US3398744A - Colostomy appliance - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1968 5 HQOPER 3,398,744

COLOSTOMY APPLIANCE Filed June 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FINGER N/CHE Fi Edwin A. Hooper INVENTOR.

BY MM 13m 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1965 r Edwin A. Hooper INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,398,744 COLOSTOMY APPLIANCE Edwin A. Hooper, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor of onethird each to Waldemar A. Wallberg, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Melvin J. Clawson, Pacifica, Calif. Filed June 17, 1965, Ser. No. 464,659 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-283) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The colostomy appliance disclosed enables the wearer to move about unhampered and to participate in and cope with all essential activities of life, including certain athletic events previously impossible to engage in when wearing competitive appliances. This innovation is characterized by an adapter unit embodying a bag attaching, suspending and filling neck, an annular pressure responsive flange carried by and surrounding said neck and lateral to the axis of said neck and capable of residing in intimate contact with the abdomen. The mouth of the bag is gathered tightly around the neck. The lip portions of the bags mouth portion are initially guided by hand and pressed against an exterior channeled surface of said flange. A bag-mouth binding, sealing and retaining unit encircles the mouth portion of the bag and neck. This retaining and capping unit is readily and manually applicable and removable and equipped with a cleat whereby a body encircling belt can be attached to slotted ends of said cleat.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a colostomy appliance to be worn by a person having a colostomy and functionally designed and structurally adapted to securely and reliably hold a commonly used plastic bag which provides for temporary collection and storage and subsequent disposal of body fluids and human excreta referred to in practice as body waste materials.

Persons conversant with the state of the art to which the invention relates are aware that it is common practice to use a plastic bag, usually a flimsy transparent bag such as is purchased from a surgical supply house and to attach the bag through the medium of one appliance or another to the users body with the aid of an adapter and an elastic or an equivalent belt which is connected to the adapter and encircles the body of the wearer. It has been noted in connection with certain prior art adaptations that no protective means is afforded to prevent the bag from being shut ofl manifestly, a downward pull exerted on the bag, due to the weight of the contents, often shuts off the free expelling of gases and fluids from the stoma and, unfortunately, promotes irritation to the stoma and engenders a needless peristoltic action which follows. Then, too, there is usually no guard to prevent bruising of the stoma from bumping or from other accidental occurrences.

In carrying out the present invention the construction is such that the lip of the mouth portion of the plastic bag is capable of being held between coacting and oriented surfaces of precision-made plastic components or units which assures no slippage of the bag and virtually guarantees the wearer complete mental freedom from the worry and embarrassing experiences that often are encountered.

The appliance is of suflicient size to cover and protect the entire colostomy. The shape of the part that fits against the abdominal wall is such as to allow complete freedom of movement to the body and no amount of flexing of the muscles of the body will break the seal of the appliance from the wall and accordingly, it acts to prevent seepage of fluids to the surrounding skin area and the clothing.

The invention also has to do with a structurally unique 3,398,744 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 ice appliance which is light in weight, yet practically indestructible and is capable of being cleaned and sterilized with a minimum of time, effort and labor. The appliance includes an outer unit which affords protection from outside pressures and accidental bumping which might otherwise injure the stoma and yet at the same time the raised portion of the neck of the inner unit prevents the weight of the bag or other pressure from collapsing and closing oit the free passage of gases and fluids from the stoma into the receptacle part of the bag and also prevents any irritation to the stoma and the consequential peristolsis action that follows.

The present invention also features a construction and arrangement of oriented cooperating components or units which are such in construction that they do not require special bags but only that they be of such size as would be reasonably used and of such material as will hold the contents without leakage such as present plastic bags are manufactured from. It is within the purview of the concept that the units are such that they provide a belt supported innovation which would make it within the realm of reason to actually use bags of the plastic type which can be purchased from grocery stores as 'so-called Baggies and Glad Bags, for example. On the other hand, it should be noted that perhaps these bags might be very light and not too durable and it is recommended that they not be used but instead the bags that are sold by pharmaceutical and surgical sources are preferable. Nevertheless, the appliance does protect the stoma from any irritation and pressure of the bag and its contents and by its design will hold any size bag or any shape bag within reasonable limitations, the bag being clampingly held, that is the lip portion of the mouth between the two component parts or units with no dependence on pressure applied by the wearers belt.

