FR2870112A1 - Digestive system waste collection pocket for human body, has drain pipe closure system constituted of folds which are perpendicular to each other, where drain pipe has bends at specific angle - Google Patents

Abstract

The pocket has a drain pipe closure system constituted of folds (331, 332), each cutting the section of a drain pipe (330). The system permits folding of the pocket from an emptying position to a utilization position. The folds of the system are in longitudinal and lateral directions of a collection bag and are perpendicular to each other. The drain pipe has bends at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

Description

The invention relates to pockets for the collection of residues from the digestive system

  of a human body. More specifically, the invention relates to collection bags such that the emptying device of the bag consists of simple elements, while allowing a good control of the flow of residues

  when using the drain device.

  The limitation of the volume of the pockets for technical reasons and comfort requires a frequent emptying and thus a simple and practical use of the emptying device. Collection bags are already known comprising an easily usable emptying device, in particular pockets comprising a collapsible emptying device.

  For example, WO-A-99/25278 discloses pockets for collecting residues from the digestive system of a human body, comprising: - a collection bag comprising two films joined at their edges, the bag extending in a plane of the bag in a main longitudinal direction substantially corresponding to the vertical when the bag is used, and a secondary lateral direction substantially horizontal, one of the films being provided with an inlet opening residues in the bag, - elements connectors for connecting the bag to an orifice of the human body, which surround the inlet opening of the residues in the bag, - a drain duct formed by two end portions of the films joined at their two opposite edges, extending between an inlet opening of residues in the drain channel at the edge of the lower part of the pocket and a distal outlet opening of the residues at the other end of the conduit, and - a sys closure system consisting of several plies each cutting the entire section of the duct and a bending holding device, intended to allow the folding of the collection bag from a drain position in which the residues can be drained by gravity out of the pocket through the drain duct, to a position of use closed pocket in which the drain duct is kept folded on the bag and the bag is sealed.

  The main problem concerning such collection pockets whose closure system consists solely of folds and means for maintaining the folding is the control of the flow of residues during emptying.

  A first aspect of this problem is that of the stability of the distal opening of the emptying duct at the time of the arrival of residues at the distal opening when opening by unfolding the closing system of the bag. Indeed, in order to limit the risk of contamination or projection related to movements of the emptying duct at the beginning of the emptying, the emptying duct opening by unfolding movements, it is preferable on the one hand that there exists an offset between the moment when the last unfolding movement takes place and the moment when the residues start to leave the pocket reaching the distal end of the emptying duct, and secondly, that the last movement of the distal end of the duct during the last unfolding movement has a limited amplitude.

  It is therefore preferable, on the one hand, that the unfolded fold last is located as far as possible from the distal end of the conduit, and secondly, that the opening located at the distal end of the conduit undergoes during from this unfolding a movement as small as possible.

  A second aspect of this problem concerns the control of the flow velocity of the contents of the bag in the drain duct, and therefore by its distal opening, during emptying. This lack of control can result in undesirable effects due to an excessive exit velocity at the distal end, such as projections or soiling, which is very disadvantageous when emptying is frequent.

  In WO-A-99/25278, as in other known devices, the drain pipe described is substantially parallel to the substantially vertical main longitudinal direction of the pocket. To obtain an effective seal at the folds of such a conduit, while having a simple closure system, it is preferable that the folds of the conduit are substantially perpendicular to the direction of the conduit. Therefore, to avoid having to fold down almost the entire drain line when unfolding the last sealed fold of the closing system of the bag at the opening thereof, and therefore to avoid printing a movement of too much amplitude from bottom to top at the distal opening of the conduit while being obliged to hold it with the risk of contamination that entails, it is necessary to unfold at the same time two sealed folds of the closure system.

  This last operation is difficult to carry out, and is solved in the prior art, for example in document WO-03/096941, by the addition of an additional device for retaining and guiding a portion of the emptying duct. which allows the simultaneous unfolding of two sealed pleats located at a distance from the distal end. This device however requires the addition of elements having a cost, and does not solve the aspect of the problem related to the flow rate of the residues after opening the conduit.

