GB2532711A

GB2532711A - Medical fluid receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2532711A
Application number: GB1418742.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Whitcombe Geraint
Original assignee: Flexicare Medical Ltd
Current assignee: Flexicare Medical Ltd
Priority date: 2014-10-22
Filing date: 2014-10-22
Publication date: 2016-06-01
Also published as: GB201418742D0

Abstract

A medical fluid receptacle 10, such as a urostomy bag, is made from a front (5, Fig 3) and 1 rear 3 panel/sheet of flexible plastic which are welded together around their peripheries to form a main chamber. In a first embodiment the receptacle is provided with a tubular port of self-supporting material 22 which communicates the interior of the chamber with the exterior of the bag and a rigid drainage tube of self-supporting material 2 which extends from the port to an interior of the chamber (spaced apart from the port) to provide a fluid flow path from the chamber to the interior of the port. In a second embodiment, the receptacle has an inlet aperture (40, Fig 1) in a first one of the sheets, in a region 12 which in usage is an upper region, and a partitioning panel of flexible plastics material 4 which is sealed around its periphery to the said upper region surrounding the inlet aperture, creating a small inlet chamber 45. The partitioning panel is provided with one or more openings 46 for creating fluid communication between the inlet chamber and main chamber.

Description

MEDICAL FLUID RECEPTACLE

The present invention relates to a medical fluid receptacle for bodily fluids such as a urostomy bag.

Such receptacles are commonly formed from thin sheets of plastic material welded together. There is a risk that, in use, a portion may he folded, twisted, buckled or compressed, thus obstructing a flow path out of or into the receptacle. There is also a risk of liquid in the receptacle flowing back out through an inlet, e.g. if the receptacle experiences pressure or is tilted to a non-optimum angle (e.g. if it is being worn by a patient who then lies down). Aspects of the invention address one or other of these problems.

Thus in a first aspect the invention provides a fluid receptacle for medical use comprising a bag portion comprising sheet portions of flexible plastics material connected together to define a chamber, and a tubular port of self-supporting material which communicates the interior of the chamber with the exterior. The receptacle further includes a drainage tube of self-supporting material which extends from the interior of the port to the interior of the bag portion chamber spaced from the port to provide a flow path from the interior of the chamber to the interior of the port. The drainage tube may be open at both ends. It may have openings in its side wall communicating with its lumen.

The bag portion may have a main portion (in the upper region in normal use) communicating with a narrower neck portion (in the lower region in normal use), with the port opening into the neck portion. The drainage tube may then extend through the neck portion (which is the portion most likely to become twisted, thus interfering with fluid flow though it) and into the main portion.

In a second aspect the invention provides a fluid receptacle for medical use comprising a bag portion comprising sheet portions of flexible plastics material connected together to define a chamber wherein a first one of said sheet portions has an inlet aperture in an upper region. There is a partitioning panel which is sealed around its periphery to the upper region of said first sheet portion, surrounding the inlet aperture, which thus opens into a small inlet chamber_ The partitioning panel has one or more openings in a lower region, communicating the inlet chamber with the main chamber. The openings may be apertures or slits, preferably small (relative to the width of the panel, e.g. each extending over 3-15% of its width at that point). They are preferably slits, suitably arcuate, convex downwards. Thus liquid passing into the inlet chamber can pass into the main chamber. However liquid in the main chamber that could flow back into the inlet chamber (e.g, if the receptacle is inverted or the lower region is compressed) is unlikely to do so to any significant extent, since liquid in the upper region of the main chamber will tend to flatten the partitioning panel against the first sheet portion, effectively closing the opening(s). Other forms of non-return valve or one way opening could also be used.

Preferably a fluid receptacle embodies both aspects.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a urostomy bag embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view p-the bag.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view.

The bag 10 has a main chamber formed by front: (5) and rear (3) panels heat weldedtogether around their periphery, forming a heat seal 24. The panels 5,3 are of substantially the same shape, with a main portion 12,14 leading to a narrower neck Portion 16,18 which, in normal use, is at the bottom. The bottom edge 20 is straight, axd in the centre a tubular port 22 extends across the heat seal 24. The external portion of the port 22 is a connector 1 of circular cross-section, closable by means of a captive stopper 26. The upper portion 28 of the port, which extends through the heat seal 24, has an elongated cross---section. Its lumen is approximately elliptical in section. At one side, a pair of ribs define a narrow-mouthed channel 32. This receives the bottom end portion of a drainage tube 2. This is a short tube with two staggered rows of elongate aperture 34 along its length. It extends from the port 22, through the neck portion 16,18, and into the main portion 12,14. A ledge at the bottom of the channel 32 delimits the degree of insertion of the tube 2.

