OSTOMY SYSTEM WITH REPOSITIONABLE POUCH
The ostomy system with mounting wafer and repositionable pouch includes a resealable tape provided on one of the system members and a releasable film provided on the other system member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the resealable tape is located on a faceplate of the pouch and the releasable film is located on the body-side mounting wafer. The pouch is thus secured to the body-side mounting wafer by engaging the resealable tape with the releasable film. The resealable tape and the releasable film coupling arrangement permit repeated removal of the pouch from the body-side mounting wafer and repeated resecurement of the pouch to the mounting wafer. The pouch can thus be repositioned relative to the mounting wafer even after the pouch has been worn for a day.
1 - 29 . (canceled)
30 . An ostomy system comprising
a. an ostomy pouch including a pouch envelope formed of flexible plastic material defining a waste collection chamber for body waste that passes through a stoma, a waste inlet opening formed in said envelope for passage of waste material from said stoma to said collection chamber, a flexible annular adhesive pouch coupling member on said envelope at said waste inlet opening, said pouch coupling member having a resealable tape;
b. a body-side mounting wafer having a stomal opening, said mounting wafer being engageable with the coupling member of said pouch, said mounting wafer having one side with an adhesive layer for securement to a body surface around a stoma, and an opposite side with a releasable film permanently secured to said wafer for engagement with the resealable tape of said pouch coupling member, such that said pouch can be secured to said wafer when the resealable tape of the pouch coupling member engages the releasable film of the wafer, said releasable film extending from an inner periphery surrounding said stomal opening to an outer periphery, said releasable film and said resealable tape permitting repeated removal of said pouch from said wafer and repeated resecurement and replacement of said pouch to said wafer;
c. support means coextensive and underlying said releasable film for preventing wrinkling of any part of said releasable film; and
d. a stiffening layer member underlying said resealable tape for reducing the flexibility of said pouch coupling member and facilitating application and removal of said resealable tape of said pouch coupling member to said releasable film and a substantially smooth wrinkle-free surface on said body side mounting wafer.
31 . The ostomy system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said resealable tape has a front and back surface, said front surface engaging said releasable film, and said back surface having said stiffening layer laminated thereto.
32 . The ostomy system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said stiffening layer is formed of elastomeric material.
33 . The ostomy system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said elastomeric material is a sheet of flexible polyvinyl chloride.
34 . The ostomy system as claimed in claim 33 , wherein said sheet of flexible polyvinyl chloride is 0.010-0.080 inches thick.