Artificial bladder device

Abstract

To provide an artificial bladder device having a resistance force against deformation such as distortion or bending of a pouch, as well as, being capable of securing, by a curve-shaped drain wire, a discharge passage of excrement flowing down to a discharge valve even when a first wall surface and a second wall surface attempt to tightly contact with each other.SOLUTION: A drain wire 5 having a curved shape is accommodated inside a cavity formed between a first wall surface and a second wall surface of a pouch 2. In the drain wire 5, a pair of linear end portions continuous from both sides of the curved shape are assembled to a discharge valve 4, and a curved end part is provided extending up to the vicinity of a backflow prevention region P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an artificial bladder device. [Background technology]

[0002] Figure 6 is a front view of an artificial bladder device equipped with a plastic bag (pouch) for collecting excrement (urine), and Figure 7 is a side view of the artificial bladder device. The artificial bladder device 50 has a pouch 51 formed by overlapping two films and welding the periphery. The internal space surrounded by the first wall surface 51a and the second wall surface 51b of the pouch 51 becomes a cavity 51c capable of storing urine. Generally, the upper part of the pouch 51 is a backflow prevention area P where a backflow prevention means is installed. In Figures 6 and 7, the backflow prevention area P is colored and the boundary line Q is indicated by a dashed line. Urine flows from the urostomy (urinary stoma) side to the discharge valve 52 side by multiple sheets or the like welded to the wall surface, preventing flow in the opposite direction and preventing infection.

[0003] A face plate 53 equipped with a urostomy connection port 53a is provided at the top of pouch 51. Face plate 53 is adhered to the abdominal wall around the urostomy to hold pouch 51 in place. A discharge valve 52 is provided at the bottom of pouch 51, and face plate 53 and discharge valve 52 are welded or adhered to the pouch wall, forming a cavity 51c throughout pouch 51. Urine is discharged intermittently in small amounts from the urostomy (urinary stoma) through urostomy connection port 53a and accumulates in cavity 51c formed within pouch 51. In addition, at night, for example, the urobag can be attached to a bedside frame and connected via an outlet valve and extension tube, increasing the amount of urine collected by approximately 10 times and enabling collection for a longer period of time.

[0004] The artificial bladder device 50 is used in an upright position during the day, but at night when sleeping, it is used in a supine position with an expansion bag connected. In other words, depending on the user's position, the artificial bladder device 50 can be in two states: an upright mode and a supine mode with a urobag connected, and its operation is significantly different between the two. First, in the standing mode, pouch 51 is in a nearly vertical position, discharge valve 52 is closed, and collected urine is accumulated in cavity 51c of pouch 51. The accumulated urine is subjected to a downward force by gravity, and is discharged to the outside by opening discharge valve 52. The usage time varies depending on the capacity of pouch 51 and the user's physical condition, and is approximately 1 to 4 hours.

[0005] On the other hand, in the supine mode, the pouch 51 is in a nearly horizontal position, and the discharge valve 52 is open and connected to a urobag via an extension tube (not shown). The pouch 51 is empty, and urine that is discharged intermittently and little by little from the urostomy naturally falls nearly horizontally into the discharge valve 52. Therefore, both walls of the pouch 51 are in contact, and urine moves through a small gap. Furthermore, the pouch 51 is pulled, twisted, or bent depending on the patient's position, and is always in a complexly deformed state during use. If the twisting deformation is large, the gap through which urine passes is closed, trapping the urine within the pouch 51 and preventing it from reaching the discharge valve 52.

[0006] The rotational force that twists and deforms the pouch 51 is applied from the outside via the extension tube. The urobag itself may rotate during installation or urinalysis, and the rotational force is transmitted to the pouch 51 via the extension tube, causing the pouch 51 to be used in a twisted and deformed state. If the deformation is significant, the gap through which urine passes closes, causing urine to accumulate in the pouch 51 and prevent it from reaching the discharge valve 52 (see Figure 8). If this closed state continues for a long period of time and the user turns over and assumes a prone position, body pressure is applied to the accumulated urine, even if a backflow prevention device is installed, and urine may flow back from the urostomy into the kidney or leak from the base plate 53 that is attached to the abdominal wall around the urostomy. Therefore, various methods have been devised to prevent deformation such as twisting and bending of the pouch 51.

