube mounted on an inner surface of said guiding member, a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having at least one spacing for placing said at least one O-ring. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein said elongated hollow tube comprises at least one sliding member. 7. The device of claim 5, wherein said guiding member is slidably moved over said tubular support member to fit into said at least one recess on either side of frontal end of said tubular support member via said at least one sliding member of said elongated hollow tube. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one channel of said circular ring forms a locking mechanism with said L-shaped protrusion of said anterior end of said annular disk shaped ring. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein a fastener is positioned over said at least one groove circumferentially defined around said outer periphery of said annular disk shaped ring to form a fastening mechanism to constrict blood flow of said foreskin subsequent to said fastener. 10. The device of claim 9. wherein said fastener is selected from a group comprising a rubber fastener, a silk fastener, a linen fastener and the like. |
Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a medical device, and more particularly, to a disposable circumcision device designed to avoid complications associated therewith.
Background Art
Over the years, one of the main reasons of male urinary system infection and sexually transmitted diseases is due to redundant prepuce or phimosis. In some situations, the phimosis may cause urinary tract infection that will lead to chronic prostatitis, which will incur a series of symptoms like back pain, impotence and prospermia. Subsequently, removing the redundant foreskin is one of the good measures to prevent such kinds of ailments.
The removal of redundant foreskin or phimosis inevitably leads to bleeding, pain and hospitalization. However, circumcision is one of the traditional measures to cure phimosis and redundant prepuce and prevent their complication in the individuals. The procedure of circumcision involves surgical removal of the foreskin or prepuce of the penis. Even till date, surgical scissors are used to cut the foreskin. The trimming obtained is usually not only crude and rough but also causes bleeding and needs sutures to be applied to the cut edges. Generally, sterilized gauze and dressing are also applied and sometimes antibiotics may have to be prescribed to prevent any further infection. Also, undue or unusual loss of tissue due to simple excessive excision, sometimes amounting to accidental amputation of the penis has been mentioned in the literature. Moreover, after the operation the patient cannot walk, and he will feel intolerably painful at each change of dressing and suffer great pain in the end at removal of stitches. Furthermore, if hemostasis by ligation is done by halves, it will cause preputial hematoma, which may lead to another surgical treatment if necessary.
In many situations, laser and high-frequency electric-knife technology have been used in foreskin circumcision, they have only substituted scissors cutting and solidified the bleeding spot. Such a therapeutic method is likely to subject the patient to tissular burn and infection, while the expenditure for infection prevention is very high.
Conventionally, there have been a number of instruments known for performing circumcision operations. However, from the practical point of view, many are complex to operate and have an undesirably large number of parts which are either detached from each other or need several auxiliary instruments in operation. In others, number of devices involves clamping. This is attained by tightening a clamp at the desired position on the prepuce by a screw mechanism. In such screw devices the screw has to be manipulated or turned gradually until occlusion of the prepuce has been achieved. However, they do not achieve an "instant occlusion" at the site of clamping. Also, soon after the circumcision has been performed, the clamp is dismantled and removed. The exposed cut edges generally need to be sutured and aseptic dressing has to be applied. The wound has to be closely watched for infection, bleeding and oozing for the next few days.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a disposable circumcision device designed to avoid above mentioned complications that a patient has to undergo during circumcision of the penis.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention aims to provide a disposable circumcision device designed to avoid complications associated therewith.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a device for circumcising a penis includes an annular disk shaped ring, a tubular support member and a circular ring. The annular disk shaped ring includes an open anterior end, an open posterior end and at least one groove circumferentially defined around an outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring. The anterior end of the annular disk shaped includes at least two L-shaped protrusions mounted on an outer periphery of the anterior end.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the tubular support member includes a multiple V-shaped protrusions. The tubular support member is configured to couple to the anterior end of said annular disk shaped ring via at least one flexible joint. The circular ring includes at least one channel within a circumferential wall of the ring.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the multiple V-shaped protrusions of the tubular support member maintain the foreskin of the penis in a proximal position. Moreover, the multiple V-shaped protrusions of the tubular support member provide a guide for a surgical procedure to remove the stretched foreskin of the penis.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the tubular support member includes at least one recess on either side of frontal end of the tubular support member.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one channel of the circular ring forms a locking mechanism with the L-shaped protrusion of the anterior end of the annular disk shaped ring. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fastener is positioned over the at least one groove circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring to form a fastening mechanism to constrict blood flow of the foreskin subsequent to the fastener.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fastener is selected from a group including a rubber fastener, a silk fastener, a linen fastener and the like.
