VALVE FOR OSTOMY POUCH

• US 20120130329A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hollister Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hollister Incorporated
• Inventors: March, Daniel, Hannan, John F., King, Terence, Goczkowski, Jakub
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/332
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4405 Valves or valve arrangements specially adapted therefor A61F5/441 takes precedence; Fluid inlets or outlets A61F5/4407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/445 Colostomy, ileostomy or urethrostomy devices A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/24 with cylindrical valve members

Abstract

A valve that is sealable to an associated container having an interior fluid storage region is adapted to permit and stop flow of fluid from the fluid storage region. The valve includes a body sealable to the container and a stem mounted to the body having a portion in flow communication with the storage region. The stem is movable relative to the body between an open position to permit flow from the storage region through the valve, and a closed position to stop flow through the valve. The stem has a grasping region spaced from the body that is adapted rotate the stem to move the valve between the open and closed positions. The grasping region has first and second sides. One of the sides has a tactile indicator to provide indication of the position of the valve, the other side is devoid of the tactile indicator.

Claims

1. A valve that is sealable to an associated container having an interior, the valve adapted to permit and stop flow of fluid from the container interior, the valve comprising:

a valve body sealable to the container, the valve body having a stem receiver formed therein, the valve body including a fluid receiving region in communication with the container interior;

a stem mounted to the valve body, the stem having a hollow central portion and a sealed upper portion, the stem positioned in the stem receiving region and adapted for rotation within the stem receiving region, the stem including a stem opening in a portion of a wall thereof, the stem being rotatable between an open position to align the stem opening with the valve body fluid receiving region to permit flow from the fluid storage region through the valve, and a closed position to misalign the stem opening with the valve body fluid receiving region to stop flow through the valve,

the stem having a grasping region spaced from the valve body, the grasping region adapted rotate the stem within the stem receiving region to move the valve between the open and closed positions, the grasping region including a tactile indicator to provide indication of the valve position.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the tactile indication is a raised portion on a side of the grasping region, an opposite side of the grasping region being devoid of a raised region.

3. The valve of claim 2 including an insert portion formed on the grasping region, the insert portion being formed from a material that is different from a material of the stem portion.

4. The valve of claim 3 wherein the insert portion has a higher frictional coefficient than the stem portion.

5. The valve of claim 1 wherein the grasping region includes an enlarged head.

6. The valve of claim 2 wherein the raised portion is formed having a drop-like shape.

7. The valve of claim 1 further including an insert portion formed on the grasping region, the insert portion being formed from a material that is different from a material of the stem portion and wherein the raised portion is formed as part of and integral with the stem portion, and wherein the insert portion surrounds, at least in part, the raised portion.

8. The valve of claim 1 wherein the grasping region includes drainage openings in a bottom surface thereof.

9. The valve of claim 1 including a detent to provide indication of the valve in one or both of the open and closed positions.

10. The valve of claim 1 including a stop to stop rotation of the valve stem beyond the fully closed position.

11. A valve that is sealable to an associated container having an interior, the valve adapted to permit and stop flow of fluid from the container interior, the valve comprising:

a valve body sealable to the container; and

a stem mounted to the valve body having a portion in flow communication with the container interior, the stem movable relative to the valve body between an open position to permit flow from the container interior through the valve, and a closed position to stop flow through the valve, the stem having a grasping region spaced from the valve body, the grasping region adapted rotate the stem to move the valve between the open and closed positions, the grasping region having first and second sides, one of the sides having a tactile indicator to provide indication of the position of the valve, the other of the sides being devoid of the tactile indicator.

12. The valve of claim 11 including an insert portion formed on both the first and second sides of the grasping portion, the insert portion formed from a material that is different from a material of the stem.

13. The valve of claim 11 wherein the grasping portion is formed as a frame in which the insert portion is disposed and wherein the tactile indicator is a raised portion formed integral with the frame.

14. The valve of claim 12 wherein the insert portion is formed from a relatively soft material having a higher frictional coefficient than the stem material.

15. The valve of claim 14 wherein the insert portion is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.

16. The valve of claim 11 and including a cap, the cap being removable from a discharge end of the valve.

17. The valve of claim 16 wherein the cap is tethered to the valve.

18. The valve of claim 16 wherein the cap is formed from the insert portion material.

19. The valve of claim 11 wherein the grasping region includes drainage openings in a bottom surface thereof.

20. The valve of claim 11 including a detent to provide indication of the valve in one or both of the open and closed positions.

21. The valve of claim 11 including a stop to stop rotation of the valve stem beyond the fully closed position.

22. An ostomy pouch, comprising:

a pouch having first and second walls sealed to one another at about their respective peripheries defining an interior fluid storage region, an inlet and an outlet; and

a valve sealed to the first and second walls at about the outlet, the valve adapted to permit and stop flow of fluid from the fluid storage region, the valve having a valve body and a stem mounted to the valve body having a portion in flow communication with the fluid storage region, the stem movable relative to the valve body between an open position to permit flow from the fluid storage region through the valve, and a closed position to stop flow through the valve, the stem having a grasping region spaced from the valve body, the grasping region adapted rotate the stem to move the valve between the open and closed positions, the grasping region having first and second sides, one of the sides having a tactile indicator to provide indication of the position of the valve, the other of the sides being devoid of the tactile indicator.

23. The ostomy pouch of claim 22 including an insert portion formed on both the first and second sides of the grasping portion, the insert portion formed from a material that is different from a material of the stem.

24. The ostomy pouch of claim 23 wherein the grasping portion is formed as a frame in which the insert portion is disposed and wherein the tactile indicator is a raised portion formed integral with the frame.

25. The ostomy pouch of claim 24 wherein the insert portion is formed from a relatively soft material having a higher frictional coefficient than the stem material.

26. The ostomy pouch of claim 25 wherein the insert portion is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.

27. The ostomy pouch of claim 22 wherein the grasping region includes drainage openings in a bottom surface thereof.

28. The ostomy pouch of claim 22 wherein the valve includes a detent to provide indication of the valve in one or both of the open and closed positions.

29. The ostomy pouch of claim 22 wherein the valve includes a stop to stop rotation of the valve stem beyond the fully closed position.