US3522807A - Fecal receptacle - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Bluma Millenbach [72] Inventor:

25 Roe Court, Islip, New York 11751 [21] Application No.: 764,462

[22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1968 [45] Patented: Aug. 4, 1970 [54] FECAL RECEPTACLE 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 128/283,

128/286 [51] Int. Cl. A611" 5/44 [50] Field ofSearch .1 128/283,

Primary Examiner Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney- Albert M. Zalkind ABSTRACT: The invention is particularly suited to comatose or incontinent patients who, having no control of bowel functions, are literally helpless in that regard and accordingly present a serious problem from the standpoint of cleanliness and nursing care. The structure contemplates a disposable article which comprises a plastic bag, the open top of which is secured to a ring of flexible material such as paper, plastic or textile, treated with a pressure sensitive adhesive so as to adhere between the buttocks ofa patient with the bag in position to receive fecal matter. A principal feature of the invention is the construction of the flexible ring whereby it presents an initially small aperture adjacent or surrounding the anus of the patient. However, during the process of defecation, as the sphincter expands, the ring likewise expands to increase the diameter of the aperture so as to ensure proper accommodation of fecal matter flowing therethrough into the bag and to ensure adherence of the ring to the patient. The expandability of the adhering ring is effected by providing plurality of pleats therein which are normally in folded condition, but which open during defecation. Further, the existence of the pleats effects venting passages so that gas released by the patient is vented and not trapped in the bag to cause ballooning or possible bursting.

Patented Aug. 4, 1970 FIG.11

FIG. 10

INVENTOR BLUMA MILLENBACH ATTORNEY U.S. PATENT 3,522,807 FECAL RECEPTACLE Briefly, the construction contemplates a ring of tough but flexible paper or other thin flexible material which has secured thereto, on one side, a plastic film bag in register with an aperture through the ring. The other side of the ring is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive suitable for adherence to a patients skin and having a peelable layer of protective plastic film which can be removed prior to applying the device to a patient. The ring is provided with a plurality of radial folds or pleats clear of adhesive. The initial size of the ring is small when the adhesive area is applied to a patients buttocks with the aperture margin encompassing the anus.

The device can remain on the patient many hours in readiness to receive fecal matter. Owing to the proximity of the ring aperture to the anus, in substantial contiguity therewith, when the act of defecation causes radial enlargement of the patients sphincter, the ring is caused to enlarge radially. This is permitted by an expansion or unfolding of the pleats. As a result the aperture increases to a substantial extent, about twice the initial area, sufficient to accommodate passage of fecal matter.

Upon completion of defecation, the contraction of the sphincter effects general contraction of the ring and of the aperture to a relatively smaller size, thus minimizing back flow or escape of fecal matter. The pleated construction not only affords gas escape at all times but by allowing the ring to expand with the sphincter and the ensuing separation of the buttocks, radial pulling force on the ring is avoided which would cause or tend to cause separation from the buttocks.

A detailed description of the invention now follows in conjunction with theappended drawing in which:

FIG. l is a reduced scale perspective of the device showing the general combination of a support-member and a receptacle secured thereto;

FIG 2 is a full scale plan view ofthe support member ring in initial contracted condition in solid lines, with certain portions broken away to reveal details of the construction also in solid lines, including a fragmented portion of the bag receptacle, phantom lines indicating the enlarged condition except for the solid fragment portion A;

FIG. 3 is a section through 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the contracted condition;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the support member ring taken from the receptacle side and is similar to FIG. 2, but showing another arrangement of receptacle securement and illustrating the expanded or enlarged condition;

FIG. 5 is a section through 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device, applied to a patients buttocks, the patient be presumed to be on his stomach and the device shown contracted;

FIG. 7 is a contour view showing the device secured to a patients buttocks, taken at right angles to the view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the receptacle side of a modified arrangement.

FIG. 9 is a section through 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. I0 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified pleat formation in section; and

FIG. 1 l is a fragmentary view ofa modification wherein the pleat walls can be adhesively coated but prevented from adhering to each other, so as to ensure venting and expansion of the device.

