WO1997015252A1

WO1997015252A1 - Retaining belt for medical appliances

Info

Publication number: WO1997015252A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/013786
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael L. Panattoni
Original assignee: Panattoni Michael L
Priority date: 1995-10-25
Filing date: 1995-10-25
Publication date: 1997-05-01
Also published as: AU4196396A

Abstract

A retaining belt (10) adapted to releasably retain a colostomy pouch (12) within the retainer belt comprises a continuous body band (14) of flexible material and includes a horizontally extending slot (20) spaced from the ends and adapted to be positioned over an access opening in the patient. Detachably retained retaining back support straps (22) may be secured on the body band (14) intermediate the opposite ends of the body band and a transversely and horizontally positioned elongated pocket (24) is included in the band adjacent to the horizontally extending slot (20). A webbing element (50) is secured to an inner wall of the continuous body band. The transversely and horizontally positioned elongated pocket preferably includes a flap (36) including an overlapping portion (52) extending therefrom and is positioned adjacent to the horizontal slot and being releasably secured to the band (14) in overlying relation to the pouch (12).

Description

Pescriptipn

RETAINING BELT FOR MEDTCAL APPLIANCES

Technical Field

This invention relates to retaining belts, and more particularly to retaining belts for colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy pouches.

Background Art

Numerous retaining belts have been proposed and implemented for surgical and therapeutic applications. Common examples are ileostomy, urostomy and colostomy belts. Typically, such belts are worn on the waist or stomach of the user and support colostomy bags, pouches, or the like on the abdomen of a patient. A significant limitation of all such prior belts is that they are bulky, difficult to empty and replace the bags, unsightly and cumbersome — resulting in embarrassment and resultant limitation of actions by the user, and completely unusable in more active applications such as water skiing, snow skiing, moto-cross riding, bicycle riding, and the like.

Various improvements and modification of such belts have been proposed where the colostomy bags and pouches have been adapted to be replaced or interchanged both within and outside of the belt. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,785 issued to Present shows a colostomy belt where a colostomy bag is held within a zippered pouch on the outer surface of the belt. Such prior belts suffer significant limitations in that, heretofore, no belts permit easy use of replaceable bags which are simple to attach onto or remove from the belt, and which are stable and extremely strong allowing the user to purse active and vigorous activities. Because of this, current surgical belts, especially colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy belts, are limited in use and adaptability.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a retaining belt for releasably securing replaceable ostomy bags within the retainer belt which is extremely strong, reliable, attractive, and easy to replace bags in, and which may be provided as a new belt or as a retro-fit of existing ones.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. Disclosure of the Invention

To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a retainer belt is provided adapted to releasably retain a colostomy pouch within the retainer belt, comprising: a continuous body band of flexible material having opposite ends and means on said opposite ends for releasably securing said ends together; said band having an horizontally extending slot opening spaced from the ends thereof and adapted to be positioned over an access opening in the patient; a detachably retained retaining means for coacting to support and retain said colostomy pouch; a webbing element secured to an inner wall of said continuous body band; and a transversely and horizontally positioned elongated pocket means adjacent to said horizontally extending slot opening adapted to secure and receive a colostomy bag therein

and said elongated pocket being positioned within said band of flexible material; the elongated pocket being formed by a flap extending from the band including an overlapping portion, said overlapping portion being releasably secured to the band in overlying relation to the pouch including fastening means secured at an upper and a lower portion of said flap; the colostomy pouch being composed of a flexible non¬ porous material having a mouth portion for positioning in the band opening

The means for securing said colostomy pouch within said pocket may include a clip, clamp, ring or wafer shaped element having fastening means thereon for attachment to the bag and to the pair of stretchable support straps. The fastening means may be hooks, snaps, clamps, clips, rings, grooves, snaps, or the like. Alternatively, the colostomy pouch may be secured in the pocket by the flap secured to the band by mating elements of hook and loop fastening material, a zipper, or other fastening means.

In accordance with the present invention there is also provided an ostomy belt adapted to releasably retain an ostomy pouch therein in a transversely and horizontally oriented position, comprising: a continuous band of flexible material being united at opposite ends, said band having a horizontally extending slot opening spaced from the ends thereof and adapted to be positioned over an access opening in the patient; detachably retained retaining means for coacting to support and retain said ostomy pouch; and transversely and horizontally positioned pocket means adjacent to said opening adapted to secure and receive said ostomy pouch therein; said elongated pocket being positioned within said continuous band and being formed by a flap extending from the continuous band and over a wall of the continuous band in overlying relation to the pouch; the ostomy pouch being composed of flexible non-porous material having a horizontally oriented mouth portion for positioning in the horizontally extending slot.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with a general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a retainer belt with webbing, according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a view of a pouch retainer means, according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the transversely and horizontally elongated pocket of such belt, according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view through the pocket of such belt, according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of a retainer belt, according to the invention.

Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the transversely and horizontally elongated pocket of such belt having a zipper for closure, according to the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to die present preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance widi the present invention, there is provided a retainer belt adapted to releasably retain a colostomy pouch within the retainer belt, comprising: a continuous body band of flexible material having opposite ends and means on said opposite ends for releasably securing said ends together; said band having an horizontally extending slot opening spaced from die ends thereof and adapted to be positioned over an access opening in the patient; a detachably retained retaining means for coacting to support and retain said colostomy pouch; a webbing element secured to an inner wall of said continuous body band; and a transversely and horizontally positioned elongated pocket means adjacent to said horizontally extending slot opening adapted to secure and receive a colostomy bag therein and said elongated pocket being positioned within said band of flexible material; the elongated pocket being formed by a flap extending from the band including an overlapping portion, said overlapping portion being releasably secured to the band in overlying relation to the pouch including fastening means secured at an upper and a lower portion of said flap; the colostomy pouch being composed of a flexible non-porous material having a mouth portion for positioning in the band opening.

There is also provided, in accordance widi the invention, an ostomy belt adapted to releasably retain an ostomy pouch therein in a transversely and horizontally oriented position, comprising: a continuous band of flexible material being united at opposite ends, said band having a horizontally extending slot opening spaced from die ends d ereof and adapted to be positioned over an access opening in the patient; detachably retained retaining means for coacting to support and retain said ostomy pouch; and transversely and horizontally positioned pocket means adjacent to said opening adapted to secure and receive said ostomy pouch therein; said elongated pocket being positioned witiiin said continuous band and being formed by a flap extending from the continuous band and over a wall of the continuous band in overlying relation to the pouch; the ostomy pouch being composed of flexible non-porous material having a horizontally oriented mouth portion for positioning in the horizontally extending slot.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the retainer belt 10 adapted to releasably retain an ostomy pouch 12 is shown, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Belt

10 comprises a continuous body band 14 with inner wall 54 and outer wall 56 of flexible material united at opposite ends so that the belt is a form fitting active wear belt. Band 14 is preferably composed of neoprene having an inner nylon cover, however, alternative materials such as silk, lycra, cotton, urethane, plastic or die like may be used. Band 14 includes a horizontally extending slot 20 spaced from ends 16 and adapted to be positioned over an access opening of a patient such as an abdominal opening or the like. A transversely and horizontally positioned elongated pocket 24 witii flap 36 releasably retains the ostomy pouch 12 within belt 10, preferably in a transverse and horizontal orientation. A webbing 50 is secured to inner wall 54 of band 14 and may be composed of cotton, lycra, nylon, or the like. Webbing 50 may be sewn onto inner wall

54 or releasably adhered with hook and loop fastening material 51. Flap 36 includes overlapping portion 52 forming elongated pocket 24 and is preferably hingedly secured to band 14 by mating hook and loop fastening material or a zipper 42, or other releasably securing fastening means may be used. In Figs 1 to 5 band 14 is provided with horizontally extending slot 20 as shown spaced from ends 16 and adapted to be positioned over an abdominal or other access opening in die patient One or more back support straps 22 may be secured to band 14 by stitches, hook and loop fastening material, adhesive, or die like, and are preferably secured intermediate the opposite ends of band 14. A transversely and horizontally oriented pocket 24, best seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 is positioned over opening 20 formed by cover overlapping portion 52 of flap 36 and is adapted to releasably receive colostomy pouch 12 therein. Double flap 17 on band 14, best seen in Fig. 4 prevents inadvertant removal of pouch 12 from pocket 24. Means for securing colostomy pouch 12 within band 14 can be provided by pouch hooks, clamps, straps, and strap clip or ring 26, which may be shaped as a ring, wafer, or odier geometric configuration, and shown in Fig. 3, preferably having clip retainers 28 and 30 spaced diereon. Clip retainers 28 and 30 on pouch strap clip 26 are clipped onto colostomy pouch 12 and to a pair of stretchable support straps 32 with clips 34 which is preferably sewn into pocket 24 on band 14. Of course, support straps 32 may be secured in pocket 24 by odier means, such as, adhesives, rivets, or the like. Pouch strap clip or ring 26 and support straps 32 are used to support and secure colostomy pouch 12 in pocket 24 in a horizontal position, however, if desired, a vertical, or odier orientation of pouch 12 in pocket 24 is possible. Or alternatively, ostomy or colostomy pouch 12 may be releasably retained witiiin pocket space 24 without me ring or straps, and held in place by flap 36 as seen in Figs. 1, and 3, allowing pouch 12 to be secured entirely within band 14 in a horizontal orientation.

