Deployable Ostomy Drain With Local Opacity for Discreet Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ostomy pouches with transparent drains are not discreet and require complex mechanisms to conceal contents, often needing two hands and additional manufacturing steps, while those with opaque layers may not allow full visibility during use.

Innovation Solution

An ostomy pouch design with a deployable drain that is partly transparent and partly opaque, using a fastener arrangement to move between stowed and deployed positions, allowing single-handed operation and improved discretion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the drain is made transparent to allow visibility during drainage, then the user can view stomal output passing through the drain, but the pouch becomes less discreet when the drain is stowed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of stomal output during drainageVSAvoiddiscretion of pouch when drain is stowed

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drain is constructed with different transparency properties in different sections: the portion that opens during drainage is transparent to allow visibility, while the portion that remains stowed is opaque to maintain discretion. This local differentiation of optical properties resolves the contradiction between visibility and discretion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional layers or pockets are added to conceal the drain when stowed, then discretion is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediscretion of pouch when drain is stowedVSAvoidnumber of layers and manufacturing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding complex multi-layer structures, the invention applies local quality by making only the stowed portion of the drain opaque while keeping the draining portion transparent. This simplifies the overall structure compared to adding multiple concealing layers or pockets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a complex concealment mechanism like Lock-it Pocket is used to hide the drain, then discretion is improved, but ease of operation decreases as two hands are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediscretion of pouch when drain is stowedVSAvoidease of stowing and concealing drain

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention simplifies operation by using local quality (opaque material on stowed portion) rather than complex mechanical concealment systems. The drain can be stowed and concealed simply by folding it into place, without requiring complex pocket mechanisms or two-handed operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12508150B2Ostomy pouch

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 CONVATEC LTD

AI summary

The invention relates to an ostomy pouch 10. The pouch 10 includes inner and outer walls 18b, 20b of flexible sheet material which sealed about a periphery. The walls 18b, 20b define a cavity for containing a stomal output and a drain 32 for draining stomal output from the cavity. An opaque comfort layer 18a, 20a is provided, at over an outer surface of the inner and/or outer walls 18b, 20b. The drain 32 is moveable between a deployed position for draining the stomal output from the cavity and a stowed position for storage of the drain 32, with at least part of the drain 32 overlying a portion of the comfort layer 18a, 20a in the stowed position. The drain 32 is substantially opaque on one side, and at least partly transparent on an opposing side.