Patent Description:
A known ostomy appliance includes an ostomy bag which may be attached to a user and configured to collect effluent discharged from a stoma. The ostomy bag may include a filter through which gas may flow from an interior portion of the ostomy bag to the atmosphere. The filter may be an odor filter configured to filter odor from the gas accumulated in the ostomy bag.

However, in some instances, effluent discharged from the stoma and/or stored in the ostomy bag may accumulate on the filter and occlude or partially occlude the filter. An occluded filter may restrict gas flow from the interior of the ostomy bag to the atmosphere through the filter, which may result in an undesirable accumulation of pressure within the ostomy bag. This can lead to what is commonly referred to as "ballooning" of the ostomy bag.

Known ostomy bags have been formed with creases or folds to allow the ostomy bag to be folded to reduce size and unfolded to expand the size. Other known ostomy bags include pleats configured for directing the flow of gas within the ostomy bag. However, in such ostomy bags, effluent may still accumulate at or near the filter in a way which restricts air flow through the filter.

<CIT> discloses ostomy appliance components providing low profile containment of waste from a surgical stoma. Waste collection pouch configuration, positioning, and positioning structure relate to potential advantages in manufacturing and operation of components.

<CIT> discloses an ostomy receiving bag comprising a front wall (<NUM>) and a rear wall and having a top end and a bottom end. The top end of the rear wall is provided with an inlet to receive a stoma, and one wall is provided with at least one first half of a fixation pair (A), and the same effective wall after closure of the bag, if available, is provided with at least one second half of a fixation pair (B), such that when the first half and the second half of the fixation pair are attached, the volume of the receiving bag is reduced.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an ostomy appliance configured to prevent or limit accumulation of effluent at the filter.

The objective is solved by the invention, which is defined by the claims.

In an embodiment, the fastener may be one or more of a hook-and-loop fastener, an adhesive, a button and a snap.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating a side cross-sectional view of an ostomy appliance <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The ostomy appliance <NUM> may be an ostomy pouch. The ostomy appliance <NUM> includes an outer wall <NUM> having a first sidewall <NUM> and an opposed second sidewall <NUM> joined together at an outer periphery <NUM>. The outer wall <NUM> defines an interior volume <NUM>, for example, between the first sidewall <NUM> and the second sidewall <NUM>. An inlet opening <NUM> is included in one of the first sidewall <NUM> and the second sidewall <NUM> to allow for ingress effluent from a stoma to the interior volume <NUM>.

The ostomy appliance <NUM> further includes a filter <NUM> connected to one of the first sidewall <NUM> and the second sidewall <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is disposed in fluid communication with the interior volume <NUM> and external atmosphere. Accordingly, gas from the interior volume <NUM> may be vented through the filter <NUM> to the external atmosphere. The filter <NUM> may be configured to deodorize the gas as the gas is vented through the filter <NUM>. The filter <NUM> may be, for example, a charcoal filter.

In an embodiment, the first sidewall <NUM> may be a proximal side of the ostomy appliance <NUM>. The inlet opening <NUM> may be formed in the first sidewall <NUM>. The second sidewall <NUM> may be a distal side of the ostomy appliance <NUM>. The filter <NUM> may be connected to the second sidewall <NUM>.

The ostomy appliance <NUM> may also include a coupling flange <NUM> secured to the outer wall <NUM> adjacent to the inlet opening <NUM>. In an embodiment, the coupling flange <NUM> may surround or substantially surround the inlet opening <NUM>. The coupling flange <NUM> is configured to couple the ostomy appliance <NUM> to an ostomy faceplate (not shown) adhered to the user at an area around the stoma. In this manner, the ostomy appliance <NUM> may be secured to the user and may receive effluent from the stoma into the interior volume <NUM> through the inlet opening <NUM>.