Wid reference to Fig. 3, transverse and horizontally positioned elongated pocket 24 is preferably formed wid overlapping portion 52 flap 36 and is movably connected to band 14 widi mating pieces of hook and loop fastening elements 38 allowing for ease of inspection, insertion, or removal of pouch 12 from pocket 24. Alternatively, in Fig. 6, overlapping portion 52 of flap 36 is seen secured to band 14 by a zipper 40. Flap 36 may be sewn by stitch 42, glued, or otiierwise attached to band 14. If straps 32 are utilized, die tension of straps 32 may be adjusted according to die intended use of belt 10. For example, in a sports belt version, the tension of straps 32 would be high, while in a causal wear type belt, the tension of straps 32 would be lessened. Straps 32 are preferably composed of elastic, however, odier durable resilient material may be used such as plastic, urethane, neoprene, or the like.

Widi reference to Fig. 5, the retainer belt 10 adapted to support an ostomy or colostomy pouch 12 is shown, according to anod er preferred embodiment of me invention. Belt 10, in this embodiment, comprises a separable body band 14 of flexible material with horizontally extending slot 20 and having opposite ends 16 and means on the opposite ends for releasably securing the ends togedier. A transversely and horizontally positioned pocket 24 is formed by overlapping portion 52 of flap 36. Band 14 is preferably composed of neoprene having an inner nylon cover, however, alternative materials such as cotton, uretiiane, plastics, or die like may be utilized, depending upon die application, be it sport, causal, or formal wear. The preferred means for releasably securing the opposite ends 16 together comprise strips of hook and loop fastening material 18 correspondingly aligned at both ends of the belt. Alternatively, clamps, hooks, snaps, buckles, buttons, rings or the like may be substituted for hook and loop fastening material 18, or belt 10 may be provided as a pull-over type belt without such fastening means.

In operation and use retaining belt 10 is useful for ileostomy, urostomy, and colostomy applications, and is extremely durable, convenient, and easy to use. In die unitary belt of Fig. 1 or the open belt shown in Fig. 5, the present invention allows the patient to enjoy an active, normal range of activities, and to participate in vigorous sport activities if desired. Belt 10 may be worn widi casual clothing, sportswear, swim suits, or formal clotiing. Since belt 10 is worn and appears similar to an attractive belt the user is not self-conscious or hesitant to use it in a wide range of activities.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in die art. This invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims

Haims

1. A retainer belt adapted to releasably retain a colostomy pouch within d e retainer belt, comprising:

a continuous body band of flexible material having opposite ends and including a releasably secured double flap secured ti ereto and means on said opposite ends for releasably securing said ends and said double flap togetiier; said band having an horizontally extending slot opening spaced from the ends tiiereof and adapted to be positioned over an access opening in die patient;

a detachably retained retaining means for coacting to support and retain said colostomy pouch;

a webbing element secured to an inner wall of said continuous body band; and

a transversely and horizontally positioned elongated pocket means adjacent to said horizontally extending slot opening adapted to secure and receive a colostomy bag therein

and said elongated pocket being positioned within said band of flexible material; the elongated pocket being formed by a flap extending from the band including an overlapping portion, said overlapping portion being releasably secured to me band in overlying relation to the pouch including fastening means secured at an upper and a lower portion of said flap; the colostomy pouch being composed of a flexible non-porous material having a mouth portion for positioning in d e band opening

2. A retainer belt as claimed in claim 1 further including a pair of optionally stretched and stretchable support straps optionally oriented by stretching and positioned on an inner wall of said continuous body band and including a separable fastening ring adapted to be secured to said colostomy pouch, diereby securing said colostomy bag within said elongated pocket.

3. A retainer belt as claimed in claim 2 further including a coupling ring shaped element adapted to be secured and received witiiin said elongated pocket and including a plurality of fastening clips including a hook portion engagable widi said retaining means and spaced diereon for attachment to said pair of stretchable support straps.

4. A retainer belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said continuous body band is composed of neoprene.

5. A retainer belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means on said opposite ends of said body band are mating pieces of hook and loop fastening material.

6. A retainer belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body band is composed of cotton.

7. An retainer belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stretchable support bands are composed of elastic.

8. An retainer belt as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of back support straps secured on said body band intermediate the opposite ends of the body band.

9. An ostomy belt adapted to releasably retain an ostomy pouch therein in a transversely and horizontally oriented position, comprising:

a continuous band of flexible material being united at opposite ends, said band having a horizontally extending slot opening spaced from the ends thereof and adapted to be positioned over an access opening in the patient;

detachably retained retaining means for coacting to support and retain said ostomy pouch; and

transversely and horizontally positioned pocket means adjacent to said opening adapted to secure and receive said ostomy pouch tiierein; said elongated pocket being positioned within said continuous band and being formed by a flap extending from the continuous band and over a wall of the continuous band in overlying relation to die pouch; the ostomy pouch being composed of flexible non-porous material having a horizontally oriented mouth portion for positioning in the horizontally extending slot