Abstract: An ostomy appliance comprises two pouches, one being located within and extractable from the other. The inner pouch has a stoma-receiving orifice in its bodyside wall and an annular adhesive flange externally secured to that bodyside wall about the orifice. The outer pouch has a substantially larger opening in its bodyside wall and a second annular adhesive flange is secured to that wall and surrounds the first adhesive flange of the inner pouch. The two flanges are spaced from each other and the only connection between the two pouches occurs along their uppermost margins. The inner pouch is provided with a tear line along its upper margin, and the outer pouch has an access flap in its obverse wall which may be torn downwardly for gaining access to and removing the inner pouch from the outer pouch.

Abstract: As ostomy appliance having a collection pouch and a flexible faceplate, the faceplate including an outer ring of thin, microporous sheet material and an inner ring of flexible, thermoplastic film impervious to gases and body fluids. The outer microporous ring surrounds the inner ring so that their adjacent margins overlap and are sealed to each other. The faceplate also includes a barrier ring secured to the inner marginal portion of the microporous ring on the side opposite from the attachment of the impervious inner ring. A fluid-impervious annular seal is provided between the impervious inner ring and the barrier ring at a location radially inwardly from the microporous ring, thereby securing the parts together and isolating the inner margin of the microporous ring from contact by stomal fluids.

Abstract: A nasogastric tube holding device having an adhesive pad and a pair of clamping jaws pivotally supported along one edge of the pad. The jaws include adjustable latching means for securely but releasably holding nasogastric tubes in wide ranges of size and durometer and for permitting adjustment in the positions of such tubes as desired.

Abstract: A convex pressure ring assembly, and its combination with an ostomy appliance, for exerting peristomal pressure to cause protrusion of a stoma into the openings of a faceplate and pouch and thereby promote more effective operation of the collection appliance. The pressure ring assembly is applied to the proximal (patient-facing) surface of the faceplate and includes a distal support ring of convex configuration formed of relatively rigid plastic, an intermediate ring of resilient, thermoformable material, and a proximal ring of soft, deformable, moisture-absorbing skin barrier material having both dry and wet tack.

Abstract: A device for retaining a catheter in place at its point of entry into a patient's body. The device includes a resilient, adhesive barrier pad having an opening intended to be aligned with the fenestration in the body wall, the pad also having an entry slit leading to that opening, and a one-piece molded plastic support structure that includes a base secured to the pad, two (or more) flexible support arms projecting upwardly from the base at opposite sides of the pad opening, and a pair of elongated clamping bars at the upper ends of the support arms. In use of the device, a catheter is guided laterally through the entry slit to the opening of the barrier pad, the resilient pad is then adhesively secured to the patient with the edges of the pad defining the slit urged tightly together, and the clamping bars are latched together with the catheter clamped securely therebetween. The method of forming such a catheter retention device is also disclosed.