[0007] For example, one idea is to provide a reinforcing member on the pouch wall to prevent twisting. To prevent twisting, a long, thin, flat reinforcing member is provided extending toward the side of the pouch. This is intended to allow the wall to cancel out the rotational moment in the discharge axis direction (see Patent Document 1; JP 2018-507067 A). Another idea is to provide a hollow discharge tube in the pouch to ensure a discharge path when the wall is closed (see Patent Document 2; JP 3681717 A). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-507067 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3681717 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Patent Document 1 adds a reinforcing member to the pouch to cancel out the rotational moment at the pouch wall. The pouch wall is required to be easy to wear and flexible, so it is made of a thin film of about 80 μm, which is not durable enough and there is a risk that the wall will tear and the collected urine will leak all at once, which is a hygiene problem. Because the reinforcing member extends laterally, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pouch, if it is large or thick, it may feel like a foreign object to the user.Furthermore, if external force is applied to the reinforcing member, it may pierce the body, posing a safety issue.

[0010] Patent Document 2 discloses a hollow drainage tube that extends from the pouch opening to the bottom of the pouch, ensuring a drainage path for excrement even when the pouch walls are in close contact with each other. However, it does not have the function to prevent the pouch from twisting or bending, and the drainage tube must be fixed at the top and bottom ends of the pouch, making installation cumbersome. There is also the risk that the top end of the tube may break the pouch wall due to pouch deformation. Secretions mixed with urine and impurities dissolved in chemicals applied to the base plate are also likely to clog the tube and drainage path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide an artificial bladder device that has resistance to deformation such as twisting or bending of the pouch, and that can ensure a discharge path for waste flowing down to the discharge valve by using a curved drain wire even if the first wall surface and the second wall surface try to come into close contact with each other.

[0012] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following configuration. An artificial bladder device equipped with a pouch for collecting excrement discharged from an artificial bladder, the pouch being made by overlapping two thin films forming a first wall surface and a second wall surface and welding or adhering the peripheries of these to form a cavity capable of storing collected excrement without leakage; a face plate provided at the top of the pouch and having a urostomy connection port; and a discharge valve provided at the bottom of the pouch for discharging the excrement collected in the pouch, characterized in that a curved drain wire is housed in the cavity formed between the first wall surface and the second wall surface, and a pair of straight ends of the drain wire continuing on both sides of the curved shape are respectively attached to the discharge valve, and the curved ends extend to the vicinity of the backflow prevention area. According to the above configuration, a curved drain wire is housed in the cavity, and a pair of straight ends connected to both sides of the curved shape of the drain wire are respectively attached to the discharge valve, and the curved ends extend to the vicinity of the backflow prevention area. Therefore, the drain wire has resistance to deformation such as twisting or bending of the pouch, and even if the first wall surface and the second wall surface try to come into close contact with each other, the curved drain wire can ensure a discharge path for excrement (urine) flowing down to the discharge valve.

[0013] The drain wire is preferably made of a flexible polymer wire. This ensures safety by preventing accidents such as the pouch being torn by a broken drain wire tip or injuries to the user.

[0014] It is preferable that the pair of straight portions of the drain wire are assembled so that they are parallel to the central axis of the discharge valve and the valve opening of the discharge valve is located between the straight ends of the drain wire. In this way, the valve opening of the discharge valve is positioned between the pair of straight ends, which prevents the drain wire from increasing resistance to urine discharge, making it easier for impurities mixed in with urine to be discharged and preventing clogging of the pouch.

