This invention relates to a drainable urine collection bag for use by urostomy patients.

Drainable urine collection bags are worn by urostomy patients to allow for the hygienic disposal of urine. The bag is fixed to the body of a patient to collect fluid and the bag can be emptied by discharging fluid through a urostomy tap extending from the lower end of the bag. The urostomy tap commonly comprises a plastic tube, sealable using a plastic stopper. When fluid is being collected, the stopper is inserted into the plastic tube to prevent escape of the fluid. When the bag is drained, the stopper is removed to allow fluid to flow freely out of the bag through the tap. When the bag is in the collection position the tap can hang from the lower region of the bag or can be folded up between the body-side wall of the bag and the patient's skin. However, it has been found that in use, the relatively rigid tap presses against a patient's skin, which can cause discomfort and skin damage, such as bruising or pressure sores. Prior art devices have previously used a pocket in the body-side wall of the pouch into which the tap can be folded and secured. The tap still protrudes from the pouch and presses into the patient's skin, with the resultant pressure causing discomfort and skin damage. The discomfort caused to the wearer is particularly problematic when the patient moves and the bag and rigid tap move against the skin.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved drainable urostomy pouch with an integral closure tap, which alleviates the problems described above.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a urostomy drainage pouch with an integral drainage member having an inlet into the pouch, wherein the pouch comprises at least one securing means for securing the drainage member away from the body-side surface of the pouch.

By securing the drainage member away from a patient's body the pouch is more comfortable to wear and the risk of the drainage member causing skin damage is avoided.

Preferably, the urostomy pouch comprises an elongate neck portion on the body-side surface against which the drainage member rests. More preferably, the elongate neck portion has a length of about 60mm.

Within this specification, the term "about" is interpreted to mean optionally ±20%, preferably optionally ±10%, more preferably optionally ±5%.

The elongate neck portion cushions a wearer's skin from the drainage member when the bag is being drained and reduces the risk of fluid, such as urine, coming into contact with a user's skin.

More preferably, at least one securing means on the elongate neck portion of the pouch is configured to be secured to at least one securing means on the non-body side surface of the pouch to hold the drainage member against the non-body side surface of the pouch.

The securing means ensures that the elongate neck and the tap are secured to the pouch away from the user's skin. This avoids the risk of skin damage. The drainage member can be safely and easily secured away from the user's skin.

Preferably, the or each securing means comprises hook and loop fastening.

More preferably, the securing means on the elongate neck portion of the pouch is a hook fastener and the securing means on the body-side surface of the pouch is a loop fastener.

By using a hook fastener on the neck portion of the pouch, against which the drainage member rests when the pouch is drained, any fluid escaping from the drainage member when the pouch is emptied is less likely to be absorbed, which prevents discomfort and the production of odours.

Preferably, the elongate neck portion further comprises at least one tab. More preferably, the at least one tab comprises a gripping means.

A tab with gripping means ensures that users with limited manual dexterity can release the neck portion, and so the drainage member, when the bag is to be emptied. By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of each component of the urostomy pouch with an integral tap in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows the a plan view of the wafer-side of the urostomy pouch of Figure 1 when formed;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the non-wafer side of the urostomy pouch of Figure 1 when formed;

Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the area marked A in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the wafer-side and non-wafer side of the urostomy pouch in a sealed position;

As can be seen in Figure 1, the urostomy pouch 1 comprises a wafer-side wall 3 and a non- wafer side wall 5. An attachment wafer 7 is welded to the wafer-side wall 3 for securing the pouch 1 to a wearer's skin and comprises an opening 9 through which fluid enters the pouch 1. The attachment wafer 7 comprises a belt loop assembly for securing the pouch 1 to the wearer using a belt (not shown). Alternatively or in addition, the attachment wafer comprises a layer of adhesive to removeably secure the pouch to a wearer, It is envisaged that the urostomy pouch can be secured to a wearer using any known attachment means.

Each wall of the pouch 1 comprises multiple layers, which are welded together around their peripheries to form a pouch cavity with a drainage outlet 11. As can be seen in Figure 3, a tap 13 extends from the outlet 11 and comprises a tubular portion 15, which extends into the cavity of the pouch and a stopper 17, which is used to seal the tap 13. The tap 13 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material, such as Cawiton supplied by Wittenberg BV, Nederlands. The tubular portion 15 is tapered to form a funnel through which fluid can be drained. The stopper 17 has annular ribs around its outer wall to sealingly engage with the tubular portion 15. The stopper 17 is attached to the tap 13 by a length of connector 19, which can optionally be removed. It is envisaged that the tap and stopper arrangement could also include a valve.

The outer, wafer-side wall 3 of the pouch 1 comprises a comfort layer 19 of polyethylene or polyester based non woven fabric, which is soft against the wearer's skin and can be modified to be moisture repellent, and a second film layer 21 of EVA, Polyethylene or a co extrusion for instance of EVA and PVDC material where odour control is considered important, which are both shaped to include an elongate neck portion 23. The inner, tap- facing, elongate neck portion 23b of the film layer 21 comprises a tab 25 of hook fastening material, such as Velcro, which is shown in Figures 1 and 3. The non-wafer side wall 5 of the pouch 1 also comprises multiple layers, with an outer comfort layer 27 and a film layer 29. As shown in Figure 1, the non-wafer side comfort wall 27 is cut away to expose a support film 29b with a tab 31 of loop fastening material, such as Velcro. The pouch 1 further comprises an innermost wafer-side layer 33 and an innermost non-wafer-side layer 35 of film, which covers only the upper portion of the pouch 1. These layers are constructed to form a non return valve by intermittently welding the lower edges of the two layers, which prevents reflux of fluid.

The overall length of the pouch 1 with integral tap 13 is 280mm; the elongate neck portion 23 of the wafer-side of the pouch is 60mm long and 37mm wide.

In use, the wafer 7 is secured to the wearer with the opening 9 attached around the wearer's stoma. Referring to Figure 3, the stopper 17 is inserted into the tap 13. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the neck portion 23 and the film layers 19, 21 attached thereto are folded along line X-X to move the tap 13 away from the wearer's skin. The hook and loop fastening tabs 25, 31 are secured together to secure the elongate neck portion 23 and hold the tap 13 to the non-wafer side wall 5 of the pouch 1. The tap 13 is then totally covered by the wafer-side comfort layer 19, 21 of the pouch 1 and, although there is a slight kink or bulge where the tap 13 is concealed, no plastic components are in contact with the patient's skin and the tap 13 is discretely held in place.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, when the bag 1 is drained, the elongate neck portion 23 is pulled downwardly to separate the hook and loop fastening tabs 25, 31. The tap 13 is released downwardly and the stopper 17 is removed from the tap to allow fluid to flow through the tap 13 until the bag 1 is empty. A tab 37 to assist in gripping the elongate neck portion is provided and comprises a series of protruding ribs.

The above described embodiment has been given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will natura\)y appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.