Ostomy Drainage Systems

Abstract

The ostomy drainage system 1 includes an ostomy appliance 10 and a drainage conduit 100, the ostomy appliance 10 including an interior collection volume 20 defined by a first wall 12 and a second wall 14 connected together, a stoma receiving opening 16 defined in the first wall 12, and a valve, the valve including a body 32 connected to the first wall 12 and the second wall 14, and an inlet 40 and an outlet 42 connected by a flow path and fluidly connected to the interior collection volume 20, the drainage conduit 100 including a connector device 102 connectable with the valve 30, the connector device 102 having a connector body 104 providing a passageway and an inlet formation extending radially outward relative to the connector body, the connector body extending from the outlet to the inlet when the connector device is connected to the valve, and the inlet formation resisting removal from the valve.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Urostomy appliances are well known in the art. They are typically attached to a user via an adhesive member that extends around the user's stoma having an adhesive, and provide a collection volume to collect waste (mainly liquid waste) exiting the stoma. A mechanism for draining the collection volume is often provided. Typically these are in the form of a tap, allowing the user to remove and empty the waste collected in the collection volume without having to remove and discard the entire appliance.

[0002] Sometimes a user may wish to extend the time during which the appliance is idle, for example while sleeping. Typically, a large volume bag is used to contain waste while the user is sleeping. In this scenario, the outlet valve is connected by a tube to the large volume bag so that the bag can be filled with waste.

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention seek to alleviate one or more problems associated with the prior art. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 130329 Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ostomy drainage system including an ostomy appliance and a drainage conduit. The ostomy appliance comprises: an interior collection volume defined by a first wall and a second wall connected together about a periphery; a stoma receiving opening defined in the first wall; Valve and The valve includes: a body connected to the first wall and the second wall; an inlet and an outlet connected by a flow path and fluidly connected to an internal collection volume; Including, The drainage conduit is a connector device connectable with the valve, the connector device having a connector body providing a passageway; an inlet forming portion extending radially outward from the connector body; Including, When the connector device is connected to the valve, the connector body extends from the outlet to the inlet and the inlet formation resists removal from the valve.

[0006] The inlet formation may form part of the mucus guard member. The connector device may be connected to the valve. The connector body may extend from the outlet to the inlet. The mucus guard member may be located at the inlet and may provide a cage around the inlet to inhibit the entry of mucus. The mucus guard member may include a wall that is generally upright in use. The wall projects away from the inlet of the valve. The wall may project in an annular shape from the connector body. The mucus guard member may include a plurality of slots or channels, optionally spaced around the inlet. The mucus guard member may have four slots. The first and second slots may be separated by a bar of the cage to form a first pair, and the third and fourth slots may be separated by a bar of the cage to form a second pair. The first pair may be on an opposite side of the mucus guard member to the second pair. The mucus guard member may form a frusto-conical shape.

[0007] The shape of the mucus guard may be such that it flares at the base and tapers to one end. The base may be 0.8 to 1.2 cm wide, preferably around 0.95 cm. The end of the mucus guard may be 0.7 to 0.95 cm wide.

[0008] The connector body may include a shoulder formation. The shoulder formation may be positioned adjacent the outlet of the valve in use. The connector body and / or the mucus guard member may be formed from a rigid material, optionally a rigid plastics material. The connector body and the mucus guard member may be formed from the same material.

[0009] The mucus guard member may be 0.8 to 1.2 cm in length, preferably around 1 cm. The connector body may be 0.9 to 1.3 cm in length, preferably around 1.1 cm. The ratio of the length of the connector body to the length of the mucus guard member may be 1:1 to 1.5:1, preferably around 1.1:1.

[0010] The connector device may provide an anchor to hold the connector device connected to the valve and a mucus guard member to prevent / reduce the extent to which mucus advances into the passageway. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] In order that the present disclosure may be readily understood, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ostomy drainage system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an ostomy appliance. [Figure 3A-3B] 3A and 3B show different views of a portion of the drainage conduit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the drainage conduit and a valve of the ostomy appliance. [Diagram 5] 1 shows a portion of a drainage conduit connected to a valve of an ostomy appliance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] 1, there is shown an ostomy drainage system 1. The ostomy drainage system 1 includes an ostomy appliance 10 and a drainage conduit 100.

[0014] 2, an ostomy appliance 10 (or appliance 10) is shown. The ostomy appliance 10 includes a first wall 12 and a second wall 14. The first wall 12 and the second wall 14 are connected together around a periphery to define an interior collection volume 20. In the illustrated example, the first wall 12 resides on the "body" side of the appliance 10 (i.e., closer to the body than the interior collection volume when the appliance 10 is in use) and the second wall 14 resides on the "non-body" side of the appliance 10 (i.e., furthest from the body than the interior collection volume when the appliance 10 is in use).

