GB2181652A

GB2181652A - Ostomy appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2181652A
Application number: GB08525921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Victor Edwards; Roger David Arnold Lipman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-21
Filing date: 1985-10-21
Publication date: 1987-04-29
Also published as: GB8525921D0

Abstract

An ostomy appliance includes an adhesive pad 1 for attachment to the body about a stoma which can project through an aperture 2, a stepped support member 3 of annular form having a radially inner flange 3a attached to said pad 1 and a radially outer flange 3b spaced from the pad by reason of a step 3c, and a coupling element 4 secured to the radially outer flange for mating with a complementary coupling element carried by an ostomy pouch. The stepped support member 3 is made of a stiff or semi-rigid material and is therefore self supporting. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bstomyappliance The present invention relates to ostomy appliances and more particularlyto a coupling for connecting an ostomy pouch to a pad which is adhesively attached to the abdominal skin of a user such that it surrounds the stoma. Such couplings have to be readily engageable and releasable in orderto allow the pouch to be simple to fit to the user and for a soiled pouch to be easily replaced when necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a coupling wherein the body side components are designedtofacilitate manipulation ofthe coupling elements by a user and possibly to reduce the discomfort to a user during engagement and disen gagementofthecoupling elements.

From one aspect, the invention provides a coupling for an ostomy appliance comprising two elements in the form ofgenerallycylindrical rings which can be interengaged concentrically, the inner or body side ring being carried by an adhesive pad forfixing to the body of a wearer about a stoma and the outer ring being attached to an ostomy pouch, wherein a stepped support member is interposed between said pad and said body side ring, said stepped support being ofannularform and having a radially inner flangeto one side of said step which is secured to said pad and a radially outerflangetothe other side of said step which is secured to said body side ring.

By reason ofthe step, a gap is formed between the surface of the pad and the rear side of the body side ring which allows access for the fingers orthumb of a user. This enables a better grasp or manual manipulation and/or support ofthe coupling to be obtained when attaching an ostomy pouch to, or removing a pouch from, the body side coupling element carried bythe adhesive pad. In this way it is possible to reduce the pressure on the body in the region of the stoma when coupling the pouch, which pressure may be very painful to the user. Also it is more readily possible to check that the two coupling elements are properly engaged since finger access is available behind the body side coupling element by reason ofthe gap.

The invention also provides an adhesive pad for attachment to the body about a stoma, a stepped supportmemberofannularform having a radially inner flange attached to said pad and a radially outer flange spaced from said pad by reason of said step andacouplingelementsecuredtosaid radiallyouter flange for mating with a complementary coupling element carried by an ostomy pouch.

The stepped support member is made of a stiff or semi-rigid material and is therefore self supporting.

Materialswhich may be used are,forexample, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, or blends ofthe aforesaid materials.

Preferably the inner periphery ofthe body side coupling element is located in the region of the step and according to one form ofthe invention, a part of the inner periphery in conjuction with the step defines a location for receiving an insert, such as a convex insert, to surround the stoma. Such inserts are preferred by some users with certain types of stoma.

The body side coupling element may also include a radially outerflange by means of which it is attached to the radially outerflange of the stepped support member, and the said flange on the body side coupling element may extend beyond the saidflange on the support member.

The invention will now befurther described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial cross-section through one embodiment of the body side components according to the invention, Figure 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a complete ostomy coupling embodying the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a pad 1 which may be attached to the body of a user aboutthe stoma which can projectthrough an aperture 2. The aperture 2 may be ready4ormed in the pad 2 or may be cut out before use. The pad 1 is attached to the body by means of adhesive layer 1a as is well known in the art.

The aperture 2 is surrounded by a stepped support member 3, made of a semi-rigid material such as is described above, and comprising a radially inner flange 3a and a radially outerflange 3b, respectively situated to either side of the step 3c. The radially inner flange 3a is attached, by any known means, e.g.

adhesive bonding, heat sealing orwelding,tothe outer surface ofthe pad whilst the radially outerflange 3b supports and is attached in a similarfashion to a body side ring 4forming one element of an ostomy coupling. This ring 4 is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 4a which overlies and extends beyond the radially outerflange 3b. The inner peripheral wall 4b ofthe ring 4 is located substantially in line with the adjacent wall ofthestep3c. More specifically, the stepped support member is preferably of a relatively thicker section, say from .010- .040 inch low density polyethylene, or alternatively of a relativelythinner section, say from .010 to .030 inch medium density polyethylene.