The interior volume <NUM> of the ostomy appliance <NUM> includes a collection area <NUM> configured to collect and store effluent received from the stoma. The collection area <NUM> is a portion of the interior volume <NUM> generally below the inlet opening <NUM> and the filter <NUM> when the ostomy appliance <NUM> is secured to the user. For example, the inlet opening <NUM> and the filter <NUM> may be generally be disposed at an upper section of the ostomy appliance <NUM> and the collection area <NUM> may be formed in a lower section of the ostomy appliance <NUM>. Further, according to the invention, the filter <NUM> is disposed above the inlet opening <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a plan view of the ostomy appliance <NUM> according to an embodiment. <FIG> is an enlarged plan view illustrating a portion of the ostomy appliance <NUM> of <FIG>. The outer wall <NUM> includes an external surface <NUM>. The ostomy appliance includes a fastener <NUM> on the external surface <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> includes a first fastener part <NUM> and a second fastener part <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> may be spaced apart along the height of the ostomy appliance <NUM>. For example, the first fastener part <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the filter <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> may be disposed below the filter <NUM> along the height of the ostomy appliance <NUM>. In an embodiment, the second fastener part <NUM> may be disposed at height generally corresponding to a height at which the inlet opening <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment, the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> may be disposed on the same sidewall as the filter <NUM>. For example, the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> may be disposed on the second sidewall <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> may be discontinuous and spaced apart from one another. Alternatively, or in addition, the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> may be formed continuously, for example, as a strip of fastener material. In an embodiment, a plurality of fasteners <NUM> may be provided. Accordingly, a corresponding plurality of first fastening parts <NUM> and second fastening parts <NUM> may be provided as well.

Referring still to <FIG> and <FIG>, the fastener <NUM> may be positioned in a released state in which the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> are disengaged and spaced from one another. The ostomy appliance <NUM> is in an unfolded state when the fastener <NUM> is in the released state.

<FIG> illustrates a plan view of the ostomy appliance <NUM> according to an embodiment. <FIG> is an enlarged plan view illustrating a portion of the ostomy appliance <NUM> of <FIG>. The fastener <NUM> may also be positioned in a fastened state. In the fastened state, the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> are engaged with and secured to one another. The ostomy appliance <NUM> is in a folded state when the fastener <NUM> is in the fastened state.

Accordingly, the fastener <NUM> may be moved between a released state and a fastened state to move the ostomy appliance <NUM> between an unfolded state and a folded state, respectively. The fastener <NUM> may be a releasable fastener. The fastener <NUM> may also be reusable such that it may be moved between the released state and fastened state numerous times.

In an embodiment, the fastener <NUM> may be a hook-and-loop fastener. In an embodiment, the first fastener part <NUM> may be one of a hook portion and a loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, and the second fastener part <NUM> may be the other of the hook portion and the loop portion. The first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> may be secured to the outer wall <NUM> using a known, suitable fastener, such as an adhesive.

The fastener <NUM> is not limited to a hook-and-loop fastener, however. Other known, suitable fasteners capable of repeated fastening and release cycles (i.e., repeated movement between the fastened state and the released state) may be used as well. Such fasteners may include, for example, adhesives, buttons, snaps and the like. Combinations of different fasteners may be used as well.

In an embodiment, in the unfolded state, the interior volume <NUM> is substantially continuous. Accordingly, effluent may flow freely in the interior volume <NUM>.

The ostomy appliance <NUM> may be folded over itself at a folding location <NUM>, such as a folding line, between the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM>. The ostomy appliance <NUM> may be folded such that the first fastener part <NUM> and the second fastener part <NUM> are moved into the fastened state. In this manner, the ostomy appliance <NUM> may be moved to folded state. The ostomy appliance may be fastened to itself and held in the folded state by way of the fastener <NUM>.

According to the invention, the ostomy appliance <NUM> is folded over itself to form a crease <NUM> at the folding location <NUM>. The crease <NUM> may extend across a width of the ostomy appliance <NUM>. The crease is located between the inlet opening <NUM> and the filter <NUM> in a direction of gas flow from the collection area <NUM> to the filter <NUM>.

In the folded state, the crease <NUM> may make the interior volume <NUM> discontinuous, such that flow of effluent is limited or restricted to predetermined portions of the interior volume <NUM>. For example, the crease <NUM> may substantially prevent or limit effluent flow to the filter <NUM>. Thus, effluent received through the inlet opening <NUM> and/or stored in the collection area <NUM> may be prevented from flowing to the filter <NUM> by the crease <NUM>, with the crease <NUM> positioned between the inlet opening <NUM> and the filter <NUM>. Accordingly, in the folded state, effluent may be substantially prevented from accumulating at the filter <NUM>.

