OSTOMY APPLIANCE

An ostomy appliance (1) is provided including: first and second walls (10, 12) which are connected at or near their peripheries to provide a waste collecting cavity (14) therebetween, a stoma-receiving opening (20) provided in the first wall (10), and a connection member (30), which provides for connection to a patient around a stoma, which is connected, directly or indirectly, to the first wall (10) by a connection arrangement (40) which includes: a first connection formation (50), which extends around the stoma receiving opening (20) and has a periphery and provides support between the connection member (30) and the first wall (10), and a second connection formation (60), which is disposed outside of the periphery of the first connection formation (50) and further away from the stoma-receiving opening (20) than the first connection formation (50).

Ostomy appliances are well known medical devices. Typically, an ostomy appliance has a collecting volume that is placed in fluid communication with a patient's stoma to collect body waste. In more detail, the ostomy appliance includes a first (body-side) wall and a second wall (there may be other walls), which are connected (directly or indirectly) to each other at or near their peripheries to form a collecting volume. The first wall includes a stoma-receiving opening and is connected to a connection member which surrounds the stoma-receiving opening, so that the ostomy appliance can be attached to a patient.

The present invention aims to provide an improved ostomy appliance.

According to an aspect of the invention we provide an ostomy appliance including: first and second walls which are connected at or near their peripheries to provide a waste collecting cavity therebetween, a stoma-receiving opening provided in the first wall, and a connection member, which provides for connection to a patient around a stoma, which is connected, directly or indirectly, to the first wall by a connection arrangement which includes: a first connection formation, which extends around the stoma receiving opening and has a periphery and provides support between the connection member and the first wall, and a second connection formation, which is disposed outside of the periphery of the first connection formation and further away from the stoma-receiving opening than the first connection formation.

Further features relating to aspects of the invention are recited by the appended claims.

FIGS.1and10illustrate an ostomy appliance1. The ostomy appliance1includes a pouch, which is formed from a first wall12and a second wall14connected at or near their peripheries. A collecting volume16for collecting body waste is defined between the first wall12and the second wall14.

A stoma-receiving opening20is provided in the first wall12(in the examples illustrated inFIG.2onwards, the stoma-receiving opening20is generally circular). The stoma-receiving opening20is sized to fit around the patient's stoma. It should be appreciated that the size and shape of the stoma-receiving opening20may be adapted to suit an individual patient (and may, for example, be alterable by a patient or medical professional to tailor the ostomy appliance1to a specific user).

The ostomy appliance1includes a connection member30. The connection member30has a surface34which provides a connection to a patient. The connection member30is located around the stoma-receiving opening20, so that the surface34is located to connect the ostomy appliance1to the patient and provide a seal between the body and the appliance (i.e. to avoid waste being permitted to leak from the collecting volume16). The surface34has a hydrocolloid to adhere the connection member30to the skin. However, the surface34may connect to the patient with an alternative mechanism, such as, another adhesive, a silicon surface or magnetic connection, for example.

The connection member30is connected, either directly or indirectly, to the first wall12by a connection arrangement40. The connection arrangement40includes a first connection formation50and a second connection formation60.

Referring toFIG.10specifically, the rear/body side of the ostomy appliance1is shown. As can be seen, the connection member30and the stoma-receiving opening20are disposed towards the top part12aof the first wall12.

Various examples of the connection arrangement40are shown inFIGS.2through to9. Where the same features are shown in multiple embodiments/figures the feature is given the same reference number and where a feature is not exactly the same put is analogous, the reference is the same with a prime (′) added—for example62would become62′. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all features can be combined with one another as desired.

In some embodiments, the connection member30has one or more slits32that extend radially outwards from the stoma-receiving opening20(in the illustrated embodiments, the connection member30has five radially extending slits32). In this example, each slit32extends radially away from the stoma-receiving opening20to an outer edge/periphery of the connection member30. In some embodiments, the connection member30has a pair of slits32that are spaced apart and angled away from each other. Each one of the pair of slits32is positioned to each side and above the stoma-receiving opening20(e.g. towards an upper part12aof the first wall12. It should be appreciated that the connection member30may have fewer or more slits, as desired.

The first connection formation50extends around the stoma-receiving opening20and has a periphery50a. The periphery50adefines an outer edge of the first connection formation50. In use, the first connection formation50provides support between the connection member30and the pouch.