[0015] It is desirable that the cavity side end of the discharge valve facing the cavity is provided with fitting holes into which the pair of straight ends of the drain wire are respectively fitted, and that each fitting hole is provided with a locking mechanism that allows the straight ends to be inserted but prevents them from being pulled out. This simplifies the assembly of the drain wire to the pouch and also prevents the drain wire from coming off the discharge valve when the pouch is deformed, improving the reliability of the device.

[0016] One end of an extension tube may be connected to the discharge valve, and the other end of the extension tube may be connected to a urobag. This means that even if an additional urobag is added to the pouch, the drain wire prevents the pouch from closing, allowing patients to sleep peacefully without worrying about overflow, improving their quality of life (QOL). [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The rational placement of the curved drain wire within the cavity provides high resistance to twisting and deformation of the pouch while ensuring a clear passage for excrement.The drain wire is also highly safe, with a shape and material that is less likely to cause injury. This device has a simple structure and can provide an artificial bladder device at low cost. In addition, when adding a urobag to the pouch, the drain wire prevents the pouch from closing, allowing patients to sleep in peace without worrying about overflow. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an embodiment of an artificial bladder device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an artificial bladder device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a front cross-sectional view of the area around the discharge valve and drain wire of an embodiment of the artificial bladder device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' around the discharge valve and drain wire of an embodiment of the artificial bladder device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an example of an artificial bladder device system in which a urobag is connected to a pouch. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a typical artificial bladder device. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a typical artificial bladder device. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a photograph of a pouch twisted closed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] An example of an artificial bladder device will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, an overview of the artificial bladder device 1 will be explained. Figure 1 is a front view of the artificial bladder device 1. Figure 2 is a side view of the artificial bladder device 1. The excrement (urine) collection bag pouch (hereinafter simply referred to as "pouch") 2 is made by overlapping two sheets of film. The pouch 2 has a first wall surface 2a and a second wall surface 2b which are welded or glued around the periphery to form a cavity 2c inside which urine can be stored. The first wall surface 2a and the second wall surface 2b are made of a polymer film such as polyethylene with a film thickness of about 80 μm. A urine storage capacity of about 0.2 liters is often used for the cavity 2c.

[0020] 1 and 2, the upper part of the pouch 2 is a backflow prevention area P where backflow prevention means is installed. Specifically, in the backflow prevention area P, multiple sheets or the like are welded to the first wall surface 2a and the second wall surface 2b, and urine flows only from the urostomy connection port 3a side to the discharge valve 4 side, preventing reverse flow. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the backflow prevention area P is colored and the boundary line Q is indicated by a dashed line. The area below the boundary line Q does not affect backflow prevention, and urine accumulates and is discharged from the discharge valve 4.

[0021] A base plate 3 equipped with a urostomy connection port 3a is provided on the top of the pouch 2. The base plate 3 is adhered to the abdominal wall around the urostomy area to hold the pouch 2 in place. The base plate 3 may have a two-piece structure. The base plate 3 may also be provided with a hook for a fastening belt. The pouch 2 may also have a nonwoven fabric surface on the abdominal wall side. A discharge valve 4 is provided at the bottom of the pouch 2, and the base plate 3 and discharge valve 4 are welded or glued to the first wall surface 2a and the second wall surface 2b to form a cavity 2c within the pouch 2. A curved (e.g., inverted U-shaped) drain wire 5 is provided within the cavity 2c. Urine is discharged intermittently in small amounts from the urostomy connection port 3a and accumulates within the cavity 2c.