It will be evident as will be hereinafter more fully set forth that the invention has to do with ways and means whereby simply but carefully molded component parts or units have coacting surfaces and which function to hold the bag between the surfaces. Particularly it will be noted that there are no prior art appliances known which take into account and afford protection against the weight of the contents of the bag from pulling downward and thus shutting off the free escape of gases and fluids from the stoma to the bag and the attending difficulties. With my invention the wearer is free to move in any manner so that it is possible to participate and enjoy normal activities of life and even engage in many of the athletic activities, including swimming, that have been previously impossible to cope with when using presently available appliances and accessories. Speaking generally the invention is characterized by specially molded plastic components or units which are analogous to inte-rfitting coupling members and which are coupled together in such a way that the thus provided two-part unit is worn much in the same manner as a truss for ruptures is worn. This is to say the invention is worn similar to a truss which is provided with an elastic or an equivalent belt but is distinctive in that clear plastic colostomy bags are capable of being moresatisfactorily and applicably used in connection therewith.

Briefly but specifically the appliance is characterized by a waste trapping bag having an intake mouth for communicative alignment with the stoma with which it is oriented when in use, an adapter unit embodying a bag filling and holding neck, an annular abdomen abutting flange carried by and surrounding said neck and lateral to the axis of said neck and capable of residing an intimate contact with the abdomen and encircling said stoma, the mouth of said bag being gathered and wrapped around said neck and the marginal and lip portions of the mouth portion being initially placed by hand and pressed against an exterior surface of said flange, and a bag-mouth binding, sealing and retaining unit encircling the mouth portion of the bag and said neck, said retaining unit being readily and manually applicable and removable and equipped with means whereby a body encircling belt can be attached thereto.

More specifically the concept has to do with a colostomy bag attaching and supporting device or appliance which is characterized by an inwardly positionable unit comprising a bag suspending and filling neck having an inward end provided with an endless annular flange having an inwardly facing knurled convex anti-skid surface designed and adapted to abut and bear against that portion of the wearers abdomen encircling the associated stoma and the neck communicably registering with the stoma, the outwardly facing side of said flange being concave and the concavity providing a seating and sealing channel for the free edged 'lip portion of the b-ags mouth after the latter has been gathered around the neck and jammed and pressed into the channel; an outwardly positionable retainer unit complemental to said adapter unit and characterized by a ring-like collar applicable over and encircling said neck, that edge of the collar proximal to said channel being fashioned into a clamping rib and the latter projecting and being keyed in said channel, the outwardly disposed edge of said collar having a partial disklike wall portion coacting and defining a protective shield, and means thereon for attaching a body encircling belt thereto.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing the improved colostomy appliance and how it is constructed and worn in conjunction with a somewhat conventional type colostomy bag and also a suitable body encircling appliance and bag supporting belt;

FIGURE 2 is a section through the appliance or device taken approximately on the plane of the section line 22 of FIGURE 1 with the view appropriately enlarged;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the horizontal section line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view wherein all of the component parts are shown;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the components assembled but with the bag and belt removed; and

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective on a smaller scale which shows that the convex abdominal abutment or applicable side of the inwardly disposed adapter can be and preferably is milled, sand blasted or otherwise knurled to provide a suitable anti-skid or anti-slipping surface.

