Ostomy Bag Adhesive Flange Peelable Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ostomy bags with mechanical coupling rings are stiff and less comfortable to wear, making disposal difficult, especially for users with impaired dexterity, and require additional steps that may result in hands coming into contact with waste during disposal.
Innovation Solution
An ostomy bag assembly with an adhesive flange of laminar construction, featuring a bioadhesive layer, heat sealable, and weldable polymeric layers, allowing the inner and outer bags to be peeled away from the flange for separate disposal, providing flexibility in disposal methods and reducing the risk of exposure to waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If mechanical coupling rings are used to connect inner and outer bags to adhesive flange, then secure attachment is achieved, but the appliance becomes stiffer and less comfortable to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical coupling rings with a peelable adhesive bonding system. The adhesive flange uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that bonds the inner and outer bags to the flange without mechanical components, eliminating stiffness while maintaining secure attachment. The bags can be peeled away from the flange when disposal is needed.
2Volume of moving object
If coupling rings are placed close together for compact design, then device size is reduced, but separation and replacement of bags becomes difficult for users with impaired dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive bonding system eliminates the need for manual manipulation of coupling rings. Users simply peel the bags away from the flange in a single motion, which is much easier for users with impaired dexterity compared to manipulating closely-spaced mechanical coupling rings.
3Strength
If coupling rings are used for attachment, then secure connection is achieved, but additional removal steps are required during disposal which may result in hands coming into contact with waste
Solution Approach 1:
The peelable adhesive system allows the entire assembly (flange with attached bags) to be removed as one unit. Users can peel the used bags away from the flange without needing to manipulate coupling rings near the waste opening, reducing the risk of contact with fecal waste during disposal.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If non-flushable materials are used for ostomy bags, then bag durability is improved, but the bags cannot be easily flushed down W.C. and require separate disposal by incineration or waste bin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ostomy bag system into separable components: the adhesive flange and the inner/outer bags. This segmentation allows the bags to be peeled away from the flange for separate disposal, enabling the bags to be flushed down the W.C. while the flange can be disposed of separately, thus combining durability with ease of disposal.
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 solution enhances comfort and ease of disposal by allowing separate handling of soiled and clean components, reducing manual dexterity issues and minimizing contact with waste during disposal, while also being more flexible in handling and waste management options.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sealable layer having a heat sealable adhesive surface which releasably bonds the heat sealable layer to the first polymeric support surface
Implementation Method 2
a weldable polymeric layer to which the inner and outer bags are attached
Implementation Method 3
a bioadhesive layer for securing the flange to a body surface of a patient about the stomal opening
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention provides an ostomy bag assembly comprising outer (2) and inner (4) bags secured to one side of an adhesive flange (6); the adhesive flange (6) having means defining an orifice to enable bodily waste from a stomal opening to be received by the inner bag; wherein the adhesive flange is of laminar construction and comprises, in sequence, from a body-contacting surface outwards: (a) a bioadhesive layer (10) for securing the flange to a body surface of a patient about the stomal opening; (b) a first polymeric support layer (8) attached to the bioadhesive layer (a); (c) a heat sealable layer (16) having a heat sealable adhesive surface which releasably bonds the heat sealable layer to the first polymeric support surface; (d) a second polymeric support layer (14) bonded to the heat sealable layer; (e) a weldable polymeric layer (18) to which the inner and outer bags are attached, the weldable polymeric layer being bonded to the second polymeric support layer; the adhesive flange having an annular channel (20) which surrounds the means defining the orifice and extends through layers (c), (d) and (e) so as to form radially inner (22) and outer (24) attachment zones separated by the annular channel (20), the inner bag (4) being attached to the radially inner attachment zone (22) and outer bag (2) being attached to the radially outer attachment zone (24); and wherein the inner and outer bags (4), (2), together with attached portions of layers (c), (d) and (e) can each be peeled away from the first polymeric support layer (b). Also provided by the invention are adhesive flange blanks from which the ostomy bag assemblies can be manufactured, as well as methods for the manufacture of the ostomy bag assemblies and the adhesive flange blanks.