Ostomy monitoring system and method

Abstract

An ostomy bag can include one or more sensors for measuring one or more metrics. An ostomy wafer can also include one or more sensors for measuring one or more metrics. The sensors can be temperature sensors and/or capacitive sensors, for example, and the metrics can include bag fill, leakage, skin irritation, and phase of stoma output, among others.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An ostomy wafer comprising:
 an adhesive layer configured to adhere to skin around a stoma of a user; and   a flexible sensor layer coupled with the adhesive layer, the flexible sensor layer comprising a plurality of sensors and electronic components, the electronic components in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors so as to receive and process data from the plurality of sensors,   wherein the electronic components are directly mounted on the flexible sensor layer.   
     
     
         3 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible sensor layer comprises a plurality of conductors, the electronic components electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors by one or more of the plurality of conductors. 
     
     
         4 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 4 , wherein the electronic components are configured to receive and process resistance values of the temperature sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 2 , wherein at least two or more of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect a leak of effluent from the stoma. 
     
     
         7 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 2 , further comprising a coin-cell battery mounted on the flexible sensor layer. 
     
     
         8 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible sensor layer comprises a neck and a body, and wherein the coin-cell battery is located on the neck. 
     
     
         9 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic components are located on the neck. 
     
     
         10 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic components are mounted on the flexible sensor layer without support from a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         11 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic components are supported by one or more stiffening materials that are more rigid than a material of the sensor layer. 
     
     
         12 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 2 , further comprising antenna such that the electronic components are configured to wirelessly transmit the processed data from the plurality of sensors to an external device. 
     
     
         13 . An ostomy wafer comprising:
 an adhesive layer configured to adhere to skin around a stoma of a user; and   a flexible sensor layer coupled with the adhesive layer, the flexible sensor layer comprising a plurality of sensors and electronic components, the electronic components in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors so as to receive and process data from the plurality of sensors,   wherein the electronic components are mounted on the flexible sensor layer without support from a printed circuit board, the electronic components being supported by one or more stiffening materials that are more rigid than a material of the sensor layer.   
     
     
         14 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible sensor layer comprises a plurality of conductors, the electronic components electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors by one or more of the plurality of conductors. 
     
     
         15 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         16 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more stiffening materials comprise fiber glass or plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 12 , wherein at least two or more of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect a leak of effluent from the stoma. 
     
     
         18 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 12 , further comprising a coin-cell battery mounted on the flexible sensor layer. 
     
     
         19 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible sensor layer comprises a neck and a body, wherein the coin-cell battery is located on the neck. 
     
     
         20 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 19 , wherein the electronic components are located on the neck. 
     
     
         21 . The ostomy wafer of  claim 12 , further comprising antenna such that the electronic components are configured to wirelessly transmit the processed data from the plurality of sensors to an external device.