With reference to the general in use adaptation as shown for example in FIG. 1 it will be evident that the overall combination includes an appropriate bodyencircling belt 8 for supporting and attaching a colostomy bag 10. It is a mat-ter of common knowledge that bags of the type shown and herein referred to are common not only in use but in many prior patents. This is to say the bag is a common flimsy clear transparent plastic elongated bag whose attachable end portion has a neck 12 (FIG. 4) and an intake mouth 14 which is likewise suitably gathered in use and which may be said to terminate in a laterally bendable and attachable terminal or lip portion 16. As also shown in FIG. 4 one of the primary components or units is the clear plastic unit 18. This unit is made up essentially of a cylindrical neck 20 of appropriate diameter, that is so that the intake end thereof will coordinate and orient with the stoma in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This neck has a cutaway lower half-portion 22 which definesan overhanging upper semicylindrical half-portion 24 which serves in a manner to be hereinafter described. The neck has its intake end attachable to the central apertured portion of an annular flange 26. This flange as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is concavo-convex in cross-section. This is to say the applicable body contacting convex surface is denoted at 28 and is applied in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In actual practice as shown in FIG. 6, this surface will be milled, knurled, sandblasted or otherwise finished to provide a desirably usable anti-skid finish. The concave outwardly facing side denoted at 30 provides an endless channel or groove which encircles the outer peripheral surface of the neck in concentrically spaced relationship. It will be noted that the overhanging upper half portion 24 of the neck projects well beyond the open side of the channel and that the channel provides a receiver and keyway for the mouth and lip portions 14 and 16 of the attachable suspended bag. The numeral 32 designates diametrically opposite red dots or indicating spots which will be later mentioned, these being related to the distinguishable upper and lower half- portions 24 and 22 of the neck as perhaps evident from FIG. 4. In any event, the mouth and lip portions of the bag are gathered around or fitted over and around the neck and then seated in the cavity-like channel or keyway when the invention is being used. The complemental and companion plastic unit 34 is of a diameter conformable with that of the unit 18. This unit 34 is a cap and a cover as well as a retainer. It is characterized in part by an endless ring-like collar 36 which is of the diameter that it can be fitted over the outer peripheral surfaces of the neck 20. The inner periphery of the collar has a groove therein as at 38 (FIG. 2) to accommodate a gasket or packing ring 40 which effects a satisfactory sealing result. The cross-section of the collar is such that the end portion to the right in FIG. 2 constitutes a rib 42 and projects into the channel to assist in forcibly pressing the lip 16 of the bag between the coacting surfaces to achieve the desired coupling of the two units 18 and 34 and the fastening therebetween of the mouth portions of the bag 10. It will also be noted that this section or unit 34 has a substantially semicircular or similar and slightly convex apron-like wall 44 which constitutes a shield-also referred to as a guard. The lower notched and cutaway edge portion of this shield denoted at 46 is contoured and elevated and cooperates with the receding or cutaway lower portion 22 of the neck whereby to thus provide desired clearance for the attached and suspended neck portions of the bag as shown with requisite nicety in FIG. 2. The belt attaching means comprises a simple plastic, metal or non-corrodible plate 48 having end portions 50 slotted at 52 to accommodate the attachable end portions 54 of the aforementioned belt 8. Suitable holes 56 are provided for headed screwthreaded fasteners 58 which pass through the holes and are secured in sockets 60 in a manner to thus superimpose the plate 48 on the guard or shield 44 with the ends projecting to accommodate the attachable ends of the belt.

It will be evident that the size of the appliance will be dependent to some extent upon the size of the stoma and the colostomy incision. Accordingly, it is not the specific size or materials which are significant but rather the construction, design and orientation of the component units 18 and 34. The purpose in showing the bag attached is to emphasize that the attachment can be readily understood and the simplicity of the attachment can be quickly evaluated.

All presently investigated prior art adaptations depend to a large extent upon the pressure of the belt of the wearer to hold the bag in place on the ring or other attaching means which is fitted to the body and surrounds the stoma. Novelty is predicated on the herein disclosed appliance which employs the principle of holding the bag between the surfaces of the component parts or units 18 and 34 particularly between the peripheral surfaces of the neck 20 and inner surface of the encompassing collar 36. Then, too, the clamping action wherein the rib 42 presses and seats the lip portion of the bag is important in that a sealing result is achieved. Further novelty is predicated upon the cutaway half-portion 22 of the neck 20 wherein the component or upper half portion 24 overhangs and coacts with the outwardly spaced interior of the wall or shield 44 to allow for space and clearance which prevents the mouth of the bag from being choked or undesirably squeezed.