[0015] A stoma receiving opening 16 is defined in the first wall 12. The stoma receiving opening 16 is fluidly connected to the interior collection volume such that, in use, waste that enters the appliance through the stoma receiving opening flows into the collection volume. In some embodiments, an adhesive member 18 is attached to the first wall 12 and extends around the stoma receiving opening 16. The adhesive member 18 allows a user of the appliance 10 to attach the appliance 10 to the abdomen around the stoma.

[0016] A valve 30 is provided so that waste can be emptied from the interior collection volume 20. The valve 30 includes a body 32, an inlet 40 and an outlet 42. The body 32 is connected to the first wall 12 and the second wall 14. The inlet 40 and the outlet 42 are connected via a flow passage and are fluidly connected to the interior collection volume 20.

[0017] The valve 30 includes a closure member (not shown) that is used to close the valve 30. The closure member is inserted into the outlet 42 to block the flow path out of the appliance 10. When a user wishes to open the valve 30 (i.e., to empty the appliance 10 or to connect a drainage conduit 100 as described below), the closure member is removed from the outlet 42, thereby opening the flow path and allowing waste material to flow from the interior collection volume 20 through the valve and out of the appliance 10.

[0018] As mentioned above, the drainage system 1 further includes a drainage conduit 100. The drainage conduit 100 includes a connector device 102 connectable to the valve 10. The connector device 102 has a connector body 104 and an inlet formation 111. In some embodiments, the inlet formation 111 forms part of the mucus guard member 110.

[0019] Connector body 104 has a central bore that provides passageway 106. The exterior surface of connector body 104 includes a plurality of tapered surfaces, each of which extends axially along connector body 104 and is adjacent to the next tapered surface; that is, the exterior surface of connector body 104 has a series of wedge-shaped portions that form a surface. In some embodiments, connector body 104 has a length (designated "a" in FIG. 4) of 0.9 to 1.3 cm, and preferably is on the order of 1.1 cm.

[0020] In some embodiments, the connector body 104 includes a shoulder formation 108. In other words, the connector body 104 has an outwardly protruding flange that extends around the body 104. The shoulder formation 108 is spaced apart from the mucus guard member 110 (and, in the illustrated example, the tapered outer surface of the connector body 104 is disposed adjacent to and between the shoulder formation 108 and the mucus guard member 110).

[0021] The inlet formation 111 extends radially outward relative to the connector body 104. In other words, the inlet formation 111 provides a conical or outwardly tapered portion extending outwardly from the connector body 104. The inlet formation 111 may form part of the mucus guard member 110 described below, or may be provided separately.

[0022] The mucus guard member 110 provides a cage (i.e., a formation that provides a number of "bars" or projections away from the connector body 104 that trap / retard mucus flowing towards the passageway 106) around one end of the connector body 104. The mucus guard member 110 provides a flow path for liquid waste into the connector body 104 / conduit 100, but inhibits the progression of highly viscous materials into the passageway 106. In other words, one end of the drainage conduit 100 has a sieve / filter formation around it to prevent (or at least inhibit and retard) mucus from entering the conduit 100.

[0023] In some embodiments, the mucus guard member 110 forms a frusto-conical shape. In other words, the base 110a of the mucus guard member 110 is wider than the end 110b. The mucus guard member 110 tapers gradually from the base 110a to the end 110b. In this example, the base 110a has a width of 0.8 to 1.2 cm, preferably about 0.95 cm (see line "x" in FIG. 4). Furthermore, the end 110b of the mucus guard member 110 has a width of 0.5 to 0.9 cm, preferably about 0.7 cm (see line "y" in FIG. 4). It should be understood that the mucus guard member 110 does not have to form a frusto-conical shape. In this case, both the base and the end may be about 0.95 cm.

[0024] In some embodiments, the mucus guard member 110 is 0.8 to 1.2 cm in length, preferably on the order of 1 cm (see line "b" in FIG. 4). That is, the ratio of the length of the connector body (line "a") to the length of the mucus guard member (line "b") is 1:1 to 1.5:1. In this example, the overall length of the connector device 102 is on the order of 2.1 cm, where the connector body 104 is on the order of 1.1 cm and the mucus guard member 110 is on the order of 1.0 cm (i.e., the length of body 104 to length of member 110 is on the order of 1.1:1).

[0025] It should be understood that the mucus guard member 110 may be longer in length to provide more apertures to form a screen / filter for the mucus. For example, the length may be 30 to 50 mm. In one such example, the material may be soft (e.g., TPE) and the length is selected so as not to interfere with the anti-reflux valve within the ostomy appliance 10 itself (the anti-reflux valve is formed from multiple layers of membrane that ensures that waste entering the appliance 10 cannot move back away from the stoma).

