GB2196257A

GB2196257A - A quickly-remountable and long-lasting stoma-care pouch

Info

Publication number: GB2196257A
Application number: GB08624547A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leff Pickersgill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-14
Filing date: 1986-10-14
Publication date: 1988-04-27
Also published as: GB8624547D0

Abstract

A long-lasting stoma-care pouch, for the use of persons who have undergone a colostomy, or an ileostomy operation, can be quickly and reliably fitted to a separate supporting washer, or repeatedly removed from it, by the use of a threaded boss, on the pouch, and another one, on the pouch-supporting washer, which can remain set for a longer period of time around a stoma, whilst providing convenient access to it. Flanges with non-circular profiles can support the threaded bosses, which can thereby be comfortably gripped by hand for screwing them tightly together, or for unscrewing them whenever required. A removable insert, can be fined within the support boss, to restrain the front panel of the pouch from obstructing the pouch inlet.

Description

SPECIFICATION A quickly remountable and long-lasting stoma-care pouch This invention relates to a stoma-care pouch and its adhesive supporting washer, which is designed for the use of persons who have undergone a colostomy, or an ileostomy operation.

Among the large variety of the above type of pouches, which are commonly available at the present time, the majority possess some disadvantages in use. Many of the pouches have a permanently sealed lower end, as well as a supporting washer, which is bonded around the inlet of the pouch. This normally makes it necessary to discard and replace both parts after they have been in use for only one day, which may be considered as an excessively wasteful procedure.

Certain similar types of such pouches can last a short while longer in use, because they possess lower ends which can be opened and later re-sealed, thus making it possible to obtain a limited amount of access to the stoma and the interior of the pouch, for the purpose of washing them whenever necessary. Unfortunately, the presence of water against the interior edge of the pouch-supporting washer usually causes fairly rapid deterioration in the strength of its adhesive surface, thus making it necessary to discard the pouch together with its support, after 3 or 4 days of use.

Among the remaining types of pouches which are available for similar use to the above-mentioned ones, some possess a smooth plastic boss, which is moderately flexible and is designed to clip over a smaller boss of the same general shape and material which forms part of a separate supporting washer. However, it can become somewhat difficult to obtain a satisfactory connection between it and the pouch by attempting to press the two parts firmly enough against each other by hand, in view of the fact that it is not easy to obtain a good grip upon the supporting washer, after it has already been fitted in its required position around the stoma.

According to the present invention, a stoma-care pouch is provided which can be easily and reliably fitted. to its supporting washer, or repeatedly removed from it and fitted back again, as often as may be reasonably required, whilst the pouch-supporting washer can remain set for further use in its original location around a stoma.

The specific embodiments of the invention are described below, by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are shown on Sheets 1/3 to 3/3.

Figure 1 shows a half-scale size plan-view of the underface of the pouch, complete with a flanged and internally threaded boss, which has been bonded to it, but separated from the pouch-supporting washer.

Figure 2 shows a half-scale size side-view of the pouch, complete with its boss and other embodiments.

Figure 3 shows a twice-scale size obliqueview of the separate pouch-supporting adhesive base-washer with its bonded-on flanged and threaded boss.

Figure 4 shows a full-scale size plan-view of the outer face of the pouch-supporting adhesive washer, as described in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 shows a full-scale size cross-section sideview, along Line A-A, of the pouchsupporting washer, as described in Fig. 3.

Figure 6 shows a full-scale size side-view of the pouch-supporting washer, as described in Fig. 3.

Figure 7 shows a half-scale size plan-view of the compressible plastic insert, after it has been pushed firmly into its correct position within the boss of the pouch-supporting washer.

Figure 8 shows a half-scale size side-view of the insert, after it has been fitted into the boss of the pouch-supporting washer.

Figure 9 shows a half-scale size front-face view of the expanded insert, before it has been fitted into the boss of the pouch-supporting washer.

Figure 10 shows a half-scale size side-view of the insert, before it has been fitted into the boss of the pouch-supporting washer.

Figure 11 shows a half-scale size side-view of the pouch, assembled to its supporting washer, complete with its insert.

