Hands-free bag-holding device for use when changing a stoma bag

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and kit to assist stoma users when changing a stoma bag, the device comprising clamping means for attachment to a user's waistband and two side arms extending either side of the clamping means, wherein the side arms are provided with bag attachment means for accepting and securing a disposable waste bag and wherein each side arm independently comprises a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the proximal section is movably attached to the clamping means and the distal section is collapsable against the proximal section to enable movement of the device from a compact storage position to an open working position.

Description

[0001] HANDS-FREE BAG-HOLDING DEVICE FOR USE WHEN CHANGING A STOMA BAG

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for a bag suitable for collecting waste, in particular to a disposable device for holding a bag under a stoma when the stoma bag is being changed.

[0003] Background to the Invention

[0004] A stoma is an opening located on the abdomen that is connected to either the digestive or urinary system to divert bodily waste into a pouch called a stoma bag.

[0005] In most cases, people who have stoma formation surgery have had to have a diseased or damaged part of their small or large intestine removed. For example, a colostomy is used after a section of the colon has been removed and the bowel cannot be joined back together. This may be permanent, or it can be temporary and followed by a later reversal operation.

[0006] As procedures are referred to as a colostomy or an ileostomy, stoma bags may therefore also be referred to as colostomy bags or ileostomy bags.

[0007] Ileostomies are stomas made from the last portion of the small intestine and are usually placed in the right lower quadrant, while people who require colostomies, which are stomas made from part of the large intestine, have their stomas placed in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen.

[0008] The position of the stoma formed from a colostomy will depend on the section of colon diverted and is typically on the left-hand side, below the waist. A colostomy bag is be placed over the stoma to collect food waste, i.e., stools.

[0009] Stoma bags are emptied without needing to be removed via a drain outlet several times a day and the bag itself is typically changed every day or two. A bag change can take ten minutes or more. It is not possible to control when bowel movements exit through a stoma and if this occurs during changing of the bag, spillage can occur.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which makes the process of changing a stoma bag less stressful. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present invention addresses the problem of unwanted spillage when changing a stoma bag.

[0012] This problem is solved by providing a foldable, portable device for attachment to the stoma user’s waistband to support an open bag beneath the stoma to catch waste.

[0013] The present invention relates to a hands-free bag-holding device for use when changing a stoma bag. The device is preferably disposable, i.e. , intended for single use.

[0014] The invention is set out in the claims.

[0015] Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a foldable device for holding a disposable waste bag securely beneath a stoma to catch spillages to assist stoma users when changing a stoma bag, the device comprising clamping means for attachment to a user’s waistband and two side arms extending either side of the clamping means, wherein the side arms are provided with bag attachment means for accepting and securing a disposable waste bag, and wherein each side arm independently comprises a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the proximal section is movably attached to the clamping means and the distal section is collapsable against the proximal section to enable movement of the device from a compact storage position to an open working position.

[0016] Advantageously, this allows a user to change their stoma bag without fear of soiling their clothing, spillage to the floor, or both should a bowel movement occur during bag changing.

[0017] The device may be moved from an open working position to a more compact storage position by moving the side arms towards each other, for example by folding, and may be moved from the storage position to the working position by moving the side arms further apart from each other, e.g. by unfolding. In a preferred embodiment, the proximal side arm sections are pivotally attached to the clamping means and the device may be moved from an open working position to a more compact storage position, and vice versa, by pivoting the side arms.

[0018] Preferably, the device is moved from the open working position to the storage position by first collapsing, e.g., folding, the side arm sections and then moving, e.g., pivoting, the side arms towards each other. When in the working position, the width of the device is preferably in the range of from about 150mm to about 300mm. Additionally, or alternatively, when in the storage position, the width of the device is preferably in the range of from about 40mm to about 100mm.

[0019] When in the working position, the depth of the device is preferably in the range of from 80mm to 130mm. Additionally, or alternatively, when in the storage position, the width of the device is preferably in the range of from 20mm to 40mm.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the side arms are of equal length. However, this is not considered limiting and side arms of alternate length are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

[0021] The side arms are preferably made of cardboard. Alternatively, the side arms may be made of plastic.

[0022] In some embodiments, the proximal and distal sections of the side arms are hinged with respect to each other such that one section may be folded against the other section. Alternatively, the sections of each side arm are made of material which allows the sections to be foldable with respect to each other without the need for hinges.

[0023] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the side arms each independently comprise a bent proximal section and a curved distal section, preferably wherein the bent section is pivotally attached to the clamping means atone end and moveably attached, e.g., hinged, to the curved section at the opposing end and the curved section has a free end. In this embodiment, when the curved section is folded against the bent section, the free end of the curved section meets the end of the bent section pivotally attached to the clamping means.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the bag attachment means are located on the internal surface of the side arms. However, this is not considered to be limiting and the bag attachment means may alternatively or additionally be located on the outer surface of the side arms.

[0025] In some embodiments, the bag attachment means comprises a plurality of hooks. In alternative embodiments, the bag attachment means comprises a plurality of apertures such as slots.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises an elongate flat plate extending from the clamping means to provide stability when the device is in use. The elongate flat plate is preferably in the range of from about 100mm to about 170mmm long. Additionally, or alternatively, the elongate flat plate is preferably in the range of about 25mm wide.

