Ostomy Appliance Coupling With Self-Aligning Seal Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connecting the two parts of an ostomy appliance can be cumbersome for users, particularly for those with dexterity issues, due to the difficulty in correctly aligning and ensuring a secure seal between the coupling parts, leading to potential leakage and increased skin complications.
Innovation Solution
The ostomy appliance features a first coupling part with a ring collar and a second coupling part with a bulge sealing and axial lock flange, where the bulge sealing hardness is less than the ring collar hardness, allowing for audible and tactile feedback upon correct attachment, and a seal is formed by axial and radial forces, simplifying the coupling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional coupling parts are used, then the structure is simple, but the coupling process is cumbersome and difficult to align correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The second coupling part is designed to be inserted into and nested within the first coupling part, with the lock flange fitting inside the ring collar. This nesting arrangement provides automatic alignment and guides the coupling process, making it easier to connect correctly while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock flange is pre-formed with a diameter smaller than the ring collar diameter, and the bulge sealing is pre-positioned on the second coupling part. This preliminary configuration enables the second coupling part to be inserted into the first coupling part before final locking occurs, simplifying the alignment process during actual coupling.
2Reliability
If traditional sealing methods are used, then the seal may not be secure, but increasing seal complexity makes coupling more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bulge sealing is positioned specifically at the interface between the two coupling parts, creating a localized sealing zone exactly where the seal is needed. This targeted approach provides secure sealing without requiring complex sealing structures throughout the entire coupling assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardness of the bulge sealing is specifically controlled to be less than the hardness of the ring collar, creating an optimal hardness differential. This parameter change ensures the softer sealing material deforms appropriately to conform to the harder ring collar surface, providing a reliable seal while maintaining a simple sealing structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If the coupling requires precise alignment, then the seal quality improves, but the coupling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is designed to self-align during the insertion process. The nested configuration of the lock flange within the ring collar, combined with the bulge sealing positioning, automatically guides the components into correct alignment without requiring the user to manually adjust or precisely position the parts, thereby reducing coupling time while maintaining seal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The design provides audible and tactile feedback when the coupling is correctly assembled. The lock flange engaging with the ring collar and the bulge sealing compressing against it creates detectable signals that confirm proper alignment and sealing, allowing users to verify correct coupling quickly without requiring additional time for inspection or adjustment.
4Reliability
If the lock flange diameter is close to ring collar diameter, then the coupling is secure, but the mold manufacturing becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lock flange is pre-formed with a diameter explicitly designed to be smaller than the ring collar diameter, creating a clearance that facilitates easy mold removal. This preliminary dimensional relationship is built into the design to prevent the need for complex mold pulling operations, while the subsequent locking action still provides secure coupling.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an ostomy appliance comprising: a first ring-shaped coupling part; a second ring-shaped coupling part; and a collecting bag in connection with the second coupling part. The first coupling part comprises an axial upright forming a ring collar. The second coupling part comprising an axial lock flange, an axial seal-supporting flange forming an inner seal-supporting surface, and a bulge sealing extending radially inward from the seal-supporting surface. The first coupling part and second coupling part are adapted to be detachably attached to each other in a coupled configuration such that the bulge sealing is positioned against the ring collar to provide a seal between the first and second coupling parts. The disclosure further relates to a coupling, a ring-shaped coupling part, a method for manufacturing a ring-shaped coupling part, and a method for attaching a collecting bag to a base plate of an ostomy appliance.