STOMA CLOSURE

• US 20100121291A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Convatec Incorporated (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Convatec Incorporated (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Inventors: Cline, John, Gregory, Christopher, Cucknell, Alan, Cauwood, Pete, Davies, Geraint, Scarfe, Julian
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/333
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4407 Closure means other than valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/441 having venting or deodorant means, e.g. filters ; having antiseptic means, e.g. bacterial barriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/445 Colostomy, ileostomy or urethrostomy devices A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence

Abstract

A stoma closure that includes a conformable portion for conforming to an individual'"'"'s stoma. The conformable portion includes a sack containing particles. The conformable portion may include a gel that may be loose or be at least partly contained in a sack. The conformable portion may include foam. The conformable portion may be configured to permit venting of flatus, while obstructing the passage of liquid/solid stool.

Claims

1. A stoma closure comprising a conformable portion for conforming to an individual'"'"'s stoma, the conformable portion comprising:

a. a flexible chamber; and

b. a plurality of particles contained in the chamber.

2. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible chamber is impermeable to liquid stool.

3. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible chamber is porous.

4. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible chamber comprises a mesh material.

5. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the particles are in a size range of from about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm.

6. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the particles are about the same size as one another.

7. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the particles have generally the same shape as one another.

8. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the particles are of generally different shape from other particles.

9. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the particles are of generally different size from other particles.

10. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is pressurizable.

11. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is depressurizable.

12. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises elastic material.

13. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the particles comprise a malodor counteractant.

14. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the particles are expandable when wet.

15. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the particles have a surface characteristic, or a surface treatment, that is hydrophillic.

16. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the particles have a surface characteristic, or a surface treatment, that is hydrophobic.

17. The stoma closure according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the particles have a surface characteristic or surface treatment that enhances their performance for controlling the release of effluent from a stoma.

18. A stoma closure comprising a conformable portion for conforming to an individual'"'"'s stoma, the conformable portion comprising foam selected from:

visco-elastic foam, elastically deformable foam, and plastically-deformable foam.

19. The stoma closure according to claim 18, wherein the foam is encased in a conformable sack for support and/or modification of airbag surface properties.

20. The stoma closure according to claim 18, wherein the foam comprises at least one internal passage for venting flatus.

21. The stoma closure according to claim 18, wherein the conformable portion comprises a surface portion having a shape feature for facilitating flatus transport around the periphery of the conformable portion.

22. A stoma closure comprising a conformable portion for conforming to an individual'"'"'s stoma, the conformable portion comprising a gel.

23. The stoma closure according to claim 22, wherein the gel is a viscous gel.

24. The stoma closure according to claim 22, wherein the gel has a tracer color.

25. The stoma closure according to claim 22, wherein the gel changes color in the presence of stool.

26. The stoma closure according to claim 22, wherein the gel changes color in the presence of flatus.

27. The stoma closure according to claim 22, wherein the gel comprises at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent;

a detergent, and a malodor counteractant.

28. The stoma closure according to claim 22, wherein the gel comprises property modifying additives for controlling a physical property of the gel.

29. The stoma closure according to claim 28, wherein the additives comprise at least one additive selected from the group consisting of particles and fibers.

30. The stoma closure according to claim 22, wherein the gel is enclosed and supported by conformable sack for support and for modification of surface properties.