In alternate embodiment of the present invention, the circumcision device further includes a guiding member for positioning at least one O-ring on the at least one groove circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring by sliding the guiding member over the tubular support member.
In alternate embodiment of the present invention, the guiding member includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the guiding member have at least one spacing for placing the at least one O-ring. The guiding member further includes an elongated hollow tube mounted on an inner surface of the guiding member.
In alternate embodiment of the present invention, the elongated hollow tube includes at least one sliding member.
In alternate embodiment of the present invention, the guiding member is slidably moved over the tubular support member to fit into the at least one recess on either side of frontal end of the tubular support member via the at least one sliding member of the elongated hollow tube.
While the invention is described herein by way of example using several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of drawing or drawings described, and are not intended to represent the scale of the various components. Further, some components that may form a part of the invention may not be illustrated in certain figures, for ease of illustration, and such omissions do not limit the embodiments outlined in any way. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modification, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to. Further, the words "a" or "an" mean "at least one" and the word "plurality" means one or more, unless otherwise mentioned.
Description of Drawings and Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
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.
These and other features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following text figures, with like reference numbers referring to like structures across the views, wherein:
FIG.l illustrates a perspective view of an assembly of an annular disk shaped ring and a tubular support member of a circumcision device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates various views of a circular ring of the circumcision device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D, FIG. 3E, FIG. 3F and FIG. 3G illustrate a detailed view of mechanism employed for circumcision of a penis, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, FIG. 4D and FIG. 4E illustrate a detailed view of mechanism employed for circumcision of the penis, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG.5 illustrates a plan view of a measuring device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited in its applications or uses to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, because the present invention (and its inventive concept) is capable of other embodiments, variations and modifications, and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and illustration only, and is not for the purpose of limitation.
Referring now to FIG.l, illustrates a perspective view of an assembly 100 of an annular disk shaped ring 5 and a tubular support member 20 of a circumcision device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The annular disk shaped ring 5 includes an open anterior end and an open posterior end. The annular disk shaped ring 5 further includes at least one groove 10 circumferentially defined around an outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5. In one embodiment of the present invention, the anterior end of the annular disk shaped ring 5 includes at least two L-shaped protrusions 15 mounted on an outer periphery of the anterior end.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the tubular support member 20 includes a multiple V- shaped protrusions 25. The multiple V-shaped protrusions 25 of the tubular support member 20 maintain foreskin of penis in a proximal position. The multiple V- shaped protrusions 25 of the tubular support member 20 provide a guide for a surgical procedure to remove the stretched foreskin of the penis. The tubular support member 20 is configured to couple to the anterior end of the annular disk shaped ring 5 via at least one flexible joint 12.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the tubular support member 20 includes at least one recess 30 on either side of frontal end of the tubular support member 20.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the annular disk shaped ring 5 and the tubular support member 20 are made of a plastic material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the annular disk shaped ring 5 and the tubular support member 20 may be made of a material other than plastic for e.g. , glass, metal or the like which when employed achieves a similar objective as that of the plastic material.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the annular disk shaped ring 5 and the tubular support member 20 are meant for single use and disposed off after each use. The assembly 100 may be used for infants, adolescent boys and adults. The annular disk shaped ring 5 is available in numerous sizes. Moreover, the dimension of the tubular support member 20 may vary according to the size of the penis. FIG. 2 illustrates various views 200 of a circular ring 205 of the circumcision device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The circular ring 205 includes at least one channel 210 within a circumferential wall of the circular ring 205. Moreover, the at least one channel 210 of the circular ring 205 forms a locking mechanism with the L-shaped protrusion 15 (of Fig. 1) of the anterior end of the annular disk shaped ring 5 (of Fig. 1).
In one embodiment of the present invention, the circular ring 205 is made of a plastic material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the circular ring 205 may be made of a material other than plastic for e.g. , glass, metal or the like which when employed achieves a similar objective as that of the plastic material.