[0026] In some embodiments, the mucus guard member 110 includes a generally upstanding wall 112 that projects in an annular shape from the connector body 104. In this example, a circular opening is provided at one end of the mucus guard member 110. However, this need not be the case and one or more additional structural members may be provided across the passageway 106 to further prevent mucus from entering the passageway.

[0027] The mucus guard member 110 includes a number of slots 114 (and preferably has four slots 114) formed in the wall 112. In this context, the slots may be considered to be substantially elongated oval or stadium shaped, penetrating the material of the mucus guard member 110 (i.e. penetrating the wall 112) to provide small openings. In some embodiments, each opening is approximately 6 mm in length and 1.9 mm in width.

[0028] It should be understood that each slot may alternatively be formed as a recess, in other words a channel extending from one end 110b of the mucus guard member 110 towards the base 110a.

[0029] In the illustrated example, the first slot and the second slot 114 are formed adjacent to each other with a structural member 116 therebetween. Additionally, the third slot and the fourth slot 114 are also formed adjacent to each other with a structural member 116 therebetween. In other words, the first slot and the second slot 114 form a first pair, and the third slot and the fourth slot 114 form a second pair.

[0030] In this example, a first pair is positioned on a first side of the mucus guard member 110 and a second pair is positioned on an opposing second side of the mucus guard member 110. In other words, the cage of the mucus guard member 110 described above is formed from a wall 112 and slots 114 distributed around the wall 112 (which may form a uniformly distributed annular device). The structural members 116 form the "bars" of the cage.

[0031] In some embodiments, these slots 114 are each positioned the same distance from a plane that extends laterally / vertically through the connector body 104. They are therefore the same distance from the inlet 40 of the valve 30 during use.

[0032] In some embodiments, the connector body 104 and / or the mucus guard member 110 are formed from a rigid material, which may preferably be a rigid plastic material.

[0033] Features of the drainage conduit 100 are described below with reference to where it will be located in use (i.e. when the connector device 102 is connected to the valve 30). This is shown in FIG.

[0034] The connector device 102 is inserted into the outlet 42 of the valve 30 and extends through the inlet 40 to the interior of the appliance 10. The connector body 104 extends from the outlet 42 to the inlet 40, with the tapered surfaces described above engaging the inner surface of the valve 30 (in the flow path between the inlet 40 and the outlet 42). The contoured outer surface of the connector body 104 helps to seal against the valve 30 to prevent leakage of waste between the valve 30 and the connector device 102.

[0035] The inlet formation 111 flares outwardly from the inlet of the valve 30 (the inlet formation 111 is wider than the inlet 40). That is, the inlet formation 111 provides an anchoring function / resists removal from the valve 30. In other words, even if an outward force is applied to the connector device 102 (i.e., away from the outlet 42 and appliance 10), the inlet formation 111 inhibits the connector device 102 from being removed from the valve 30.

[0036] 5, a shoulder formation 108 is positioned adjacent the outlet 42 of the valve 30. This flange portion prevents the connector body 104 from being inserted too deeply into the valve 30, thereby avoiding damage or distortion of the valve body 32.

[0037] A mucus guard member 110 (present at one end of connector body 104 ) is disposed at or adjacent to inlet 40 to provide a case around inlet 40 that inhibits the entry of mucus into passageway 106 .

[0038] In other words, the mucus guard member 110 is positioned across the inlet 40 so that liquids are not prevented from exiting through the inlet 40, but heavy / highly viscous materials are impeded by the slots 114 in the sides of the mucus guard member 110.

[0039] A wall 116 projects away from the entrance 40 (and into the appliance 10). As mentioned above, the mucus guard member 110 is only about 1 cm in length and therefore does not project very far into the appliance 10. It is simply positioned to prevent mucus from flowing out of the appliance 10.

[0040] The ostomy drainage system 1 is designed for use in urostomies or ileostomies where the waste discharged by the user's stoma is liquid or primarily liquid (i.e. urine or a urine / mucous mixture). The drainage system 1 is primarily intended for nighttime use / when the user does not need or can not use a urostomy appliance. The drainage conduit 100 includes a conduit that extends further (i.e. in addition to the internal collection volume 20 itself) into the collection volume 2.

[0041] The present invention aims to prevent mucus from building up in the conduit, which can result in blocking and preventing urine from reaching further collection volume 2. This is addressed by providing a mucus guard member 110 which forms a cage around the inlet 40 of the valve 30 (and around the passageway 106 of the connector device 102). Importantly, the proximity of the slot 114 and passageway 106 to the inlet 40 not only prevents waste from pooling close to the valve 30 and potentially causing leakage, but also keeps mucus out of the passageway 106 allowing liquid to flow freely.

