Ostomy Pouch Filter Protection With Anti-Reflux Drainage

Solution Overview

Problem

Ostomy pouches often experience clogging of the filter assembly due to liquid, semisolid, or solid body waste, leading to pouch ballooning and discomfort for users.

Innovation Solution

A multi-stage filter protection system comprising a prefilter and a protective panel with anti-reflux valves, where the prefilter is crescent-shaped and oriented to facilitate drainage, and the panel includes perforations and spring-loaded anti-reflux valves to prevent clogging and allow waste to drain effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a filter assembly is used to cover the gas outlet for odor filtering, then odor control is improved, but the filter assembly is prone to clogging by body waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveodor controlVSAvoidfilter clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter protection system is divided into multiple functional components: a prefilter layer for initial waste capture, a protective panel with drainage apertures for waste drainage, and spring-loaded anti-reflux valves for preventing waste backflow. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function, preventing clogging while maintaining odor control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective panel acts as an intermediary between the collection cavity and the filter assembly. It includes drainage apertures that allow body waste to pass through to the collection cavity while preventing waste from reaching and clogging the filter assembly. The spring-loaded anti-reflux valves further mediate by allowing gas to pass while blocking waste backflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the filter assembly is positioned at the gas outlet, then gas egress is enabled, but liquid and solid waste may flow to and block the filter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas egressVSAvoidwaste blocking

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The prefilter and protective panel are positioned upstream of the filter assembly to perform preliminary filtering and waste drainage actions. The prefilter captures body waste before it can reach the filter assembly, and the protective panel with drainage apertures provides an additional barrier that directs waste away from the filter, ensuring the filter remains clear for gas egress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded anti-reflux valves provide dynamic functionality by automatically opening to allow gas passage and closing to prevent waste backflow. This dynamic response ensures that gas egress is maintained while waste is prevented from blocking the filter assembly under varying pressure conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a simple filter cover is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot prevent pouch ballooning due to restricted gas egress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter protection structureVSAvoidpouch ballooning prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter protection system is divided into multiple functional components: a prefilter layer for initial waste capture, a protective panel with drainage apertures for waste drainage, and spring-loaded anti-reflux valves for preventing waste backflow. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function, preventing clogging while maintaining odor control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective panel acts as an intermediary between the collection cavity and the filter assembly. It includes drainage apertures that allow body waste to pass through to the collection cavity while preventing waste from reaching and clogging the filter assembly. The spring-loaded anti-reflux valves further mediate by allowing gas to pass while blocking waste backflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system effectively prevents filter clogging, reducing pouch ballooning and enhancing user comfort by ensuring efficient gas egress and waste drainage.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one anti-reflux valve may be backed by a foam material configured to function as a spring-loaded backing to keep the anti-reflux valve closed when the ostomy pouch appliance is deflated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring-loaded mechanism: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The at least one anti-reflux valve may be backed by a foam material configured to function as a spring-loaded backing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFoam compression and expansion: Foam

Data Source

PatentUS20260000530A1Ostomy filter protection

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 HOLLISTER INCORPORAED

AI summary

An ostomy pouch appliance includes a gas outlet formed in one of the pouch walls for egress of gas collected in a pouch collection cavity, a filter assembly attached to the pouch wall covering the gas outlet and a prefilter configured to protect the filter assembly. The prefilter may have a crescent shaped body including pointed ends configured to facilitate draining of body waste captured in the prefilter. The ostomy pouch appliance may also include a protective panel configured to protect the filter assembly including at least one anti-reflux valve.