GB2201346A - Ostomy coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

A body side coupling ring 100 of an ostomy coupling is connected to a bag side ring 300 by an intermediate locking ring 200. The locking ring can be rotated to permit the bag side ring to be separated from the body side ring. <IMAGE>

Description

OSTOMY COUPLING This invention relates to an ostomy coupling comprising a pair of coupling rings.

Couplings of this kind are known, and one commercially successful arrangement is shown in U.K. Patent 1 571 657.

There has been continuing search to find a design for a pair of coupling rings which gives good security of attachment in the coupled position, even for very active persons, and which at the same time is simple to manufacture and simple to operate.

According to the invention in its broadest aspect, in an ostomy coupling, a body side coupling ring is connected to a bag side coupling ring by an intermediate locking ring which can be rotated relative to one of the rings to permit the bag side ring to be separated from the body side ring.

Preferably the locking ring is rotatable relative to but made captive of the bag side coupling ring.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an ostomy coupling comprising a body side and a bag side coupling ring of which the body side ring has a radially extending flange attachable to a pad of medical grade adhesive and a chute wall surrounding a stomal aperture and the bag side ring has a rib member encircling a stomal aperture and integral with a seal strip, characterised by (a) an array of projections extending from the flange of the body side ring, which are L-shaped as seen in cross-section and which are peripherally spaced around the chute wall, (b) a locking ring intermediate the bag and body side rings and rotatably movable relative thereto, and (c) the locking ring being made captive to the bag side ring and having spaced around it an array- of locking projections co-operable in one position of the locking ring relative to the body side ring with the L-shaped projections of the latter to prevent separation of the bag and body side rings, the said locking projections in another position of the locking ring being located between the L-shaped projections to permit such separation.

According to a preferred embodiment, one or more detents are provided on either the locking ring or the bag side ring and one or more complementary co-operating recesses are provided on the bag side ring or the locking ring as the case may be, so as to give an indication to the wearer, in use, when the locking ring is in said one position. Moreover, this detent and recess arrangement contributes to preventing relative rotation of the rings away from their locked together position.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1-3 respectively illustrate in front view a body side coupling ring, a locking ring and a bag side coupling ring, Figures 4 and 5 illustrate in cross-sections respectively on the lines IV IV, V - V the body side and locking rings in diametrical cross section; Figure 6 illustrates a bag side ring in a half section on the centre line; and Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views on an enlarged scale showing part of the coupling rings respectively in a mutually locked (Figure 7) position and a mutually unlocked (Figure 8) position.

The illustrated coupling includes a body side ring 100, a locking ring 200 and a bag side ring 300. The body side ring, as seen in Figures 1, 4 and 7, includes a wall 102 which encircles a stomal aperture 104, the wall 102 being connected to a flange 106. The wall 102 serves as a chute to guide faecal material into the bag. Mounted on the flange 106 are a plurality, six as illustrated, of latching ribs each of which is -constituted by a substantially Lshaped projection, as seen in cross-section. Each such projection includes an upstanding portion 108 and a latching portion 110. The flange 106 is, in use, attached in any convenient manner to a pad or faceplate 112 of medical grade adhesive material, one suitable material being that sold under the Registered Trademark STOMAHESIVE by E.R. Squibb & Sons Limited of Hounslow, Middlesex.The body side ring 100 may for example be made by injection moulding of synthetic plastics material such as low density polythene. The pad of medical grade adhesive may be a hot melt adhesive which is directly applied onto the free surface of the flange 106 of the body side ring. While six latching ribs have been illustrated in Figure 1, separated from one another by 600 intervals in the peripheral sense, it will be appreciated that any other convenient number of suitably-spaced latching ribs may be employed.

The bag side coupling ring is seen best in Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8, and includes a laterally extending flange 302 which extends outwardly from a circular wall 304 bearing an inwardly projecting deflectable seal strip 306. In use, the seal strip 306 engages and makes a seal with the adjacent external surface 114 of the wall 102. Reference is directed to British Patent No.

1 568 860. The wall 304 has extending therefrom, all round its periphery, an outwardly proje#cting detent 308. The function of the detent 308 will appear from the following description.

