Development of Safety Testing Technologies of Defecation Assist Devices: Bibliographic Survey and Development of a Rectum Model Sheet

Abstract

In Japan, the increase in the number of elderly persons needing long-term care has become a serious problem. Caregiving for elderly persons requiring intensive care is a severe burden. In particular, excretion care is one of the most demanding tasks for caregivers. Elderly persons tend to suffer from constipation; and constipation is a particularly critical problem for bedridden patients, since chronic constipation is a potential cause of intestinal diverticulitis. Thus, mechanical intervention methods may be required to remove fecal impaction. The aim of this study was to develop safety test methods, and determine safety test device specifications, for defecation assist devices. To this end, a bibliographic survey was conducted. In addition, we developed a rectal model sheet for use in the abovementioned safety testing. The sheet is a single-layered square of silicone rubber, whose Young’s modulus and thickness were determined with reference to the properties of the human rectum. In future, we will assess the validity of the developed model through experimentation.