Ostomy Appliance Wear-Time Detection Through Adhesive Moisture Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ostomy appliances lack effective methods for determining wear time, leading to potential adhesive failure, leakage, and skin damage due to early or late replacement.

Innovation Solution

An ostomy system with a base plate and monitor device that includes sensors and electrodes to detect moisture propagation in the adhesive, providing real-time data for determining the remaining wear time and preventing adhesive failure or leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ostomy appliance wear time is determined without sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of wear time determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear time determination accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is divided into multiple independent sensors (moisture sensor, temperature sensor, acceleration sensor) that each monitor specific parameters. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high reliability through multiple data points while keeping individual sensor components simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously collects sensor data and provides feedback to determine adhesive performance and remaining wear time. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring and prediction of adhesive failure, significantly improving wear time determination reliability without requiring complex manual assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If sensor data collection is implemented, then measurement precision of adhesive condition is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive condition detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical assessment of adhesive condition with automated sensor-based detection. Moisture sensors, temperature sensors, and acceleration sensors objectively measure adhesive state, providing high measurement precision while the data processing algorithms manage the complexity of monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If early replacement based on sensor data is implemented, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidwear time utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of adhesive degradation trends before actual failure occurs. By analyzing sensor data patterns and predicting remaining wear time, the system enables proactive replacement scheduling that prevents leakage while minimizing unnecessary early replacements, thus optimizing both reliability and time utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If continuous monitoring is implemented, then reliability of leakage prevention is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor operation energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system operates periodically rather than continuously, collecting data at scheduled intervals and during key events (such as when the user stands up or sits down). This periodic operation maintains reliable leakage detection capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 reliable determination of ostomy appliance wear time, reducing the risk of leakage and skin damage by ensuring timely replacement, thus enhancing user comfort and reducing material waste.

Implementation Method 1

sensors and electrodes to detect moisture propagation in the adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3764959B1Apparatus and methods for determining ostomy appliance wear time based on sensor data
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 COLOPLAST AS
  • EP3764959B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3764959B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3764959B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments for determining an ostomy appliance wear time based on sensor data are disclosed. In an embodiment, an accessory device for an ostomy system comprises a monitor device and an ostomy appliance. The ostomy appliance comprises a base plate. The accessory device comprises: a memory, a processor, and a monitor interface coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with the monitor device and obtain monitor data from the monitor device coupled to the ostomy appliance. The processor is configured to determine an operating state of the base plate, determine sensor data associated with the user, the user's activities, and/or the user's environment, and determine an actual wear time of the ostomy appliance based on the operating state and the sensor data.