GB2390533A

GB2390533A - Underwear with internal pouch for ostomy bag

Info

Publication number: GB2390533A
Application number: GB0316102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Razak Vayani
Original assignee: JAMES HAY PENSION TRUSTEES Ltd; VAYANI NARGIS
Current assignee: JAMES HAY PENSION TRUSTEES Ltd; VAYANI NARGIS
Priority date: 2002-07-10
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2004-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-10
Also published as: GB2390533B; GB0215936D0; GB0316102D0

Abstract

An undergarment 30 includes two layers of absorbent material, attached to an internal surface of the front part of the garment, to provide an internal pouch 36, for receiving a colostomy bag or similar. The pouch 36 has an upwardly facing opening adjacent the waistband 25, and a lower end which may include an opening through which the bag may be emptied. The garment may include an inner garment 32 and an outer garment 34. The absorbent layers may be provided by fabric material such as polyester. There may be a plurality of pouches, for example there may be two pouches 36 positioned at the front of the garment. The waistband 25 may include a drawstring 38 to allow the garment to be tightened on the wearer's waist.

Description

Title: Undergarment Description of Invention

This invention relates to an undergarment. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to briefs which are suitable for particular medical applications, for example people who have had an ileostomy or a colostomy. After a colostomy operation the anal sphincter no longer functions to void waste. Instead, waste is voided through an alternative opening known as a stoma, which is formed by the surgeon during the operation. The person who has had the operation (an ostomate) has no voluntary control over the voiding of waste through the stoma, and so it is necessary to attach a bag to the stoma and periodically to change the bag and clean the stoma.

There are a number of systems for attaching a bag to a stoma and for securely supporting the bag in place. The most common is to apply adhesive to he bag and fasten the bag directly to the ostomate's skin. In the past, this has led to great problems with the ostomate's skin reacting adversely to the adhesive and becoming extremely sore, sometimes to the point where the ostomate has had to be hospitalised. Although some improvements have been made in the adhesives used, rashes are still relatively common and the ostomate may also experience problems due to their skin being stretched as the bag fills and imposes a load on the skin.

In a different system a belt is used to support the bag. This also has a number of disadvantages. The belt provides little sideways support, and the belt can be awkward to wear under clothing.

Other disadvantages of these systems include the difficulty caused by a small leakage when emptying the bag and at other times, this is both a hygienic

and a personal issue. The bag can also be difficult to empty. All of these systems frequently result in the bag rustling as it fills which draws attention and is greatly disliked by ostomates. Ostimates do not prevent the bag bulging as it expands, which can result in the bag "pulling" on the adhesive flange which attaches the bag to the abdomen which makes wearing the bag very uncomfortable.

There is, therefore, a need for a simple and hygienic support system for colostomy bags.

According to this invention there is provided an undergarment for a osimate which includes a waistband, a front part and a back part secured to the waistband, and the undergarment providing a pair of openings, one for each of the ostimate's legs, the undergarment further including, attached to an internal surface of the front part, two layers of an absorbent material which provide between them, an internal pouch, which in use receives an ostomy bag, the pouch extending downwardly from adjacent the waistband where an upwardly facing opening is provided to receive the ostomy bag, to a lower position.

In one embodiment, the pouch includes a lower opening through which the ostomy bag may be emptied. Thus the ostomate may empty the ostomy bag without needing to remove it from the pouch.

Preferably the absorbent material of each layer is provided by fabric material, conveniently a polyester yarn.

Preferably the undergarment includes a plurality of pouches, conveniently two pouches, such that the undergarment may be suitable for ostomates who choose to use a two bag system. The pouches may both be positioned at a front of the undergarment, near to the location of a typical stoma. Preferably the undergarment includes a drawstring, conveniently located in the waistband, which drawstring allows the undergarment to be tightened on

the wearer's waist for further support. This is particularly helpful when the ostomy bag is full.

