Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Receptacle attached to or inserted within body to receive...
Patent
1996-12-12
1998-09-29
Clarke, Robert A.
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Receptacle attached to or inserted within body to receive...
604338, A61F 544
Patent
active
058140336
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to International Application Number PCT/GB95/0135, filed Jun. 9, 1995.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an ostomy 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.
BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART
Ostomy couplings generally include two rings which can be interengaged concentrically, the inner ring having means at one end for attachment to an abdominal pad and a radially outwardly directed peripheral bead at its other end, whilst the outer ring has a radially outwardly directed flange for attachment to an ostomy pouch and is adapted to fit over the inner ring with a lip on the outer ring engaged behind the peripheral bead on the inner ring in order to secure the two components of the coupling together. An ostomy coupling of this type is disclosed, for example, in GB 1217406.
Whilst such couplings are satisfactory in many respects, there is a tendency for the outer coupling ring attached to the pouch to expand away from the inner body-side coupling during use, as pressure builds up within the pouch causing the pouch to spread out. This in turn may cause leakage of gas from the pouch which is obviously undesirable and unpleasant for the user.
WO-A-8503427 discloses a coupling of the aforementioned kind provided with a belt attaching ring mounted on the outer coupling ring, the belt attaching ring receiving the ends of a belt fitted around the waist of a user to assist in retaining the ostomy pouch in position. The belt attaching ring may also slide axially to a position in which it assists in clamping the lip in its engaged position behind the peripheral bead on the inner coupling ring. However, such an arrangement is only effective when used with a waist belt attached to the belt ring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the problem of leakage of gas from the pouch which does not depend on the provision of a belt attaching ring and waist belt.
According to the invention, the flange on the outer coupling ring includes a stiffening member made of a material stiffer than that forming the outer coupling ring and disposed in a recess formed in the outwardly directed flange of the outer ring, said recess being open at the opposite surface to the surface attached to the pouch whereby said stiffening member acts to restrain the outer coupling ring from expanding away from the inner coupling ring when the two parts of the coupling ring are engaged in use.
In one embodiment, the flange is of channel cross-section with the stiffening member located in the channel. The stiffening member may be secured in position by any suitable means of an adhesive, by heat sealing or making it a snap fit in the recess or channel.
The radially outer surface of the inner ring and the radially inner surface of the lip on the outer ring may be tapered in a complementary fashion such as to assist the outer ring being fitted over the inner ring. The lip on the outer ring may be wedge-shaped in cross section, with the narrower end of the wedge attached to the flange by a web or neck portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through part of an inner coupling ring according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through part of an outer coupling ring intended to engage with the inner ring shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an ostomy pouch having the outer coupling ring shown in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a plan view of an abdominal pad having the inner coupling ring shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODES OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the inner ring 1a of an ostomy coupling has an outwardly directed peripheral flange 2 at one end, with an attachment surface 3 for attaching the inner ring about the aperture in an abdominal pad 3a of a ty
REFERENCES:
patent: 3331370 (1967-07-01), Notley, Sr.
patent: 3908658 (1975-09-01), Marsan
patent: 4610677 (1986-09-01), Mohiuddin
patent: 5167651 (1992-12-01), Leise, Jr. et al.
Clarke Robert A.
Salt & Son Limited
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