Ostomy Plug With Variable-Thickness Cap For Secure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ostomy procedures require effective closure devices to manage stoma cavities, but current solutions like clamps and tail clips are inadequate for secure sealing and easy removal, potentially causing discomfort and irritation.
Innovation Solution
A medical plug system comprising a cap with a flexible, elongated cylindrical shaft and a flexible bandage, designed to create a seal with the patient's skin and facilitate easy insertion and removal by applying axial tension, using a gripping portion and contact portion with varying thicknesses to ensure secure plugging and sealing of the stoma cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional clamps or tail clips are used to close the stoma, then the stoma can be closed between catheter insertions, but the sealing is inadequate and causes discomfort and irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane or film that can be inserted into the stoma cavity to create an effective seal. This flexible barrier prevents leakage and irritation while being comfortable for the patient, directly addressing the inadequate sealing and discomfort caused by traditional rigid clamps
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the closure device by using a flexible material with appropriate elasticity and softness. The membrane can deform to match the stoma cavity shape, creating a reliable seal without causing irritation, thus improving both sealing effectiveness and patient comfort
2Reliability
If a secure seal is created in the stoma cavity, then effective closure is achieved, but removal may cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane creates a secure seal by conforming to the stoma cavity walls, yet its flexibility allows it to be removed without causing injury. The material properties enable both secure attachment and gentle removal, resolving the contradiction between seal security and safe removal
Solution Approach 2:
The closure device is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed - the flexible membrane can adapt to the stoma cavity shape for secure sealing, and can be easily extracted when needed. This dynamic characteristic allows the device to provide reliable closure during use while enabling safe removal without tissue damage
3Ease of manufacture
If the cap thickness is uniform, then manufacturing is simpler, but the gripping portion cannot effectively apply axial tension for removal
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed with non-uniform thickness, featuring a thinner gripping portion and a thicker sealing portion. This local quality variation allows the gripping area to be easily manipulated for removal while maintaining sufficient material strength for effective sealing, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and operational effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The cap structure is segmented into distinct functional zones with different thicknesses - a thinner gripping portion for easy manipulation and removal, and a thicker sealing portion for effective closure. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while remaining manufacturable
4Ease of operation
If the gripping diameter is made larger than the contact diameter, then easy gripping and removal is achieved, but the contact portion may not create an effective seal
Solution Approach 1:
The cap design implements local quality by creating a gripping portion with larger diameter for easy manipulation and a contact portion with smaller, optimized diameter for effective sealing. Each region's dimensions are locally optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and seal reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A medical plug apparatus for use in conjunction with an ostomy procedure includes a cap and an elongated cylindrical shaft. The cap has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a first thickness. The elongated cylindrical shaft extends orthogonally away from the bottom surface of the cap from a proximal end to a distal end and has shaft diameter and the shaft length adapted to plug a stoma cavity upon inserting the elongated cylindrical shaft into the stoma cavity. The cap includes a gripping portion that has a gripping diameter such that, upon exerting a pulling force on the first region and the second region of the gripping portion, the elongated cylindrical shaft is directed outwardly away from the patient by the pulling force causing a substantially axial tension force on the elongated cylindrical shaft.