Abstract: A pad for use with a continent ostomy port includes a body portion having an internal wall defining an aperture appropriately sized to place around a stoma. The body portion is sized and shaped for placement against a user's skin beneath a face plate of an ostomy port and is formed of a material to cushion and protect the skin from contact with the face plate. The body portion has a stepped configuration of at least two distinct levels on a distal surface thereof, including a first level and a second level, the first level having a perimeter sized and shaped to fit within a perimeter of a face plate lip, and the second level extending parallel to the first level and having a perimeter extending beyond the perimeter of the first level, beneath the lip of the plate, to thereby protect the use's skin from friction irritation.

Abstract: A bowel management system includes a rectal catheter; and at least one physiologic sensor. The rectal catheter has a portion in contact with a patient's body internally thereof during use of the system, to thereby determine a preselected physiologic parameter of a patient having the rectal catheter inserted into the patient's bowel. The position of the sensor relative to the rectal catheter portion is such that the sensor is disposed in close proximity to the internal tissue of the patient, or within the fecal flow, when the bowel management system is place for use within the patient.

Abstract: Multi-layer tubular polymeric composite for articles such as tubing and hoses. The composite may be formed of an innermost and an outermost layer, and at least one interlayer between the innermost and the outermost layer. The innermost and the outermost layer each may be bonded directly to one of the interlayers, and may be formed of a thermoplastic polymeric material which may be a polyamide. Each of the interlayers may be formed of a thermoplastic polymeric material which may be a polyester or copolyester, or a polyurethane.

Abstract: A bowel management system includes a waste collection catheter having at least two distinct sections. The first section is patient proximal when disposed in the patient's rectum and has durometer hardness in the range of about 50A to about 90A. The second catheter section is connected to the first section and has durometer hardness in the range of about 5A to about 49A. A selectively collapsible, substantially spherical retention balloon is attached coaxially and exterior of the first catheter section such that the proximal-most end of the retention balloon is coincident to the proximal-most end of the first section of the waste collection catheter, the substantially spherical retention balloon having an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large enough to retain the patient proximal end of the catheter in the patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in the patient.

Abstract: A continent ostomy port device has a generally planar face plate defining a selectively sealable aperture which is alignable with the opening of a stoma formed in the body of a user of the device. A closure portion is connected to the generally planar face plate adjacent to the aperture and is adapted to permit selective and repeatable covering and uncovering of the aperture in the generally planar face plate. A catheter portion extends from one side of the face plate and extends proximally, and one end of the catheter portion is disposed interior of the user's body, within the ostomy site, when the port device is in normal use position. The catheter portion has continuous and generally cylindrical exterior and interior side walls, the latter defining a major lumen.