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Executive Summary
The additional battle to keep at pace with society is a struggle that often inconveniences colostomy patients, including Himesh Patel. The common mechanical design of the two-piece colostomy pouch proves to be incompatible with patients who lead an active lifestyle, as frequent failure of the snap-in coupling of the flange to the pouch disrupts their daily routine. The colostomy belt fails to provide comfort for the wearer, a factor that outweighs its ability to provide support for the colostomy pouch.
The colostomy pouch serves as an alternate means of waste excretion and collection. The ideal design allows for the patient to manually attach and detach the pouch rather than have it unfasten indirectly. Unlocking and detaching the pouch from the flange requires direct fine motor movement, whereas gross motor movement poses as no threat in dislodging the locking mechanism. The improved design of the belt allows breathable movement for the wearer in addition to serving its initial purpose of ensuring security. It provides a means of encapsulating the entirety of the pouch rather than solely fastening to the flange, thus maximizing reliability and comfort during physical activity.
The new twist-and-lock mechanism of the ostomy system was designed and modelled on AutoCAD inventor and is to be molded from a high density silicone material. The “key” segment of the locking mechanism is attached to the duel layered bag. The inner bag layer is made of a low density polyethylene material coated in a Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surface (SLIPS) coating. The improved slide on nylon belt is composed of two pieces of stretchy nylon sewn together to form one wide belt with multiple bag position capabilities. The pouch would have to be physically twisted to attach to and detach from the flange as opposed to snapping mechanism which depends entirely on the snapping sound to ensure attachment and could be tugged out of place. The twist-and-lock mechanism ensures that the pouch never accidentally detaches from the flange when the patient is physically active.
The two-piece locking mechanism is made from High Density Silicone, which can withstand temperatures of up to 200 °C, making it suitable in a great range of environments. It is additionally a flexible material, making it the most suitable to use in a colostomy bag as it can bend and twist without breaking. The inner lining of the pouch is made from low-density polyethylene and coated with SLIPS, preventing other liquids and solids from sticking to the pouch. The belt is created from nylon which is durable, weather resistant, light-weight, flexible, and comfortable to wear making it the best choice for outdoor apparel. Nylon is resistant to abrasions and most chemicals, making it suitable to be worn in any work environment. The redesigned belt contains two pouches on the inner side which the ostomy bag goes into, allowing the wearer to orient the pouch either vertically or horizontally.
The improved features of the colostomy pouch provides Himesh thoughtless comfort and security to his pouch as he adheres to his physically demanding lifestyle.