  In GB-2,388,322, the first aspect of the problem concerning the control of the flow of residues upon opening of the emptying device, is partially solved by the addition near the distal end of the drain conduit of a clip-type closing element, which closes the pocket by pinching, and which can be opened or closed at will. When unfolding the drain pipe, the conduit is closed by the clip at its end, and there is no risk of projection. However, this clip is either fully open or fully closed, so the problem with the flow rate of the tailings is not solved. In addition, the clip is located very close to the distal end of the conduit, and its opening must be perfectly controlled by the user of the pocket. Finally, this device requires the addition of a clip having a cost, and the permanent presence on the bag of a rigid element such as a clip in the folded position of the drain duct may in the long run be uncomfortable for the wearer from the pocket.

  In the patent WO-03/065944, the first aspect of the problem of the control of the flow of residues during the opening of the emptying device is solved by the addition near the distal end of the emptying duct of a substantially planar, flexible ring-type closure element, which by default closes the pocket by pinching, which can not be opened but which can be deformed in a controlled manner so as to generate an opening of variable extent. When unfolding the drain duct, the duct is closed at its end, and there is therefore reduced risk of projection. In addition, the control of the opening makes it possible to reduce the problem related to the flow velocity. Nevertheless, this device requires the addition of a clip having a cost. On the other hand, the permanent presence on the bag of a rigid element such as a clip in the folded position of the drain duct may in the long run be uncomfortable for the wearer of the pocket, and may cause the piercing of the duct into case of shock or friction.

  The invention relates to collection bags whose closure system comprises only folds and simple means for holding the fold, such that, if the direction of a fold is defined as the direction in the plane of the bag of the fold line of this fold, the fold of the closure system used last during the opening of the drain conduit is substantially parallel to the substantially longitudinal main longitudinal direction of the pocket and located at a distance from the distal end of the pocket. Downstream of the fold may be a portion of the direction drain pipe substantially parallel to the substantially vertical main longitudinal direction of the pocket. As a result, the movement of the distal end of the emptying duct during the last unfolding movement of the duct, corresponding to the unfolding of the fold of the closure system referred to as the first fold, is minimized, that is to say at a simple rotational movement of 180 about a substantially vertical axis. In addition, this fold being at a distance from the distal end of the duct, there is a latency time between the moment when the last unfolding movement takes place and the moment when the residues reach the distal end of the emptying duct. The first aspect of the problem is therefore solved satisfactorily. On the other hand, so that the conduit can be folded over the pocket, the closure system can not comprise only substantially vertical folds, but must also comprise at least a second substantially horizontal fold, the simplest device being made when the first and second folds mentioned are substantially perpendicular.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the direction of at least a first fold of the closure system is substantially in the longitudinal direction of the bag, the direction of at least one other fold of the closure system is substantially in the lateral direction of the bag, and the directions of these two folds are substantially perpendicular, that is to say that the deviation of the direction of the first fold relative to the longitudinal direction, the deviation of the direction of the other fold relative to the lateral direction, and the perpendicularity deviation of the directions of these two folds are each at most 30.

  In addition, so that the fold of the closure system used last when opening the drain direction substantially parallel to the substantially longitudinal main longitudinal direction of the pocket allows a tight clamping of the drain pipe, the direction of the section the duct on which the fold is located can not be vertical. The distal portion of the drain duct being substantially parallel to the substantially vertical main longitudinal direction of the pocket, this implies that the drain duct must comprise at least a curved portion. These curved portions of the drain duct induce pressure losses, which make it possible to limit the flow velocity of the residues in the drain duct, and thus to at least partially solve the second aspect of the problem of controlling the flow of residues during of the drain.

