Disposable Ostomy Bag with Water-Soluble Laminate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ostomy bags are difficult to dispose of hygienically and conveniently, as they either require separation of inner and outer bags or are not biodegradable, leading to environmental issues and inconvenience for users.
Innovation Solution
An ostomy bag design featuring an outer protective pouch with a water-soluble inner layer and an inner waste-collecting pouch with a water-impermeable outer layer, both made of laminate materials, which become less buoyant when immersed in water, allowing the entire bag to be flushed down a toilet without separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the bag is made biodegradable to allow flushing, then environmental impact is reduced, but the bag loses strength and waterproofing capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-layer laminate structure combining different materials: a water-soluble outer layer (e.g., PVOH) that degrades for environmental benefit, and an inner waterproof layer that maintains integrity during use. This composite approach allows the bag to exhibit both biodegradability and reliable waterproofing simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag structure is segmented into distinct functional layers with different properties. The outer water-soluble layer handles biodegradation and water absorption, while the inner waterproof layer maintains structural integrity and containment. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one function, enabling the overall system to achieve both environmental compatibility and reliable waterproofing.
2Reliability
If the bag maintains structural integrity for waterproofing, then reliability is improved, but the bag becomes difficult to flush away due to buoyancy and bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic structure where the bag's properties change over time and conditions. During use, the waterproof layer maintains structural integrity for reliability. During disposal, the water-soluble outer layer degrades when exposed to water, reducing buoyancy and bulk to enable easy flushing. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between maintaining integrity for waterproofing and enabling flushability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag utilizes parameter changes in the water-soluble outer layer: it remains stable and maintains structure during dry use, but undergoes significant parameter changes (solubility, density, structural integrity) when exposed to water during disposal. This parameter transformation enables the bag to be both reliably waterproof during use and easily flushable during disposal.
3Reliability
If the bag requires separation of inner and outer pouches for disposal, then waterproofing is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inner waterproof pouch and outer protective pouch into a single integrated laminate structure. The waterproof layer and water-soluble layer are bonded together to form one unified bag that maintains waterproofing while enabling simplified disposal. This merging eliminates the need for manual separation, resolving the contradiction between maintaining waterproofing and improving disposal convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag design enables self-service disposal through the automatic degradation of the water-soluble outer layer when exposed to water in the toilet. The structure itself performs the separation function without requiring user intervention - the outer layer dissolves and the inner waterproof pouch can be flushed away naturally. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by eliminating manual handling requirements while maintaining waterproofing.
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
Enables convenient and hygienic disposal of the entire ostomy bag, reducing environmental impact by being biodegradable and eliminating the need for users to manually separate components, making it suitable for all users including the elderly and disabled.
Implementation Method 1
an outer protective pouch comprising a laminate material with an outer layer of water-impermeable material and an inner layer of water-soluble material; an inner waste-collecting pouch enclosed within the outer protective pouch comprising a laminate material with an outer layer of water-soluble material and an inner layer of water-impermeable material
Implementation Method 2
both the outer protective pouch and the inner waste-collecting pouch are of a structure which is weakened upon immersion in a toilet bowl to become less buoyant such that the bag can be flushed away
Data Source
AI summary
An ostomy bag (1) for receiving bodily waste comprising; an outer protective pouch (3) comprising a laminated material with an outer layer of water-impermeable material (15) and an inner layer of water-soluble material (13); an inner waste-collecting pouch (5) enclosed within the outer protective pouch (3) comprising a laminated material with an outer layer of water-soluble material (9) and an inner layer of water-impermeable material (7), and means (23) defining an orifice (19) to enable bodily waste to enter the inner pouch (5); wherein the outer protective pouch (3) is removeably sealed and both the outer protective pouch (3) and inner waste-collecting pouch (5) are of a structure which is weakened upon immersion in a toilet bowl to both become less buoyant such that the bag (1) can be flushed away.