Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Receptacle attached to or inserted within body to receive...
Patent
1995-08-17
1997-01-07
Clarke, Robert A. H.
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Receptacle attached to or inserted within body to receive...
604355, 604332, 604344, 604342, 604346, A61M 100, A61F 544
Patent
active
055911447
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to ostomy bags and like drainage bags, and in particular to bags for which the contents can be disposed of more readily and hygienically by flushing down a W.C.
Ostomy bags for receiving bodily waste from colostomy or ileostomy patients are well known and a major problem with such bags is that it can be difficult to dispose of the used bag in a convenient and hygienic manner.
Often, the contents of used bags are removed by cutting an edge of the bag and depositing the contents into a W.C. for flushing away, leaving the soiled bag for separate disposal, e.g. by incineration or by wrapping and placing in a waste bin. Disposal of a used bag and its contents in this way is clearly unhygienic and unpleasant for the user and, in recognition of this problem, various proposals have been made for ostomy bags which can be flushed down a W.C.:- see for example GB-A-2083762, EP-A-0388924, GB-A-2227668, and GB-A-2193925.
However the ostomy bags currently available suffer from certain drawbacks. Firstly, due to the buoyancy and relative bulk of the bags, it is often difficult to flush them down the W.C. Secondly, in order to ensure that the bag is sufficiently strong and waterproof to withstand the rigours of use, materials have been used which do not decompose readily, if at all, in the sewerage system, thereby giving rise to a pollution problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to overcome such problems by providing a relatively tough, waterproof detachable outer bag and a water-impermeable inner bag or liner, the inner bag serving to accommodate the bodily waste whilst the outer bag serves as a protective layer. The inner bag is made sufficiently water-impermeable to prevent leakage into the outer bag during the period of use but, because of the existence of the outer bag, need not be made of such durable material. Thus it can be made of material which although water-impermeable over a short period, nonetheless gradually dissolves over a more extended period. The inner bag can therefore be made entirely biodegradable and is ideally suited for disposal by flushing down a W.C. The outer bag which is secured to the inner bag by means of a frangible or peelable connection is torn away from the inner bag after use and, since it is not soiled by the bodily waste can be disposed of with other household refuse.
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a drainage bag (e.g. an ostomy bag or the like) for receiving bodily waste, the drainage bag comprising a water-impermeable outer bag; a water-impermeable inner bag enclosed therein; and means defining an orifice to enable bodily waste to be received by the inner bag; the outer and inner bags being detachably secured together in the region of the orifice.
The outer and inner bags are preferably detachably secured together by means of a frangible or peelable connection or linkage therebetween.
The means defining the orifice can take the form of a flange, for example an adhesive flange of the type conventionally used with ostomy bags. Typically, one surface of the flange is provided with a layer of bioadhesive, e.g. a hydrocolloid adhesive, whilst the inner and outer bags are attached to the other surface of the flange. The inner and outer bags can conveniently be attached to the flange by means of welding, for example thermal welding, or by the use of adhesive or adhesive layers or by a combination of welding and adhesive techniques.
The outer bag preferably is attached by means of a frangible connection to the flange so as to be detachable therefrom, e.g. by tearing along a line of weakness. The line of weakness preferably is in the region of the weld and most preferably is created (e.g. by over-embossing with the welding tool) whilst the outer bag is being welded to the flange.
Alternatively, a peelable union can be provided through the selection of an appropriate adhesive. The said adhesive could be applied directly to either the outer bag material or to the hydrocolloid flange. A
REFERENCES:
patent: 4816027 (1989-03-01), Gilchrist et al.
patent: 5209744 (1993-05-01), Abe et al.
International Search Report.
United Kingdom Search Report.
Little Gillian R.
Shelley Nicholas S.
Smith Rory J. M.
Clarke Robert A. H.
Laurentano, Esq. Anthony A.
Welland Medical Limited
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