Referring to the drawing, the construction is illustrated in FIG. I as a support member 10 and receptacle 12. Member 10 is comprised preferably ofa thin, tough flexible paper ring (FIGS. 2 and 3), which need not be more than two to ten thousandths of an inch thick, although greater thickness is usable. The receptacle 12 may be a conventional flat plastic film bag, of the ordinary side welded seam construction and having an open top expanded to be thermally welded to one face of member 10 in a conventional manner. Such combinations of paper and plastic bags have heretofore been known for ileastomy bags, etc., and accordingly there is no need to dwell on details of the methods for such welding.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and. 3, ring 15 is of planar sheet, or the like, material with integral radial tabs 18, a pressure sensitive adhesive coating 22 on one face, with a peelable protective plastic film sheet 25 whic? registers with the ring and tabs to protect the adhesive surface in a well known manner. The ring 15 is provided wthv pleat means, e.g., pleated portions comprising pleat walis 35a, 35b intermediate radial fold lines 28, 30, 32 provided as a set to effect a generally "V" or U" shaped fold or plea 35, affecting a crevice 36. Four such pleats 35 spaced apart are shown, but any suitable number can be used. The initial condition wherein the support member is contracted around a generally central aperture 38 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 (solid lines) and 3; it should be particularly noted that the adhesive coating does not extend into the pleats. Thus, the ring 15 can be expanded in its own plane whether that plane be flat, or, as would be the general case, curvilinear when applied to the buttocks of a patient as shown FIGS. 6 and 7.

The distortion of the aperture 38 as seen in FIG. 2 is, of course, due to the initially contracted condition, shown in solid lines. When, however, the ring is expanded, the aperture effects its die cut circular configuration as shown in phantom. Such initial distortion of the aperture is of no moment, and for that matter the four arcs of the ring periphery would likewise not lie on a true circle when the ring is contracted.

The protective sheet 25 may loop into the pleats as a manufacturing convenience, or may extend over the crevices 36; this is of no moment since the protective sheet is removed prior to applying the device and could not affect enlargement of the ring.

It is important to note that the adhesive coating 22 does not cover the area between the fold lines of the pleat walls as heretofore mentioned and as illustrated by the broken away portion A (FIG. 2), shown expanded. Thus, the ring can expand multidirectionally, i.e., radially and peripherally without being impeded, such enlargement of aperture 38 being of the order of from approximately 1" when contracted to 1 1/2" expanded.

The pleat crevices 36 remain sufficiently open to permit gas escape therethrough in the initial contracted condition, thus serving as vents for the device after the ring 15 is applied otherwise sealingly to the buttocks. This is of some importance. to prevent ballooning of the plastic film bag receptacle 12 which is secured as by thermal welding to the opposite and non-adhesive surface of the ring. Even when the ring is expanded venting can take place at the pleat areas since they are not adherent to the patient's skin.

The open top 40 (FIG. 2) ofthe bag is spread and folded inwardly being sealed to the ring 15 at the interface 42 (FIG. 3) but looped around the pleats without covering the ends of the pleats so as not to block the venting effect. As indicated in the cut away area B of FIG. 2 the bag margin is suitably flattened and extends from edge of the aperture 35 to the periphery of ring 15. The natural furling of the bag and the looping a ound the pleats ensure the bag expanding at its open top as ring 15 expands. The edges of the bag opening are suitably trimmed to conform to the circularity of the ring aperture.

An expanded view of an identical support member construction is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, FIG. 4 being taken reversely of the viewing direction of FIG. 2but the bag 12 is secured with its open top flanged radially outward in FIGS. 4 and 5 as compared with FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the upper margin of the bag 12 extends radially inwardly.

Whether the bag is of conventional flat construction or specially formed with a flange is, of course, a matter of design. lfa flat bag is used, the seams 45 may be oriented in any position, preferably intermediate the pleat areas. In any case. the upper margin of the bag loops around the pleats 35 and does not block vent passage.

Other modes of bag attachment are possible. For example, FIGS. 8 and 9 shows the open top of a circular bag folded to a generally square formation and the top folded inwardly to be secured to the ring 15 at the interface 48. Also, by suitable dies at crimping effect as illustrated by rabbet 51' and groove 54 is achieved for augmented securement by heat and pressure in a well known manner.

In FIG. 10, a modified pleat is illustrated, the loop in ring being upwardly as compared with FIG. 3, forming the vent crevice 60 by virtue of folds 62, 64 and 66 which fold lines will be understood to be radial and extending from the aperture to the ring edge as in FIG. 4. In fact, the pleats 35 of FIG. 3 could be readily folded upwardly and flattened against the ring as shown in FIG. 10. However, in FIG. 1 lthe protective sheet 25 goes over the pleats, although it could tuck into the .additional vent crevice 69. The bag 12 can either be provided with the downwardly extending expansion pleat 72, or' such pleat can be inside crevice 60 without materially affecting the venting function. In any event, the adhesive coating 22 does not extend into crevice 60 or 69.

