# US 11,298,257 B2 · Ostomy apparatuses and related methods

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- Number: US 11,298,257 B2
- Document ID: US11298257B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/928,642
- Filed: 2018-03-22
- Published: 2018-09-27
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-22
- Assignees: 3 West C, LLC
- Applicants: 3 West C, LLC
- Inventors: Luis Fernandez; Charles Gordon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298257B2

## CPC

- A61F 5/4401: {with absorbent pads (diapers A61F13/49)}
- A61F 5/4405: {Valves or valve arrangements specially adapted therefor (A61F5/441 takes precedence); Fluid inlets or outlets (A61F5/4407 takes precedence)}
- A61F 5/442: having irrigation ports or means (irrigators A61M3/02)
- A61F 5/443: having {adhesive seals for securing to the body, e.g. of} hydrocolloid type seals, e.g. gels, starches or karaya gums
- A61F 5/448: Means for attaching bag to seal ring
- A61M 1/90: {Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing}
- A61F 2005/4486: {with operable locking ring}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

An ostomy apparatus comprising a flexible container having an interior chamber for receiving waste from a patient's stoma and an opening for surrounding the stoma, a housing coupled to the container, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate an absorbent material that surrounds the stoma, a port configured to provide fluid communication between the housing and a pressure source; and an adhesive layer configured to seal the housing to skin around the stoma.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ostomy apparatus comprising:
an ostomy bag comprising:
a flexible container having:
an interior chamber configured to receive waste from a patient's stoma,
a first end defining a first opening configured to surround the stoma and receive the waste into the interior chamber; and
a first locking ring coupled to the first end of the flexible container;
a wafer configured to accommodate an absorbent material that surrounds the stoma, the wafer comprising:
a second locking ring configured to engage with the first locking ring to couple the ostomy bag to the wafer;
a second opening configured to surround the stoma and receive the waste from the stoma and into the interior chamber while the first and second locking rings are engaged;
a port provided in the wafer and configured to provide fluid communication between an interior of the wafer and a pressure source, wherein the port is isolated from fluid communication with the first and second openings; and
an adhesive layer having a first side coupled the wafer and a second side configured to be coupled to skin to seal the wafer to the skin around the stoma.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a finger probe coupled to the flexible container, the finger probe being configured to allow a user to manipulate the stoma.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container has a resealable opening for draining the container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material includes an open cell structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, where:
the first locking ring is configured to engage the second locking ring such that the first and second locking rings cooperate to define a passage extending between a first end and a second end of the wafer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the port is coupled to a side surface of the wafer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the interior of the wafer includes an annular chamber and the absorbent material is disposed within the annular chamber.

### Claim 8

An ostomy apparatus comprising:
an ostomy bag comprising:
a flexible container having a receptacle for receiving waste from a patient's stoma and;
a first lock assembly defining a first opening configured to surround the stoma and receive the waste into the receptacle; and
a wafer configured to surround the stoma and accommodate an absorbent material, the wafer comprising:
a second lock assembly configured to engage with the first lock assembly to couple the ostomy bag to the wafer;
a second opening configured to surround the stoma and receive the waste from the stoma and into the receptacle when the first and second lock assemblies are engaged;
a port provided in the wafer and configured to provide fluid communication between an interior of the wafer and a pressure source, wherein the port is isolated from fluid communication with the first and second openings; and
an adhesive layer configured to couple the wafer to skin surrounding the stoma.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pressure source is configured to provide a sub-atmospheric pressure within an interior of the wafer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pressure source is configured to provide a sub-atmospheric pressure on the absorbent material such that the absorbent material removes fluid from skin surrounding the stoma.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a valve being configured to control fluid communication between the wafer and the pressure source.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first lock assembly is configured to engage the second lock assembly to form a passageway between the stoma and the receptacle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the adhesive layer includes a first side coupled to a first end of the wafer and a second side configured to be coupled to skin to seal the wafer to the skin around the stoma.

### Claim 14

A method of collecting waste from a stoma of a patient, the method comprising:
adhering an adhesive layer to skin surrounding the stoma;
coupling a wafer to the adhesive layer, the wafer including:
an interior chamber;
an absorbent material disposed within the chamber;
a wafer locking assembly having a first opening; and
a port provided in the wafer and configured to provide fluid communication between the interior chamber and a pressure source;
coupling an ostomy bag having a flexible container and a container locking assembly to the wafer such that the wafer locking assembly engages the container locking assembly, wherein the flexible container includes a receptacle configured to receive waste from the stoma and a second opening for surrounding at least a portion of the stoma; and
communicating fluid between the chamber of the wafer and a pressure source such that pressure within the chamber of the wafer is sub-atmospheric;
wherein the port is isolated from fluid communication with the first and second openings.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the adhesive layer seals the housing wafer around the stoma.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the flexible container is coupled to a finger probe, and wherein the method comprises manipulating the finger probe to unblock an obstruction of the stoma.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the flexible container comprises a resealable opening, and wherein the method comprises draining the flexible container via the resealable opening.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:
the wafer includes:
an inner wall that defines an inner perimeter; and
an outer wall that defines an outer perimeter having a larger transverse dimension than the inner perimeter; and
the port is included in the outer wall of the wafer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to be coupled to the skin to seal the wafer to the skin around the stoma that is surgically created and disposed outside of a wound bed.