Bowel management system and waste collection bag therefor

Abstract

A bowel management system includes a waste collection catheter having at least two distinct sections. The first section is patient proximal when disposed in the patient's rectum and has durometer hardness in the range of about 50 A to about 90 A. The second catheter section is connected to the first section and has durometer hardness in the range of about 5 A to about 49 A. A selectively collapsible, substantially spherical retention balloon is attached coaxially and exterior of the first catheter section such that the proximal-most end of the retention balloon is coincident to the proximal-most end of the first section of the waste collection catheter, the substantially spherical retention balloon having an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large enough to retain the patient proximal end of the catheter in the patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in the patient.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A waste collection catheter having at least two sections for receiving, carrying and removing bowel waste from a patient, comprising:
 a rectal catheter section having a patient proximal opening that, when in a position for normal use, opens into a patient's rectum to receive bowel waste;   the rectal catheter section being sufficiently pliable to permit folding for ease of insertion into a patient's rectum while also being sufficiently stiff following insertion to maintain an open position in a patient's rectum for free flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening;   a trans-sphincter catheter section distal to the rectal catheter section that can be collapsed by a patient's anal sphincter muscles when in a position for normal use;   the trans-sphincter catheter section being sufficiently soft to be retained in a patient's anal canal for extended periods, without distending a patient's anal sphincter muscles or otherwise causing discomfort, and extending from internally of a patient, through the anal sphincter muscles, to externally of a patient; and   an inflatable balloon extending radially outwardly of the patient proximal opening for retaining the patient proximal opening in a position for normal use in an open position for flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening.   
     
     
         44 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  wherein the rectal catheter section and the trans-sphincter catheter section are formed of the same material. 
     
     
         45 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 44  wherein the material includes silicone. 
     
     
         46 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 45  including a catheter drainage tube associated with the trans-sphincter catheter section externally of a patient. 
     
     
         47 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  wherein the inflatable balloon is attached coaxially about and exteriorly of the rectal catheter section. 
     
     
         48 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  wherein the inflatable balloon has an inflated size so as to be sufficiently large to retain the patient proximal opening of the rectal catheter section in a position for normal use where it opens into a patient's rectum without being so large as to trigger a defecatory response in a patient. 
     
     
         49 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  further including a lumened member substantially smaller in diameter than the rectal catheter section and having a first end in communication with the inflatable balloon and a second end connectable to a port for introduction or removal of a fluid to or from the inflatable balloon. 
     
     
         50 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 49  including a second lumened member substantially smaller in diameter than the rectal catheter section and having a first end in communication with a patient's rectum and a second end connected to an irrigation port for administering substances. 
     
     
         51 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 50  wherein the administered substances include at least one of a medication or an enema solution. 
     
     
         52 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  wherein the inflatable balloon has an inflated volume of about 44 cc to about 69 cc. 
     
     
         53 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  wherein the balloon has an inflated length to diameter ratio in the range of about 0.75 to about 0.61. 
     
     
         54 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  further comprising a third catheter section positioned in normal use distal to the trans-sphincter catheter section, coated internally with a substance to facilitate flow through of bowel waste. 
     
     
         55 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 54  wherein the third catheter section includes a connector for connection to a collection bag. 
     
     
         56 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 54  wherein the third catheter section is sufficiently soft to be milked to force fecal matter through the third catheter section to a collection bag. 
     
     
         57 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the rectal catheter section and the trans-sphincter catheter section includes silicone. 
     
     
         58 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 43  further comprising an intralumenal balloon mounted to an interior of the rectal catheter section. 
     
     
         59 . A waste collection catheter comprising:
 a rectal catheter section having a patient proximal opening that, when in a position for normal use, opens into a patient's rectum to receive bowel waste;   the rectal catheter section being sufficiently pliable to permit folding for ease of insertion into a patient's rectum while also being sufficiently stiff following insertion to maintain an open position in a patient's rectum for free flow of bowel waste through the patient proximal opening;   a trans-sphincter catheter section distal to the rectal catheter section that can be collapsed by a patient's anal sphincter muscles when in a position for normal use;   the trans-sphincter catheter section being sufficiently soft to be retained in a patient's anal canal for extended periods, without distending a patient's anal sphincter muscles or otherwise causing discomfort, and extending from internally of a patient, through the anal sphincter muscles, to externally of a patient; and   a faceplate mounted on an exterior of a third catheter section disposed at an end of the trans-sphincter catheter section opposite the rectal catheter section.   
     
     
         60 . The waste collection catheter of  claim 59 , further comprising at least one strap provided on the faceplate.