GB2598320A

GB2598320A - Stoma shower cap

Info

Publication number: GB2598320A
Application number: GB2013267.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alison Dilks Susan; Jones Rosalind
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-08-25
Filing date: 2020-08-25
Publication date: 2022-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2040-08-25
Also published as: GB202013267D0; GB2598320B

Abstract

An ostomy device, in the form of a stoma cover 1, comprising a first open end 4 provided with an adhesive flange 10 for sealing about a stoma, and a second closed end 6, with a cavity 8 defined therebetween. A first body portion 18, proximate the first end, extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the flange, away from the body of a user. A second body portion 20, proximate the second end, extends at an angle – preferably a right angle – to the first body portion, with the cover preferably being substantially L-shaped. This arrangement ensures the second body portion is located away from the skin of a user, enabling a user to easily access and wash the skin near the stoma. The second body portion is preferably more flexible than the first body portion, with the cover preferably being collapsible, with the second end of the body receivable in the first body portion.

Description

AN OSTOMY APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ostomy apparatus, and in particular to a collapsible ostomy apparatus, and a method for producing the ostomy apparatus.

Background

An ostomy is a surgical procedure in which an opening is created in the body of a patient to allow waste to be discharged therethrough. This procedure creates a passageway known as a stoma through the abdominal wall and skin of the patient. A section of an intestine is surgically connected to the stoma so that waste matter can exit the body.

Waste matter is uncontrollably discharged from the stoma. As a result, the patient is required to wear an ostomy bag or a stoma bag after surgery. Typically, a flange of the ostomy bag is attached with adhesive to the abdominal wall of the patient adjacent the stoma, and a waste bag is attached to the flange to collect the discharged waste.

While ostomy bags effectively collect waste matter, they present a number of prob20 lems. Ostomy bags are typically large and cover a significant amount of skin adjacent the stoma. As a result, ostomy bags are cumbersome and can interfere with processes such as cleaning.

Prior Art

US 8377020 discloses an apparatus for covering an ostomy bag of a patient, the ostomy bag having an ostomy-bag flange, wherein the ostomy-bag flange adheres to the patient's skin surrounding a stoma. The apparatus comprises an ostomy-bag cover, wherein the ostomy-bag cover covers the ostomy bag and its ostomy-bag flange in order to prevent water from reaching the ostomy bag and its ostomy-bag flange. The ostomy-bag cover has a body formed from a liquid-impermeable membrane, the body having a proximal end opening and a distal end opening. The ostomy-bag cover further comprises a cover-flange portion which is connected to the proximal end opening of the body, the cover-flange portion having a patient-skincontact side and a distal side. The patient-skin-contact side has a pressure-sensitive adhesive that releasably attaches the patient-skin-contact side of the flange to the patient's skin surrounding the ostomy-bag flange and forms a watertight seal to an area of the patient's skin that surrounds the ostomy-bag-flange. The ostomy-bag cover further comprises a sealable exhaust vent, wherein the vent is operable to remove excess air within the ostomy-bag cover while the cover-flange portion is sealed to the patient's skin. The vent prevents water from entering the ostomy-bag cover, in order that the ostomy-bag cover forms a watertight cover over the ostomy bag and its ostomy-bag flange. The cover-flange portion includes at least a first flap extension of the cover-flange portion to cover the umbilicus of the patient.

US20070282271 discloses a device for protecting a percutaneous catheter. The device comprises a flexible faceplate adapted to be adhesively secured to a peristomal surface. The faceplate has a front side and a back side, an aperture, a first sealing ring mounted on said front side about said aperture, and a catheter securing means mounted on said front side for gripping the proximal end of said percutaneous catheter after it is passed through said aperture. An adhesive is disposed on said back side of said faceplate and suitable for adhering said faceplate to the skin of a patient. The device further comprises a fluid-impermeable housing for receiving the proximal end of a catheter projecting through said aperture, said housing having an opening at one open end and a second sealing ring mounted on said housing about said opening, said second sealing ring adapted to detachably mate with said first sealing ring to form a fluid-impermeable seal.