The following embodiments of the stomacare pouch and its supporting washer are additionally described below by reference to the drawings and item Nos. on Sheets 1/3 to 3/3: The stoma-care pouch, Fig. 1, item 1, is composed of soft but durable plastic material, which is transparent and readily flexible. A boss, item 2, contains an internal 3 or 4 start, fast-acting thread of Acme, or any other suitable form, and is composed of moderately flexible plastic material. It possesses an irregularly profiled flange, item 3, which can be conveniently and firmly gripped, although it is bonded to the under-face of the pouch. The pouch possesses 2 lugs, items 4 and 5, by means of which it, as well as a soft cotton cover can be additionally supported.An internally wired flexible plastic strip, item 6, which is bonded to the lower end of the outer face of the pouch, is provided for sealing the pouch, when it is in normal use.

The pouch-supporting washer, Fig. 3, item 7, (see also Figs. 4 to 6), is circular on its outer rim and consists of thin micro-porous plastic material, which is moderately stretchable in all directions along its face, so that it can readily conform to any normal curvature of the stoma surrounding skin, upon which it can be securely held by means of a suitable waterproof medical adhesive. The profile of the inner edge of the supporting washer, item 7, can normally be cut to a size and shape which will provide sufficient clearance from the stoma, so that it, as well as its most closely surrounding skin, can be readily inspected or cleansed whenever necessary. The supporting washer, (item 7), also possesses a somewhat less flexible plastic boss, item 8, which embodies an irregularly profiled flange, item 9, similar to that of Fig. 1, item 3. The boss, (item 8), is reliably bonded to the washer, (item 7), and has an external 3 or 4 start thread, item 10, which can be securely screwed into the threaded boss, item 2, to provide a water-tight connection, by gripping both of the flanges, items 3 and 9, and turning the outer one, item 3, in a clock-wise direction, as viewed from the front of the pouch.

A removable insert, Figs. 9 and 10, item 11, which is composed of resilient plastic material, can be held firmly by friction in its required position, after it has been pushed into the inside of the boss, Figs. 7 and 8, item 8, as far as the internal flange Figs. 3 and 4, item 13. The insert possesses an integral resilient finger, item 12, which rests lightly against the inside of the pouch outer panel and restrains it from obstructing the pouch inlet. A side-view of the completely assembled pouch is shown in Fig. 11.

Claims

1. By the embodiment and use of suitablythreaded shallow plastic bosses, one of which is reliably bonded to a stoma-care pouch, and another one to a separate pouch-supporting washer, such parts can be quickly and securely fitted together in complimentary pairs and will provide a watertight connection, without any need to press them firmly upon each other, or against the soft skin adjacent to a stoma, even after the pouch-supporting washer has already been made to adhere in its required position around the stoma.

2. By the embodiment of a fast-lead internal multi-start thread in the design of the pouch boss and a matching external thread on the boss of the pouch-supporting washer, which have been mentioned in Claim 1, it is claimed that a satisfactory means of assembling or disconnecting the stoma-care pouch to or from its supporting washer is made available.

3. By the embodiment of non-circular, suitably strong plastic flanges in the design of the bosses, which have been mentioned in Claims 1 and 2, the flanges can be conveniently gripped by hand, and the pouch can then be firmly screwed to its supporting washer, or easily unscrewed from it, as frequently as may be required for the purpose of inspecting or cleansing the stoma, or the interior of the pouch, after its supporting washer has been made to adhere in its required position around the stoma.

4. By the embodiment of a thin, but durable, plastic micro-porous washer, which is slightly stretchable in any required direction along its surface and is bonded to the flange of the externally threaded boss, which is described in Claim 2, a reliable closely-conforming and much longer-lasting connection between any normal curvature of the skin around a stoma and the undersurface of the pouchsupporting washer can be obtained by the use of a thin layer of a suitably waterproof medical adhesive, which will not cause excoriation of the above-mentioned skin.

5. By the embodiment of a resilient finger on a plastic insert, which can be compressed and held by friction within the boss of the pouch-supporting washer, mentioned in Claims 1 and 2, the front panel of the pouch can be restrained from obstructing the pouch inlet, when the pouch is in use.