Stool Management System

Abstract

A stool management system having a tubular body including a first end section disposable in a rectum of a patient and a second end section including a first connector which detachably mates with a second connector coupled to a collection container which receives waste matter passed through the tubular body from the bowel of the patient.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first connector, wherein said first connector includes:
 i) a first tubular portion telescopingly engaged to a second tubular portion, said first tubular portion transitions from an extended condition toward a retracted condition; and 
 ii) a vent element disposed in fixed relation to said second tubular portion, said vent element transitions between a vent closed condition which engages said first tubular portion in said extended condition and a vent open condition disengaged from said first tubular portion in said retracted condition. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent element support which extends from said second tubular portion to support said vent element in fixed spatial relation to said first tubular portion. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said vent element further comprises a porous plug which allows passage of gas from within said tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said vent element comprises an annular peripheral margin disposed about said porous plug. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising an annular vent seal circumferentially disposed about said annular peripheral margin of said vent element. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a bias element which biases movement of said first tubular portion toward said extended condition. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a first connector housing disposed about said a first tubular portion telescopingly engaged to said second tubular portion. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tubular body including:
 i) a first end section adapted to dispose in a rectal vault; and 
 ii) a second end section including a first connector, said tubular body having an internal surface defining a tubular body lumen; and 
   an antimicrobial layer coupled to said tubular body internal surface or said tubular body external surface, wherein said antimicrobial layer includes amount of antimicrobial agent of about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of said antimicrobial layer.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent effective to kill microorganisms which contact said antimicrobial layer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent effective to inhibit growth of microorganisms which contact antimicrobial layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said antimicrobial layer has a thickness in a range of about 0.05 millimeters to about 0.25 millimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said antimicrobial layer has a thickness selected from the group consisting of: about 0.05 millimeters to about 0.1 millimeters; about 0.075 millimeters to about 0.125 millimeters; about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.15 millimeters; about 0.125 millimeters to about 0.175 millimeters; about 0.15 millimeters to about 0.2 millimeters; about 0.175 millimeters to about 0.225 millimeters; and about 0.2 millimeters to about 0.25 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent comprises about 0.01% to about 15% by weight of said antimicrobial layer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said amount of antimicrobial agent by weight of said antimicrobial layer is selected from the group consisting of: about 0.01% to about 1% by weight; about 0.5% to about 1.5% by weight; about 1% to about 2% by weight; about 1.5% to about 2.5% by weight; about 2% to about 3% by weight; about 2.5% to about 3.5% by weight; about 3% to about 4% by weight; about 3.5% to about 15% 4.5% by weight; about 4% to about 5% by weight; about 4.5% to about 5.5% by weight; about 5% to about 6% by weight; about 5.5% to about 6.5% by weight; about 6% to about 7% by weight; about 6.5% to about 7.5% by weight; about 7% to about 8% by weight; about 7.5% to about 8.5% by weight; about 8% to about 9% by weight; about 8.5% to about 9.5% by weight; about 9% to about 10% by weight; about 9.5% to about 10.5% by weight; about 10% to about 11% by weight; about 10.5% to about 11.5% by weight; about 11% to about 12% by weight; about 11.5% to about 12.5% by weight; about 12% to about 13% by weight; about 12.5% to about 13.5% by weight; about 13% to about 14% by weight; about 13.5% to about 14.5% by weight; and about 14% to about 15% by weight, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said antimicrobial agent comprises an amount of silver or zinc. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said amount of silver is less than about 2% by weight of said antimicrobial layer. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said antimicrobial agent has a median particle size distribution not less than about 0.5 micrometers. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said antimicrobial agent has a median particle size distribution in a range of about 0.5 micrometers to about 15 micrometers. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said antimicrobial agent comprises silver-containing zeolites. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said silver-containing zeolites contains an amount of silver ions in a range of about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of said silver-containing zeolites. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tubular body including:
 i) a first end section adapted to dispose in a rectal vault; and 
 ii) a second end section including a first connector, said tubular body internal surface defining a tubular body lumen; and 
   an occlusion balloon disposed within said tubular body lumen, said occlusion balloon transitions between a deflated condition which affords an open tubular body lumen and an expanded condition which occludes said tubular body lumen.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said tubular body comprises a union section disposed between an upper tubular body section adapted to dispose in said rectal vault and a lower section connected to said first connector, said union section including a occlusion balloon port which extends outside of said union section, said occlusion balloon port having an occlusion balloon port internal surface which defines an occlusion balloon lumen fluidically coupled to an occlusion balloon internal volume through which a gas can ingress to generate the expanded condition of said occlusion balloon and egress to generate the deflated condition of the occlusion balloon. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tubular body;   a first end section adapted to dispose in a rectal vault;   a second end section including a first connector;   a collection container including a second connector which mateably engages said first connector,   wherein said first connector includes a first tubular portion which insertingly engages within a tubular member of said second connector; and   a seal element coupled to an internal surface of said tubular member of said second connector, wherein said first tubular portion inserted into said tubular member contacts said seal element which transitions toward a seal open condition, and wherein removal of said first tubular portion from said tubular member allows said seal element to transition from said open condition toward said seal closed condition.