Patent Publication Number: US-2015080816-A1

Title: Cleansing kit for colostomy bags

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/878,087, filed on Sep. 16, 2013, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to cleaning kits for ostomy bags, and more particularly, to cleaning kits for ostomy bags that are portable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Individuals that have undergone an ostomy or colostomy are repeatedly faced with the unpleasant task of emptying and cleaning ostomy bags that have become filled with bodily waste. This can occur multiple times a day. Such bags may be single use, disposable products or reusable. One difficulty associated with single use ostomy bags is the requirement for removal of used bags and reapplication of new bags at the ostomy site. To maintain an adequate seal between the entry orifice of such bags and the abdomen, the ostomy site must be thoroughly cleaned and an adhesive/sealant applied to the union between the abdomen and the ostomy bag. Repeated procedures of this type are time-consuming and frequently result in chronic irritation to the skin. Because of this, many ostomy patients prefer to utilize ostomy bags that may be opened, emptied, cleansed, and reclosed without needing to remove the ostomy bag from the ostomy patient&#39;s body. 
     Because of the configuration of ostomy bags, emptying and cleansing typically occurs by opening the bottom of the bag, and allowing the contents to drain into a suitable bathroom fixture, such as a commode. Using a nearby water supply and nozzle apparatus, water or other cleansing fluids may be directed into the interior of the bag until it is clean. Once cleaned, the bottom of the bag can be reclosed. 
     In addition to not having to remove the ostomy bag from the ostomy patient&#39;s body, there are important economic realities associated with reusing ostomy bags. For example, an ostomy patient utilizing single use ostomy bags may need to replace the ostomy bag several times in a day, at significant expense to the ostomy patient and his or her insurance provider. Cost-savings associated with the reuse of ostomy bags are, accordingly, substantial. 
     Devices for cleaning ostomy bags are well known. However, the devices are designed to be semi-permanently installed at water sources, such as a fresh water source available in a residential or institutional bathroom. Often, ostomy patient&#39;s need to empty and clean reusable ostomy bags while traveling, or are in a remote location where there is no access to running water. 
     SUMMARY 
     Portable, self-contained apparatuses for cleaning ostomy bags are disclosed herein. An apparatus for cleaning ostomy bags includes a fluid supply, a selectively operable spray nozzle assembly, a conduit interconnecting the fluid supply and the spray nozzle assembly, a means for disconnecting the spray nozzle assembly from the conduit, and a means for disconnecting the conduit from the fluid supply. The spray nozzle assembly may include a body connectable to the conduit, an actuating handle for controlling the release of fluid, and a U-shaped tube connectable to the body for dispersing fluid. The U-shaped tube is selectively disconnectable from the body. 
     The apparatus may include a carrying case a carrying case for storing and transporting the spray nozzle assembly, the conduit, and ostomy supplies. The fluid supply for the apparatus may be a reservoir. The reservoir may be refillable. The apparatus may also include a corresponding electrically operated pump to provide the conduit with a supply of pressurized fluid. The electrically operated pump may be powered by a portable energy source. The portable energy source may be a battery, and the battery may be rechargeable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features, advantages, and other uses of the present apparatus will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plain front view of an apparatus for cleaning ostomy bags; 
         FIG. 2  is a plain front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  interfaced with a shower head and hung on nearby support; 
         FIG. 3  is a plain front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  provided with a carrying case; 
         FIG. 4  is a plain front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  provided with a portable fluid supply; and 
         FIG. 5  is a plain side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  provided with the portable fluid supply. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This description is directed to a self-contained and portable apparatus  10  for cleaning ostomy bags. As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the apparatus  10  can be removably attached to a plumbed water supply, such as a water faucet or a self-contained reservoir. The apparatus  10  may include both manual and powered pumping systems for providing a controlled, adequate source of water or cleaning fluid. This allows the apparatus  10  to be utilized in environments where there is no ready source of running water or electrical power. 
     The apparatus  10  is comprised of a spray nozzle assembly  30  that is connected to a fluid supply  70  through a supply conduit  50 . The apparatus  10  can utilize a fluid supply  70 , such as a household water supply, as the source of water for operation of the apparatus  10 . The fluid supply may be associated with a typical bathroom shower, bathtub or commode, and the supply conduit  50  may be connected to the fluid supply  70  using a permanent, semi-permanent or temporary plumbing fitting. For example, the supply conduit  50  may be provided with a union  51  that interfaces with a shower head, sink faucet, shower head supply, sink supply, or commode supply. The union  51  may have a spring-loaded valve that shuts off the fluid supply when the supply conduit  50  is removed from the quick disconnect. In this fashion, the supply conduit  50  may be attached to or disconnected from the fluid supply without the requirement for tools, and with little or no spillage of water. Alternatively, the connection between the apparatus  10  and the fluid supply  70  may be in the form of a permanently plumbed valve having an outlet and a manually operated control, so that the fluid supply  70  to the supply conduit  50  may be controlled. For convenience, a hanger or support  98  may be affixed in proximity to the fluid supply  70  to allow hanging of the spray nozzle assembly  30  and supply conduit  50  near the fluid supply  70 . 
