Ostomy film
AssigneeConvatec Limited
InventorLeonardo Malcovati
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ostomy pouch that has a cavity for containing human waste defined by a multilayer barrier film that has, in order from adjacent to the cavity outwards, an inner polymer carrier layer, an inner tie layer, a barrier layer comprising poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), an outer tie layer, and an outer polymer carrier layer. The tie layers each have recycled polymer material and at least one compatibilizer.
Claims30
An ostomy pouch comprising a cavity for containing human waste defined by a multilayer barrier film comprising in order from adjacent to the cavity outwards:
- an inner polymer carrier layer;
- an inner tie layer;
- a barrier layer comprising poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol);
- an outer tie layer;
- and an outer polymer carrier layer;
- wherein the tie layers each comprise recycled polymer material and at least one compatibilizer.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner polymer carrier layer comprises a polymer material that is more impermeable to moisture than the polymer material of the outer carrier layer.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one polymer carrier layer has a thickness of between 4-18 microns.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one tie layer comprises the at least one compatibilizer in a total amount of between 5-30 wt. % of the tie layer, preferably between 20-30 wt. % of the tie layer.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one tie layer comprises the recycled polymer material in a total amount of between 50-100 wt. %, or preferably between 70-80 wt. %.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one compatibilizer comprises a maleic anhydride copolymer, preferably a copolymer of maleic anhydride with ethylene, and more preferably poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride).
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recycled polymer material comprises poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol).
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recycled polymer material comprises at least one polymer that is independently chosen from:
- a polyolefin, a polyamide, and combinations thereof.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recycled polymer material comprises polymer film material, preferably multilayer polymer film material.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one tie layer has a thickness of between 4-10 microns.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) of the barrier layer comprises between 10-50% vinyl alcohol units.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the barrier layer has a thickness of between 3-15 microns.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the multilayer barrier film further comprises:
- an outermost weld layer positioned furthest from the pouch cavity;
- and/or an innermost weld layer positioned nearest the pouch cavity.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the multilayer film is a cast film.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the multilayer film has a thickness of between 40-130 microns.
An ostomy pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ostomy pouch comprises a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls are sealed together to form the cavity of the pouch therebetween, and wherein the front and rear wall comprise the multilayer barrier film.
A method of manufacturing an ostomy pouch comprising the steps of:
- a. Providing a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls comprise a multilayer barrier film comprising in order:
- a first polymer carrier layer;
- a first tie layer comprising recycled polymer material and at least one compatibilizer;
- a barrier layer comprising poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol);
- a second tie layer comprising recycled polymer material and at least one compatibilizer;
- and a second polymer carrier layer;
- and
- b. Sealing the front and rear walls together to form a cavity therebetween for containing human waste such that the second polymer carrier and tie layers are located further from the cavity than the first polymer carrier and tie layers;
- wherein the method further comprises providing an inlet for receiving human waste in the rear wall before or after step (b).
A multilayer barrier film comprising in order:
- a first polymer carrier layer;
- a first tie layer;
- a barrier layer comprising poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol);
- a second tie layer;
- and a second polymer carrier layer;
- wherein the tie layers each comprise recycled polymer material and at least one compatibilizer, the at least one compatibilizer being present in a total amount of between 5-30 wt. % of each tie layer.
A method of manufacturing a multilayer barrier film comprising the steps of:
- a. Providing a first and second carrier layer polymer composition;
- b. Providing a barrier layer polymer composition comprising poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol);
- c. Providing a first and second tie layer polymer composition by combining recycled polymer material and at least one compatibilizer, the at least one compatibilizer being present in a total amount of between 5-30 wt. % of each tie layer polymer composition;
- and
- d. Co-extruding the first and second carrier layer, barrier layer, and first and second tie layer polymer compositions to provide the multilayer barrier film, such that the film comprises in order:
- the first polymer carrier layer;
- the first tie layer;
- the barrier layer;
- the second tie layer;
- and the second polymer carrier layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.