The locking ring is best seen in Figures 2, 5, 7 and 8, and is substantially annular in form. It has a central aperture 202 and may have a pair of ears 204 provided with suitable holes to which a belt may be attached. The locking ring 200 may be dispensed with if desired. The locking ring has an annular flange 206 which is externally circular and internally castellated, there being six recesses 208 defining castellations. Projecting out of the surface of the ring 206 in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction are a series of projections each of which includes a rib portion 210 and a locking portion 212.

The projections 210, 212 are peripherally spaced around the locking ring 200.

As seen best from Figures 7 and 8, the function of the locking portions 212 is to lock under respective latching portions 110 of the body side ring 100 in one rotary position of the locking ring 200 relative to the body side ring 100. The locking ring 200 is made captive to the bag side ring due to the engagement of the flange portions 206a- beneath the peripheral rib or detent 308 on the external surface of the wall 304. That is to say, the locking ring 200 can rotate relative to the bag side ring 300 but it cannot be axially removed therefrom.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the latching projections and hook portions are peripherally spaced at 600 intervals. In the mutually locked position the portions 110 and 212 are in registry (as viewed looking axially of the coupling) whereas in the unlocked position the portions 212 are located in the spaces between the portions 110. In this latter condition, the bag side coupling and the locking ring may be withdrawn as a unit from the body side coupling, in the direction indicated by the arrow 400 in Figure 8.On the other hand, in the locked position the locking ring 200 is made captive to the bag side ring 300 due to the engagement of the inner portions 206a of the locking ring in the space between the projection 308 and the flange 302, and the locking ring 200 is connected to the body side ring 100 due to the interengagement described arising from the location of the portions 212 between the respective portions 110 and flange 106.

Halfway along each external surface of each wall 108, there is a detent bump 120 intended to co-operate with a recess or latching notch 220 on the portion 212 of the L-shaped projection 210. The detent 120 engages the counterpart recess 220 so that a user can feel when the locking ring has reached a central position in its rotational movement.

The rings may be of synthetic plastics. The bag side ring may be made of ethylene vinyl acetate (e.g. grade UL 00209); the locking ring may be of nylon; and the body side ring may be of low density polyethylene.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made without departing from the invention. Any suitable number of L-shaped projections and locking projections may be employed. Preferably these will be equally angularly spaced around the rings. The spacing of the L-shaped projections is correlated with the spacing of the locking projections to permit coupled and uncoupled relative positions.

A screwthread connection between an ostomy connector and and externally threaded mounting disc is disclosed in British Patent No. 1 021 145, the mounting disc being held onto the body of the wearer by a belt. As an alternative, in the same- Patent, a bayonet connection is suggested. However, this arrangement was inconvenient to use and to the best of Applicant's knowledge and belief was never successfully commercialised. It does not have an easily-manipulated locking ring, nor the structure of interengaging projections that form part of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. An ostomy coupling in which a body side coupling ring is connected to a bag side #coupling ring by an intermediate locking ring which can be rotated relative to one of the rings to permit the bag side ring to be separated from the body side ring.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 in which the locking ring is rotatable relative to but made captive to the bag side coupling ring.

3. An ostomy coupling comprising a body side and a bag side coupling ring of which the body side ring has a radially extending flange attachable to a pad of medical grade adhesive and a chute wall surrounding a stomal aperture and the bag side ring has a rib member encircling a stomal aperture and integral with a seal strip, characterised by (a) an array of projections extending from the flange of the body side ring, which are L-shaped as seen in cross-section and which are peripherally spaced around the chute wall, (b) -a locking ring intermediate the bag and body side rings and rotatably movable relative thereto, and (c) the locking ring being made captive to the bag side ring and having spaced around it an array of locking projections co-operable in one position of the locking ring relative to the body side ring with the L-shaped projections of the latter to prevent separation of the bag and body side rings, the said locking projections in another position of the locking ring being located between the L-shaped projections to permit such separation.

4. A coupling according to claim 3 in which one or more detents are provided on either the locking ring or the bag side coupling ring and one or more complementary co-operating recesses are provided on the bag side ring or the locking ring as the case may be, so as to give an indication to the wearer, in use, when the locking ring is in said one positon.

5. An ostomy coupling according to any preceding claim in which the locking ring has ears thereon containing holes for the attachment of a belt.

6. An ostomy coupling substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. Any novel combination or sub-combination disclosed and/or illustrated herein.