Abstract: The present invention provides a carrier which comprises a malodour counteractant (MCA), for use in an ostomy or incontinence pouch, wherein said carrier is attached directly or indirectly to the wall of the pouch. The MCA may be in the form of a coating or a matrix on the carrier, or may be attached directly to the carrier by way of an adhesive. The invention also provides a method for use in the production of an ostomy or incontinence pouch comprising attaching directly or indirectly to plastics material forming, or for forming, a pouch wall, a carrier carrying an MCA. A preferred MCA is a hydrogen peroxide generator, for example, sodium perborate, which may be used in the above carrier, or in other delivery mechanisms.

Abstract: An ostomy pouch (10) is described having an automatic pressure relief valve (82) which opens and closes automatically in response to the differential gas pressure across the valve to vent flatus. In one form, the valve comprises a diaphragm which seals against a seat by the use of a tacky gel or oil. The diaphragm is pinched towards one side and flexes as a flap. In one preferred form, the valve (84) is used in combination with a deodorizing filter (82). The filter may be mounted co-axially with the valve, or it may be mounted separately and offset from the valve. A sub-envelope assembly (80) is described carrying the valve (84) and the filter (82) and defining a buffer volume between the valve and filter to compensate for the different flow characteristics of the valve and filter.

Abstract: A superabsorbent formulation is described for absorbing liquids (for example in an ostomy, incontinence or woundcare application), the formulation comprising superabsorbent (100 pbw), silica (3-20 pbw), water (0.5-8 pbw) and glycerol (5-40 pbw). The superabsorbent and silica are mixed together in a first production stage (10), to coat the superabsorbent particles with silica. The glycerol and water are added during a second production stage (12). The effect of the silica is to increase the amount of glycerol and water which can be taken up in the formulation, thereby producing a product with greater structural stability when consolidated (compressed).

Abstract: An ostomy pouch coupling member includes a filter assembly having a filter housing with a bore. A filter element is insertable into the bore, and is ejectable from the bore into the ostomy pouch by pushing the filter element. The filter element may be made of superabsorbent material.

Abstract: A container for odorous material (in the present case an ostomy bag), consists of a front wall (10) and a rear wall (12) welded together around a peripheral seam (14). The walls are made of a plastics material through which odorous gas can permeate. The container carries or contains malodor counteractant material to counter, or mask, the odor. The malodor counteractant material may be provided in microencapsulated form, and coated (at 28) on the interior faces of the walls, or carried on an article (54) placed within the container.

Abstract: An adhesive composition or structure is proposed for use in skin application, e.g. drug delivery wound care, or for attaching devices to collect body waste to the wearer. The composition comprises (a) a polymer or mixture of polymers which act as a pressure-sensitive adhesive present in an amount 20-60 parts by weight of the adhesive composition; and (b) a water-swellable polymer present in an amount 20-80 parts by weight of the adhesive composition. The polymer is one which will absorb from 50 to 500 grams of pure water per 100 grams of water-swellable polymer.Additionally there may be present up to 30 parts by weight (of the adhesive composition) of a water-soluble polymer.The water-swellable polymer may be provided as a coating on non-water-soluble and non-water-swellable fibers which limit swelling of the coating to be radial of the fibers. By arranging or aligning the fibers, the direction of swelling of the composition or structure can be controlled.

Abstract: A water-closet disposable pouch (8) has a pull-away tab (20) secured to one wall (10) by a weld or bond (22). Pulling away the tab (20) tears open the pouch wall (10) along the weld or bond by tearing out material (30) from the weld, thus creating one or more gaps (28). The tab (20) may be V-shaped, and define a flap or hatch area (26) of the wall behind the tab (20) which is released when the tab (20) is torn away. Any gas trapped in the pouch can escape through the opening when the gas is placed in a WC. In an alternative form, a tear-out filament is secured to or within a wall of the pouch parallel to a direction of orientation of the plastics material.

Abstract: A combination of a liquid-containing bag and a tube 28 is disclosed. The bag may be a urine drainage bag and is made up of a pair of superposed sheets 20, 22, joined by a weld 24 whose configuration is chosen to define in a single welding operation the outline of the bag and the tube integral therewith. A single weld seam 24 defines the bag volume. The tube and portion of the weld seam 24 run adjacent to one another and are separated by a row of perforations 30 or by a line of weakening. In such an arrangement, means are provided for precluding face-to-face contact of selected parts of the inner surfaces of said sheets. This may be done by effecting heat shrinkage of selected parts of one or both sheets. One or preferably both sheets is biaxially oriented.

