Ostomy Appliance Guard

• US 20140148771A1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Donna E. Luce
• Original Assignee: Donna E. Luce
• Inventors: Luce, Donna E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,258,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/445 Colostomy, ileostomy or urethrostomy devices A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/448 Means for attaching bag to seal ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/449 Body securing means, e.g. belts, garments

Abstract

An guard system that aids ostomy pouching systems in preventing the leakage of waste material, guards the user'"'"'s stoma from blunt force trauma, aids in stabilizing the peristomal region, and helps the user'"'"'s stoma to protrude is disclosed. The guard system comprises a substantially rigid body having an annular base ring and a cupped area extending generally outwardly from the annular base ring. The cupped area has a top portion and a bottom portion, and the bottom portion and the annular base ring together define an opening dimensioned to permit a waste collection bag employed by the user to be inserted therethrough during use. The guard further may comprise a connecting means to attach to a belt. The guard system may further comprise an adapter that allows the guard to be used in conjunction with a variety of faceplate flange sizes of user'"'"'s ostomy appliance and provides other beneficial functions.

Claims

1. A guard system for a user'"'"'s ostomy appliance, which appliance has an adhesive body attachment means and a waste-collection bag, said guard system comprising a guard having a substantially rigid body having an annular base ring and a cupped area extending generally outwardly from said annular base ring, said cupped area having a top portion and a bottom portion, said bottom portion and said annular base ring together defining an opening dimensioned to permit a waste collection bag employed by the user to be inserted therethrough during use, said guard further comprising a connecting means.

2. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said guard'"'"'s cupped area has an interior surface and an exterior surface and wherein a central axis extends from said top portion to said bottom portion, and wherein said connecting means are two or more slots defined in said cupped area extending from said interior surface to said exterior surface, said slots adapted to receive a securing strap therethrough.

3. The guard system of claim 2, wherein said securing strap is a belt.

4. The guard system of claim 2, wherein said connecting means are a fastening means part secured to said exterior surface of said cupped area, said fastening means adapted to secure to a complementary fastening means part located on a securing strap.

5. The guard system of claim 4, wherein said fastening means are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, snaps, adhesives and rivets.

6. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said guard'"'"'s annular base ring has a body side surface and an outer surface, and wherein said connecting means are located on said body side surface.

7. The guard system of claim 6, wherein said connecting means is an adhesive.

8. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said annular base ring and said cupped area are integral and made from the same material.

9. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said annular base ring and said cupped area are made of different materials and are secured together.

10. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said guard is made from a rigid material selected from metals, polymers, and fiber-reinforced polymers.

11. The guard system of claim 10, wherein said guard is made from a non-toxic metal.

12. The guard system of claim 11, wherein said metal is stainless steel.

13. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said annular base ring has an inner circumference and an outer circumference, and said cupped area extends outwardly from said inner circumference, whereby said outer circumference is fully exposed during use.

14. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said annular base ring has an inner circumference and an outer circumference, and said cupped area extends outwardly from said outer circumference.

15. The guard system of claim 12, wherein said annular base ring further comprises an edging secured to said outer circumference.

16. The guard system of claim 13, wherein said annular base ring further comprises an edging secured to said inner circumference.

17. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said annular base ring is adapted to be worn adjacent an outer film layer of a waste collection bag in an area adjacent the adhesive attachment means of the ostomy appliance, radially outwardly from the stoma of a user.

18. The guard system of claim 15, wherein the user'"'"'s ostomy appliance is a two-piece ostomy appliance, and said annular base ring is adapted to be worn adjacent an outer film layer of a waste collection bag, whereby, in use, the film of the bag is trapped between said annular base ring and the adhesive attachment means of the ostomy appliance radially outwardly from the coupled flange of the adhesive attachment means and the waste collection bag.

19. The guard system of claim 15, wherein the user'"'"'s ostomy appliance is a one-piece ostomy appliance and said annular base ring is adapted to be worn adjacent an outer film of a waste collection bag so that, in use, the film of the bag is trapped between said annular base ring and the adhesive attachment means of the ostomy appliance.

20. The guard system of claim 15, wherein the user'"'"'s ostomy appliance is a one-piece ostomy appliance and said annular base ring is adapted to be worn directly atop the adhesive attachment means of a waste collection bag.

21. The guard system of claim 1, further comprising a belt secured to said attachment means, said belt having adjustment means so that said guard is pressed against the waste collection bag adjacent the adhesive attachment means of the ostomy appliance of the wearer during use.

22. The guard system of claim 1, further comprising a belt secured to said attachment means, said belt having adjustment means so that said guard is pressed against the adhesive attachment means of the ostomy appliance of the wearer during use and said collection bag is tucked into said cupped area.

23. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said cupped area is geometrically a symmetrical dome with two axes of symmetry.

24. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said cupped area is geometrically a dome with one axis of symmetry.

25. The guard system of claim 1, wherein said cupped area is geometrically a portion of a dome, said dome having a parabolic-shaped edge defining said opening.

26. The guard system of claim 1, further comprising an adapter, said adapter comprising an integral support wall having a faceplate side and a pouch side and further defining a centrally located aperture, a sloping section between integral support wall and a guard-receiving channel, and a lip extending from the edge of said guard-receiving channel, said guard-receiving channel attaching to said guard annular base ring.

27. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said integral support wall has an adhesive means adapted to attach to a flange base of a user'"'"'s appliance.

28. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said lip further comprises one or more integral retaining ribs, wherein said integral retaining ribs are placed in contact with said annular base ring of guard in use.

29. The guard system of claim 26, wherein, said centrally located aperture has a diameter greater than that of the pouch coupling member of a user'"'"'s preferred appliance during use, enabling said guard to maintain its position proximate a user'"'"'s stoma radially outwardly from said pouch coupling member.

30. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said centrally located aperture of said adapter has a rolled edge.

31. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said centrally located aperture of said adapter has a flat edge.

32. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said adapter further comprises protrusions extending from said guard-receiving channel.

33. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said adapter further defines protrusions extending from said integral support wall on said faceplate side.

34. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said adapter defines apertures and further comprises a flexible material extending through said apertures to form flexible protrusions.

35. The guard system of claim 26, wherein said sloping section has a slope sufficient to form a temporary reservoir to receive effluent, formed by said sloping section and sealed by said guard receiving channel.