EP1796607 discloses an ostomy appliance comprising a front wall and a rear wall of flexible material forming a bag. The rear wall has an opening for receiving a stoma, and is provided with an adhesive wafer for securing the appliance to a user's skin, said wafer having a hole being aligned with the opening for receiving the stoma. The opening of the rear wall has an edge being adapted to be secured to a surface of the adhesive wafer facing away from the user in an attachment zone surrounding the hole of the wafer. A first part of the edge of the opening of the rear wall is permanently secured to the surface of the wafer in a corresponding first part of the attachment zone. A second, remaining part of the edge of the opening of the bag is prepared for adhesive reversible coupling of the same to a remaining second part of the attachment zone.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing 35 devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an ostomy apparatus comprising a body comprising: a first open end and a second opposed closed end providing a cavity extending therebetween, in which the first end comprises a flange having a front surface configured in use to be positioned adjacent and to substantially seal the skin of a patient, and an opposed rear surface, in which the front and rear surfaces define an aperture extending therethrough in communication with the cavity, and in which an adhesive layer is provided on the front surface of the first end of the apparatus, in which the body further comprises: a first body portion located at or adjacent the first open end of the body, in which the first body portion extends in a direction extending substantially 15 perpendicular to the plane defined by the flange; and a second body portion located at or adjacent the second closed end of the body, in which the second body portion is configured in use to extend at angle to the first body portion.

The term "ostomy" is used herein to cover all types surgical procedures in which a stoma is formed through the skin and is connected to an internal organ. Examples of ostomies include a colostomy, in which the colon is connected to a stoma, or an ileostomy, in which the small intestine is connected to the stoma.

The ostomy apparatus, and in particular the flange of the body of the apparatus, of the present invention is configured in use to provide a seal with the skin of a patient surrounding a stoma. The ostomy apparatus of the present invention, and in particular the flange of the body of the apparatus, preferably provides a waterproof seal with the skin of a patient surrounding a stoma.

The aperture of the body of the apparatus is preferably configured to provide a fluid pathway between the stoma of a patient and the cavity of the body. The cavity of the body is preferably configured in use to retain fluids dispensed from the stoma.

The apparatus of the present invention may therefore be used to provide a waterproof cover for a stoma which may be easily worn by a user during washing to allow effective cleaning around the stoma without hinderance whilst safely storing discharge from the stoma within the cavity.

In one embodiment, the body is substantially L-shaped.

In one embodiment, the body is configured to be moveable between a first collapsed position in which at least the second end of the body (preferably the second end and at least a portion of the second body portion) is retained within the first body portion (for example within a portion of the cavity defined by the first body portion), and a second extended position in which the second end of the body extends away from and is spaced apart from the first body portion. The apparatus may be placed in the first collapsed position prior to use, and for example during storage, to reduce the space required to store the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the body comprises an outer surface and an opposed inner surface extending between the first and second ends of the body, in which the inner surface defines the cavity extending between the first and second ends of the body.

The first body portion may have reduced flexibility compared to the second body 20 portion.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the first body portion, as defined between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, is greater than the thickness of the second body portion. The increased thickness of the first body portion preferably ensures that the 25 first body portion has reduced flexibility compared to the second body portion.

The reduced flexibility of the first body portion helps to ensure that the first body portion extends, in use, substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the flange thereby providing spacing between the second end and the skin of the user. This spacing helps to ensure that the user can effectively clean around the stoma without hinderance by the body of the apparatus.

The body is preferably composed of polymeric material, such as for example thermoplastic polyurethane. At least one of the first and/or second body portions are 35 preferably composed of polymeric material, for example thermoplastic polyurethane.

In one embodiment, the ostomy apparatus further comprises a removable protective layer in contact with the adhesive layer. The removable protective layer protects unintentional adhesion of the adhesive layer prior to use The removable protective layer is preferably composed of wax paper.

In one embodiment, the adhesive layer is preferably composed of hydrocolloid adhesive.

The ostomy apparatus may be disposable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for producing an ostomy apparatus as herein described, the method comprising: obtaining a body comprising a first open end and a second opposed closed end providing a cavity extending therebetween, in which the first end comprises a flange having a front surface configured in use to be positioned adjacent and to substantially seal the skin of a patient, and an opposed rear surface, in which the front and rear surfaces define an aperture extending therethrough in communication with the cavity, and in which the first body portion is located at or adjacent the first open end of the body, and in which the first body portion extends in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the flange, and in which the second body portion is located at or adjacent the second closed end of the body, in which the second body portion is configured in use to extend at angle to the first body portion; and providing an adhesive layer on the front surface of the first end of the 25 apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a perspective view from above of one embodiment of the ostomy apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of a perspective view from behind of the 35 ostomy apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of an exploded view of the ostomy apparatus of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the Figures, the ostomy apparatus 1 comprises a substantially L-shaped body 2 comprising a first open end 4 and a second opposed closed end 6 providing a cavity 8 extending therebetween. The first end 4 comprises a substantially circular flange 10 having a front surface 12 configured in use to be positioned adjacent and to substantially seal the skin of a patient, and an opposed rear surface 14.

