Manual venting and cutting apparatus for ostomy pouches

• US 5,683,372 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert A. Colacello, Michael A. Colacello
• Original Assignee: Albert A. Colacello, Michael A. Colacello
• Inventors: Colacello, Michael A., Colacello, Albert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUHL, DENNIS WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/636,100
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 604/332-335, 604/277
• US Class Current: 604/333
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/4415 venting by manual operation
• 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 manual gas venting and cutting apparatus for use in cutting an opening in and manually venting gas from the interior of a conventional unvented ostomy collection pouch includes a valve assembly having an open position, which permits gas to pass therethrough and a closed position, for preventing gas to pass therethrough. The valve assembly has an input portion for communicating with the interior of the ostomy collection pouch and an output portion for communicating with the atmosphere and a mounting device for mounting the valve assembly to a selected portion of the ostomy collection pouch. The mounting device releasably contains therein a portion of the valve assembly so as to position the input portion thereof proximate the interior of the ostomy collection pouch, and the output portion of the valve assembly proximate to the atmosphere. Also included is a cutting device for providing a geometrically-shaped opening through the ostomy collection pouch, which provides access to the interior thereof utilizing the valve mounting device which, after the opening has been made, is replaced by the valve assembly.

Claims

1. A method of providing a manually operable venting means for an ostomy collection pouch comprising the steps of:

A. providing an ostomy collection pouch having an interior;

B. providing a valve assembly;

C. providing means for removably retaining said valve assembly disposed within said interior of said pouch;

D. providing cutting means and cutting a geometrically-shaped opening through said ostomy collection pouch to said interior of said ostomy collection pouch utilizing said cutting means and said means for removably retaining said valve assembly;

E. removing said cutting means from said means for removably retaining said valve assembly;

F. inserting said valve assembly through said geometrically-shaped opening; and

G. removably affixing said manually operable valve assembly within said removable retaining means.

2. The method of providing a manually operable venting means for an ostomy collection pouch according to claim 1 wherein said valve assembly is normally closed and manually operable to permit the ostomy collection pouch to vent into the atmosphere.

3. The method of providing a manually operable venting means for an ostomy collection pouch according to claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is threaded into said removable retaining means.

4. The method of providing a manually operable venting means for an ostomy collection pouch according to claim 1, wherein said valve assembly may be readily disassembled for cleaning.

5. A method of providing a manual venting means for an ostomy collection pouch comprising the steps of:

A. providing an ostomy collection pouch having an interior;

B. providing a combined manually operable valve assembly and piercing means for cutting an opening in said ostomy collection pouch;

C. providing means for removably retaining said combined manually operable valve assembly and piercing means disposed within said interior of said pouch;

D. creating an opening through said ostomy collection pouch to said interior of said ostomy collection pouch by utilizing said piercing means;

E. inserting a portion of said combined manually operable valve assembly and piercing means through said opening; and

F. removably affixing said combined manually operable valve assembly and piercing means within said removable retaining means.

6. The method of providing a manually operable venting means for an ostomy collection pouch according to claim 5 wherein said combined manually operable valve assembly and piercing means is normally closed and manually operable to permit the ostomy collection pouch to vent into the atmosphere.

7. The method of providing a manually operable venting means for an ostomy collection pouch according to claim 5, wherein said combined manually operable valve assembly and piercing means is threaded into said removable retaining means.

8. The method of providing a manually operable venting means for an ostomy collection pouch according to claim 5, wherein said combined manually operable valve assembly and piercing means may be readily disassembled for cleaning.