BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to chronic idiopathic constipation and, more particularly, to a remedial device therefor.

The external anal sphincter is a muscle that is voluntarily controlled during conscious bowel activity (by clenching/unclenching) and helps prevent fecal incontinence. The inner anal sphincter is another muscle that is under autonomous (i.e., physiological and brain) control. Both muscle groups work together to regulate and guide a normal bowel movement.

Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) is a medical term used to describe the inability to have a bowel movement in 3 or more days. Often called the “hidden epidemic,” constipation affects thousands of people worldwide every week. In the US, as many as 20% of the adult population will experience CIC due to a variety of causes including elderly age, chronic illness, chemotherapies, childbirth, etc. Every week people have difficulty with bowel movements which results in hundreds of millions of United States dollars (USD) for over the counter (OTC) laxatives used at home. Fully 60% of people in the US with CIC prefer to use OTC laxatives rather than to consult with medical professionals. When OTC remedies do not work, painful visits are required at medical facilities such as walk-in clinics, doctors’ offices, and hospitals. Painful, often embarrassing procedures range from the insertion of enemas and/or the deep insertion of elongated lubricant pellets to the extreme procedure of technicians manually removing hardened feces from the bowel tract with painful tools. The consequences of prolonged constipation can be excessive loss of appetite, exacerbation of chronic illnesses, organ damage, infection, toxicity, and rare death. Another widespread “silent” problem, sometimes caused by CIC, is that of fecal incontinence.

Anal sphincter electromyography (EMG, i.e., using electrodes and electrode sponges) methods have been used to study the role and biophysics involved with CIC. EMG methods, including “kneading” vibration devices and acoustic “buzzing” swallowed capsules, have been tried as stool softeners. However, for repeatable-use devices, the need to salvage these devices after defecation, and their requirements of hours-long use, do not to help solve the CIC problem quickly (i.e., for relief in seconds to minutes).

As can be seen, there is a need for a noninvasive, painless, effective treatment for chronic idiopathic constipation that does not require consuming laxatives or visiting a medical professional.

Many studies have been conducted on various low frequency (i.e., below 50 Hz) vibrational effects on the human body. These vibrations or pressure forces may be natural or manmade (primarily for entertainment). Mechanical vibration of human tissue, muscles and organs has been a subject for studies in stress, pain relief, biofeedback, behavior, testing of the senses, etc., but rarely for medical therapies directed toward constipation relief. It is well known that vibration affects muscular control, and a few reports have claimed/speculated possible long-term benefits (i.e., days to weeks) with constipation therapies. [See Lewis, T., “Good Vibrations: Buzzing Capsule Could Relieve Constipation”, NBC Sci. news, 9 May 2014; Mimidis, K., et al,” Use of a device that applies external kneading-like force on the abdomen for treatment of constipation”, World J. Gastroenterol., 1 1 (13), 1971 - 1975, (2005); Chaofei Zhang, et al, "Effect of Low-Frequency Vibration on Muscle Response under Different Neurointact Conditions", Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, vol. 2019, Article ID 1971045, 10 pages, 2019.; Humphries, B., et al, “The Influence of Vibration on Muscle Activation and Rate of Force Development during Maximal Isometric Contractions”, J. Sports Sci Med 3, 16-22, (2004), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.]

No literature cites short-term (i.e., seconds to minutes) time frames for constipation response to vibration, although there are several anecdotal remarks of the immediate fecal incontinence when a person was exposed to vibration from 2 to 24 Hz.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a vibrational constipation-relieving system is provided, comprising: a toilet seat; at least one subsonic transducer mounted to the toilet seat; a control and electronics housing; a subsonic amplifier mounted within the control and electronics housing, wherein the subsonic amplifier is electronically coupled with the at least one subsonic transducer; an adjustable frequency generator mounted within the control and electronics housing and electronically coupled with the subsonic amplifier; and a power supply mounted within the control and electronics housing and coupled with the subsonic amplifier.

