Ostomy appliance
An ostomy appliance including an internal collecting volume defined by a first wall and a second wall connected together about a periphery, a stoma receiving opening defined in the first wall, a comfort layer positioned adjacent the second wall and attached about the periphery, an outlet portion which includes a valve having an outlet, the valve having a closed condition, in which waste is prevented or inhibited from exiting through the outlet, and an open condition, in which waste is permitted to exit through the outlet, and a support panel which extends across the first or second wall and provides an opening, wherein the outlet portion has a stowed position in which the valve is housed in the opening.
1 . An ostomy appliance including:
an internal collecting volume defined by a first wall and a second wall connected together about a periphery;
a stoma receiving opening defined in the first wall,
a comfort layer positioned adjacent the first or second wall,
an outlet portion which includes a valve having an outlet, said valve having a closed condition, in which waste is prevented or inhibited from exiting through the outlet, and an open condition, in which waste is permitted to exit through the outlet,
a support panel which extends across the same first or second wall as the comfort layer and provides an opening, wherein
the outlet portion has a stowed position in which the valve is housed in the opening.
2 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the support panel extends across the second wall.
3 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the support panel is attached at a position spaced from the periphery.
4 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 3 wherein the support panel is attached across an area extending from the periphery to adjacent the opening.
5 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the support panel is attached on both sides of the opening.
6 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 5 wherein the support panel is attached along a top portion above the opening and forms a housing extending upwards from the opening.
7 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the support panel extends around four surfaces of the outlet portion when it is in its stowed position.
8 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the support panel includes or is attached to an extension portion.
9 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 8 wherein the extension portion extends towards a bottom portion of the comfort layer.
10 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the comfort layer is connected to the support panel.
11 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the outlet portion includes an engagement formation for engaging a corresponding formation to hold the outlet portion in the stowed position.
12 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 10 wherein the engagement formation is formed on a first wall side of the outlet portion and the corresponding formation is provided on the support panel or, optionally if additionally dependent directly or indirectly on claim 8 , the corresponding formation is provided on the extension portion.
13 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 11 wherein the engagement formation and the corresponding formation include respective hook-and-loop fasteners.
14 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the support panel is more rigid than the first and/or second wall.
15 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein a lower portion of the comfort layer is not connected to the second wall.
16 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 further including a second comfort layer adjacent the first wall and connected about the periphery.
17 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the valve includes a closure arrangement which is moveable between a position blocking the outlet, and a second position in which the outlet is open.
18 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 17 wherein the closure arrangement has a blocking member which is inserted into the outlet when the valve is in its closed condition.
19 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 1 wherein the appliance is a urostomy appliance.
20 . An ostomy appliance according to claim 8 , wherein the comfort layer is connected to the extension portion.