Hinged Alignment Sleeve for Ostomy Sensor Patch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ostomy appliances face challenges with adhesive failure leading to leakage incidents, which are embarrassing and stigmatizing, and often occur suddenly, reducing the quality of life for ostomists. Current solutions do not provide reliable guidance for users to react to impending or actual adhesive failure.

Innovation Solution

An alignment aid comprising a sleeve with a first sleeve section and a second sleeve section connected by a hinge, allowing precise alignment and transfer of a sensor patch onto a base plate for an ostomy appliance. The alignment aid facilitates correct orientation and attachment of the sensor patch to the base plate, ensuring proper adhesion and reducing the risk of leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a sensor patch is manually aligned and attached to a base plate, then the attachment process is simple, but the alignment precision is insufficient leading to leakage incidents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidattachment process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment aid acts as an intermediary device between the sensor patch and base plate. It includes a first sleeve section for securing the sensor patch and a second sleeve section for securing the base plate, with a hinge connecting them. This intermediary structure enables precise alignment through mechanical guidance while maintaining a relatively simple attachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment aid is divided into multiple functional segments: a first sleeve section for the sensor patch, a second sleeve section for the base plate, and a hinge connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to achieve precise alignment, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If adhesive materials are used to attach the base plate to skin, then the attachment is initially strong, but adhesive failure occurs over time due to moisture and body fluids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive reliabilityVSAvoidbase plate wear time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor patch attached through the alignment aid provides feedback capability to monitor the condition of the adhesive attachment over time. This allows detection of early signs of adhesive degradation before complete failure occurs, enabling timely intervention to maintain reliability while extending effective wear time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If hydrocolloid materials are added to absorb moisture, then the adhesive stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive stabilityVSAvoidadhesive composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The moisture absorption function is extracted from the adhesive composition itself and implemented through a separate mechanical structure - the alignment aid with its sleeve sections. This allows the adhesive to maintain its original simple composition while the alignment aid structure provides the moisture management capability, resolving the contradiction between stability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3958800B1An alignment aid for aligning a sensor patch to a base plate
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 COLOPLAST AS
  • EP3958800B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3958800B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6c

AI summary

An alignment aid for aligning a sensor patch (20) on a base plate (30) for an ostomy appliance, the alignment aid facilitates easy and precise alignment of the sensor patch on the base plate. The alignment aid comprises a sleeve (10) having a first surface comprising a first sleeve section (40) and a second sleeve section (50), the first sleeve section and the second sleeve section being connected along a connection line (60), said connection line defining a hinge enabling the first sleeve section to pivot and superimpose the second sleeve section. The first sleeve section is configured to secure the proximal side of sensor patch and the second sleeve section is configured to secure the distal side base plate. When the first sleeve section is pivoted to overly the second sleeve section, the sensor patch is transferred to the proximal surface of the base plate.