In an embodiment, in the folded state of the ostomy appliance <NUM>, the crease <NUM> may still allow gas flow from the collection area <NUM> to the filter <NUM>. Accordingly, the gas may be deodorized and vented from the interior volume <NUM> to the external atmosphere. Alternatively, or in addition, the fastener <NUM> may be moved to the released state and the ostomy appliance may be moved to the unfolded state to allow for gas flow, or additional gas flow relative to the folded state, from the collection area <NUM> to the filter <NUM>. In this manner, a relatively higher volume flow of gas may be provided to the filter <NUM> to be deodorized and vented to the external atmosphere.

In an embodiment, the outer wall <NUM> may generally define an ostomy pouch body, and the ostomy pouch body may be moved between the folded and unfolded states as described in the embodiments above. In addition, with the folding location <NUM>, such as a folding line or the like, disposed generally at an upper portion of the ostomy appliance <NUM>, according to the invention between the inlet opening <NUM> and the filter <NUM>, moving the ostomy appliance <NUM> between the folded and unfolded states in normal use does not affect capacity of the collection area <NUM>, since the collection area <NUM>, i.e., the portion of the interior volume <NUM> configured and intended to collect and store stomal effluent, is disposed below the inlet opening <NUM>.

Further still, in the folded state of the ostomy appliance, the head space (e.g., a portion of the ostomy appliance <NUM> extending above the inlet opening <NUM>) may be reduced. That is, by folding over the ostomy appliance onto itself at a folding location at or above the inlet opening <NUM>, a footprint of the ostomy appliance may be reduced. Accordingly, discretion and comfort to the wearer may be improved.

For example, the folding location may be line extending across the width of the ostomy appliance <NUM> and may be positioned, for example, at or slightly above an upper portion of the coupling flange <NUM>. In one embodiment, the folding location may be a line extending tangential to an upper portion of the coupling flange <NUM>. In another embodiment, the folding location may be spaced from the coupling flange <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the folded state, a folded portion <NUM> of the ostomy appliance <NUM>, i.e., a portion above the folding location <NUM> is folded over onto a base portion <NUM> of the ostomy appliance <NUM>, i.e., a portion below the folding location <NUM>. The crease <NUM> is formed at the folding location. The folded portion <NUM> may be releasably secured to the base portion <NUM> by the fastener <NUM> in the fastened state. In this manner, the footprint of the ostomy appliance <NUM> may be reduced.

In addition, because the crease <NUM> may restrict gas flow toward the filter <NUM>, a potential ballooning volume may be reduced as well, which may further improve discretion and comfort for the wearer. In the event of ballooning, the folded portion <NUM> may remain secured to the base portion <NUM> by the fastener <NUM> to resist unfolding of the ostomy appliance <NUM>.

It is understood that the relative directions described above, e.g., "upward," "downward," "upper," "lower," "above," "below," are used for illustrative purposes only and may change depending on an orientation of the ostomy pouch and/or the patient. Accordingly, this terminology is non-limiting in nature. In addition, it is understood that one or more various features of an embodiment above may be used in, combined with, or replace other features of a different embodiment described herein.

Claim 1:
An ostomy appliance (<NUM>) comprising:
an outer wall (<NUM>) having first and second opposed sidewalls (<NUM>, <NUM>) joined at an outer periphery (<NUM>), an inlet opening (<NUM>) and a filter (<NUM>), wherein the outer wall defines an interior volume (<NUM>) comprising a collection area (<NUM>), wherein the collection area is a portion of the interior volume below the inlet opening, wherein the filter is disposed above the inlet opening, and
a fastener (<NUM>) on an external surface (<NUM>) of the outer wall, wherein the fastener includes a first fastener part (<NUM>) and a second fastener part (<NUM>) spaced from the first fastener part, the fastener movable between a released state in which the ostomy appliance is in an unfolded state, and a fastened state in which the ostomy appliance is a folded state, wherein the ostomy appliance, in the folded state, further includes a crease (<NUM>) positioned between the inlet opening and the filter, characterised in that a portion of the ostomy appliance above the crease is folded over onto a base portion (<NUM>) of the ostomy appliance in the folded state such that the first fastener part and the second fastener part are engaged to hold the ostomy appliance in the folded state, wherein moving the ostomy appliance between the folded state and the unfolded state does not affect a capacity of the collection area.