Closing system for a natural or artificial anus

1. A closing system for a natural or an artificial intestinal outlet, comprising an inflatable balloon having an approximately toroidal structure, wherein the balloon is

a) made from a pre-shaped thin-walled soft-foil of a polymer of low compliance,

b) formed of a hose segment with a two-dimensional surface, which hose segment is inverted into itself, whereby two ends of the inverted hose segment extend generally coaxially with each other and are (each) connected to a respective sleeve,

c) wherein, in the inverted, assembled and pressurized balloon, the end of an inner hose segment collapses to a flat structure, shaping channel-like bowel gas releasing passages within lateral portions thereof,

d) and wherein said bowel gas releasing passages, at a balloon filling pressure of 20 mbar have a smallest inner diameter of 0.5 to 2.3 mm.

2. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said balloon is preshaped by fabrication to a maximum inside diameter of an organ space or body cavity in which the inverted balloon structure is placed.

3. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said balloon is preshaped by fabrication to a diameter which exceeds a maximum inside diameter of an organ space or a body cavity which the inverted balloon structure is placed in, by 20 to 40%.

4. The closing system as recited in claim 3 , wherein said balloon is made of a thin-walled soft-foil polymer, and wherein a wall-thickness of a toroidal balloon portion ranges from 15 to 25 micrometers.

5. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a selected one of polyurethane, a polyurethane/polyvinyl chloride blend, and a comparable polyurethane-based material.

6. The closing system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the polymer is a polyurethane in a Shore hardness range of 90 A to 55 D.

7. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said balloon seals an intestine against fecal material and intestinal secretions at a filling pressure of said balloon of 15 to 25 mbar.

8. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the end of an inner hose segment is provided with a thicker wall than other segments of said balloon structure.

9. The closing system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the end is provided with a wall thickness of 30 to 50 μm.

10. The closing system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said bowel gas releasing passages, at a balloon filling pressure of 20 mbar have a smallest inner diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

11. The closing system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the end is reinforced by a selected one of a fixed supporting tube-foil element and an additional material layer.

12. The closing system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the end is reinforced by a removable supporting tube-foil element.

13. The closing system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the end, in the collapsed state, shapes said bowel gas releasing passages, at a balloon filling pressure of 20 mbar having a smallest inner diameter of 0.75 to 1.5 mm.

14. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ends of said balloon are preformed such that each of an end region of the inverted hose segment has a generally constant cross-section.

15. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inverted hose segment is preformed such that its front end, which is distal relative to the mutually coaxially ends, assumes in an inflated state a curved contour with no edge regions.

16. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said balloon is preformed such that it has in an inflated state a diameter that exceeds a diameter of a bowel segment.

17. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the balloon when collapsed, is housed in a cavity, provided in a plug and is directed toward the interior of the bowel.

18. The closing system as recited in claim 17 , wherein said collapsed balloon is housed in a sheathing piece of thin-walled and pliable foil tubing.

19. The closing system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the two ends of said balloon are each connected by their mouths to said plug.

20. The closing system as recited in claim 19 , wherein said plug is composed of two sleeves fitted one inside the other and the mouth of each end is connected to a respective one of said sleeves.

21. The closing system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the mouth that can be connected to an outer sleeve has a diameter adapted to said outer sleeve, and the mouth that can be connected to an inner sleeve has a diameter adapted to said inner sleeve.

22. The closing system as recited in claim 21 , wherein said balloon can be pulled through said outer sleeve.

23. The closing system as recited in claim 22 , wherein a filter is disposed inside said inner sleeve.

24. The closing system as recited in claim 20 , wherein said plug or either sleeve is connectable to a sealing cap.

25. The closing system as recited in claim 24 , wherein the sealing cap is connected in contact with said plug.

26. The closing system as recited in claim 25 , wherein said sealing cap is provided with a folded structure.

27. The closing system as recited in claim 26 , wherein said sealing cap and/or said plug is connectable to a collection bag.

28. The closing system as recited in claim 19 , wherein either of said ends exhibits in free inflation outside the body an outer diameter of 7 to 12 mm.

29. The closing system as recited in claim 28 , wherein one of said ends exhibits in free inflation outside a body an outer diameter equal to a diameter of a distal toroidal portion.

30. The closing system as recited in claim 29 , wherein one of said ends exhibits in free inflation outside a body within a trans-anal segment, a preformed shape with a waist of 2 to 5 cm in diameter.

31. The closing system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the collection bag is connectable to said sealing cap and to an inner sleeve.

32. The closing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ends of the hose segment, which is inverted to form said balloon, are not in direct contact with each other.