Segmented Ostomy Wafer Bridges for Irregular Skin

Solution Overview

Problem

Ostomy appliances with adhesive wafers face challenges in securely attaching to irregular or bulgy skin surfaces, particularly around hernias or bulges, leading to leakage issues due to anatomical variations and irregular skin topography, which existing designs fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The ostomy wafer features a central peristomal area with radially extending petals and bridges, where the bridges have a convex apex connected by concave portions, with a thickness greater than the petals, to minimize wrinkle formation and prevent large folds that could cause leakage, and is designed for use on non-planar skin surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional adhesive wafer is used on irregular or bulgy skin surfaces, then the wafer can be applied to cover the stoma, but wrinkles and deep folds form causing leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage protectionVSAvoidwrinkle formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The wafer is divided into multiple radially extending petals separated by bridges, allowing each petal to independently conform to the irregular skin surface contours while the bridges maintain structural integrity and prevent excessive wrinkle formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridges are designed with greater thickness than the petals, creating localized structural reinforcement at critical bridge regions to absorb and distribute stress, preventing the formation of deep folds that would cause leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wafer material is made thinner to reduce bulk, then the wafer becomes more flexible, but it cannot absorb wrinkles effectively leading to leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidwrinkle absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bridges are designed with greater thickness than the petals, creating localized structural reinforcement at critical bridge regions to absorb and distribute stress, preventing the formation of deep folds that would cause leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented petal structure allows thin, flexible petal regions to conform to skin contours while thicker bridge regions provide wrinkle absorption capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If radially extending fingers or petals are added to fit around bulgy stomas, then the wafer can accommodate irregular shapes, but large wrinkles form in the connecting areas causing leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefit around bulgy stomaVSAvoidlarge wrinkle formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The wafer is divided into multiple radially extending petals separated by bridges, allowing each petal to independently conform to the irregular skin surface contours while the bridges maintain structural integrity and prevent excessive wrinkle formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridges are designed with greater thickness than the petals, creating localized structural reinforcement at critical bridge regions to absorb and distribute stress, preventing the formation of deep folds that would cause leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3148485B1An ostomy wafer

Publication Date: 2021.05.26 COLOPLAST AS

Figure 1
Figure 2~3

AI summary

Disclosed is an ostomy wafer comprising a central peristomal area surrounding a stoma receiving hole, from which a plurality of petals are extending radially, the petals being interconnected via bridges with a apex pointing away from the central area. The wafer is suitable for application to especially demanding skin surface conditions, such as in ostomists suffering from hernia.