A stoma tube apparatus and method of use are presented herein. The apparatus includes a flexible elongated body having a first end and a second end. The body is hollow along its length. A rib is formed along an outer surface of the body to provide increased strength. A plurality of apertures pass through the outer surface of the tube so as to permit the passage of fluid and fecal matter into the hollow portion of the tube for drainage. A barrier ring is used to limit undesired movement of the tube in relation to the patient's body. In use, one or more medical devices may be coupled to a first end of the elongated body to facilitate extraction of the fecal matter through the apertures.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the removal and containment of human waste products from the effected area of incontinent patients. The apparatus and process encapsulates the areas of the body where urine and fecal matter are excreted. In particular, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for the containment and removal of human waste products, comprising: a receptacle; a vacuum connection to apply force for attaching the receptacle to the patient; and a vacuum dispersion membrane to provide mechanical support to the skin so as to minimize tensile force applied to the skin.

Methods for clearing of fecal matter the wall of a colon or other body lumen for diagnostic inspection, the methods being adapted to clearing of fecal matter comprised of particles of various sizes and compositions. Methods are further adapted for application in patients who have undergone a restricted scope of preparation to reduce and/or remediate the particle structure of colon contents, or no preparation at all, before diagnostic inspection.

There is provided a colon cleaning device comprising: a tube through which liquid and fecal matter are removed from a colon of a patient, the tube having a longitudinal axis; a cleaning head positioned at the distal end of the tube, the cleaning head having at least one opening coaxial with the longitudinal axis, the at least one opening sized for fecal matter to enter the interior of the cleaning head from the colon; at least one disassembly element disposed within the cleaning head; and an actuating mechanism which actuates the disassembly element to perform sweeping displacement inside the cleaning head so that the at least one disassembly element rotates around the longitudinal axis to slice through the fecal matter; wherein the cleaning head and the tube are sized and shaped to be displaced along the colon of a patient.

A waste management appliance includes a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, a cowl fastened to the tubular body at a first circumferential location in a vicinity of the proximal end, a balloon provided within the cowl, and an inflation lumen opening to an interior of the balloon and extending toward the distal end of the tubular body. The cowl extends outside of the tubular body to a second circumferential location spaced from the first circumferential location and is fastened to the tubular body at the second circumferential location. The balloon is inflatable to a desired extent within the cowl by injecting a predetermined amount of fluid into the balloon via the inflation lumen; the cowl restrains inflation of the balloon beyond the desired extent in the event of an injection of more than the predetermined amount of fluid into the balloon.

The heating apparatus for removing mucus comprises a face mask and a chest cover. The face mask may be adapted to be worn adjacent to a face and may retain water between the face mask and the face. The chest cover may be adapted to be worn adjacent to a chest and may retain water between the chest cover and the chest. The face mask and the chest cover may heat when activated and may be adapted to evaporate water to create water vapor which may help to break up mucus located within the user's sinuses and throat. The temperature of the heat created by the face mask and the chest cover may be controlled via a first thermostat control and a second thermostat control, respectively.

The invention describes a specific, multilayer tubular film for the manufacture of catheter devices that are usable in the most odor-neutral manner possible. The passage of substances through the film wall may be reduced or avoided by incorporating suitable barrier layers. The delivery of strong-smelling active substances and also the discharge of intensely odorous excretions or secretions may be optimized in a problem-solving manner by proportional layers of EVOH- or PVDC-based materials, for example, in the multilayer film structure. The invention combines these barrier layers with mechanically loadable carrier layers made of polyurethane (PUR). PVC, or also polyamide (PA) or PA-related material layers, for example. The invention describes, among other things, embodiments of catheters having retaining balloon components that are equipped with odor-inhibiting layer portions over the entire intracorporeal and extracorporeal surface of the catheter and that thus provide maximum protection against release of odors. The invention further describes embodiments that are manufacturable in a particularly advantageous manner, with several of the components that make up the catheter being manufactured by simultaneous forming from a single film tube blank.

An example catheter includes a tubular body portion and a cuff. The tubular body portion has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion defines a distal face of the tubular body portion. The cuff is mounted to the distal end portion and defines a distal face of the cuff. In certain embodiments, the tubular body portion terminates within the cuff such that the distal face of the body portion is positioned proximally of the distal face of the cuff. In certain embodiments, a pocket is formed between the cuff and the body portion. In certain embodiments, the body portion is more rigid than the cuff.

A positioning device with a wedge shape includes a channel on the underside configured to accommodate a fecal management catheter to prevent leaks and improve waste containment. The underside may include a first material for contact with the bed surface, and the channel may comprise a second material which is different from the first material and which is non-stick. The positioning device prevents back flow and leakage of contents onto patient/bed which can result if a catheter is blocked.

An example catheter includes a tubular body portion and a cuff. The tubular body portion has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion defines a distal face of the tubular body portion. The cuff is mounted to the distal end portion and defines a distal face of the cuff. In certain embodiments, the tubular body portion terminates within the cuff such that the distal face of the body portion is positioned proximally of the distal face of the cuff. In certain embodiments, a pocket is formed between the cuff and the body portion. In certain embodiments, the body portion is more rigid than the cuff.