  More specifically, it is possible to define an average plot of the drain duct as being the location of the midpoints of the line segments connecting each point of each edge of the duct to the point closest to the other edge of the duct. A portion of the duct corresponding to a portion of the average duct line is defined as a portion of the duct. An elongation of the conduit is defined as a section whose corresponding portion of the average path is curved, with a radius of curvature of constant sign. An angle of a bend of the duct is defined as the angle made by the two directions perpendicular to the average path of the duct at the two ends of the elbow.

  In a preferred configuration of the invention, the average path of the drain conduit is not rectilinear, so that the conduit defines at least one corner bend greater than 60.

  So that the folds of a preferred collection pocket whose direction of the fold line of at least a first fold of the closure system is substantially in the longitudinal direction of the bag, the direction of the fold line from to unless another fold of the closure system is substantially in the lateral direction of the bag, and whose fold line directions of these two folds are substantially perpendicular, are sealed, it is preferable that the folds make an angle of at least 45 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the collection bag 1 o is characterized in that the direction of the axis of the inlet opening of the drain duct is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal direction of the pocket, and the drain conduit comprises at least two elbows such that the sum of the angles of the bends of the conduit is substantially 180.

  In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the collection bag is characterized in that the direction of the axis of the proximal inlet opening of the drain conduit is substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction of the bag and the drain pipe has a single angle bend substantially equal to 90.

  The closure system of the conduit must include at least one folding holding device so that the pocket remains closed. A number of configurations are possible, which keep the duct in the folded position, and which are each best suited to a shape of the course of the drain duct.

  In a preferred configuration of the invention, the closure system comprises a single folding holding device comprising two cooperating parts, at least one of which is disposed on the conduit, and the two cooperating parts of the holding device can not be in cooperation only when the first fold is formed before the second.

  In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure system comprises two folding holding devices each comprising two cooperating parts, at least one of which is disposed on the conduit, and the two cooperating parts of the first-fold holding device. can only be put in cooperation before the formation of the other fold.

  In a preferred configuration of the invention, one of the cooperating portions of a bending holding device is disposed on the bag of the bag.

  Insofar as the emptying duct is not made of rigid material and in order to limit the deformations of the duct during the emptying, the addition of at least one structural reinforcement of the duct is between several sections of the duct, or between At least one section of the duct and the pocket is advantageous. In a variant of the invention, the pocket comprises at least one structural reinforcement of the drain duct between several sections of the duct.

  In another variant, the collection bag comprises at least one structural reinforcement of the duct between at least one section of the duct and the bag of the pocket.

  Preferably, at least one reinforcement consists of two portions of film joined on at least a portion of their surface.

  The detailed description of the invention that follows refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the collection bag, the drain duct of which is provided with two bends at 90, FIG. 2 being a partial view of the pocket, in the fully folded state of the drain pipe, - Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the collection bag of the invention such that the drain pipe has a single bend , of substantially 90, with an inlet opening of the drain duct whose axis is substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction of the pocket, - Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the collection bag of the invention. such that the drain duct in the unfolded state is provided with two bends at about 45 and a bend at about 90, and such that the pocket is provided with a reinforcement connecting two sections of the duct between them, FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment of the FIG. 4 in an intermediate state (the emptying duct is folded around its first fold); FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment of the collection bag of FIG. 4 in a state such that the emptying duct is folded around the first fold of the steering closure system substantially parallel to the main longitudinal direction of the pocket, and such that the drain pipe is folded around a second fold of the steering lock system substantially parallel to the lateral direction of the pocket, FIG. 7 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the closure system of the pocket completely folded (position of use of the pocket).

  Figures 1 and 2 show a first preferred embodiment of the collection bag 100 and provided with a drain line. The bag 100 comprises two thin plastic films 3, 5 joined together (in particular by welding) along their edge 7, except at the location of an outlet opening 90 of the drain duct 130 used for the emptying the contents of the pocket. The plastics material used is preferably of the thermoplastic type. Many plastics used in the manufacture of these films, for example polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyvinylidene chlorides, etc., are known. These materials are usable for all the pockets illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7.

