Stoma buddy

Abstract

An alert device for an ostomy bag comprising a housing configured to hang over the bag, a tension cord attachable to the housing and positioned across the front of the bag, a sensor mechanism connecte

Description

[0002] Normally when person need to go to washroom the body of the person will indicate with pressure or pain in the stomach, but the people who use Ostomy bag they can’t feel any pain or pressure in their stomach. Usually, the Ostomy bag is attached over an opening in the stomach area and without any indication the waste from stomach disposes in the Ostomy bag. The person has to timely empty that Ostomy bag otherwise the bag may burst which may turn into an embarrassing situations where the bag bursts and leaves the person soiled in their own waste.

[0003] Presently, all the existing inventions regarding the Ostomy bag that indicate / notify the user about the level of the user’s Ostomy bag are not offering any solution for a simple device that just notifies when the bag is full. Some of the patents provides level indication of the Ostomy bag with light indication or sound indication that sometimes works and sometimes not and are over complicated with the need for connection to a smart phone. If the user can’t hear anything then sound indication will not work. If the user can’t see anything they won’t be able to detect the bag level and if the user does not have a phone with them then they cannot get notified.

[0004] Therefore, there is need to alarming / indicating device for Ostomy bag only when the bag is full and needs emptying, whilst also allowing different interchangeable heads to alert the user depending on their needs being of either vibration for discreteness, sound alarm for night times. SUMMARY

[0005] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a device that alarm / indicate the user when the Ostomy bag is full.

[0006] The Ostomy bag alarm device comprises a main body and a tensioning cord that sense the tension when bag is full. Further, a tension housing is situated on right side of the main body for adjustment of notification, and a lever switch configured to sense the tension and send signals to a wiring loom arranged on left side of the main body. A lever cover is arranged over the body to prevent the lever from being damage. The tension cord is fixed to lever arm along with wiring loom. Further, the device comprises a battery holder and switch arranged on the wiring loom and allows the user to switch on and off the device when needed and allows for easy replacement of the watch sized battery. At the end of the wiring loom is an interchangeable head which can be switched from a vibration pad or sound alarm that notifies the user when the stoma bag is fully inflated.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the method of working of the Ostomy bag alarm device by the user includes de-hooking the tension cord from the tension housing and placing the Ostomy bag on the man body, re-hooking the tension cord from over the Ostomy bag. According to one embodiment, when the bag of the device gets filled, it increases the tension on the tension cord. The tension cord transfers said tension to the lever switch that is configured to sense the tension over the cord. Further, once the tension reaches to a predefined level, the switch activates the vibrator to vibrate and notify the user to empty the bad to avoid any situation of overflow or bursting of the bag. The tension cord is an elasticated cord as this allows movement of the device without causing false activation, only when the bag is fully inflated does the elastic cord pull on the lever switch enough to activate the alarm.

[0008] The object of the discloser is to notify the user about the Ostomy bag with accuracy so that the user don’t have to face any embarrassing situation.

[0009] Further object of the discloser to provide a device to alert the user even with visual and hearing disability to change the bag on time by means of the vibration attachment.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a device with an accurate working of alarming system that will notify the user either by vibration or sound depending on their needs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] The embodiments of the disclosure itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows illustrative view of the view of the complete device with the cord in position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 shows illustrative view of the view of the complete device fitted onto a Ostomy bag with the cord in position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 shows the view of the left side housing where the lever switch is situated, to the left of the drawing is the switch housing cover to protect the lever switch from damage or false activation. This is also removable allowing the user to be able to easily clean the main body of the device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 shows the right side of the device which consists of the removable tensioner, the elastic tension cord passes through this to allow for the user to adjust the fullness of the bag before activating the alarm. It also serves a purpose for the easy removal of the device; by removing the tensioner the user can easily remove the main body of the device. FIG. 5 shows the wiring loom along with the battery holder which houses the on and off switch, it also shows the interchangeable head at the end of the wiring loom which consists of either vibration option or sound notification, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In the foilowing description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described below. The steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machineexecutable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, steps may be performed by a combination of hardware and or by human operations.

[0014] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

[0015] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0016] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete and wilfully convey the scope of the invention to that ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all the statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalent thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).

[0017] While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as described in the claim.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows the complete device with the tension cord in position.

[0019] Referring to the FIG. 1, the device comprises a main body that hold all the parts of the device. The main body has arc shape design that holds the Ostomy bag completely. The person skilled in the art can make the main body of the device with any shape and material. The main body has a tension cord attached on the both end of the main body.

[0020] A Tension housing arranged on the right end of the main body, the tension cord is detachably connected to the tension housing, when required user can unhook the tension cord from the tension housing and attached a Ostomy bag on the main body and hold the tension cord around the Ostomy bag and attached again to the tension housing.