In the illustrated examples, the first connection formation50extends completely around the stoma-receiving opening20. Thus, the periphery50aof the first connection formation50also extends completely around the stoma-receiving opening20. In some embodiments, the first connection formation50is substantially symmetrical about an axis that is perpendicular to and substantially central of the connection member. In the illustrated embodiments, the periphery50aof the first connection formation50is generally circular. However, it should be appreciated that the periphery may be another shape as desired (for example, a triangle or square or pentagon or an oval shape which, for example, is flattened above and below the stoma-receiving opening and wider at the sides.

In some embodiments (such as those inFIGS.2to7), the first connection formation50includes a second, inner, periphery50b(which is located radially inside of the periphery50a). In other words, the second periphery50bdefines the radially inner extent of the attachment. The (first/outer) periphery50aand the second periphery50bdefine a ring which defines the edges of the attachment between the first wall12and the connection member30(either by a direct or indirect connection—which is explained in more detail below). In this embodiment, the inner periphery50bis not coincident with the stoma-receiving opening20and is, therefore, spaced or distal from the stoma-receiving opening20. In some embodiments, the first connection formation50forms an annular shape.

In another example (such as inFIGS.8A,8B,9A and9B), the first connection formation50extends from the (outer) periphery50ato the inner periphery50bwhich is coincident with the stoma-receiving opening20. In other words, the periphery50aand the stoma-receiving opening20define the area of the attachment covered by the first connection formation50. Thus, the first connection formation50forms a substantially circular attachment between the first wall12and the connection member30(directly or indirectly) with the stoma-receiving opening20in the centre.

The ostomy appliance1includes the connection arrangement40which connects the first wall12to the connection member30either directly or indirectly.

A direct connection is a connection that extends between the first wall12and the connection member30. In some embodiments, this may be achieved using a welding process between the material of the first wall12and the connection member30.

An indirect connection allows for a second member between the first wall12and the connection member30. A convex or concave member (not shown) may be positioned around the stoma-receiving opening20, behind the connection member30(i.e. sandwiched between the first wall12and the connection member30). The convex member may support the body tissue around the stoma, so as to improve the connection between the surface34and the patient. In such an embodiments, the first connection formation50may be formed, firstly, between the first wall12and the convex member and, secondly, between the convex member and the connection member30. In other words, the convex/concave member is connected to the connection member30, and the first connection formation directly connects the convex member to the first wall. Therefore the connection is an indirect one between the first wall12and the connection member30. It should be appreciated that not all ostomy appliances include the convex member and its use will be dependent on the patient receiving medical assistance.

In the case of an indirect connection, the first connection formation50may be formed/provided using an adhesive between the first wall12and the convex member and between the convex member and the connection member30.

The second connection formation60is disposed outside of the periphery50aof the first connection formation50and further from the stoma-receiving opening20than the first connection formation50. The second connection formation60is located towards an upper part12aof the first wall12(in use, this is above the stoma-receiving opening20). A function of including a second connection formation60is to reduce the effect of the pouch being pulled forwards, away from the connection member30, as the collecting volume16fills with waste. The second connection formation60provides an additional anchor between the connection member30and the first wall12.

In some embodiments (for example,FIG.2), the second connection formation60connects to the first connection formation50. In the illustrated example inFIG.2, the second connection formation60extends generally towards to the stoma-receiving opening20and connects to the periphery50aof the first connection formation50.

It should be appreciated that in this description the stoma-receiving opening20is used as a reference point. The stoma-receiving opening20is generally positioned substantially centrally in the connection member30(and may be cut out from the connection member30after manufacture). Thus, it should be appreciated that references to the stoma-receiving opening20should also be considered to be references to the substantially central position that the stoma-receiving opening would take in the connection member30.

The second connection formation60has a periphery63, which defines the outer edge of the second connection formation60. In some embodiments, the second connection formation60includes a base portion that connects to the periphery50aof the first connection formation50, and extends away from the stoma-receiving opening20to a distal curved end portion. In other words, the periphery63of the second connection formation60includes a curved portion at a top (i.e. furthest from the stoma-receiving opening20and towards the upper part12aof the first wall12).

In some embodiments (see for example,FIG.3A and8A), the second connection formation60extends to the outer edge of the connection member30. In other words, the periphery63of the second connection formation60extends substantially to match the outer periphery of the connection member30.

In some embodiments (see for example,FIG.3B), the second connection formation60extends to a location that is spaced from the outer edge of the connection member30. In other words, the periphery63of the second connection formation60extends substantially to a location that is spaced from the outer periphery of the connection member30.