[0022] Figure 3 shows a front cross-sectional view of the drain valve 4 and the drain wire 5. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the drain valve 4 and the drain wire 5 shown in Figure 3, taken along the arrows A-A'. The drain valve 4 is welded to the first wall 2a and the second wall 2b. The drain wire 5 is a thin, round wire with an inverted U-shape and is located within the cavity 2c of the pouch 2. The inverted U-shaped end (curved end) 5a of the drain wire 5 extends to the vicinity of the backflow prevention area P, but is long enough not to intrude into the backflow prevention area P, thereby preventing any interference with the backflow prevention function. As shown in Figure 4, the drain wire 5 prevents the first wall 2a and the second wall 2b from coming into close contact with each other even when the pouch 2 is twisted, ensuring a small gap through which urine can pass. This ensures a drain path even when the pouch 2 is severely deformed. When a urobag (described later) is connected, urine continues to be discharged, preventing overflow.

[0023] Furthermore, the drain wire 5 is preferably made of a flexible polymer wire so that it exerts resistance to prevent deformation of the pouch 2, such as twisting or bending, and so that the drain wire 5 itself will not break due to twisting. Breakage of the drain wire 5 could result in damage to the pouch 2 or injury. To improve the strength of the drain wire 5, the inverted U-shaped end 5a may be formed into a ring-shaped end. A ladder frame-shaped or truss-shaped connecting member may be provided on the straight portion leading to the inverted U-shaped end 5a.

[0024] 3, the pair of straight portions of the drain wire 5 are assembled so that they are parallel to the central axis of the drain valve 4 and the valve opening 4a of the drain valve 4 is located between the straight ends 5b of the drain wire 5. In this case, it is desirable to arrange the straight ends 5b so that the distance between them is at its widest point. The inverted U-shaped end 5a of the drain wire 5 has a curved shape, and therefore has resistance to rotational moment. Therefore, when the pouch 2 twists, the inverted U-shaped end 5a comes into contact with the first wall surface 2a and / or the second wall surface 2b, and a repulsive force that resists twisting is generated in the drain wire 5. Furthermore, the valve opening 4a of the discharge valve 4 is located between the pair of straight ends 5b, which prevents an increase in resistance to discharge of urine caused by the drain wire 5. This also makes it easier for impurities mixed in urine to be discharged, and prevents the pouch 2 from clogging.

[0025] The drain valve 4 has a cavity-side end facing the cavity 2c, which is provided with fitting holes 4b into which a pair of straight ends 5b of the drain wire 5 are fitted. Each fitting hole 4b is provided with a retaining mechanism that allows the straight ends 5b to be inserted but prevents them from being pulled out. Specifically, a retaining protrusion 6 that tapers diagonally downward toward the bottom of the fitting hole 4b is provided on the inner wall surface of the fitting hole 4b. The pair of straight ends 5b also has a wedge-shaped groove 5c on the outer periphery. When the straight ends 5b of the drain wire 5 are inserted into the fitting hole 4b until their tips abut the bottom of the hole, the straight ends 5b are deformed by pushing the tips of the retaining protrusions 6 outward, and the deformed retaining protrusions 6 fit into the groove 5c, preventing the straight ends 5b from being pulled out. This simplifies the assembly of the drain wire 5 to the pouch 2 and also prevents the drain wire 5 from coming off the discharge valve 4 when the pouch 2 is deformed, improving the reliability of the device.

[0026] The artificial bladder device 1 has two modes: when the user is in a standing position (when an expansion bag is not used) and when the user is in a lying position (when an expansion bag is used). In the standing mode, the discharge valve 4 is closed and urine is accumulated in the pouch 2. In the lying mode, the expansion bag is connected to the pouch 2, the discharge valve 4 is opened, one end of the extension tube 7 is connected to the discharge port 4c, and the other end of the extension tube 7 is connected to the expansion bag.

[0027] There are two types of booster bags: the leg bag, which is attached to the leg and is designed for longer daytime activities, with a capacity two to three times that of the pouch. The urobag 8, on the other hand, is attached to the side frame of a bed and has a capacity about ten times that of the pouch, designed for use in a recumbent position, such as during sleep. The following explanation will mainly use the urobag 8.

