Anti-seal device for use with ostomy appliances

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing for better undrstanding of the present invention, more specifically to FIG.
1 which shows an expanded view of the system comprising an adhesive backed diaphragm 10, an anti-seal sleeve-like element 20, and a body waste storage pouch 30.
FIG.
2 presents a cross-sectional view of the assembled ostomy system for greater clarity, and attached to the body 15 and centrally located over the body stoma 16.
The diaphragm 10 has an aperture 11 through which the body stoma 16 protrudes.
The aperture 11 is surrounded by a ring 12 which is coupled to a pouch ring 31.
The pouch ring 31 is located in the inner most pouch wall 32.
The anti-seal sleeve-like element 20, shown in the preferred form as having a closed end 21, has openings 22 in the side wall 23 through which body waste materials pass on the way from the stoma 16 to the storage pouch 31.
The anti-seal sleeve-like element 20 is of sufficient material thickness so as to be self supporting and of sufficient overall thickness so as to hold the outer wall 33 of the pouch 30 away from the opening of the coupling ring 31, thus preventing a blockage which would prevent proper flow of body waste products into the pouch 30.
As best seen in FIG.
2, the closed end 21 of the anti-seal sleeve-like element 20 provides a solid protective cover for the sensitive and vulnerable stoma 16.
FIG.
2 also shows how externally applied finger pressure can be conveyed to the critical adhesive area 34, described on page 1, lines 23 and 24, by the anti-seal sleeve-like element 20.
FIG.
3 shows another embodiment of the anti-seal sleeve-like element of the present invention.
FIGS.
4a and 4b represent still other embodiments and show how the sleeve-like element might be incorporated into the diaphragm or pouch rings as an integral part of either.