# US 11,432,956 B1 · Resistance sensor for identifying leak locations in ostomy system

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- Number: US 11,432,956 B1
- Document ID: US11432956B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/617,672
- Filed: 2021-07-12
- Published: 2022-08-25
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-15
- Assignees: Hollister Incorporated
- Applicants: Hollister Incorporated
- Inventors: Jonas P. Carlsson; Scott E. Liddle; Kyle A. Matthews
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432956B1

## CPC

- A61F 5/445: Colostomy, {ileostomy or urethrostomy} devices (A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence)
- A61F 5/4404: {Details or parts}
- A61F 5/443: having {adhesive seals for securing to the body, e.g. of} hydrocolloid type seals, e.g. gels, starches or karaya gums
- G01M 3/16: using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence)
- 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)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A sensor device for identifying an ostomy effluent leak location in an ostomy system includes a stoma opening and electrically conductive circuitry arranged in pattern around the stoma opening. The electrically conductive circuitry includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode. The first electrode is subdivided by a plurality of resistors spaced along a length of the first electrode. The second electrode extends as a continuous strip of conductive material. The sensor device is configured to detect electrical resistance in the electrically conductive circuit and identify a location of a leak based on the detected electrical resistance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sensor device for identifying a leak location in an ostomy system, the sensor device comprising:
a stoma opening; and
an electrically conductive circuitry arranged in pattern around the stoma opening, the electrically conductive circuitry comprising a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode,
wherein the first electrode is subdivided by a plurality of resistors spaced along a length of the first electrode,
wherein the second electrode extends as a continuous strip of conductive material, and
wherein the sensor device is configured to detect electrical resistance in the electrically conductive circuit and identify a location of a leak based on the detected electrical resistance.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive circuitry is arranged in a spiral pattern around the stoma opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive circuitry is a sensor layer and the sensor device further comprises a substrate layer on which the sensor layer is applied.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The sensor device of claim 3, further comprising an adhesive layer, wherein the sensor layer is disposed between the adhesive layer and the substrate layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the resistors of the plurality of resistors each have a resistance significantly higher than a generalized resistance of the leak.

### Claim 6

A sensor device for a medical appliance for detecting an effluent leakage, comprising:
an electrically conductive circuitry comprising a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, wherein the first electrode is subdivided by a plurality of resistors spaced along a length of the first electrode, wherein the second electrode extends as a continuous strip of conductive material; and
an adhesive layer configured to attach the sensor device to a user's skin;
wherein the sensor device is configured to measure electrical resistance in the electrically conductive circuitry and determine a location of an effluent leakage based on a resistance measurement.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sensor device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of resistors comprises R1, R2 and R3, and an effluent leakage has a generalized leak resistance RL, wherein a total resistance (Rtotal) of the electrically conductive circuitry drops when an effluent leakage bridges the first and second electrodes, wherein Rtotal when no effluent leakage bridges the first and second electrodes is at least 10 times greater than Rtotal when an effluent leakage bridges the first electrode and the second electrode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The sensor device of claim 7, wherein Rtotal when an effluent leakage bridges the first and second electrodes between R1 and R2 is R1+RL.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The sensor device of claim 7, wherein Rtotal when an effluent leakage bridges the first and second electrodes between R2 and R3 is R1+R2+RL.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The sensor device of claim 7, wherein Rtotal when an effluent leakage bridges the first and second electrodes beyond R3 is R1+R2+R3+RL.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The sensor device of claim 6, wherein the sensor device is configured to detect an ostomy effluent leakage and includes an opening for receiving a stoma, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in a spiral pattern around the opening, wherein the sensor device is configured to determine a progress of an ostomy effluent leakage, wherein the ostomy effluent leakage progresses from proximate the opening to an outer periphery of the sensor device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The sensor device of claim 11, wherein the first electrode is arranged in a spiral pattern having a plurality wraps around the opening, and the second electrode extends between the wraps of the first electrode, wherein the first electrode is arranged to have more wraps than the second electrode, wherein a radially innermost wrap and a radially outermost wrap are both formed by the first electrode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The sensor device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of resistors comprises R1, R2 . . . Rn−2, Rn−1 and Rn, wherein the Rnis arranged on the radially innermost wrap of the first electrode, wherein Rn−1 is arranged adjacent and spaced apart from Rn, Rn−2 is arranged adjacent and spaced apart from Rn−1, and R1 is arranged on the outermost wrap of the first electrode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The sensor device of claim 13, wherein the sensor device is configured to detect a moderate leak when an ostomy effluent leakage bridges an innermost wrap of the first electrode and the second electrode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The sensor device of claim 14, wherein Rtotal when an effluent leakage bridges the first and second electrodes between Rn−1 and Rn−2 is R1+R2 . . . +Rn−2+RL.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The sensor device of claim 13, wherein the sensor device is configured to detect a critical leak when an ostomy effluent leakage bridges an outermost wrap of the first electrode and the second electrode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The sensor device of claim 16, wherein Rtotal when an effluent leakage bridges the first and second electrodes between R2 and R3 is approximately R1+R2.

### Claim 18 (depends on 6)

The sensor device of claim 6, further comprising a substrate layer, wherein the electrically conductive circuitry is arranged between the substrate layer and the adhesive layer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 6)

The sensor device of claim 6, wherein the sensor device is an ostomy accessory, wherein a distal side of the sensor device is secured to a body side of an ostomy barrier.

### Claim 20 (depends on 6)

The sensor device of claim 6, wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a hydrocolloid adhesive.