The undergarment may be in the style of a pair of boxer shorts and may be an outer garment, with there being an inner garment, conveniently a pair of y-front type briefs, worn inside the outer garment, thus to provide a measure of comfort for ostomates who dislike wearing boxer shorts.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an undergarment being a first embodiment, of the inventions; Figure 2 shows schematically a section view through the garment shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows schematically an alternative undergarment being a second embodiment of the invention Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, an undergarment which is a pair of ladies briefs 10, is shown. The briefs 10 include a front part provided by a front panel 12, a back part provided by a back panel 14, a gusset 16, and a pair Of pouches 18 positioned inside the briefs 10. The front panel 12, back panel 14, and gusset 16 may be made of any conventional material, conveniently a blend including Lycra (g), which is a stretch material.

The pouches 18 are shown in more detail in figure 2. They each include two layers of an absorbent fabric material, conveniently a polyester yarn. One layer of the material covers substantially the whole of the front panel 12 (and so is not seen in figure 2), being stitched to side seams 20 of the briefs 10 and around leg holes 22 of the briefs 10, and extends downwardly from adjacent a waistband 25 of the briefs. The second layer of fabric material covers most of the first layer, but the pouch 18 has another seam 19 joining the two layers of fabric down the centre of the front panel 12, to form two pouches. The second layer is somewhat shorter than the first layer so that two large openings 24 are

formed between the two layers of absorbent material adjacent the waistband 25.

Since the second layer is shorter than the first the user may insert an ostomy bag into either or each of the pouches 18 provided between the two layers of material, relatively easily.

Two smaller openings 26 are formed from the pouches 1B, between the layers, adjacent to the leg holes 22 of the briefs to. These openings 26 each provide a location for an outlet of an ostomy bag in the relevant pouch 18, e.g. an ileostomy bag, which may be emptied through the relevant opening 26 without removing the bag from the pouch 18.

A tube connection from an ostomy bag in a pouch 18 to a stoma, leads from the top end of each pouch 18 to the stoma, the tube preferably being passed under the waistband 25 of the briefs.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention which is a pair of briefs designed for men, and in the style of a pair of boxer shorts. The garment 30 includes an inner garment 32 and an outer garment 34, the outer garment 34 having a pair of pouches 36 provided by two layers of an absorbent material, and the pouches 36 may receive ostomy bags, similarly to the pouches 18 of the ladies briefs described with reference to figure 1. However, the pouches 36 may be considerably larger than in a typical pair of ladies briefs and, indeed, may be individually formed on each leg half of the front panel of the outer garment as shown in Figure 3.

A further interesting feature is a drawstring 38, arranged in the waistband 25 of the outer garment. This enables the user to tighten the outer garment as desired to provide an extra level of support.

The pouches 18, 36 in each of the embodiments described provide omni-

directional support for the ostomy bag whilst most of the bag is spaced from the user's skin, thus increasing comfort. The absorbent material of the two layers which provide the pouches 18, 36, prevents any leakage from an ostomy bag

wetting the user, whilst the drawstring 38 enables the level of support of the ostomy bag or bags' to be adjusted, as the bag or bags, are filled.

The undergarment is smart and machine washable. The Lycra of the garment tends to stop the pouches 18, 36 bulging, which is likely to increase the confidence of the ostomate. The pouches 18, 36 are contained in an otherwise normal undergarment and are hidden from view. They can thus provide a significant advance in quality of life for ostomates.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An undergarment for an estimate which includes a waistband, a front part and a back part secured to the waistband, and the undergarment providing a pair of openings, one for each of the ostimate's legs, the undergarment further including, attached to an internal surface of the front part, two layers of an absorbent material which provide between them, an internal pouch, which in use receives an ostomy bag, the pouch extending downwardly from adjacent the waistband where an upwardly facing opening is provided to receive the ostomy bag, to a lower position.

2. An undergarment according to claim 1 wherein the pouch includes a lower opening through which the ostomy bag may be emptied.

3. An undergarment according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the absorbent material of each layer is provided by fabric material.

4. An undergarment according to claim 3 wherein the fabric material is a polyester yarn.

5. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims which includes a plurality of pouches.

6. An undergarment according to claim 5 wherein there are provided two pouches both positioned at a front of the undergarment.

7. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undergarment includes a drawstring located in the waistband, which drawstring allows the undergarment to be tightened on the wearer's waist.

8. An undergarment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the undergarment is in the style of a pair of boxer shorts.

9. An undergarment according to claim 8 which is an outer garment, with there being an inner garment, in use worn inside the outer garment.

10. An undergarment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in figures 1 and 2 or figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.