GB2201345A - Coupling for ostomy and like bags - Google Patents

Abstract

An ostomy bag coupling has a pair of coupling rings 100 & 200 with a latch ring 300 intermediate the two coupling rings. The latch ring has a pair of diametrically-extending latch arms 304 which are of flexible plastics material and which can be flexed between locking and unlocking positions. <IMAGE>

Description

COUPLING FOR OSTOMY AND LIKE BAGS This invention relates to a coupling for ostomy and like bags. Ostomy bag couplings comprising two rings are known, and examples can be seen in the following British Patent specifications:- 1 568 860, 1 579 875, 1 571 659 and 2 212 902.

There is a continuing need of a coupling which is light and easily manufactured, which is readily detached when desired but which is difficult to detach accidentally, and has good leakproof qualities when attached.

According to the invention, in an ostomy bag coupling having a pair of coupling rings, a latch ring is provided intermediate the two rings, the latch ring having a pair of diametrically extending latch arms which are of plastics material and can be flexed between locking and unlocking positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the coupling rings are attached to respective substantially planar flanges which in the assembled condition are substantially parallel to each other, and each latch arm pivots in a diametrical plane perpendicular to the plane of the flanges. Each latch arm is preferably in the form of a flat tab. The intermediate ring may be of high density polyethylene, the bag side coupling ring and flange may be integral and of E.V.A., and the body side coupling ring may be of low density polyethylene.

The invention will be better understood from the following non-limiting description thereof given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section on a diametral plane showing part of a coupling according to one example of the invention in an assembled condition; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the coupling in unlocked condition just prior to disassembly; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively front and cross-sectional views of oneexample of body side coupling ring; Figures 5 and 6 are similar respective views of an example of a bag side coupling ring intended to co-operate with the ring of Figures 3 and 4, and Figures 7 and 8 are similar respective views of an example of latching ring intended for use with the coupling rings of Figures 3 and 5.

The illustrated ostomy bag coupling has a body-side coupling ring 100, a bag-side coupling ring 200, and a latch ring 300. The body-side coupling ring 100 has an annular flat flange 102 integral with a cylindrical wall 106 surrounding a stomal orifice 104, the flange 102 also being integral with a shallow cylindrical wall 110 radially outwardly of and substantially co-axial with the wall 106. The wall 110 has an outwardly projecting annular rim 112 which co-operates as will be later described with a pair of latch hooks on a corresponding pair of latch arms. The body-side coupling ring 100 is preferably made, by injection moulding, from low density polyethylene.

The bag-side coupling ring 200 has a flat annular flange 202 integral with a substantially cylindrical wall whose internal diameter is somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the wall 106. Extending radially inwardly from a part of the wall 204 is an integral synthetic plastics flexible and deflectable seal strip, designed to engage the outer periphery of the wall 106 when the coupling rings are assembled together. Employment of such a deflectable seal strip as such is known, and is the subject matter of British Patent No. 1 568 860. Extending radially externally of the wall 204 is an outwardly projecting rib 208 of relatively small axial extent, located to define in conjunction with the flange 202 a recess 209 which is occupied by the latching ring as will be understood from the following description.The bag-side coupling ring is preferably made from ethylene vinyl acetate and may be made in one piece by injection moulding.

The latching ring comprises a flat annulus 302 having a pair of slots therein. The slots are indicated at 308 in Figures 1, 2 and 7. Made in one piece with the ring 302 are a pair of diametrically extending latch arms 304 to each of which is connected a latch hook 306. The purpose of the slots 308 is to allow the latch arm 304 to flex relative to the plane of the ring 302, so as to permit movement of the latch arm 304 and the associated hook between a locked position such as is seen in Figure 1 and an unlocked position such as is seen in Figure 2. As mentioned, the latch ring 300 is preferably made of high density polyethylene, and deformation of it outwardly away from the body of the wearer can cause a corresponding deformation of the flange 202, the latter being secured to a wall 400 of an ostomy bag.The flange 102 of the body-side coupling ring is secured in any convenient manner to a surface of a pad of medical grade adhesive 108, a stomal orifice therein being indicated at 120.

In use of the ostomy bag coupling disclosed herein, first a bag side coupling ring together with a bag attached thereto is taken and a latching ring is pl#aced thereover in such a way as to force the ring 302 past the annular latching member 110, this being possible due to the temporary stretchability of the ring 302 and the limited diametrical extent of the rib 208. The inner margin of the ring 302 then occupies the outwardly open annular channel 209 defined by the coupling ring 200.

The wearer then applies the medical grade adhesive patch or pad 108 around his stoma in the conventional way, the patch 108 having attached to it the body-side coupling ring 100. The bag, bag-side coupling ring and latch ring are then brought up and presented to the body-side ring and the latching arms are deformed outwardly. Due to the lead-in shape of the portion 207 of the deflectable seal strip 206, the bag-side ring is guided onto the cylindrical wall 106. Then the latch arms 34 are allowed to return to their normal undeformed position in which the-latch hooks 306 engage under the outwardly projecting rim 112 on the body-side ring 100 so holding the bag securely on. Bag removal is extremely easily done merely be grasping the free ends of the arms 304 and bending them outwardly away from the body so pulling off the bag latch-ring combination.

Among the advantages of the invention as particularly disclosed and illustrated herein is that the overall coupling is of shallow depth and is hence unobtrusive, and assembly and disassembly are easily done and relatively foolproof.

Of course modifications may be made to the details disclosed herein without departing from the invention. For example, other synthetic plastics materials than those mentioned may be used. Latch arms of different shape as seen in front view could be employed. A different form of seal could be employed between the wall 204 and the wall 106. Although the drawings illustrate coupling rings of a circular nature, it will be appreciated that rings of a different close loop shape, e.g. oval, could equally well be employed. The present specification is to be interpreted in the sense that such other shape coupling rings are within the invention. As shown in Figure 1 and 7, each latching arm 304 has a stiffening rib 305, but such a stiffening rib may not always be required and no such rib is shown in Figure 2. If desired, a vent and filter arrangement for allowing exit of flatus gases from within the ostomy bag may be incorporated in or carried by the flange 200 of the bag-side coupling ring. For a fuller description of one arrangement of this kind, the reader is invited to refer to our U.K. Application No. 85 31257.

Claims (6)

1. An ostomy bag coupling having a pair of coupling rings in which a latch ring is provided intermediate the two rings, the latch ring having a pair of diametrically extending latch arms which are of plastics material and can be flexed between locking and unlocking positions.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 in which the coupling rings are attached to respective substantially planar flanges which in the assembled condition are substantially parallel to each other, and each latch arm pivots in a diametrical plane perpendicular to the plane of the flanges.

3. A coupling according to claim 1 or 2 in which each latch arm is in the form of a flat tab.

4. A coupling according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the intermediate ring is of high density polyethylene, the bag side coupling ring and flange are integral and of E.V.A., and the body side coupling ring is of low density polyethylene.

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

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