Post-surgical irrigation appliance

Claim 1

A POST-SURGICAL IRRIGATING APPLIANCE, COMPRISING: A SHEET-LIKE BAG OF WATERPROOF MATERIAL HAVING AN INNER AND OUTER WALL, THE BAG BEING OPEN AT THE BOTTOM; A STOMA OPENING ON THE INNER WALL OF THE BAG FOR TELESCOPING OVER THE STOMA OF A PATIENT; MEANS FOR HOLDING THE BAG IN POSITION ON A PATIENT; A CATHETER OPENING IN THE OUTER WALL IN REGISTRATION WITH THE STOMA OPENING IN THE INNER WALL, SAID OUTER WALL OPENING BEING OF SUFFICIENT SIZE FOR RECEIVING A CATHETER TUBE TO BE INSERTED THROUGH THE OUTER WALL AND INTO A STOMA OF A PATIENT FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES; AND SEALING MEANS IN THE PATH OF CATHETER INSERTION, SAID SEALING MEANS INCLUDING A MATERIAL WHICH EXPANDS GREATLY WHEN SUBJECTED TO MOISTURE SO THAT WHEN SAID CATHETER IS INSERTED INTO SAID OPENING AND THROUGH SAID SEALING MEANS, IRRIGATION FLUID COMING INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SEALING MEANS WILL CAUSE SAID SEALING MEANS TO EXPAND GREATLY INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CATHETER AND AFTER SAID CATHETER IS REMOVED, SAID SEALING MEANS WILL EXPAND FURTHER TO CLOSE THE OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE CATHETER WAS INSERTED TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS SEAL AGAINST DRAINAGE AND FECAL DISCHARGE.