SEAL FOR AN OSTOMY APPLIANCE

• US 20100069859A1
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Convatec Incorporated (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Convatec Incorporated (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Inventors: Weig, Bret
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/335
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0027 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/445 Colostomy, ileostomy or urethrostomy devices A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/451 Genital or anal receptacles A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence ; other body securing means A61F5/4408; devices for taking faeces samples A61B10/0038; devices for taking urine samples A61B10/007

Abstract

An ostomy appliance is disclosed with an inflatable seal for sealing against the stoma. The inflatable seal has a first inflatable chamber portion for fitting inside the stoma to seal against the internal tissue. The inflatable seal also has a second inflatable chamber portion for sealing externally against the stoma and peristomal skin. In one embodiment, a tube extends through the inflatable seal to provide a communication passage for discharge of body waste without removing the inflatable seal. The tube floats with respect to an adhesive mounting member to allow a waist between the first and second inflatable chamber portions to self-locate in the stoma.

Claims

1. An ostomy appliance comprising an inflatable seal for forming a seal at a stoma, the inflatable seal comprising:

a first inflatable chamber portion for insertion into the stoma for forming an internal seal; and

a second inflatable chamber portion for forming an external seal with respect to the stoma.

2. The ostomy appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber portion is configured to form an external seal against at least one of:

the external stoma tissue; and

peristomal skin.

3. The ostomy appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a waist defined between the first and second chamber portions, the waist defining a portion narrower than both the first and second chamber portions, the waist is configured, in use, to seat at the narrowest part of the stoma.

4. The ostomy appliance in claim 1, wherein there is a more elastic portion of at least one of the first and second chamber portions where the extension of the elastic portion acts to maintain pressure within at least one of the first and second chamber portions.

5. The ostomy appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first and second chamber portions are cuff-shaped, the appliance further comprising a discharge passage extending through the first and second chamber portions.

6. The ostomy appliance according to claim 5, wherein the discharge passage is defined at least partly by a support coupled to at least one of the first and second chamber portions and having a stiffness greater than the first and second chamber portions.

7. The ostomy appliance according to claim 5, wherein the discharge passage is defined at least partly by an inflatable support coupled to at least one of the first and second chamber portions, the inflatable support is defined as at least one structurally inflatable column.

8. The ostomy appliance according to claim 6, wherein the first and second chamber portions are mutually coupled at the support.

9. The ostomy appliance according to claim 6 wherein the first and second chamber portions are defined at least partly by a membrane that is sealed to the support at one or more positions.

10. The ostomy appliance according to claim 9, wherein the first inflatable chamber has sufficient material so when inflated the internal inflatable chamber forms a closure in front of the distal end of the support.

11. The ostomy appliance according to claim 10, wherein the closure is opened to discharge waste by partially deflating and/or reducing the pressure within the device but retains enough pressure to maintain the device in place, then reclosed.

12. The ostomy appliance according to claim 11, wherein the closure is opened by the insertion of an object that provides a passageway and recloses by removal of the object.

13. The ostomy appliance according to claim 8, wherein said one or more positions define a plurality of striations and the plurality of striations and structurally inflatable columns perform any combination of the following functions:

communication passages between chambers;

a cushion against the inner stoma wall;

fluid flow restrictors providing a damping effect between chambers;

reduce the contact friction at the inner stoma wall;

provide pathways for flatus escape.

14. The ostomy appliance according to claim 6, wherein the support has a shape selected from:

generally tubular;

generally hollow T-shape;

generally planar with an aperture.

15. The ostomy appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first and second chamber portions are inflatable in common.

16. The ostomy appliance according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second chamber portions has a respective inflated shape selected from one or more of:

rounded;

cuff;

bulbous;

doughnut;

flared;

trumpet;

skirt; and

umbrella.

17. The ostomy appliance according to claim 1, wherein one of the chamber portions is larger in maximum diameter than the other.

18. The ostomy appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive member carrying a skin-friendly adhesive, the adhesive member having an aperture in which the inflatable seal is located.

19. The ostomy appliance according to claim 18, wherein the inflatable seal is configured, in use, to fill the free area of the aperture in the adhesive member.

20. The ostomy appliance according to claim 18, further comprising a mounting portion for mounting a body waste collecting or managing device, the mounting portion being supported by the adhesive member.

21. The ostomy appliances in claims 15, wherein there is a more elastic portion of at least one of the first and second chamber portions where the extension of the elastic portion allows volumetric changes to occur between the chambers.

22. An ostomy appliance comprising:

an adhesive member for attaching to the skin, the adhesive member having an aperture larger than a stoma for fitting around a stoma without contacting the stoma directly; and

an inflatable seal received in said aperture, said inflatable seal comprising a support and at least one inflatable chamber portion mounted on the support,

wherein, the inflatable chamber portion provides a floating suspension of the support relative to the adhesive member, and the support provides a backbone for the inflatable chamber portion.

23. The ostomy appliance according to claim 22, wherein the at least one inflatable chamber portion comprises a first inflatable chamber portion for fitting inside the stoma for sealing internally in the stoma, and a second inflatable chamber portion for sealing externally of the stoma.

24. The ostomy appliance according to claim 23, further comprising a waist between the first and second chamber portions, wherein, in use, the support floats to enable the waist to locate at the stoma mouth.

25. An ostomy appliance comprising:

an adhesive member for attaching to the skin, the adhesive member having an aperture larger than a stoma for fitting around a stoma without contacting the stoma directly; and

an inflatable seal located in the aperture and including at least an external inflatable chamber portion for sealing against the external surface of the stoma without directly occluding the stoma.

26. The ostomy appliance according to claim 25, further comprising a tubular member extending at least partly through said external inflatable chamber portion, said tubular member being configured for partial insertion into the stoma to define a communication passage for body waste through said external inflatable chamber portion.

27. The ostomy appliance according to claim 26, wherein said external inflatable chamber portion is configured to provide a seal between the tubular member and the adhesive member.

28. An ostomy appliance including a stoma extender for intimate engagement with a stoma, the stoma extender comprising:

a tubular discharge channel having a first end for insertion into a stoma for providing a discharge path from the first end within the stoma to a second end externally of the stoma;

a first inflatable chamber portion coupled to the discharge channel and configured for insertion into the stoma for diverting effluent into the discharge channel of the stoma extender; and

a second inflatable chamber portion for fitting against tissue externally of the stoma.

29. The ostomy appliance of claim 28, wherein in use the second end of the discharge channel projects above the stoma, whereby the stoma extender extends the discharge path compared to the stoma alone.

30. The ostomy appliance of claim 28, further comprising a tubular stem defining at least partly the discharge channel, the tubular stem including a flared shape at least one end.