The front 12 and rear 14 surfaces define an aperture 16 extending therethrough in communication with the cavity 8.

An adhesive layer 17 is provided on the front surface 12 of the first end 4 of the body 2 of the apparatus 1.

The body 2 further comprises a first body portion 18 located at or adjacent the first 20 open end 4 of the body 2. The first body portion 18 extends in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the flange 10.

The body 2 further comprises a second body portion 20 located at or adjacent the second closed end 6 of the body 2. The second body portion 20 is configured in use to extend at angle to the first body portion 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the second body portion 20 extends substantially perpendicular to the first body portion. In particular, the longtiduinal axis of the second body portion 20 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first body portion 18.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a removable protective layer 22 in the form of wax paper located in contact with the adhesive layer 17.

In use, the user removes the protective layer 22 and positions the front surface 12 of the first end 4 of the body 2 adjacent the skin surrounding the stoma. The aperture 35 16 extends across the stoma and provides a fluid pathway between the cavity and the stoma. The user applies sufficient pressure to the front surface 12 to ensure good contact and a good seal is formed between the adhesive layer 17 and the skin of the user. The apparatus 1 therefore substantially seals the stoma and the skin adjacent to the stoma from the external environment, thereby preventing any water ingress into the cavity of the body 2. Furthermore, the apparatus prevents fluid from seeping out of the body 2 to the external environment.

In use, the first body portion 18 extends in a direction away from the skin of a user. This ensures that the second body portion 20 is positioned away from the skin of a user, enabling a user to wash thoroughly around the skin near the stoma.

The apparatus 1 of the present invention enables a user to wash efficiently around the area adjacent the stoma with confidence.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated 15 that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. An ostomy apparatus comprising a body comprising: a first open end and a second opposed closed end providing a cavity extending therebetween, in which the first end comprises a flange having a front surface configured in use to be positioned adjacent and to substantially seal the skin of a patient, and an opposed rear surface, in which the front and rear surfaces define an aperture extending therethrough in communication with the cavity, and in which an adhesive layer is provided on the front surface of the first end of the apparatus, in which the body further comprises: a first body portion located at or adjacent the first open end of the body, in which the first body portion extends in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the flange; and a second body portion located at or adjacent the second closed end of the body, in which the second body portion is configured in use to extend at angle to the first body portion.
2. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the body is configured to be moveable between a first collapsed position in which at least the second end of the body is retained within the first body portion, and a second extended position in which the second end of the body extends away from and is spaced apart from the first body portion.
3. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, in which the body is substantially L-shaped.
4. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the body comprises an outer surface and an opposed inner surface extending between the first and second ends of the body, in which the inner surface defines the cavity extending between the first and second ends of the body, in which the thickness of the first body portion, as defined between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, is greater than the thickness of the second body portion.
5. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first body portion has reduced flexibility compared to the second body portion.
6. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the body is composed of thermoplastic polyurethane.
7. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which at least one of the first and/or second body portions are composed of thermoplastic polyurethane.
8. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a removable protective layer in contact with the adhesive layer.
9. An ostomy apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the apparatus is disposable.
10. A method for producing an ostomy apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising: obtaining a body comprising a first open end and a second opposed closed end providing a cavity extending therebetween, in which the first end comprises a flange having a front surface configured in use to be positioned adjacent and to substantially seal the skin of a patient, and an opposed rear surface, in which the front and rear surfaces define an aperture extending therethrough in communication with the cavity, and in which the first body portion is located at or adjacent the first open end of the body, and in which the first body portion extends in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the flange, and in which the second body portion is located at or adjacent the second closed end of the body, in which the second body portion is configured in use to extend at angle to the first body portion; and providing an adhesive layer on the front surface of the first end of the apparatus.