Sanitary stoma system and method

Abstract

A sanitary stoma system including at least eight absorbent sheets, with each of the sheets including absorbent plies. The plurality of absorbent sheets is arranged in a linear fashion and removably connected into a roll. The outermost absorbent sheet includes an adhesive such that the sanitary stoma system is configured into a stable roll useful for being placed upon a stoma of a user to absorb and contain bodily fluids excreted from the stoma, which may include urine or feces. Preferably, the sanitary stoma system is packaged in multiples of three and the sanitary stoma system is affixable to an abdomen of the user, configured to absorb bodily excretions.

Claims

1. A sanitary stoma system, the system comprising: at least eight absorbent sheets, said sheets including a plurality of absorbent plies, said plurality of absorbent sheets arranged in a linear fashion removably connected end to end; wherein said absorbent sheets are each at least 3.81 cm (1½″) in width, said width being perpendicular to said linear arrangement of an adjacent absorbent sheet; wherein said absorbent sheets are square in shape; and wherein said plurality of absorbent sheets are assembled in a wound roll of an appropriate size to match a stoma of a user to absorb and contain bodily fluids excreted from said stoma.

2. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is disposable via a sanitary system.

3. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is washable and reusable.

4. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system includes a lanyard configured to allow said user to easily remove said sanitary stoma system.

5. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system includes a cotton material configured to improve absorbency.

6. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system includes a cellulose fiber material configured to increase structural strength.

7. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system includes synthetic fibers configured to increase structural strength.

8. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system includes a chemical treatment to reduce odors produced from said stoma.

9. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is affixable to an abdomen of said user and configured to absorb urine.

10. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is affixable to an abdomen of said user and configured to absorb feces.

11. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is affixable to a backside of said user.

12. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is biodegradable.

13. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is hypoallergenic, configured to reduce instances of inflammation during use.

14. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is sterile and configured to reduce instances of inflammation during use.

15. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system includes an antibacterial treatment configured to reduce instances of infection during use.

16. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, wherein said sanitary stoma system is packaged in multiples of three.

17. The sanitary stoma system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive along an edge of the outer sheet sufficient to maintain the structure of the roll during application to a stoma.

18. The sanitary stoma system of claim 17, not comprising a separate cap around the adhesive.

19. A method comprising the steps of: opening a package containing a sanitary stoma system comprising a wound roll of absorbent sheets removably connected end to end lengthwise, each sheet having absorbent plies; removing a used medical barrier from a stoma site of a user; placing the wound roll upon the stoma site without placing a separate cap around the wound roll; cleaning an area adjacent to the stoma site; and placing a fresh medical barrier upon the stoma site.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: removing the wound roll from the stoma site; and affixing an ostomy bag to the medical barrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a sanitary stoma system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the sanitary stoma system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

(3) FIG. 1B is an additional perspective view of the sanitary stoma system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

(4) FIG. 2 is a top-front perspective view of the sanitary stoma system of FIGS. 1A and 1B, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(5) FIG. 3 is a bottom-front perspective view of the sanitary stoma system of FIGS. 1A and 1B, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(6) FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the sanitary stoma system of FIGS. 1A and 1B, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(7) FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a sanitary stoma system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(8) The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material and more particularly to a sanitary stoma system and method as used to improve the sanitation of the changing of a barrier and ostomy bag while reducing instances of leakage during the changing process.

(10) Generally, a sanitary stoma system is useful to control and contain bodily waste from a stoma during the changing of a barrier, skin guard and pouch (i.e., bag). The sanitary stoma system provides a sterile device to contain the waste during the changing procedure with a disposable device to reduce instances of contamination. The device can be placed over the stoma site ‘hands-free’ (e.g., without the need to hold). The sanitary stoma system covers and protects the affected area and prevents leakage during the changing process as the system absorbs and discharge from the site.

(11) Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1A-4, various views of a sanitary stoma system 100.