As can be seen, by reason of the step 3c, a gap G is provided between the pad 1 and the flange 4a of the coupling element4which allows finger access to a user and thereby facilitates the coupling and uncou pling of an ostomy pouch with respecttothe pad and the checking of the proper interengagement of the coupling parts with minimal discomforttothe user.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment wherein the same references are usedforcorresponding parts.

Thebodysidecomponentaregenerallysimilarto Figure 1 but in this embodimentthe inner peripheral wall 4b ofthe ring4 is located radially inwardlyofthe step 3c and merges therewith by means of an inclined portion 4c, thereby defining a recess 5 fo r receiving and locating the outer edge of an apertured insert (not shown) to surround the stoma, where such an insert is desired.

Although in both the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 the step 3c is shown as being normal to the plane of the pad 1, it will be appreciated that the step may be inclined with respect to the plane of the pad if desired.

Figure 3 shows a complete coupling embodying the present invention and which is generally otherwise of the forum described with reference to Figu re 4 of copending application No. 8501783. Thus, a stepped support member 3 generally ofthe form described above is located between the adhesive pad 1 and the body side ring 4. The inner peripheral wall 4b ofthe ring 4 adjacentthe support member3 is substantially in line with the step 3c. A peripheral bead 6 as provided on the radially outersurface ofthe body side ring 4 and is engaged by the free end of a resilient lip 7 extending from the radially inner surface ofthe ring 8 attached to an ostomy pouch 9.The two parts of the coupling are engaged by fitting the outer ring 8 on the pouch overthe inner ring 4 on the pad such that the lip 7 is deflected as it passes overthe peripheral bead 6 and the free end ofthe lip becomes engaged behind the peripheral bead to hold the coupling secure. The coupling parts are disengaged in the reverse manner.

The stepped support member 3 provides a finger access gap G behind the body side ring to assist in the manipulation ofthe coupling elements as described above. The rings 4 and 8 are preferably made of a low density polyolefin, more especially of a polyethylene or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

The ring 8 attached to the pouch may carry a belt attaching ring of any desired form, as indicated generally at 10, for connection to a body belt.

Itwill be appreciated that various modifications may be made. For example, the recess, such as 5, for location of an inert may be defined simply by locating the in ner periphery 4b of the body side cou pling element radially inwardly ofthe inner periphery of the step 3c. In other words the inclined portion 4e may be omitted.

Claims

1. An ostomy appliance coupling comprising two elements in the form of generally cylindrical rings which can be interengaged concentrically, the body side ring being carried by an adhesive pad for fixing to thebodyofaweareraboutastoma and the other ring being attached to an ostomy pouch, wherein a stepped support member is interposed between said pad and said body side ring, said stepped support being ofannularform and having a radially inner flangeto one side of said step which is secured to said pad and a radially outerflange to the outer side of said step which is secured to said bodyside ring.

2. An ostomy appliance body side component comprising an adhesive pad for attachmentto the body about a stoma, a stepped support member of annularform having a radially inner flange attached to said pad and a radially outerflange spaced from said pad by reason of said step and a body side coupling element secured to said radially outer flange for mating with a complementary coupling element carried by an ostomy pouch.

3. An ostomy appliance as claimed in claim 1 or2, wherein the stepped support member is made of a stiff orsemi-rigid material and is therefore self supporting.

4. An ostomy appliance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stepped support member is made of low density polyethylene, high density polyethlene, polypropylene, or blends of the aforesaid materials.

5. An ostomy appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner periphery of the body side coupling element is located in the region of the step.

6. An ostomy appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inner periphery of the body side coupling element in conjunction with the step defines a location for receiving an insert, such as a convex insert, to surround the stoma.

7. An ostomy appliance as claimed in any preced ingclaim,whereinthebodysidecoupling element also includes a radially outerflange by means of which it is attached to the radially outerflange of the stepped support member.

8. An ostomy appliance as claimed in claim 7, wherein said flange on the body side coupling element extends beyond the said flange on the stepped support member.

9. An ostomy appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body side ring is the inner ring ofthetwo rings forming the coupling.

10. An ostomy appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stepped support member is made from .010 - .040 inch low density polyethylene.

11. An ostomy appliance as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the stepped support member is made from .010 to .030 inch medium density polyethylene.

12. An ostomy appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two rings ofthe coupling are made of a low density polyolefin,for example of a polyethylene or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

13. An ostomy appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the coupling ring attached to the pouch carries a belt attaching ring for connection to a body belt.

14. An ostomy appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, or Figure 2, or Figure 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.