Abstract: An improved male incontinence comprises a condom located within a hollow tubular applicator open at both ends, in which a strip of tape having a medical grade adhesive on one surface and a release layer strip on the other surface is arranged in a helically wound configuration within the condom with the adhesive engaging the inner surface of the condom and the release layer strip located radially inwardly of the adhesive, there being a pull-cord or equivalent attached to a free end of the release layer strip so that upon removal thereof, the adhesive is exposed and can be brought into contact with the penis of the wearer in order to securely attach the device.

Abstract: A method of making a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane includes the steps of perforating a film of linear low density polyethylene (or other suitable polyolefin) in such a way as to yield an array of holes each having an average diameter of approximately 350, microns and then solution coating the needled film with a porous polyurethane material having pores of a pore size of 1 to 10 microns.Such a film is advantageously embodied in an ileostomy bag, and is fixed to a bag wall thereof in a location to prevent faecal material contacting the bag filter, by a heat or RF welding operation by which the polyolefin is welded to the bag wall which carries the filter. In use, the polyurethane is exposed to the bag contents, and permits gases to pass but prevents any liquid reaching the filter.

Abstract: A synthetic plastic bag for containing liquids, e.g., urine, has a plastic outlet tube. It is manufactured by a first step of seam welding the tube between two superposed bag walls. In a subsequent step, an encircling sleeve is slide over the tube to a position where it contains within it the portions of the bag walls on either side of the tube. Thirdly, this sleeve is compressed onto the tube by a crimping operation conducted with the crimping force applied in a direction radially of the tube but at substantially right angles to the plane in which the bag walls lie. Alternatively, after the tube is seam welded between the bag walls, the bag and tube combination is then placed between the blocks of a mold, each block having confronting recesses of a particular shape and molten plastics material is injected to fill these recesses. The injected material forms a collar which completely surrounds the tube.

Abstract: A catheter attachment device comprises a first pad of medical grade adhesive having one surface covered by a removable protective layer, a second surface covered by a plastics film, and, attached to the film, a second pad of medical grade adhesive. A surface of this second pad which faces away from the first pad is covered by a removable protective layer and has a plastics film on its other surface. The two plastics films are attached to each other over a central region substantially smaller in area than the areas of both the first and second pads.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bag for containing liquid, the bag provided with an outlet tube. The method entails seam welding the outlet tube between two superposed bag walls, placing the bag and tube combination between the blocks of a mold, each block having confronting recesses of a particular shape and then injecting molding plastic material to fill these recesses. The injected material forms a collar which completely surrounds the tube and adjacent bag material. The bag film material on either side of the tube is melted to itself and to the tube wall and the collar is thereby securely attached in an encircling configuration thereby to preclude leakage. The tube may be a part of tap or other outlet fitting such as a push pull tap.

Abstract: A synthetic plastic bag for containing liquids, e.g., urine, has a plastic outlet tube. It is manufactured by a first step of seam welding the tube between two superposed bag walls. In a subsequent step, an encircling sleeve is slid over the tube to a position where it contains within it the portions of the bag walls on either side of the tube. Thirdly, this sleeve is compressed onto the tube by a crimping operation conducted with the crimping force applied in a direction substantially parallel to the plane in which the bag walls lie. The tube may be part of a tap or other outlet fitting such as a push-pull tap.

Abstract: A bag 10 for containing liquids is formed by welding together two plastic sheets around their peripheries and includes a neck portion 11 for connection to an outlet. An outlet tube 13 is partially inserted into the neck portion leaving a part of the tube with an upstanding seal member 17 outside the neck portion. A sleeve 18 is passed over the neck portion and the sleeve is shrunk into place, urging the neck portion 11 into tight engagement with the outlet tube 13 and effecting a seal between the sleeve 18 and the seal member 17 on the outlet tube 13.

Abstract: A pair of incontinence pants or briefs includes a pocket located in the crotch region and defined by an outer wall of a liquid-impermeable material which is longer than it is wide and an inner wall of like material whose edges define a substantially oval hole. A portion of the inner wall overlaps, but it not connected to another thereof and the edges are crossed over one another at one end of the pocket.