[0042] As used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprises" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. These terms should not be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

[0043] The present invention may also broadly reside in the components, elements, steps, examples, and / or features referred to or shown herein, either individually, or collectively in any and all combinations of two or more of said components, elements, steps, examples, and / or features. In particular, one or more features in any of the embodiments described herein may be combined with one or more features from any other embodiment described herein.

[0044] Protection may be sought for any feature disclosed in one or more of the publications referenced herein in connection with this disclosure.

[0045] Although certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, the appended claims are not intended to be limited to only those embodiments, and the claims should be construed literally, literal, and / or to encompass equivalents.

Claims

1. An ostomy drainage system including an ostomy appliance and a drainage conduit, The ostomy appliance comprises: an interior collection volume defined by a first wall and a second wall connected together around a periphery; a stoma-receiving opening defined in the first wall; Valve and Including, The valve is a body connected to the first wall and the second wall; an inlet and an outlet connected by a flow path and fluidly connected to the interior collection volume; Including, The drainage conduit comprises: a connector device connectable with the valve, the connector device having a connector body providing a passageway; an inlet forming portion that extends radially outward relative to the connector body; Including, An ostomy drainage system, wherein when the connector device is connected to the valve, the connector body extends from the outlet to the inlet, and the inlet formation resists removal from the valve.

2. The ostomy drainage system of claim 1 , wherein the entrance formation forms part of a mucus guard member.

3. 3. The ostomy drainage system of claim 2, wherein when the connector device is connected to the valve, the connector body extends from the outlet to the inlet, and the mucus guard member is positioned at the inlet to provide a cage around the inlet to inhibit the entry of mucus.

4. The ostomy drainage system of claim 3 , wherein the mucus guard member includes an upstanding wall that, in use, projects away from the inlet of the valve.

5. The ostomy drainage system of claim 4 , wherein the wall protrudes from the connector body in an annular shape.

6. The ostomy drainage system of claim 3 , wherein the mucus guard member includes a plurality of slots or channels.

7. An ostomy drainage system as described in claim 6, wherein the slots or channels are spaced around the entrance.

8. The ostomy drainage system of claim 6 , wherein the mucus guard member has four slots.

9. 9. The ostomy drainage system of claim 8, wherein the first slot and the second slot are separated by a bar of the cage to form a first pair, and the third slot and the fourth slot are separated by a second bar of the cage to form a second pair.

10. The ostomy drainage system of claim 9 , wherein the first pair is on an opposite side of the mucus guard member from the second pair.

11. The ostomy drainage system of claim 2 , wherein the mucus guard member forms a frusto-conical shape that widens at a base and tapers to one end.

12. 12. The ostomy drainage system of claim 11, wherein the base is 0.8 to 1.2 cm wide.

13. An ostomy drainage system as described in claim 12, wherein the base has a width of 0.95 cm.

14. 12. The ostomy drainage system of claim 11, wherein the one end of the mucus guard member is 0.7 to 0.95 cm wide.

15. The ostomy drainage system of claim 1 , wherein the connector body includes a shoulder formation positioned adjacent the outlet of the valve in use.

16. The ostomy drainage system of claim 1 , wherein the connector body is formed from a rigid material.

17. An ostomy drainage system as described in claim 16, wherein the connector body is formed from a rigid plastic material.

18. The ostomy drainage system of claim 2 , wherein the mucus guard member is formed from a rigid material.

19. An ostomy drainage system as described in claim 18, wherein the mucus guard member is formed from a rigid plastic material.

20. 19. The ostomy drainage system of claim 18, wherein the connector body and the mucus guard member are formed from the same material.

21. 3. The ostomy drainage system of claim 2, wherein the mucus guard member is 0.8 to 1.2 cm in length.

22. An ostomy drainage system as described in claim 21, wherein the mucus guard member is 1 cm in length.

23. 10. The ostomy drainage system of claim 1, wherein the connector body is 0.9 to 1.3 cm in length.

24. An ostomy drainage system as described in claim 23, wherein the connector body is 1.1 cm in length.

25. 3. The ostomy drainage system of claim 2, wherein the ratio of the length of the connector body to the length of the mucus guard member is 1:1 to 1.5:

1.

26. An ostomy drainage system as described in claim 25, wherein the ratio of the length of the connector body to the length of the mucus guard member is 1.1:

1.

27. 10. The ostomy drainage system of claim 1, wherein the connector device provides an anchor to hold the connector device connected to the valve and a mucus guard member to prevent / reduce the extent to which mucus advances into the passageway.

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