  The bag 100 is divided into two main parts: a portion forming a collection bag 110 and a portion forming the collapsible drain conduit 130. In its open state, with the drain duct unfolded as shown in FIG. 1, the pocket 100 extends longitudinally along a main longitudinal direction 400. In one of the films (for example the film 3) of the bag 110 is arranged an opening 15 adapted to come opposite an orifice 19 of the human body opening 3o in the bag. Connection members 17 surround the inlet opening 15 to connect the bag to the port 19 of the human body. These connection elements 17 comprise for example an adhesive that can be used several times. Numerous connection elements are already known, for example as described in EP-A-790 048 (columns 2 to 5). These elements can be used with all the variants of FIGS. 1 to 7.

  The drain duct 130 is located at a distance from the opening 15 and extends between a proximal end 130a where it is connected to the bag 110 and where is its inlet opening, and a distal end 130b where its opening is located 90. This drain duct 130 extends between the two films 3 and 5. Its average layout 105 draws a "Z" with successively, starting from the proximal end of the duct 130a, a first section of the duct 230a. extending in the direction of the axis 400 and ending in a bend 90, a second section 230b substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction and ending in a second bend 90, and a third straight section 230c direction substantially parallel to the direction of the axis 400.

  The bag 110 and the drain portion 130 form a single one-piece assembly. As illustrated, the bag 100 is further provided with a closure system having a plurality of pleats.

  After closure of the first ply 141 substantially parallel to the axis 400, the folded duct is maintained with the aid of a reusable folding retaining device, with two cooperating parts and of any known type, for example a fastening device with loops and hooks, glued surfaces, staples, snaps, etc. In FIG. 1, a folding holding device 143 fixed on the draining duct is intended to hold the shutter 140 comprising the end section 230c and the intermediate section 230b of the duct 130 folded over a part of the section 230a.

  In this folded position according to the first ply 141, the duct 130 is crushed and sealed at the fold 141 of direction substantially parallel to the axis 400. Unfolding or folding is effected by rotation of 180 of a duct section substantially vertical around a line whose direction is substantially parallel to the vertical in use condition, and effectively reduces to a minimum the amplitude of the last unfolding movement, and therefore to limit any projections or smears. Several successive folds of direction substantially parallel to the secondary transverse direction of the pocket and a second folding holding device complete the closure system. To continue to close the bag 100, the user bends according to the fold 151 the flap 150 adjacent to the distal end 130b of the drain duct.

  The user then only has to fold the duct in successive folds of direction substantially parallel to the secondary transverse direction of the pocket, thus folding the duct to the collection bag 110, to the position of FIG. 2. In the example of Figure 1, the closure system comprises a third fold 153, and a fourth fold 145. The last folding movement during closing is performed according to the last fold 145 located at the proximal end 130a, at the junction between the collection bag 110 and the drain duct 130. A folding holding device, of a type similar to that of the first fold, a cooperating portion 147a is fixed on the film 3 of the pocket and whose second cooperating portion 147b appears in dashed lines in FIG. 2, makes it possible to keep the assembly of the emptying duct in a folded position on the pocket.

  Numerous variations are possible, with a number of folds of the steering closure system substantially parallel to the secondary transverse direction of the pocket of between 2 and 10, and with a number of folds of the steering closure system substantially parallel to the direction. longitudinal axis of the pocket between 1 and 3.

  Another variant is possible with the outlet 90 formed laterally through one of the films 3, 5, the distal end 130b of the emptying duct 130 then being sealed.

  According to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the emptying duct 130 of the bag 200 comprises a single bend whose angle is substantially 90, and an inlet opening of the drain duct whose axis is substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction of the pocket. The collection bag and the connecting elements are as described in the first embodiment.