(12) FIGS. 1A and 1B show sanitary stoma system 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, sanitary stoma system 100 may be beneficial for use by user 40 to provide a device useful for covering stoma 20 of user 40 in a sanitary condition while absorbing materials discharged from stoma 20 during maintenance of stoma 20 (e.g., when a skin barrier and/or pouch is changed).

(13) As illustrated in FIGS. 1A-4, sanitary stoma system 100 may include at least eight absorbent sheets 110, where absorbent sheets 110 may include a plurality of absorbent plies 120, where plurality of absorbent sheets 110 may be arranged in a linear fashion, removably connected end to end (e.g., may be a continuous linear roll with perforations between each sheet). Also, plurality of absorbent sheets 110 may be assembled in wound roll 115 (as shown in FIGS. 2-4). Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other arrangements such as, for example, different amounts of plies, shapes of plies, and overall configuration, etc., may be sufficient.

(14) Absorbent sheets 110 may each be at least 1½″ in width, with the width being perpendicular to the linear arrangement of an adjacent absorbent sheet 110; and absorbent sheets 110 may be square in shape. Other shapes and sizes may be used depending upon user preferences and manufacturability.

(15) An outermost absorbent sheet 110 may include an adhesive (which may be upon an edge of outermost absorbent sheet 110) such that sanitary stoma system 100 may be configured into a stable roll useful for being placed upon stoma 20 of user 40 to absorb and contain bodily fluids excreted from stoma 20. Sanitary stoma system 100 may also include lanyard 130 configured to allow user 40 to easily remove sanitary stoma system 100 without physically touching absorbent sheets 110 and/or wound roll 115.

(16) Embodiments of sanitary stoma system 100 may be affixable to abdomen of user 40, configured to absorb urine. Additional embodiments of sanitary stoma system 100 may be affixable to an abdomen 15 of user 40, configured to absorb feces. Further embodiments of sanitary stoma system 100 may be affixable to a backside of user 40. Locations of use for sanitary stoma system 100 may include further locations, dependent upon the medical condition and needs of user 40.

(17) According to one embodiment, sanitary stoma system 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, sanitary stoma system 100 may further include a set of instructions 107. The instructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of, sanitary stoma system 100 such that sanitary stoma system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

(18) Sanitary stoma system 100 may be disposable via a sanitary system (e.g., sewer system, flushable, etc.), in embodiments. Alternate embodiments may include sanitary stoma system 100 which may be washable and reusable. Further embodiments may include sanitary stoma system 100 which may be biodegradable.

(19) Sanitary stoma system 100 may include a cotton material configured to improve absorbency and/or may include a cellulose fiber material configured to increase structural strength. Sanitary stoma system 100 may also, or alternately, include synthetic fibers configured to increase structural strength. Sanitary stoma system 100 may also include a chemical treatment to reduce odors produced from stoma 20. Sanitary stoma system 100 may be packaged in multiples of three, in embodiments. Some embodiments may include alternate packaging arrangements.

(20) Sanitary stoma system 100 may be hypoallergenic and/or sanitary stoma system 100 may sterile, configured to reduce inflammation during use. Sanitary stoma system 100 may include an anti-bacterial treatment configured to reduce instances of infection during use. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material as described herein, methods of use and maintenance of means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.

(21) FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating method of using a sanitary stoma system 500, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, method of using a sanitary stoma system 500 may include one or more components or features of sanitary stoma system 100 as described above. As illustrated, method of using a sanitary stoma system 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, providing sanitary stoma system; step two 502, removing a medical barrier from stoma 20 site; step three 503, placing sanitary stoma system 100 upon stoma 20 site of user 40, sanitary stoma system 100 absorbing bodily fluids from stoma 20 site; step four 504, cleaning the area adjacent to stoma 20 site; step five 505, placing a medical barrier upon stoma 20 site; step six 506, removing sanitary stoma system 100 from stoma 20 site; and step seven 507, removing sanitary stoma system 100 from stoma 20 site.

(22) It should be noted that step six 506 and step seven 507 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference.

(23) The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other method of using a sanitary stoma system (NOTE: e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

(24) The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.