[0027] The elongate flat plate is preferably made of plastic. However, this is not to be considered limiting and other suitable materials may be used, for example, cardboard.

[0028] The device is preferably made of cardboard such that the device is a single use, i.e., disposable device. In this embodiment, the side arms are made of cardboard and the clamping means is preferably provided by two elongate parallel cardboard members, the cardboard members extending downwardly from the front and back of a cardboard spacer from which the side arms outwardly extend in the open working position.

[0029] In another aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising the device as described herein and a disposable waste bag for temporary attachment to the device.

[0030] The bag may be made of plastic or other suitable material for holding human waste. The bag preferably has a volume of up to about 2 litres.

[0031] The skilled person will understand that where the same feature has been referenced in different aspects of the invention, this feature comprises the same parts and operates in the same way unless otherwise stated.

[0032] Brief Description of the drawings

[0033] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0034] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred device according to the invention in the working position;

[0035] Figure 2 is front view of the device of Figure 1 ;

[0036] Figure 3 is side view of the device of Figure 1 ;

[0037] Figure 4 is plan view of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in the storage position;

[0038] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bag suitable for use with the device of Figure 1 ;

[0039] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bag of Figure 6 attached to the device of Figure 1 ;

[0040] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative bag attached to an alternative preferred device according to the invention; and

[0041] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the bag in Figure 8.

[0042] Detailed Description

[0043] In overview, a portable device is provided to enable a disposable waste bag to be securely held beneath a stoma to catch spillages, the device comprising a clamp for attachment to a user’s waistband and two foldable side arms provided with bag attachment means for accepting and securing the disposable waste bag, leaving the user’s hands free.

[0044] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views.

[0045] It will be appreciated that the invention should not be construed to be limited to the examples, which are now described; rather, the invention is construed to include any and all applications provided herein and all equivalent variations within the skill of the ordinary artisan.

[0046] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a preferred device according to the invention, generally referred to herein by reference numeral 100 and comprising clamp 10 and side arms 20. As shown in Figures 1 , 2, 4, 5 and 7, side arms 20 of device 100 are provided with hooks 30 for acceptance of a waste bag, e.g., waste bag 50 shown in Figure 6 and having apertures 51.

[0047] As shown in the Figures, device 100 may be moved from an open working position shown in Figures 1 to 4 to a more compact storage position shown in Figure 5 by pivoting and folding side arms 20. In the preferred embodiments shown in the Figures, elongate flat plate 40 extends downwardly from clamp 10 to provide stability when device 100 is in use.

[0048] Side arms 20 are pivotally attached to clamp 10 at end 24 and each independently comprise two sections 21 , 22 such that section 22 may be folded against section 21 for storage.

[0049] In the preferred embodiments shown in the Figures, section 21 is angular, comprising three straight sections of equal length and section 22 is curved and has a free end 23. Section 21 is pivotally attached to clamp 10 and section 22 is hinged with respect section 21 , wherein free end 23 of section 22 meets end 24 when section 22 is folded against section 21.

[0050] In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, section 21 is provided with two hooks and section 22 with three hooks. However, this is not to be considered limiting and any number of hooks may be used provided they hold a waste bag, e.g., waste bag 50 shown in Figure 6, securely.

[0051] Figure 8 shows an alternative preferred device 200 in which hooks 30 are replaced by slots (not shown) for acceptance of rectangular plastic attaching means 61 on bag 60 shown in Figure 9. Device 200 is otherwise identical to device 100.

[0052] In the alternative preferred embodiment shown in Figure 8, each section 21 is provided with one slot and each section 22 with another slot and bag 60 has four plastic attaching means 61. However, this is not to be considered limiting and any number of slots and plastic attaching means 61 may be used provided they hold a waste bag e.g., waste bag 60 shown in Figure 9, securely.

[0053] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and additions are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device to assist stoma users when changing a stoma bag, the device comprising clamping means for attachment to a user’s waistband and two side arms extending either side of the clamping means, wherein the side arms are provided with bag attachment means for accepting and securing a disposable waste bag, and wherein each side arm independently comprises a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the proximal section is movably attached to the clamping means and the distal section is collapsable against the proximal section to enable movement of the device from a compact storage position to an open working position.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side arms are of equal length.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bag attachment means are located on the internal surface of the side arms.

4. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the proximal side arm sections are pivotally attached to the clamping means and hinged with respect to the distal side arm sections.

5. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the proximal side arm sections are foldable with respect to the clamping means and with respect to the distal side arm sections.

6. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side arms are made of cardboard.

7. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the side arms each independently comprise a bent proximal section and a curved distal section.

8. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises an elongate flat plate extending from the clamping means to provide stability when the device is in use.

9. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag attachment means are provided by a plurality of apertures such as slots.

10. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the clamping means is provided by two elongate parallel cardboard members, the cardboard members extending downwardly from the front and back of a cardboard spacer from which the side arms outwardly extend in the open working position.

11. A kit to assist stoma users when changing a stoma bag, the kit comprising a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a disposable waste bag for temporary attachment to the device.

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