[0028] Figure 5 shows an example of an artificial bladder device 1 system in which a urobag is connected to a pouch 2. The urobag 8 is a large urine collection bag connected to the discharge valve 4 of the pouch 2 via a transparent extension tube 7 approximately 10 mm in diameter and over 1 m in length. A check valve 8a is provided upstream of the urobag 8, and a discharge valve 8b is provided downstream. The urobag 8 is transparent, and the outer periphery of the cavity 8c is marked with a volume scale. Its capacity is approximately 2.5 liters, approximately 10 times that of the pouch 2, extending its usable time to over 24 hours. Therefore, the urobag 8 can be used for extended periods of time, providing peace of mind while sleeping. The urobag 8 may also have a built-in measuring cup for measuring urine volume in hospitals and other settings.

[0029] The urobag 8 used during sleep is attached to the side frame 9a of the bed 9, and the cavity 8c of the urobag 8 must be positioned sufficiently lower than the top surface of the mattress 10 to allow urine to be discharged. The urobag 8 is connected to the pouch 2 before sleep, and the next morning it is detached from the pouch 2 and the urine accumulated in the urobag 8 is discarded. For hygienic reasons, the extension tube 7 and urobag 8 must be washed with water and stored during the day. User X can lie on the mattress 10 in a supine position or in a lateral position (not shown) facing the urobag 8. This means that when adding a urobag 8, the drain wire 5 can prevent the pouch from closing, allowing you to sleep in peace without worrying about overflow, improving your quality of life (QOL).

[0030] As explained above, even if the pouch 2 is deformed by twisting or bending, the curved (e.g., inverted U-shaped) drain wire 5 provided within the cavity 2c ensures a path for urine to be discharged to the discharge valve 4. Therefore, by connecting the urobag 8 to the pouch 2, it can be used for approximately 10 times longer than the pouch 2 alone, allowing users to sleep peacefully without worrying about overflow. The operability and fit are the same as conventional devices, and costs are kept to a minimum. Since artificial bladder devices need to be replaced every 4 to 5 days, and one person uses approximately 90 of them per year, cost is extremely important to users. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 artificial bladder device 2 pouch 2a first wall 2b second wall 2c cavity 3 face plate 3a urostomy connection port 4 discharge valve 4a valve opening 4b fitting hole 4c discharge port 5 drain wire 5a inverted U-shaped end 5b straight end 5c groove P backflow prevention area Q boundary line 6 retaining protrusion 7 extension tube 8 urobag 8a check valve 8b discharge valve 8c cavity 9 bed 9a side frame 10 mattress X user

Claims

1. An artificial bladder device having a pouch for collecting waste excreted from the artificial bladder, a pouch in which two thin films constituting a first wall and a second wall are overlapped and the peripheries of the films are welded or glued together to form a cavity inside which collected excrement can be accumulated without leakage; a base plate provided at the top of the pouch and having a urostomy connection port; a discharge valve provided at the bottom of the pouch for discharging the excrement collected in the pouch; An artificial bladder device characterized in that a curved drain wire is housed in the cavity formed between the first wall surface and the second wall surface, and a pair of straight ends of the drain wire connected to both sides of the curved shape are each assembled to the discharge valve, and the curved ends extend to the vicinity of the face plate.

2. 2. The artificial bladder device according to claim 1, wherein the drain wire is made of a flexible polymer wire.

3. 3. An artificial bladder device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a pair of straight portions of the drain wire are parallel to the central axis of the discharge valve, and the drain wire is assembled so that the valve opening of the discharge valve is positioned between the straight ends of the drain wire.

4. An artificial bladder device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cavity side end of the discharge valve facing the cavity is provided with fitting holes into which a pair of straight ends of the drain wire are each fitted, and each fitting hole is provided with a locking mechanism that allows the straight ends to be inserted but not pulled out.

5. 3. An artificial bladder device according to claim 1, wherein one end of an extension tube is connected to the discharge valve, and the other end of the extension tube is connected to a urobag.

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