Ostomy Pouch Tortuous Path Filter Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ostomy pouches face challenges in directing solid and/or liquid bodily waste away from the filter while maintaining sufficient airflow, leading to potential clogging and complexity in design and manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

An ostomy pouch with an outer wall defining an internal volume and an internal wall structure forming a tortuous path with a one-way valve, where the filter is positioned within the path, allowing waste to be diverted away from the filter while enabling airflow to it.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional ostomy pouches use intermediate barriers to direct waste away from the filter, then waste contact with filter is reduced, but airflow to filter is restricted and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter clogging preventionVSAvoidintermediate barrier structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a tortuous path configuration where the pouch interior surface is curved and winding rather than straight, guiding waste away from the filter through natural flow patterns. This curved geometry achieves waste diversion without requiring complex intermediate barrier structures, maintaining airflow paths while preventing clogging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch design allows the waste flow itself to follow the tortuous path defined by the pouch geometry, using the waste's natural movement to achieve separation from the filter. The structure serves itself by utilizing the flow dynamics rather than requiring additional active components or complex mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If conventional ostomy pouches use intermediate barriers to direct waste away from the filter, then waste contact with filter is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter clogging preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tortuous path is integrated directly into the pouch wall structure itself, combining the waste diversion function with the pouch body rather than requiring separate intermediate barrier components. This integration simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of parts and assembly steps needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch utilizes flexible membrane structures to create the tortuous path geometry, allowing complex three-dimensional waste diversion paths to be formed from simple sheet materials through forming and sealing processes, avoiding complex rigid barrier structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If multiple non-return valves are used to prevent backflow, then waste backflow to filter is prevented, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste backflow preventionVSAvoidvalve structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex multiple valve system from the design and replaces it with a simplified tortuous path geometry that prevents backflow through its winding configuration. The waste must traverse the curved path to reach the filter, making backflow mechanically unfavorable without requiring additional valving components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If filter is positioned opposite the opening, then waste may contact the filter, but simple pouch structure is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepouch structureVSAvoidfilter clogging prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch employs a tortuous, curved path configuration rather than a straight line from opening to filter. The winding geometry naturally directs waste away from the filter position while maintaining the filter opposite the opening for structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and clogging prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design effectively prevents bodily waste from contacting and clogging the filter, while allowing gas to flow to the filter for odor filtration, thus enhancing the functionality and reducing manufacturing complexity compared to conventional designs.

Implementation Method 1

a one-way valve connected to the internal wall structure and a tortuous path defined by the internal wall structure, the path having an opening at one end and the one-way valve at another end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOne-way valve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 2

the filter is positioned within the path... allowing gas to flow to the filter for odor filtration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3451980B2Ostomy pouch with tortuous path

Publication Date: 2025.06.11 HOLLISTER INCORPORAED

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

An ostomy pouch includes an outer wall (12) having an inlet opening (24) and a filter (20), the outer wall defining an interior volume (14), an internal wall structure (16) disposed within the interior volume, a one-way valve (22) connected to the internal wall structure, and a path (18) formed by the internal wall structure, the path having an opening (28) at one end and the one-way valve at another end, wherein the filter is positioned within the path.