GB2157997A - Cutter device - Google Patents

Abstract

A cutter device for forming an aperture in a protective wafer to form a shield for use around a stoma or wound comprises a base plate 1 having an upstanding threaded pin 2. A cutter 4 having a cutting edge 11 is slidable over the pin 2 and is pressed against the base plate 1 by a tightening bar 8 which is screwed down the pin 2. Preferably the device is formed of plastics material. The device is suitable for use by disabled patients in preparing their own shields, avoiding the dangers inherent in using scissors or other sharp implements to cut a wafer by hand. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cutter device This invention relates to cutter devices, and more particularly to a cutter device for forming an aperture in a protective plastics adhesive wafer shield for use around a stoma or wound.

Following surgical procedures such as colostomy and ileostomy and similar operations, a patient's excreta and/or urine is passed via a stoma into a colostomy bag or ileostomy bag, as appropriate. In order to protect the open wound where the stoma protrudes, a shield in the form of a layer or wafer of soft plastics material is attached to the patient, usually by a peelable adhesive, and the stoma protrudes through a preformed aperture of fairly accurate dimension in the shield. Such shields may also be used with other types of wound for example where it is desired to isolate the wound from the surrounding skin area, the wound being accessible through the aperture.

These shields are normally supplied in the form of wafers of plastics material coated on one side with the adhesive and a peelable layer of protective paper, the whole wafer being packed in a sterile bubble pack. The wafer may have a plastics flange incorporated therein for clipping or sticking a bag thereto. When required for use, the nurse or patient has to remove the wafer from the pack and then cut an aperture of the required size through the wafer before removing the protective paper and applying the shield around the stoma to the patient's skin. Wafers are available with standard sizes of aperture, but most frequently they are supplied whole for the appropriate hole to be cut. The conventional use of a knife or scissors to cut the hole is time-consuming and does not always lead to a clean cut.It also involves considerable handling, and thus increases the risk of infection to patient or nurse. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the patient often applies the shield himself. It is frequently the case that such patients have a physical handicap, for example spina bifida, which makes the whole process of cutting a shield to size both dangerous and difficult. In view of the limitations in the physical ability and coordination of such patients there is a real need for a simple, safe and efficient means for cutting the wafers.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cutter device for forming an aperture in a protective wafer to form a shield, comprising a base plate or anvil, a cutter adapted to cut an aperture of pre-determined size and shape in a protective wafer placed on the anvil, and means for pressing the cutter against the anvil to form an aperture in one operation.

The device of the invention may be readily used by handicapped persons, including those with the use of only one arm, and virtually eliminates the dangers inherent in the prior art method.

Very preferably the cutter is readily interchangeable with cutters of alternative forms so that the cutting device is thus usable for cutting apertures of any required shape or size. Such shapes may be pear shaped or oblong as well as circular, to meet the particular application. Often the required aperture size will vary with time, the use of replaceable cutters will avoid the need for replacement of the complete device by the patient and facilitate manufacture; Preferably the cutter device and the cutter are capable of being sterilized. The cutter and/or anvil may be of metal, however it is preferable that at least the cutters are formed of plastics material, for example food grade plastics, preferably with a plain edge. The plastics material may be sterilized with sterilizing solutions, such as Formalin or Gamma radiation.A plastics cutter is far less likely to cause harm to a handicapped patient if mishandled when compared to a metal cutter. Also the use of a plain rather than serrated edge reduces the dangers of the patient cutting himself.

The cutter may be slidable upon a guide protruding from the anvil and the cutter may be pressed against the anvil by threaded engagement of a tightening bar and the guide pin.

The pin may be formed with a point to pierce a pilot hole in a wafer to be cut.

Preferably the cutter is cylindrical, preferably of plastics, closed at one end with an aperture for receiving the pin and chamfered at the opposite end to form a cutting edge. By forming the cutting edge with a chamfer the cylinder wall can be kept thick to resist deformation if excessive pressure is applied to the cutter.

Very preferably an outer rim of the cutter is knurled to facilitate gripping and manual rotation of the cutter when removing it from a wafer. This is of advantage to patients with impaired sight and dexterity, e.g. spina bifida patients who frequently do not have a pushing reflex, for pushing the cutter through the wafer, allowing them to twist the cutter relative to the wafer to remove it.

Preferably the closed end is ridged or profiled, with a cooperating ridge or profile on the tightening bar so that the cutter will rotate with the bar to assist in cutting particularly resilient wafers, although most current makes can be cut by direct pressure. Upstanding flanges may be provided on the base plate to cooperate with an edge or edges of the wafer to prevent it turning with the cutter.

Alternatively, a platen hinged or otherwise movable on the anvil may be provided to press the cutter towards and against the anvil. The cutter may be affixed to the platen.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of cutting an aperture in a protective wafer using a cutting device in accordance with the invention as set forth above.

The invention also provides a cutter for the cutter device defined above.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an anvil with a guide pin; Figure 2 is an exploded view of one form of cutter device incorporating the anvil of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end view of a cutter device as il lustrated in Figure 2.

The drawings show an anvil or base plate 1 which may be formed of metal but very preferably is of sterilizable plastics. A guide pin 2, also of plastics, protrudes perpendicularly to the upper surface of the base plate 1 and is secured thereto.

At least a portion 3 of guide pin 2 is formed with an external thread. The pin 2 is also formed with an upper conical part 2a, which acts to guide the uncut wafer onto the pin 2, and may also cut a pilot hole in such a wafer during this movement.

