Ostomy appliance having a free-hanging filter construction

Abstract

An ostomy appliance includes a pouch and a filter construction. The pouch is adapted to collect body waste and has a vent opening provided to allow gas to exit the pouch. The filter construction has a first foil layer secured to a second foil layer to form an enclosure, with a pre-filter inside of the enclosure. The first foil layer and the second foil layer are both liquid and gas impermeable. Multiple gas-inlet holes are formed through one or both of the first foil layer and the second foil layer. A gas-outlet is formed through the second foil layer in communication with the vent opening of the pouch. The filter construction is attached to the pouch only in an area immediately surrounding the vent opening such that a majority of the filter construction is substantially free-hanging relative to the pouch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.