In some embodiments, the connection arrangment40includes a plurality of second connection formations60. For example,FIG.3A,3B and8Aillustrate three separate second connection formations60(adjacent each other) that connect to the periphery50aof the first connection formation50at their respective base portions.FIGS.4A,4B and8Billustrate five second connection formations60that are similarly arranged adjacent each other with their base portions connected to the periphery50aof the first connection formation50.

Therefore, the second connection formations60may each be arranged at a different angle relative to the stoma-receiving opening20and extend generally towards the stoma-receiving opening20. In other words, the second connection formations60form a fan arrangement between the periphery50aof the first connection formation50and the top of the connection member30.

It should be appreciated that each second connection formation60may extend different distances from the periphery50a. For example, the embodiment illustrated inFIG.4Aincludes three “central” second connection formations60a, all of which extend to the outer periphery of the connection member30and two “outer” second connection formations60b, which are spaced from the edge of the connection ember30. A similar arrangement of second connection formations60a,62bis shown inFIG.4B. In this case, the three central second connection formations60aare spaced from the edge of the connection ember30and the two outer second connection formations60bare shorter still.

Thus, each second connection formation60may end at more than one radial distance/different radial distances from the stoma-receiving opening20(and/or from the periphery50aof the first connection formation50).

In some embodiments (for example,FIG.5), the second connection formation60′ is discrete from the first connection formation50. In the illustrated example inFIG.5, there is a single second connection formation60′ which is separate and independent from the first connection formation50(and its periphery50a).

The second connection formation60′ has a periphery63′, which defines the outer edge of the second connection formation60′. In the illustrated example, the periphery63′ forms a continuous boundary (which in this example is substantially circular). In other words, the second connection formation60′ is substantially circular. It should be appreciated the second connection formation60′ could be a different shape such as, oval, square or rectangular, while still being separate and independent from the first connection formation50.

FIGS.6and9Aboth illustrate a connection arrangement40that has two second connection formations60′, andFIG.7illustrates five second connection formations60′. In each of these examples, each second connection formations60′ is separate from and adjacent the next second connection formation60′.

In both examples, a second connection formation60′ is substantially centred about an axis that extends vertically from the top of the first wall12downwardly and through the stoma-receiving opening20. The further second connection formations60′ are located either side. In this example, the second connection formations60′ are symmetrical about the central axis—i.e. in the group of three second connection formations60′ there is one second connection formation60′ placed either side of the central second connection formation60′ and for the groups of five second connection formations60′, there are two either side of the central formation60′.

It should also be appreciated that the second connection formations60′ may be different radial distances from the stoma-receiving opening20(and/or from the periphery50aof the first connection formation50). For example,FIG.7illustrates a first central second connection formation60a′ positioned a first (radial) distance from the stoma-receiving opening20(and periphery50a). There are two middle second connection formations60b′, positioned either side of the first second connection formation60a′, and positioned a second shorter distance (i.e. a second, radial distance) from the stoma receiving opening20. Further, there are two outer second connection formations60c′, positioned either side of the middle second connection formations60b′, and are positioned at a third shorter distance (i.e. a third radial distance) from the stoma-receiving opening20.

It should also be appreciated that in an embodiment in which there are multiple second connection formations60,62′, both types of second connection formation60,62′ may be included. In other words, second connection formations60that connect to the first connection formation50may be mixed with second connection formations60′ that are discrete from the first connection formation50.

In some embodiments (such as those illustrated in the figures) where the connection member30includes one or more slits32, the or each slit32has a radially innermost end which defines a radial distance from the stoma-receiving opening20. The periphery50aof the first connection formation50is disposed either at this radial distance or a smaller radial distance from the stoma-receiving opening20. In other words, the first connection formation50is located within the radially innermost end of the slits32.

The second connection formation60is located either at substantially the same radial distance or a larger radial position than that defined by the inner most ends of the slit(s)32.

In some embodiments, even if the first connection formation50is provided indirectly (as described above), the second connection formation60may still be provided as a direct connection between the connection member30and the first wall12.

The advantage of having a second connection formation60,62′ means that additional support can be provided between the first wall12(specifically the top part12aof the first wall12) and the connection member30(which is above where the existing support was provided previously). Previously, as the collecting volume16fills during use, the top of the ostomy appliance1sags forward under the weight pulling at the bottom. The additional connection(s) provided by the second connection formation(s)60,60′ prevents and/or reduces sagging of the pouch because the first wall12is attached to the connection member30at a higher position and, therefore, the first wall12is prevented from pulling forward away from the connection member30(and the body the appliance1is attached to).

Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and/or to encompass equivalents.