[0021] Further referring to figure 1, a switch lever arranged on the left side of the main body. The tension cord is fixed on the switch lever. The function of the switch such that when the tension on the cord cross the predefined limit, the switch lever will activate the users selected notification method at the end of the wiring loom being either vibration or sound notification.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a view of the complete device situated on a Ostomy bag, the device can be removed from slipping it through the Ostomy bag, the main body is designed so as the device hangs from the Ostomy bag ensuring it maintains it position so as to correctly alert the user when the bag is full.

[0023] Referring to the FIG. 2, the switch lever mounted on the left side of the main body, a lever cover is arranged over the main body to prevent lever from the being damage. A wiring loom arranged in connection with the switch lever, The tension cord is fixed on a lever arm arranged on the switch lever, when the tension on the cord cross predefined limit the switch level pass the signal to the wiring loom and wiring loom pass that signals to following components.

[0024] FIG.4 shows the view of the right side housing which houses the lever switch, the wiring loom comes out from the housing down to the main battery housing and interchangeable heads. The lever switch is a simple on and off switch that switches to on when it is levered across be the tension cord as the bag inflates.

[0025] FIG.4 shows the Isomeric view of the tension housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Referring to the FIG. 4, the tension hosing arranged on the right side of the main body, a tension positioner arranged within the tension housing. The function of the tension positioner is to maintain / hold the tension in the cord when the device is in the use. The user can hook and unhook the cord in the tension positioner according to the need. User can remove Ostomy bag alarm by simply unhooking the tension cord and by pulling the device through Ostomy bag or by lifting it up and over.

[0027] FIG.5 shows the wiring loom along with the battery holder and switch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Referring to the FIG. 5, the wiring loom arranged along with the switch lever, a battery holder arranged on the wiring loom along with a switch for turning on / off the device by the user. The wiring loom has a interchangeable end to either select vibrating or sound options which is arranged at the end of the wiring loom, when the power the lever switch is activates by the bag being full power is sent to the vibration or sound end and the user is alerted to empty the Ostomy bag.

[0029] The method or process of using the present discloser is such that, the user will take the Ostomy bag and the present disclosed device, and unhook the tension cord from the tension housing, then place the device over the Ostomy bag and then bring the tension cord across the front of the Ostomy bag and secure by hooking in place on the main body. The user will start the device by turning on the switch of the device situated on the battery hosuing. When the Ostomy bag will get full the bag will create tension on the tension cord. When the tension cross the predefined limit on the cord, the switch lever will pull to on and the signal goes to the wiring loom where the battery is arranged on the wiring loom. The battery will supply the power to the relevant users selected alert either vibration or sound which is arranged at the end of the wiring. The vibration pad will start vibrating or if sound pad used it will sound with the power of the battery and the user will be alerted and will-empty the Ostomy bag. Once the bag is emptied the device will automatically reset as the tension will be reduced and the switch will return to off position.

[0030] The object of the presents discloser is to notify / indicate the user when the Ostomy bag is full with accuracy so that user don’t have to face any embarrassing situation due the Ostomy bag.

[0031] Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component.

[0032] The terms "an embodiment", "embodiment", "embodiments", "the embodiment", "the embodiments", "one or more embodiments", "some embodiments", and "one embodiment" mean "one or more (but not all) embodiments of the invention(s)" unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0033] Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein. In addition, the term “each” used in the specification does not imply that every or all element in a group needs to fit the description associated with the term “each”. For example, “each member is associated with element A” does not imply that all members are associated with element A. Instead, the term “each” only implies that a member (of some of the members), in a singular form, is associated with an element A.

[0034] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the patent rights. It is therefore intended that the scope of the patent rights be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that are issued on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the patent rights.

Claims

1. An alert device for a Ostomy bag, comprising:o a housing configured to hang over a patient's Ostomy bag;o a tension cord attached to the housing and positioned across the front of the Ostomy bag to detect when the bag is full;o a sensor mechanism connected to the tension cord, configured to sense increased tension as the Ostomy bag fills to a predetermined level;o a notification module housed within the device and configured to alert the patient via at least one of vibration or sound upon detection of the predetermined tension level.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the tension cord is adjustable to accommodate different sizes and shapes of Ostomy bags and the point at which the users wishes to be notified.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a lever switch sensor that pulls across to the on position when tension is exerted by the tension cord as the Ostomy bag fills.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification module comprises:o a vibration motor configured to produce a tactile alert;o an audio module configured to produce a sound alert;o Interchangeable modules alerting the user either by a vibration motor or audio speaker.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a battery housing which contains a on / off switch for the device and supplies power to the user selected alerting module being either vibration or sound.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power source housed within the device, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of replaceable batteries and or rechargeable batteries.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is designed to hang from the Ostomy bag and is configured to securely position the device over the Ostomy bag for correct detection of fullness.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a calibration feature that allows the patient to set the desired tension level corresponding to when the Ostomy bag is considered full, thereby customizing the alert sensitivity.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism is configured to reset automatically after the Ostomy bag is emptied, allowing the device to be reused without manual adjustment.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a protective casing around the tension cord to prevent accidental dislodgement while maintaining sensitivity to the fullness of the Ostomy bag.

11. The device has a removable lever housing to allows for cleaning of the main body of the device.

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