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said seal element in said open condition slidingly engages said first tubular portion external surface. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said seal element comprises a seal peripheral margin secured to a tubular member internal surface and a plurality of resiliently flexible wipers which extend inwardly from said seal peripheral margin, said plurality of resiliently flexible wipers flex to engage said first tubular portion of said first connector inserted inside of said tubular member. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said seal element includes a cross slit defining said plurality of resiliently flexible wipers each having a pair of legs joined at about a center of said seal element and extend toward said seal peripheral margin, wherein each of said plurality of resiliently flexible wipers flex to slidingly engage said first tubular portion external surface upon insertion inside of said tubular member, and wherein each of said plurality of resiliently flexible wipers slidingly disengage said first tubular portion upon removal from said tubular member, wherein each of said plurality of resiliently flexible wipers return to adjacently abut in said closed condition of said seal element. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said cross slit defines four resiliently flexible wipers. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tubular body;   a first end section disposable in a rectum;   a second end section including a first connector;   a collection container including a second connector which mateably engages said first connector;
 wherein said first connector includes a vent element which transitions to vent open condition; and 
 wherein said second connector includes a seal element which transitions to a seal open condition, 
   upon said first connector mateably engaged to said second connector.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said first connector comprises a first tubular portion telescopingly engaged to a second tubular portion, said first tubular portion transitions from an extended condition toward a retracted condition upon insertion into said second connector. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein vent element transitions between a vent closed condition in the extended condition of said first tubular portion and a vent open condition in the retracted condition of said first tubular portion. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising a vent element support which extends from said second tubular portion to support said vent element in fixed spatial relation to said first tubular portion. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said vent element further comprises a porous plug which allows passage of gas from within said tubular body. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said vent element comprises an annular peripheral margin disposed about said porous plug. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising an annular vent seal circumferentially disposed about said annular peripheral margin of said vent element. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a bias element which biases movement of said first tubular portion toward said extended condition. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising a first connector housing disposed about said a first tubular portion telescopingly engaged to said second tubular portion. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising a retention tab retaining groove disposed in an inner surface of said first connector housing. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , further comprising a connector release element slidingly engaged with said first connector housing, said connector release element transitions between a first position in a secured condition of said first and second connectors and a second position in an unsecured condition of said first and second connectors, said connector release element having a cammed biasing surface which moves over said retention tab retaining groove with increased biasing as said connector release moves toward said second position. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said second connector includes a tubular member, said first tubular portion of said first connector insertingly engages within said tubular member of said second connector. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said seal element comprising a cross slit wiper valve having a peripheral margin secured to an inner surface of said tubular member and resiliently flexible cross slit wipers which flex to engage an external surface of said first tubular portion of said first connector inserted inside of tubular member. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , further comprising a retention tab coupled to an external surface of said tubular member of said second connector, said retention tab transitions between a retention position disposable in said retention groove of said first connector housing upon insertion of said first tubular portion of said first connector inside of said tubular member of said second connector to release position disposed outside of said retention groove. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a tab bias element which biases movement of said retention tab toward said retention groove. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said cammed biasing surface engages said retention tab to move said retention tab out of said retention groove as said connector release element moves toward said second position. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said first end section includes a retention cuff disposed about a tubular strut, said retention cuff having retention cuff wall defining an interior space having a rest volume and an inflated volume. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein said tubular strut tapers approaching an open end of said retention cuff. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein said retention cuff wall having a greater thickness approaching said open end of said retention cuff. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , an inflation lumen disposed within said tubular strut, said inflation lumen defining an inflation passage fluidically coupled to said interior space of said retention cuff. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising an irrigation lumen disposed within said tubular strut defining an irrigation passage fluidically coupled to said open end of said retention cuff. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 an inflation port disposed on said external surface of said tubular body, said inflation port connect to said inflation lumen; and   an irrigation port disposed on an external surface of said tubular body, said irrigation port connected to said irrigation lumen.   
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , further comprising a sample port which communicates between an internal surface and an external surface of said tubular body. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , further comprising an occlusion balloon. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein said tubular body comprises a union section disposed between an upper tubular body section connected to said retention cuff and a lower section connected to said first connector, said union section including said inflation port and said irrigation port and optionally one or more of said sample port and said substance delivery occlusion balloon. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said tubular body includes a tubular transsphincteric region disposed between said tubular strut and said upper tubular body.