  The pocket comprises a structural reinforcement 220 between the drain duct and the bag, consisting of portions of the films 3 and 5 joined over their entire surface, allowing the duct to keep a relatively constant shape during emptying.

  The closure system comprises a first ply 245 located substantially on the inlet opening of the drain duct and whose direction is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal direction of the pocket 400, and several plies whose direction is substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction of the pocket.

  When closing, the entire drain duct 230 is rotated 180 about the fold 245, allowing the crushing of the duct at the inlet opening of the drain duct. The user then only has to fold the drain duct according to the folds 250, 251 of the closure system, all substantially parallel to the secondary transverse direction of the pocket, to the collection bag 210. In this folded position of the emptying duct, the bag is kept closed by the folding holding devices 243, 244, the characteristics of which have been described for the first embodiment of the invention.

  According to variants of this second embodiment, the number of folds of the steering closure system substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction of the pocket is between 2 and 10, and the number of folds of the substantially parallel steering closure system. at the main longitudinal direction of the pocket is between 1 and 3.

  According to other variants of this embodiment, the closure system comprises additional devices for maintaining the folding.

  According to a third preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the average layout of the emptying duct 330 is in a zigzag pattern and the duct has three elbows with angles of values close to 45 at its inlet end 330a, 90 at an intermediate flare 330b (90 direction change angle), and 45 near its distal end 13b, at 330c.

  A structural reinforcement 340 joining several sections of the drain duct is constituted by two corresponding portions of the films 3, 5 joined on their surface and connected to the duct along the curvilinear line 500, and allows the duct to better retain its shape during the drain.

  In FIGS. 4 to 6, it may be noted that the inlet opening 330a of the duct and the distal outlet opening 900 of the duct are arranged along the same axis along the main direction of elongation of the axis 400 of the duct. 200 pocket, the opening 900 for emptying in the direction of the axis 400.

  In this embodiment, the entire collection bag is always made of two plastic films welded at their edges (except at the location of the distal opening 900). The closure system is such that all the folds of the closure system comprises at least a first fold 331 and a second fold 332 extending in substantially perpendicular directions (see Figure 4 where the pocket is shown in the empty configuration) . Along the duct 330, two flaps 335, 337 are folded respectively according to the first and second plies. In another configuration of this embodiment, the outlet opening 900 of the drain duct may be not "axial" but "lateral", that is to say situated on one side of the drain duct.

  As illustrated, the first folding device of the closure system defines a first pair of contact surfaces 335a, 335b (the latter surface being in two parts as shown in FIG. 4) constituted by an area of only one of the films ( of the movie 3 in the example). These contact surfaces are brought into folded contact along the fold 331 which extends across the drain conduit 330. It should be noted that in this embodiment (and unlike what happens at the location of the fold 141 in Figure 1 of the first embodiment), the folding of the flap 335a induces a crushing of the drain conduit 330 in two successive locations (marked areas 331a and 331b of the fold 331). When opening the pocket, the unfolding movement of the first fold 331 of the closure system induces no movement of the distal outlet opening of the bag drain duct, which considerably limits the risk of residue projections. when opening the bag. The closure system defines a second pair of contact surfaces consisting of two parts of films of the pocket. Preferably, these two contact surfaces are constituted by one of the film zone 337a 3 belonging to the shutter 337, and the other by the zone 337b (hatched in FIG. 5) of the film 5. The surfaces 337a, 337b of the second pair of surfaces are brought into folded contact in fold 332, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 6.