In order to adapt production to a method or machine where it is expensive or impractical to maintain adhesive free areas when the pressure sensitive adhesive is being applied, the entire ring surface can be coated and a protective covering applied to the pleat walls so that when the pleats are folded they cannot adhere wall to wall. Thus ring enlargement and venting would be preserved. This could be effected by using a protective sheet having weakened tear lines at the pleat wall portions so that the sheet can be stripped away leaving portions still adhering to protect the pleats against wall to wall adhesion. Thus, FIG. ll illustrates ring 15 with total adhesive coating 22 covered by protective sheet 75 which folds into a pleat 35' such as the pleat 35 of FIG. 2 and has weakened slit lines 78 so that the sheet can be peeled away leaving the protective segments between lines 78 still covering the pleat walls to prevent adhesion there between. Thus, if each pleat is pinched between the fingers, to grip the protective sheet segments firmly against each other to prevent being pulled away, the main arcuate portions of the protective sheet can be removed.

Referring back to FIGS. 6 and 7, the application to a patients buttocks will be evident, the ring 15 is pushed between the buttocks and will flexibly conform to the curvature, the aperture of the ring encompassing the anus and being marginally contiguous therearound, or substantially contiguous. The tabs 18 adhere diagonally to further ensure retention of the device.

After use, the device is readily removed and discarded; preferably a type of pressure sensitive adhesive is used which minimizes pulling when being removed and, of course, of a non-irritating type suitable for use on human skin. Upon removal, ring 15 can be folded diametrically so that the adhesive surfaces can adhere to each other to contain the contents ofthe bag, thus minimizing messiness.

It will thus be apparent from the above description of the invention that the sphincter muscle of the patient can control expansion and contraction of the ring which will hold the receptacle in proper position toachieve its purpose.Actual tests with prototype models have demonstrated the utility and practicality of the invention and it will be apparent that changes in structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, ring 15 need not be circular but can, in fact, assume other shapes. Tabs 18, although desirable, are not essential; and other changes of choice and design may be made.

Iclaim 1. A fecal receptacle device comprising a support member having an aperture and having expansion means for permitting enlargement from an initial contracted condition whereby said aperture is enlarged to an increased diameter; a receptacle secured to said support member and disposed adjacent said aperture to receive fecal matter passed therethrough; said support member having adhesive means for being secured to the buttocks of a patient adjacent the anus to receive fecal matter through said aperture whereby enlargement of said aperture is effected by adherence of said support member to said buttocks upon enlargement of the sphincter of said patient in passing fecal matter.

2. A fecal receptacle device as set forth in Claim 1, comprising a support member of flexible sheet material, said expansion means comprising a plurality of fold lines therein.

3. A fecal receptacle device as set forth in Claim 1, said support member comprising a ring like element of flexible material and said expansion means comprising a plurality of fold lines extending substantially from said aperture to an edge of said element.

4. A fecal receptacle device as set forth in Claim 1, said support member comprising pleated areas to effect said expansion means.

5. A fecal receptacle device as set forth in Claim 1, said support member comprising a generally ring like element having said aperture substantially centrally disposed thereof and having pleats extending from said aperture to an edge of said element, said adhesive means comprising an adhesive coating on one side of said element, said pleats having walls prevented from adhering to each other when said support member is in contracted condition, whereby said member may be initially contracted by the folding of said pleats to be applied in contracted condition to the buttocks of a patient and whereby enlargement of the sphincter of the patient can effect unfolding of said pleats to enlarge said aperture.

6. A fecal receptacle device as set forth in Claim 1, said support member comprising a generally ring-like element of flexible material having said adhesive means on one surface thereof, a plurality of pleats comprised of fold lines in said element whereby said support member may be contracted and subsequently enlarged; said adhesive means comprising coating of pressure sensitive adhesive and said pleats being clear of said coating; said receptacle being secured to the opposite surface of said element and having an opening in general register with said aperture and being comprised of flexible material.

7. A fecal receptacle device as set forth in Claim 1, said support member comprising a generally ring like flexible element having pleat means extending from said aperture to an edge of said element to permit contraction and expansion thereof; said adhesive means comprising an adhesive coating on one surface of said support member, said pleated means providing egress for venting of gas from said receptacle.

8. A fecal receptacle device as set forth in Claim 7, said receptacle comprising a flexible bag secured to the opposite surface of said ring member and having an opening surrounding the aperture thereof.

member and being removable therefrom to expose said adhesive means and having a portion separable so as to continue to cover said expansion means after the remainder of said protective means is removed.

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