FIG. 3A 5 FIG. 3B 5 FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D, FIG. 3E, FIG. 3F and FIG. 3G illustrates a detailed view of mechanism 300 employed for circumcision of the penis 305, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The size of the annular disk shaped ring 5 (of Fig.l) of the circumcision device to be used is determined by measuring the diameter of the penis 305 of a patient with a measuring device 500 as described in Fig. 5. Once the size of the annular disk shaped ring 5 of the circumcision device is set, local anesthesia or painkiller is injected at base of the penis 305. Consequently, as the anesthetic effect takes place the glans penis 320 is thoroughly cleaned with a disinfectant solution by retracting foreskin 310 of the penis 305 in backward direction. A surgical marking pen is used to mark level of the foreskin 310 to be removed in the circumcision process. The foreskin 310 of the penis 305 is gently retracted and the assembly 100 of the tubular support member 20 (of Fig.l) coupled to the anterior end of the annular disk shaped ring 5 via the at least one flexible joint 12 is placed on the glans penis 320 as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Subsequently the foreskin 310 is gently pulled and stretched over the multiple V- shaped protrusions 25 (of Fig.l) of the tubular support member 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The multiple V-shaped protrusions 25 of the tubular support member 20 facilitate to maintain the foreskin 310 of the penis 305 in proximal position.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the annular disk shaped ring 5 may be lubricated to facilitate smooth insertion of the glans penis 320.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a fastener 315 is positioned over the at least one groove 10 (of Fig.1) circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5 to form a fastening mechanism to constrict blood flow of the foreskin 310 subsequent to the fastener 315.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fastener 315 may be a threaded cord tied around the at least one groove 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5 to form the fastening mechanism to constrict blood flow of the foreskin 310 by tying the threaded cord in surgeon knot mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 3 C.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fastener 315 is selected from a group including a rubber fastener, a silk fastener, a linen fastener and the like.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the removal of the excess foreskin 310 of the penis 305 stretched over the multiple V- shaped protrusions 25 of the tubular support member 20 is carried out using a surgical blade 318 as illustrated in FIG. 3D, The foreskin 310 is cut just after the one or more grooves 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5. The at least one groove 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5 provides precision during the cutting process of the excess foreskin 310 of the penis 305. However, there is no bleeding or pain sensed by the patient in the cutting process by the surgical blade 318. In one embodiment of the present invention, a slight twist is applied to the tubular support member 20 at the flexible joint 12. The tubular support member 20 snaps at the flexible joint 12 between the tubular support member 20 and the annular disk shaped ring 5 as illustrated in FIG. 3 E. Thereafter, the tubular support member 20 with the cut excess foreskin over the multiple V- shaped protrusions 25 of the tubular support member 20 is disposed off properly.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one channel 210 (of Fig.2) of the circular ring 205 (of Fig.2) forms the locking mechanism with the L-shaped protrusion 15 (of Fig.1) of the anterior end of the annular disk shaped ring 5 over the glans penis 320 to provide proper healing of circumcise wound as illustrated in FIG. 3 F.
In one embodiment of the present invention, after a period, of about 3 days to about 6 days the at least one channel 210 of the circular ring 205 coupled to the annular disk shaped ring 5 by forming the locking mechanism with the L-shaped protrusion 15 of the annular disk shaped ring 5 is snapped off. The fastener 315 positioned over the at least one groove 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5 is cut away by the surgical blade 318 as illustrated in FIG. 3 G. Subsequently, the annular disk shaped ring 5 is taken out of the glans penis 320. Moreover, the foreskin 310 of the penis 305 under the fastener 315 dries up due to the constriction of the blood flow by the fastener 315.
FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, FIG. 4D and FIG. 4E illustrate a detailed view of mechanism 400 employed for circumcision of the penis 305, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The circumcision device further includes a guiding member 405 for positioning at least one O-ring 410 on the at least one groove 10 (of Fig.l) circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5 (of Fig.l) by sliding the guiding member 405 over the tubular support member 20 (of Fig.l). The multiple V-shaped protrusions 25 (of Fig.l) of the tubular support member 20 positions the excess foreskin 310 (of Fig.3) in the stretched condition over which the guiding member 405 is placed as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The guiding member 405 includes a proximal end and a distal end. Moreover, the guiding member 405 at the distal end has at least one spacing 425 for placing the at least one O-ring 410 over it. The guiding member 405 further includes an elongated hollow tube 415 mounted on inner surface of the guiding member 405. The elongated hollow tube 415 includes at least one sliding member 420. The guiding member 405 is slidably moved over the tubular support member 20 to fit into the at least one recess 30 (of Fig.1) on either side of frontal end of the tubular support member 20 via the at least one sliding member 420 of the elongated hollow tube 415. After the one or more O-rings 410 are placed over the at least one groove 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5, the guiding member 405 is drawn out from the tubular support member 20 as illustrated in FIG. 4C. The removal of the excess foreskin 310 of the penis 305 stretched over the multiple V-shaped protrusions 25 of the tubular support member 20 is carried out using the surgical blade 318 (of Fig.3) as illustrated in FIG. 4D. The foreskin 310 is cut just after the one or more grooves 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5. The at least one groove 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5 provides precision during the cutting process of the excess foreskin 310 of the penis 305. However, there is no bleeding or pain sensed by the patient in the cutting process by the surgical blade 318.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a slight twist is applied to the tubular support member 20 at the flexible joint 12 (of Fig.l). The tubular support member 20 snaps at the flexible joint 12 between the tubular support member 20 and the annular disk shaped ring 5. Thereafter, the tubular support member 20 with the cut excess foreskin over the multiple V-shaped protrusions 25 of the tubular support member 20 is disposed off properly.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one channel 210 (of Fig.2) of the circular ring 205 (of Fig.2) forms the locking mechanism with the L-shaped protrusion 15 (of Fig.1) of the anterior end of the annular disk shaped ring 5 over the glans penis 320 to provide proper healing of circumcise wound as illustrated in FIG. 4E.
In one embodiment of the present invention, after a period of about 3 days to about 6 days the at least one channel 210 of the circular ring 205 coupled to the annular disk shaped ring 5 by forming the locking mechanism with the L-shaped protrusion 15 of the annular disk shaped ring 5 is snapped off. The fastener 315 positioned over the at least one groove 10 circumferentially defined around the outer periphery of the annular disk shaped ring 5 is cut away by the surgical blade 318 as illustrated in FIG. 4E. Subsequently, the annular disk shaped ring 5 is taken out of the glans penis 320. Moreover, the foreskin 310 of the penis 305 under the fastener 315 dries up due to the constriction of the blood flow by the fastener 315.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fastener 315 is selected from a group including a rubber fastener, a silk fastener, a linen fastener and the like.
FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of a measuring device 500, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The measuring device 500 is a fiat, rectangular plate 505 having a multiple circular openings. The multiple circular openings are arranged in two rows. These multiple circular openings are of progressively increasing diameters representing different diameters of glans penis 320 from infant size to adult size. The edges of the rim 510 of each of the multiple circular openings are smoothly rounded. Each circular opening is marked with its size adjacent to it. Each such mark represents the different sizes of the glans penis 320. The measuring device 500 is packed separately in a sterile packing. In operation, the measuring device 500 is made to pass through the multiple circular openings over the exposed glans penis 320. Subsequently, the circular opening of the multiple circular openings which allows the glans penis 320 to pass through it, from the tip up to the base of glans, just comfortably, without compressing the glans, is selected as the size appropriate for that particular individual. The size marked on the plate for that particular circular opening of the multiple circular openings is noted and this is then used to select a similarly sized circumcision device. Consequently, the correct size of the circumcision device is selected to perform the circumcision for any individual. The size of the multiple circular openings of the measuring device 500 varies from about 12.5 mm to about 35 mm,
Therefore, as can be seen, embodiments of the present invention provide a device for circumcising a penis. Subsequently, the device for circumcision is sterile and disposable which avoids the risks of infection. Moreover, there is no open wound and no bleeding take place, since the fastener prevents bleeding. Furthermore, the patient may take bath and no difficulty is faced during urination even while the assembly of the channel and the annular disk shaped ring of the circumcision device is positioned over the penis. The circumcision device is very light in weight, consequently the patient is able to move freely. The whole surgical procedure consumes very less amount of tune from about 5 minutes to about 10 minutes.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the various embodiments discussed above and the claims that follow.
Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements as described herein.
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