     The spray nozzle assembly  30  may be equipped with an actuating handle or trigger  31 . An outlet  32  of the spray nozzle assembly  30  is in the form of a U-shaped tube, which may be coated with a resilient material such as rubber or plastic. The outlet  32  may have a disconnect feature  33  that allows the outlet  32  to be disconnected from the spray nozzle assembly  30  for transportation or sanitization. A body  34  of the spray nozzle assembly  30  is fed by the supply conduit  50 , which is attached to the body  34  of the spray nozzle assembly  30  using a permanent or removable plumbing fixture. A distal end  35  of the spray nozzle assembly  30  is formed with a flattened or reduced dimension outlet, which serves to disperse the flow of water exiting from the spray nozzle assembly  30  when the trigger  31  of the spray nozzle assembly  30  is operated. 
     In use, the fluid supply  70  feeds water under normal household water supply pressures to the spray nozzle assembly  30 , and the flow of water from the outlet  32  of the spray nozzle assembly  30  is controlled by the trigger  31  on the body  34  of the spray nozzle assembly  30 . When desired, the supply conduit  50  may be disconnected from the fluid supply  70 , and the supply conduit  50  and spray nozzle assembly  30  may be transported to another location for use. To facilitate transport of the apparatus  10 , a carrying case  60 , shown in  FIG. 3 , may be provided, which conveniently holds the spray nozzle assembly  30  and supply conduit  50  together with the patient&#39;s ostomy supplies  61  to any location providing a water source or supply. The interior of the carrying case  60  may be provided with one or more attach points or compartments, wherein the various components of the apparatus  10  may be conveniently stored. 
     To allow for the apparatus  10  to be used in environments where there is no ready source of running water, the fluid supply  70  may be portable, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . When the fluid supply  70  is portable, the carrying case  60  is provided with a pump  71 , a reservoir  72 , a series of valves  73 , and a storage compartment  74 . The storage compartment  74  accommodates the patient&#39;s ostomy supplies  61 , which may include replacement ostomy bags, rubber gloves, mastic, and cleaning pads that are usable at the ostomy site. The patient&#39;s ostomy supplies may fit within a second, smaller carrying case  62  that fits within the storage compartment  74 , such as a small suitcase or briefcase. 
     The reservoir  72  may be refillable with water and may be provided with one or more resealable openings through which water, disinfectants, deodorants or other fluids may be directly added to the reservoir  72 . The storage capacity of the reservoir  72  may vary but is generally in the range of three-quarters to one gallon of fluid. The reservoir  72  interconnects with an inlet quick disconnect  75  and an outlet quick disconnect  76 . The inlet quick disconnect  75  may be connected by a suitable removable conduit, such as hosing or tubing, to an external water supply. The outlet quick disconnect  76  allows the reservoir  72  to communicate with the spray nozzle assembly  30 . To facilitate discharge of fluid from the reservoir  72 , the pump  71  is provided may be powered by a portable energy source, such as a battery, or by connection to conventional power outlets found in commercial or residential buildings. Electrical connectors may be provided on the exterior of the carrying case  60  to facilitate connection of external power to operate the pump  71  or to recharge the battery. 
     To use, the ostomy patient connects the spray nozzle assembly  30  to one end of the supply conduit  50  and the other end of the supply conduit  50  to the fluid supply  70 . The ostomy patient then positions the ostomy bag in relation to a commode or other suitable drain before the ostomy patent opens the bottom of the ostomy bag, which should be resealable to allow for the contents of the ostomy bag to be emptied into the commode or drain. Next, the distal end  35  of the spray nozzle assembly  30  is inserted in the ostomy bag, and the ostomy patient uses the spray nozzle assembly  30  to spray the remaining contents of the ostomy bag with fluid from the fluid supply  99  to flush the remaining contents of the bag and clean the interior of the ostomy bag. As soon as the ostomy bag has been emptied and the cleaning operation is completed, the bottom of the ostomy bag is then resealed, allowing for continued use of the ostomy bad without the need for application of a new ostomy bag. 
     To use the apparatus  10  when the fluid supply  70  is portable, the ostomy patient similarly connects the spray nozzle assembly  30  to one end of the supply conduit  50 . The other end of the supply conduit  50  is then connected to the outlet quick disconnect  76  of the reservoir  72 . One or more valves are opened to allow the fluid in the reservoir  72  to communicate with supply conduit  50 . The electric pump  71  is then turned on, providing pressurized fluid from the reservoir  72  to the supply conduit  50  and spray nozzle assembly  30 , allowing the ostomy patient to clean the ostomy bag as previously described. 
     While this disclosure describes what is presently considered to be the most practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the apparatus  10  is not limited to the disclosed implements but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the appended claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as permitted under the law.