The front panel 5 has an inlet openinsg 40 in the middle of the upper region 42 of its main portion 12. A partitioning panel 4 is sealed around its periphery to the upper region 42 of the front panel. It is partly sandwiched between the front and rear panels 5,3 and heat-welded together with them. it.s lower portion has an, arcuate margin 44 which is sealed to the front panel 5, thus defining a compartment 45 with the upper region 42 of the front panel, into which the inlet opening 40 opens. In a lower region, close to the arcuate margin 44, there are one or more (three in this example) small arcuate slits 46 in the partitioning panel 4. Thus if liquid is passed into the compartment 45 when the bag is in its illustrated orientation, it will tend to pool in the bottom, of the compartment 45 and then pass through the slits 46 into the main compartment defined between the front and rear panels 5,3. If the container is then tilted, or the neck. portion 16,18 is compressed, so that liquid flows into what was the upper region, it tends to flow behind the partitioning panel 4, which is thus pressed against the front panel 5. There is then little or no tendency of liquid to pass through the slits 46 back into the smaller compartment 45, from which it might tend to exit through the inlet opening 40.

In normal use, the bag 10 is attached to a patient, with the inlet opening 40 in communication with a stoma. The front face of the bag tends to be in contact with the patient's skin, so it is provided with a cover layer 6 of breathable material, e.g. netting or non-woven fabric. This is attached by means of the peripheral heat seal 24. Surrounding the inlet opening there is an adhesive pad 7, for adhering to the patient's skin. In this example it is a diamond-shaped pad, with hydrocolloid material. It is initially covered by a sheet of release film 60 with a pull tab 62 to facilitate peeling.

In use, urine passes in through the inlet opening 40 and accumulates in the main compartment. It can be drained out through the port 22. This may be coupled to a larger receptacle, e.g. at night. A patient's movements may tend to twist or flatten the bag, particularly in the neck region 16018. However the presence of the drainage tube 4 ensures that an outlet pathway is maintained. Also, as previously explained, the partitioning panel 4 and its slits 46 serve as a non return valve, reducing the risk of urine reflux.

Claims

Claims 1, A fluid receptacle for Medical P4{74:conTriadng a baq.portion comprising sheet Portions of flexible plastics Mnterldi. connected together to delfihe a:oh:Stab:dr, a tubular port. of salt-supporting ma tonal which errtdmnniCates the inte.tof of the chamber With thc eXterior, and a drainage tube of seifsahlp.partin.'MatetiSi which extends from the interior of the to the 40" interior of the hag pertion chamber spaced.trom the port to provide a flow path from the interior: of the chamber to the interior of the Port.

2E., The receptacle according to claim 1 who rein the drainage tube is open at bPth. ends, 3m The receptacle according. to 'claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the drainage tube has openings in its site wall ceddishidstihq, with its iLume a.42...The recepcaci.e accordirro to any preceding dial:m wherein the baa portion has a main portion which is in the libber.region in normal nee, cbdmiinicating with a narrower neck portion which is in the lower region in normal use, with the pnat opening into ttle,peok portion and the dradeao.i.e tuba extending tttongh the neck portion and intrm the main portion 5. receptacle accordinq to any oreceding claim wherein said baa ccrtion comprises Sheet portions of f1a2ribja plastics material connected together to define a' maAw, chamber, Whreiti a first One of said sheet. portions has an.njet per.t.s. an upper reolloh" and pa-hi plastics.ter.,s -Loh:SE i norra 1 use, panicL off te h I a rd its pein said r region c. said first. She:et portien, surrounding the: inllot: aperture, to a stile 1 1 i hl et:. hamber y aby ih toning danel one or more 9Pc174PqE7-- iLLoWeLr inlet chamben: with the: main ehamddr and being eL..6 thiat" in use, fluid flow ttleLtts,eX chamber, but re....sist or restrict flow in theL never 6:..;; A fluid' receptacle for medicaluse:4 a bag portion: comprising sheet portions. 01 flexiblepl materialconnected to define a mal.n. chamber, wherein LA: first. one of said tom" has-an Inlleld apertureIn: a use, is:a reqlsh, and a part itiondh panes of fisxible* dda 2() c7177]. *-ii: gion Of said sheet _acs n, 8flttol inlet -Denture, which thus opens into a small inlet hambe and partlillmjn9 panel h one or 2,s1 a fowe region, .ose.TL.19hiLhLatihg the ih...Let L..LhalLtiben: i the it ohathben 7 "A.rec ptac acco:di ohi 5 or said openin Of Si ±tS, redept le a 9 to cl 1 5, a 0r in ',Lich sal.d apertures ie sma l I to he width e Panel has p A recfeptale aocord.trq t.(7.:. claim 5, 6, 7 or g* said apertures Or slits are 'arcuate 81iriai convexE downwards.10.. A fluid receptacle as herein described with reference to and as:.11jit,c:?ad in the accompanying drawings