E. R. Squibb Sons, Inc.

Bristol-myers Squibb Compnay

Keith G Hollands

Peter L Steer

Graham E Steer

Ronald A Plass

Graham Emery Steer

Howard Barratt

Ronald Andrew Plass

An ostomy coupling has first and second coupling members. These can be held together by a springy flexible split locking ring. A plurality of tabs, arranged, e.g., symetrically, on the limbs of the locking ring can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The movement of the locking ring which causes withdrawal of the tabs may be a vertically upward movement of the ring, or a vertically downward movement. The movement of the locking ring which causes withdrawal of the tabs alternatively may be a deformation of the ring in opposed horizontal directions. Preferably, however, the movement of the locking ring which causes a withdrawal of the tabs is a rotational movement relative to the second coupling member.

Ostomy coupling

It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring. In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 50, 60 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 70. A plurality of tabs 71 symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 70, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by an upward pull on the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The ring 70 is generally circular in its unstressed condition.

A coupling, which may be an ostomy coupling but could be any kind of tube or pipe coupling, includes a first coupling member 10 and a second coupling member 30 which are mutually interengageable and which surround an orifice 70. The coupling also includes a resilient split ring 50 which encircles the two coupling members and has a handle member 51 which can be manipulated to cause the split ring to be deformed. This causes the radially-inwardly extending tabs 52 on the ring to be shifted between respective first positions in which the split ring is undeformed and the tabs lock the two coupling members together and respective second positions in which the split ring is deformed in such a way as to shift the tabs radially outwardly to positions where they permit separation of the two coupling members. The split ring is desirably made of a relatively rigid but springy plastics material, for example an acetal resin. The tabs carried by it are provided with curved or angled ramp surfaces which, when the ring is deformed by a force tending to rotate it relative to the coupling members, cause the tabs to be withdrawn from slots in one of the coupling members so permitting the two coupling members to be separated.

Coupling

It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring. In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 20, 40 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 30. A plurality of tabs 31, 32, symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 30, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The ring 30 is generally circular in its unstressed condition.

It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring. In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 80, 90 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 100. A plurality of tabs 101 symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 100, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The split ring 100 is for the most part circular in its unstressed condition.

A catheter holder has a pad of medical grade adhesive material having one surface for attachment to the skin of a wearer, and a pair of tapes secured to and extending from the other surface of the pad. A multiple use adhesive is placed on a surface of at least one tape which surface faces generally towards the other tape. With such an arrangement, the two tapes can be stuck together to enclose the catheter and at the same time the tape carrying the adhesive sticks to the adjacent wall of the catheter so preventing logitudinal movement of the catheter relative to the pad.

Catheter holder

A catheter retainer is disclosed that includes an adhesive pad with projections. The catheter is secured to the pad by being tied to the projections.

Catheter retainer

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.

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Sompting, United Kingdom

Keith G Hollands