---

Douche

Vaginal hygiene and the medical treatment of vaginal irritations and other feminine hygiene problems are applications for which a number and variety of types of vaginal douche devices have been developed. Various devices for directing a water stream for cleansing the anal-genital area of a human have been developed and have been found to provide superior cleansing than that provided by conventional means. Apparatus have also been developed that operate to introduce medicated solutions or cleansing agents into the water stream. Water streams containing such medicated or cleansing solutions have been found to be useful in providing relief for those who suffer from certain medical ailments or require particular hygienic conditions. Devices, such as various hand-held douche apparatus, have been developed for directing a water stream for cleansing or for providing medication to the anal-genital area of the user. These devices often utilize a container for storing a liquid medication or cleansing solution. The solution is typically induced into the water stream using the pressure differential created by directing the fluid stream over a passage leading into the solution storage container. The greatest benefit of douching is the mechanical cleansing that it provides. Douche devices that have been developed and are in some measure of use vary from the simple gravity feed and hand held syringe to the more complicated and sophisticated versions which include various types of valving and grooves for introducing medicines and cleaning agents required for particular medical and hygenic conditions. Disposable douche products are known wherein a douche liquid is contained within a flexible plastic container, and a separate ampoule containing a medicament is provided.

---