In another aspect of the present invention, a portable vibrational constipation-relieving kit is provided, comprising: at least one subsonic transducer operative to vibrate at an adjustable frequency of about 1 to about 20 Hz; and a control and electronics housing, containing: a subsonic amplifier, wherein the subsonic amplifier is electronically coupled with the at least one subsonic transducer; an adjustable frequency generator electronically coupled with the subsonic amplifier; and a power supply electrically coupled with the subsonic amplifier; wherein the at least one subsonic transducer mounts to a toilet seat.

In another aspect of the present invention, a treatment method for relieving constipation or fecal incontinence in a subject is provided, comprising: providing a vibratory toilet seat comprising a subsonic transducer; seating the subject on the toilet seat; selecting a frequency between about 1 and about 20 Hz, a duty cycle, and an amplitude of vibration for the subsonic transducer; and activating the subsonic transducer.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vibratory toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed schematic view thereof; and

Figure 3 is a flow chart thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a vibratory toilet seat and system therefor. The vibration-inducing system may comprise at least one subsonic vibration transducer, an electronic, subsonic amplifier, a power supply, and an adjustable frequency generator. The power supply feeds the adjustable frequency generator and the transducer amplifier. In wireless embodiments, a power supply is provided in the seat to power the transducer or transducers. The transducer may be electronically coupled to the amplifier or to the frequency generator.

This invention uses vibration at user-selected frequencies emanating from the toilet seat to induce the opening of two (external and internal) anal sphincter muscles, as well as inducing bowel tract lubrication, to assist in passing difficult feces. The transducer emits a vibrational frequency and vibrate the toilet seat. The user simply sits on the toilet seat, relaxes, and adjusts the vibrational frequency (normally between 1 to 20 Hz) until fecal release feels imminent, i.e., the user senses an imminent bowel movement. The user may then relieve themselves and defecate into the toilet.

The toilet seat may rely on the user’s self-exploration for their fecal expulsion based on their ability to choose a frequency, amplitude, and duty cycle for a vibration on the anal sphincter and abdominal muscle cavities. No data nor test results for stool hardness, nor diet preceding the constipation, nor other possible causes of the prevailing CIC are given at this time.

The toilet seat may house or include the transducer, may be portable, and may be securely placed and rest on top of any commercially available toilet seat. Any suitable shape of toilet seat may be used, such as round, oval or elongated, or open or U-shaped. Alternatively, the transducer may be portable and may attach to any commercially available toilet seat. In any event, the vibratory toilet seat may be sealed or otherwise waterproofed, isolating the transducer from the ambient environment and making the device washable. The control and stimulus electronics safely fit housed within a “cigar-box” sized container that may be placed within reach and view of a user. In some embodiments, the system may comprise an oscilloscope. For example, an oscilloscope may be provided for visible monitoring, e.g., to ensure that the system is oscillating properly. The oscilloscope may electronically couple with the amplifier or to the frequency generator. The oscilloscope may be housed in the control box or may be connected to the electronic components via a universal serial bus (USB) cord.

The present invention may also be used for “bowel retraining” for the treatment of fecal incontinence.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 3, Figure 1 illustrates a vibratory toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. Transducers 12 are attached to an underside of a toilet seat 10 such that a user’s sphincter 26 is positioned midway between the transducers 12. The transducers 12 may be acoustic woofers. As shown in Figure 2, a control box or electronics housing 22 may house a frequency generator 14, a subsonic amplifier 16, and a power supply 18, such as a rechargeable battery. The amplifier 16 may be electrically wired or wirelessly connected to the transducers 12 and to an optional oscilloscope 20. The amplifier 16 may be modulated by selecting settings on the frequency generator 14. The frequency generator 14 may have a display, a frequency selection control, a duty cycle selection control, and an amplitude selection control, such as a dial, a button, or a switch. A user 24 may select a vibration frequency, duty cycle, and amplitude by adjusting dials or pressing buttons on the control box 22. Settings may be displayed on the frequency generator 14 display and the resulting vibration may be displayed on the oscilloscope 20.

Figure 3 is a flow chart depicting the steps of using a vibratory toilet seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user first turns on the vibratory seat 110 then sits on the seat 120. The user sets a vibration frequency 130. The vibration induces muscle relaxation and bowel tract lubrication 140, at which point the user may attempt a bowel movement 150, while the resulting feces flow freely into a toilet, relieving constipation. It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.