# US 4,391,042 A · Cutting apparatus for cutting a non-circular opening > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,391,042 A - Document ID: US4391042A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/274,748 - Filed: 1981-06-18 - Granted: 1983-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1981-06-18 - Inventors: Ned E. Sunderland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391042A ## CPC - B26B 27/00: Hand cutting tools not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. finger rings for cutting string, devices for cutting by means of wires - A61F 5/445: Colostomy, {ileostomy or urethrostomy} devices (A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence) - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) - 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) ## Abstract A body has a recess in one surface and within which is disposed a non-circular cutting element retained therein by an epoxy. The non-circular cutting element has its cutting edge formed by beveling its inner surface. The non-circular cutting element extends sufficiently beyond the one surface of the body to be able to penetrate into a face plate, which is utilized with a stoma and in which the non-circular opening is to be cut for use with the stoma of the same shape. A circular template of a clear plastic is removably mounted on the one surface of the body and has a plurality of circles of varying diameters thereon to center the non-circular cutting element relative to a face plate adhesive blank of one of the varying diameters to enable cutting of the same non-circular opening in the adhesive blank. The template has a pair of parallel lines along its circumference to align with a tab on the adhesive blank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cutting apparatus for cutting a non-circular opening in a face plate for a non-circular stoma in which the face plate has an annular flange to support a bag of an ostomy appliance including: a body having a single recess in one surface thereof, said recess having a single continuous peripheral wall; a non-circular cutting element disposed within said recess and extending a selected distance beyond said one surface of said body; said body having a circular periphery to center said body relative to an annular flange of a face plate in which a non-circular opening is to be cut by said non-circular cutting element; said recess in said body having a non-circular shape substantially the same shape as said non-circular cutting element; said non-circular cutting element having a selected non-circular shape in accordance with the shape of the non-circular stoma with which the face plate is to be used; said non-circular cutting element having its outer surface straight and its inner surface beveled at its outer end to form the cutting surface of said non-circular cutting element; and retaining means to permanently retain said non-circular cutting element in its desired position within said recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 including: template means to center said non-circular cutting element relative to a face plate adhesive blank in which a non-circular opening is to be cut by said non-circular cutting element; said template means having an opening in its center through which said non-circular cutting element extends; said non-circular cutting element extending a selected distance beyond said template means at all times; and means to releasably secure said template means to said body against said one surface to enable removal of said template means when said non-circular cutting element is to cut a non-circular opening in a face plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cutting apparatus according to claim 2 in which said template means includes a circular element of a transparent material having a plurality of circular lines thereon of selected diameters to center said non-circular cutting element relative to a face plate adhesive blank in which a non-circular opening is to be cut by said non-circular cutting element, each of said circular lines and the edge of said circular element has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of a face plate adhesive blank in which a non-circular opening is to be cut therein by said non-circular cutting element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cutting apparatus according to claim 3 including alignment means on said circular element to align said circular element with a tab on a face plate adhesive blank in which said non-circular cutting element is to be cut a non-circular opening at the center thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cutting apparatus according to claim 4 in which said alignment means includes a pair of substantially parallel lines extending from the edge of said circular element to at least the inner of said circular lines. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cutting apparatus according to claim 5 in which said retaining means is an epoxy. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The cutting apparatus according to claim 4 in which said retaining means is an epoxy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The cutting apparatus according to claim 3 in which said retaining means is an epoxy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The cutting apparatus according to claim 2 in which said retaining means is an epoxy. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 in which said retaining means is an epoxy. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The cutting apparatus according to claim 6 in which: said recess has its bottom wall engaged by said non-circular cutting element; and said non-circular cutting element has its outer surface spaced from the peripheral wall of said recess. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The cutting apparatus according to claim 6 in which said non-circular cutting element is a single hollow tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The cutting apparatus according to claim 6 in which said cutting surface of said non-circular cutting element has a length less than the selected distance that said non-circular cutting element extends beyond said template means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The cutting apparatus according to claim 2 in which said cutting surface of said non-circular cutting element has a length less than the selected distance that said non-circular cutting element extends beyond said template means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The cutting apparatus according to claim 2 in which said opening in said template means is the same size and shape as the peripheral wall of said recess in said body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 in which: said recess has its bottom wall engaged by said non-circular cutting element; and said non-circular cutting element has its outer surface spaced from the peripheral wall of said recess. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 in which said non-circular cutting element is a single hollow tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 in which the selected non-circular shape of said non-circular cutting element is an oval shape. ### Claim 19 A cutting apparatus for cutting a non-circular opening in a face plate for a non-circular stoma in which the face plate has an annular flange to support a bag of an ostomy appliance including: a body having a single recess in one surface thereof, said recess having a single continuous peripheral wall; a non-circular cutting element disposed within said recess and extending a selected distance beyond said one surface of said body; said non-circular cutting element being a single hollow tube; said recess having its bottom wall engaged by said non-circular cutting element; said non-circular cutting element having its outer surface spaced from the peripheral wall of said recess; said body having a circular periphery to center said body relative to an annular flange of a face plate in which a non-circular opening is to be cut by said non-circular cutting element; said recess in said body having a non-circular shape substantially the same shape as said non-circular cutting element; said non-circular cutting element having a selected non-circular shape in accordance with the shape of the non-circular stoma with which the face plate is to be used; said non-circular cutting element having its outer surface straight and its inner surface beveled at its outer end to form the cutting surface of said non-circular cutting element; an epoxy to permanently retain said non-circular cutting element in its desired position within said recess, said epoxy filling said recess on both sides of said non-circular cutting element; template means to center said non-circular cutting element relative to a face plate adhesive blank in which a non-circular opening is to be cut by said non-circular cutting element; said template means having an opening in its center through which said non-circular cutting element extends; said non-circular cutting element extending a selected distance beyond said template means at all times; means to releasably secure said template means to said body against said one surface to enable removal of said template means when said non-circular cutting element is to cut a non-circular opening in a face plate; said template means including a circular element of a transparent material having a plurality of circular lines thereon of selected diameters to center said non-circular cutting element relative to a face plate adhesive blank in which a non-circular opening is to be cut by said non-circular cutting element, each of said circular lines having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of a face plate adhesive blank in which a non-circular opening is to be cut therein by said non-circular cutting element; alignment means on said circular element to align said circular element with a tab on a face plate adhesive blank in which said non-circular cutting element is to cut a non-circular opening at the center thereof; and said alignment means includes a pair of substantially parallel lines extending from the edge of said circular element to at least the inner of said circular lines.