The unit 34 functioning as a cover is designed for strength and durability and at the same time to be inconspicuous under the wearers clothing. A bag is placed through the outer bottom outlet 46 and is pulled through the inner side and folded back over the outer edge. This prevents the body waste from getting on the coacting half or unit thus allowing it to stay clean and sanitary. The aforementioned dots indicated at 32 are properly aligned and oriented with the saddle strap or plate 48. The radius is to permit the appliance to conform to the abdominal wall in the most comfortable position for the wearer. The unit 18 is designed to let the stoma be free and yet protected from outer pressure. The invention has been constructed and used and it is known that it provides a better seal and more securely prevents body fluids from escaping. The crimping and gathering of the lip portion of the bag and the manner in which it is retained 'in conjunction with the O-ring provides primary and secondary seals which help to compress the plastic bag and increase the holding security. It is believed that these and other features and advantages of the invention will be clearly evident from the description, views of the drawing and the invention as claimed. Accordingly, a more extended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foreging is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attaching and supporting appliance for a pliant plastic colostomy bag comprising. in combination, an adapter unit comprising a bag suspending and filling neck having an inward intake end provided with an integral outstanding encircling annular flange having an inwardly disposed convex surface designed and adapted to conformingly abut and bear against that portion of the wearers abdomen encircling the stoma with said intake of the neck communicably registering with the stoma, the outwardly facing side of said flange being concave and providing an endless seating and sealing channel for the free edged lip portion of the bags mouth after said lip portion has been gathered and snugly wrapped around the neck and conformingly pressed into said channel; and an outwardly positionable bag binding and retainer unit complemental to said adapter unit and characterized by a ring-like collar conformable in size to and encircling said neck, the inner edge of the collar confronting and being proximal to said channel having an endless bag clamping rib conformable in shape to and projecting into and being removably keyed in said channel, the outwardly disposed edge of said collar having a disk-like wall portion spaced from but spanning the discharge end of said neck and coacting therewith and defining a bagmouth covering shield, and means fixed atop and across said wall portion for attaching a body encircling appliance supporting belt thereto wherein said neck is of a length that the discharge end projects a predetermined degree beyond the open side of said channel, the lower half-portion of said neck being undercut in a manner that the projecting upper half-portion overhangs and extends beyond the undercut lowerhalf-portion.

2. The structure according to claim 1, and wherein said belt attaching means comprises a cleat fixed atop the exterior surface of the wall portion of said retaining unit and provided with projecting slotted end portions designed and adapted for attaching end portions of said belt to said cleat.

3. The appliance defined in claim 2, and wherein said convexity radius of said convex surface is custom-fitted and contoured to minimize belt imposed pressure while at the same time assuring eflicacious leak-proofing con tact of said convex side with the body area encompassing the stoma.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and wherein the over-all surface of said convex surface is knurled to guard against shifting and accidental slippage of said appliance when in use. a

5. The structure according to claim 1, and wherein a lower marginal edge portion of said wall portion is cut away to uncover and expose an adjacent portion of the bags mouth portion in a manner to prevent said portion from being undesirably squeezed or accidently collapsing and choking off the free delivery and entry of waste fluid and human exreta into the bag by way of said neck.

6. An attaching and supporting appliance for a pliant plastic colostomy bag comprising, in combination, a clear plastic adapter unit comprising a bag suspending and filling neck, said neck being cylindrical and having an inwardly disposed intake end provided with an integral outstanding encircling annular flange having an inwardly facing convex surface expressly contoured and adapted to conformingly abut and bear against that portion of the wearers abdomen encircling the stoma with the intake of the neck communicably registering with the stoma, the outwardly facing side of said flange being concave and providing an endless seating and sealing channel for the free edged flexible lip portion of the bags mouth after said lip portion has been gathered and hand-wrapped around the neck and flared and pressed into said channel; and an outwardly positionable retainer unit for said lip portion complemental to said adapter unit comprising a ring-like clear plastic collar encircling said neck, the edge of the collar proximal to said channel having a lip portion clamping rib projecting into and being removably keyed in said channel, the outwardly disposed edge of said collar having a segmental wall portion spanning but spaced outwardly from the discharge end of said neck and coacting therewith and defining an anticollapsing shield, means carried by said wall portion for attaching a body encircling appliance supporting belt thereto, said neck being of a length that it projects well beyond the outward marginal edge of said flange, the lower half-portion of said neck being undercut and the upper half-portion overhanging the undercut half-portion in a manner to minimize the possibility of choking off free entry and delivery of waste matter into said bag by way of said neck, said shield being imperforate and substantially semi-circular in plan and having a lower marginal edge portion notched to provide a clearance opening, said clearance opening being aligned with said undercut half-portion of said neck and cooperating with said out back half-portion in a manner to prevent accidental squeezing or in any manner collapsing of or choking off the attachable neck portion of the bag.

7. The structure according to claim 6, and wherein said means comprises a cleat fixed in a horizontal plane atop said shield and provided with projecting slotted end portions having the function and capability of attaching end portions of said belt thereto the inner peripheral surface of said collar having diametrically opposite marker spots which are oriented with said cleat to facilitate assembling the units in coordinating relationship.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Diadul 128-283 Van Hove 128283 McConnell 128--283 Carstensen 128283 Mason 128-283 Johnson 128283 Mason 128-283 Galindo 128283 Nelsen 128-283 CHARLES F. ROSENBAUM, Primary Examiner.

Images