A circular cutter is illustrated at 4 in Figures 2 and 3, and it will be seen that it consists of a cylinder 6 of plastics material which is chamfered at its lower end to form a cutting edge 11. The upper end of the cylinder is closed and has a central aperture 7 which is an easy sliding fit on the guide pin.

A tightening bar or handle 8 is also shown in Figure 2, and this consists of a bar of plastics having a diametral drilling 9 which is partially threaded as shown at 10.

In one form of the embodiment the end 5 is provided with a raised formation 12 which may be integrally formed with the rest of the cutter or otherwise adhered thereto. The formations 12 may be radial knurls or ridges but are preferably sawtoothed in circumferential cross section, as seen best in Figure 3, with ramps 13 leading up to edges 14. A corresponding formation 15 is provided on the underside of the bar 8 to cooperate with formations 12 so that the cutter 4 will rotate with the bar 8 as it is screwed down. As the bar is unscrewed the formations 15 will ride over the ramps 13 to disengage the bar from the cutter. By providing an alternative cutter without formations 12 the rotation of the cutter with the bar 8 can be avoided or reduced.It is anticipated that the rotating cutter may be of use with more resilient wafer materials where it may be necessary to slide the cutting edge 11 across the material. Flanges 16 may be provided on the base to prevent rotation of the wafer with the cutter.

The outer surface of the cylinder is knurled to facilitate gripping of the cutter by hand.

In use, the nurse or patient introduces a wafer over the conical end of the guide pin 2. This action will form a pilot hole in the wafer. In some cases a pilot hole is pre-pierced as a factory procedure.

The cutter is then introduced over the guide pin 2, with the cutting edge 11 towards the wafer, so as to rest on the wafer, and the tightening bar 8 is then introduced by way of its drilling 9 over the guide pin 2 until its threaded portion 10 reaches the threaded portion 3 of the guide pin 2. The tightening bar 8 is then turned so that the threads engage and the tightening bar 8 is forced down on to the cutter 4 so that the blade 6 cuts through the wafer. It is not necessary at this stage to cut right through the protective paper, and it may be preferable not to do so, as this protects the shield and helps to maintain its shape. Upon removal from the anvil after release of the cutter, the paper can be peeled and the neatly apertured shield is available for immediate application with a minimum of trouble.

It will be seen that the operation is such as can be readily carried out either by a nurse or by the patient or unskilled help, and it is basically a one hand operation, thereby making it suitable to be carried out by elderly or incapacitated patients.

In order to simplify the use of the cutter device, the underside of the anvil 1 may be provided with anti-slip feet 12 or suction cups. Holes 19 are provided for the attachment of a clamp for fixing the anvil 1 to a table top or the like. Also the bar 8 is provided with a knob 20 which can be readily gripped to facilitate turning of the bar 8.

The provision of readily replaceable cutters 4 in a range of shapes and sizes will reduce production costs and allow the patient to change the cutter at low cost during use of the device.

It is preferred that the cutter 4 and anvil 1 be in contrasting colours, for example orange and white, to facilitate handling by handicapped patients.

Where a range of cutters is provided, the different sizes may be colour coded.

The arrangement illustrated and so far described is only one form in which the invention could be applied, and it will be appreciated that a platen could be hinged to the anvil, and would have the cutter 4 demountably attached thereto. In such an arrangement, the guide pin 2 would not be necessary, so there would be no need to form a pilot hole in the wafer. Use may be made of open trunnions cooperating with hinge bars so that the two parts, namely the platen and the anvil, could be separated for cleaning and sterilisation.

In the hinged version of the cutter device, similar provision for ready interchangeability of cutters would be made. It should also be noted that in both cases the whole arrangement is readily suitable for sterilisation and is particularly suitable for use by patients when it is made wholly of sterilizable plastics material.

Various other modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the base plate 1 could be provided with a clamping device to secure it to a working surface, such as a table or formations or holes may be formed in the base plate 1 to receive an end of a clamp.

Claims (14)

1. A cutter device for forming an aperture in a protective wafer to form a shield, comprising a base plate, a cutter adapted to cut an aperture of pre-determined size and shape in a protective wafer placed on the base plate, and means for pressing the cutter against the base plate to form an aperture.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutter is readily removable and replaceable.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the cutter is formed of plastics material.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, formed substantially wholly of plastics material.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means for pressing the cutter against the base plate comprises an upstanding threaded guide pin on the base plate, over which pin the cutter slides, and a threaded tightening bar which can be screwed onto the pin to urge the cutter against the base plate.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tightening bar has a knob thereon distal of the threaded pin.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein an upper end of the cutter adjacent the tightening bar is profiled to cooperate with bar and turn therewith as the bar is screwed down.

8. A device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the pin has a point for piercing the wafer.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cutting edge of the cutter is formed in a plane.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the outer surface of the cutter is knurled.

11. A cutter device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of cutting an aperture in a protective wafer, comprising using a cutter device as defined in any one of the preceeding claims.

13. A cutter for a cutter device as defined in claim 5, comprising a tubular wall having a chamfer at one end thereof to form a cutting edge, and closed at the other end by a disc having an aperture therein for cooperating with a guide pin.

14. A combination of a cutter device as claimed in claim 2 and a plurality of cutters as defined and of different sizes.