Colostomy Balloon Plug with Charcoal Filter and One-Way Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bowel incontinence management devices are costly and lack a simple, inexpensive solution for preventing incontinent episodes, particularly for patients who are not candidates for surgery or conservative treatments.
Innovation Solution
A colostomy balloon plug device with three parallel conduits, featuring two inflatable balloons and one-way valves for secure placement and inflation, allowing air or fluid to be introduced for secure fit and deflation by cutting the conduits for single-use removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art devices with electronics for sensing and alerting are used, then fecal mass detection capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the electronic sensing and alerting components from the device, extracting only the essential mechanical balloon plug function. This eliminates the costly electronics while maintaining the core capability of preventing incontinent episodes through mechanical occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adopts a disposable, single-use design that eliminates the need for expensive electronic components. The device is intended for short-term use to bridge patients to surgery or conservative treatment, making cost-effective materials acceptable.
2Device complexity
If a single balloon is used in prior art devices, then device simplicity is improved, but secure placement and retention in the rectum or stoma is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the retention function into two separate balloons positioned at different locations - one at the distal end and one at the proximal end. This segmentation provides more reliable anchoring in the rectum or stoma compared to a single balloon, while maintaining relative simplicity.
3Reliability
If one-way valves are used to prevent deflation, then balloon retention is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of removal increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device includes pre-positioned weak points or score marks on the conduits that guide the user to cut at the correct location for removal. This preliminary preparation makes the removal process straightforward despite the presence of one-way valves that prevent natural deflation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides an inexpensive, effective solution for preventing incontinent episodes by ensuring a secure fit in the rectum or stoma, allowing scheduled bowel movements and easy removal by deflation, addressing the need for a cost-effective and user-friendly bowel control solution.
Implementation Method 1
The shorter parallel second conduit is in fluid communication with the first balloon on the first end of the shorter parallel second conduit and in communication with a first one-way valve on the second end of the shorter parallel second conduit
Implementation Method 2
The largest central conduit is open at the end that is inserted into the rectum or stoma of a patient and terminates in a combined hydrophobic and charcoal filter for elimination of bowel gas and the like, at the other end
Implementation Method 3
The largest central conduit is open at the end that is inserted into the rectum or stoma of a patient and terminates in a combined hydrophobic and charcoal filter for elimination of bowel gas and the like, at the other end
Data Source
AI summary
The colostomy balloon plug has three parallel conduits with a combined charcoal and hydrophobic filter at one end of the largest central first conduit. The largest central first conduit is open at one end and has the combined charcoal and hydrophobic filter at its other end, for elimination of bowel gas. A shorter parallel second conduit terminates on one end in a first balloon and on a second end in a first one-way valve. A shortest parallel third conduit terminates on one end in a second balloon and on a second end in a second one-way valve. A syringe and extension conduit is selectively attached to the two one-way valves. Air, saline solution or sterilized water can be introduced from the syringe through the one-way valves of the extension conduit to inflate the two balloons about the largest central first conduit. The one-way valves prevent deflation of the balloons unless the shorter or shortest parallel conduits are cut to allow the fluid from the two balloons to exit and deflate the balloons.