  The steps of folding the pocket 200 between its fully open position of Figure 4 and its use position of Figure 7, with its drain conduit 330 fully folded and folded against a portion of the collection bag 311, without encroaching on the inlet orifice 350 and its adjacent connection elements 370 are illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7. Since the fully open state of the pocket of FIG. 4, the flap 335 is folded first around the fold 331. to bring the zones335a and 335b into contact. The conduit 330 is thus crushed at two parts of the fold 331 referenced 331a and 331b, thus preventing the flow in two different places of the sinuous conduit (see FIG. 5). Then, the second flap 337 is folded around the fold 332 to bring the zones 337a, 337b into contact, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this position of FIG. 6, other complementary folds in transverse direction folds (Preferably perpendicular) to the direction of the axis 400 can reduce the size of the pocket in the end position of use. Three of these folds are shown in phantom in Figure 6, the last 380 being located substantially at the inlet opening of the conduit 330a.

  Folding retainers 390 of a type described for the first embodiment allow the bag to be held in the use position with the drain line folded.

  Numerous variations of this embodiment are possible, such that the number of folds of direction substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction of the pocket varies between 2 and 10.

  In another variant of the third embodiment, the pocket comprises at least one additional device for maintaining the folding.

  In another variant of the third embodiment, at least one structural reinforcement is placed between the drain duct and the pocket.

  Of course, various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art bag collection collapsible drain duct and sinuous which have just been described by way of non-limiting examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

claims   A human body digestive tract collection bag, comprising: a collection bag (311) comprising two films (3,5) joined at their edges, the bag extending in a plane of the bag following a main longitudinal direction corresponding substantially vertically when the pocket is used, and a secondary lateral direction substantially horizontal, one of the films being provided with an inlet opening residues in the bag, at least one connecting element for connecting the pocket to an orifice of the human body, and surrounding the inlet opening of the residues in the bag, a drain conduit (330) formed by two end portions of the joined films in two opposite edges, extending between an inlet opening (330a) for residues in the drain conduit at the edge of the lower portion of the collection bag (311) and a distal outlet opening (900) for residues at the other end of the conduit; direction of the ouve distal outlet rim as well as the distal portion of the unfolded drain duct being oriented downwards, and a closure system consisting of at least two pleats (331, 332) each cutting the entire duct section and at least one bending holding device for enabling the collection bag to be folded from a draining position in which the residues can be drained by gravity out of the bag via the drain line to a closed pocket use position in which the drain duct is kept folded on the bag and the bag is sealed, characterized in that the direction of at least a first fold of the closing system is substantially in the longitudinal direction of the bag, in that the direction at least one other fold of the closure system is substantially in the lateral direction of the bag, and in that the directions of these two folds are substantially perpendicular, that is to say that the deviation of the direction of the first fold with respect to the longitudinal direction, the deviation of the direction the other fold with respect to the lateral direction, and the deviation from the perpendicularity of the directions of these two folds are each at most 30.   2. Collection bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the average path of the drain conduit in the plane of the bag is not rectilinear, so that the conduit has at least one corner bend greater than 60.   3. Collection bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the direction of the axis of the proximal inlet opening of the drain conduit is substantially parallel to the secondary lateral direction of the pocket and the drain conduit comprises a angle bend substantially equal to 90.   4. Collection bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the direction of the axis of the proximal inlet opening of the drain duct is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal direction of the pocket, and the drain duct comprises at least two elbows such that the sum of the angles of the bends of the conduit is substantially 180.   5. Collection bag according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure system comprises a single folding holding device comprising two cooperating parts, at least one of which is arranged on the conduit, and the two parts. cooperating the holding device can be put in cooperation only when the first fold is formed before the second.   6. Collection bag according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure system comprises two folding holding devices each comprising two cooperating parts, at least one of which is arranged on the conduit, and the two cooperating parts of the device which maintains the first fold can be put in cooperation only before the folding of the conduit according to the other fold.   7. Collection bag according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one of the cooperating portions of a folding holding device is disposed on the bag of the bag.   8. Collection bag according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pocket comprises at least one structural reinforcement of the duct between several sections of the duct.   9. Collection bag according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pocket comprises at least one structural reinforcement of the duct between at least one section of the duct and the bag of the pocket.   10. The collection bag according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one reinforcement consists of two portions of films joined on at least a portion of their surface.