Ostomy pouches

Claim 2

A biodegradable composite film comprising a starch containing blended polymeric film and a barrier material coated on or laminated to said starch containing polymeric film.

Claim 3

The composite film of Claim 1 where said starch containing blended polymeric film includes one or more polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, nylon copolymers, N-alkyl substituted nylons and copolymers thereof, polyesters, polyester copolymers, atactic polypropylene, plasticized polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinylidene chloride and vinyl acetate, polybutylene, and polyethylmethylacrylate, said barrier material is selected from the group consisting of copolymers of vinylidene chloride, terpolymers of vinylidene chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and methyl acrylate, copolymers of vinylidene chloride and vinylidene difluoride, terpolymers of vinylidene chloride and vinylidene difluoride, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, and nylon, and said starch is present at from about 5% to about 50% by weight of said starch blended polymeric film.

Claim 4

The composite film of Claims 1 or 2 wherein said starch containing blended polymeric film also contains one or more autoxidants selected from the group consisting of unsaturated vegetable oils, polyun­saturated vegetable oils, oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acid esters, and calcium stearamide.

Claim 5

A composite film of any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said starch containing blended polymeric film comprises from about 7% to about 35% by weight of a hydrophobic starch, ethylene vinyl acetate wherein the blended film contains from about 9% to about 25% by weight of vinyl acetate, and from about 0.5% to about 8% by weight of said autoxidant.

Claim 6

A composite film of Claim 4 wherein said starch blended polymeric film comprises from about 15% to about 25% by weight of hydrophobic starch, ethylene vinyl acetate wherein the blended film contains from about 15% to about 20% by weight of said vinyl acetate, up to about 35% by weight of low density polyethylene, and from about 2% to about 6% by weight of said unsaturated vegetable oil.

Claim 7

A receptacle for the collection of bodily discharge or waste, said receptacle formed of a composite film according to any of Claims 1 to 5.

Claim 8

An ostomy pouch comprising a first front panel and a second rear panel sealed together along at least a portion of their periphery to form said pouch, said first front panel having an aperture providing access to the pouch interior for the stoma of the user, and attachment means affixed to said first front panel around said aperture for securing the pouch to the body of the user, said first front panel and said second rear panel both formed of a composite film according to any of Claims 1 to 5.

Claim 9

An ostomy pouch according to Claim 7 wherein in each of said composite films said barrier material is coated on one surface of each of said starch containing polymeric films, further comprising a comfort ply laminated to other surface of each of said starch containing films, and wherein said comfort plies constitute the exterior surface of said pouch.

Claim 10

An ostomy pouch comprising a first front panel and a second rear panel sealed together along at least a portion of their periphery to form said pouch, said first front panel having an aperture, both said first front panel and said second rear panel formed of a composite film comprising a starch containing blended polymeric film coated on one surface with a barrier of polyvinylidene chloride and a ply of water absorbent or water proof tissue paper laminated to the other surface of said starch containing blended polymeric films, said tissue paper plies constituting the exterior surface of said pouch, a third panel affixed to the inner surface of said first front panel and extending into the area of said first front panel aperture, said third panel formed of a composite film comprising a starch blended polymeric film coated on one surface with a barrier of polyvinylidene chloride, an adhesive label affixed to the portion of said third panel extending into the area of said first front panel aperture and also affixed to a portion of the tissue paper ply of said first front panel around said first front panel aperture, a stomal aperture through said adhesive label and said third panel to provide access to the pouch interior, and wherein said starch blended polymeric films comprise from about 15% to about 25% by weight of hydrophobic starch, ethylene vinyl acetate wherein each starch blended polymeric film contains from about 15% to about 20% by weight of vinyl acetate, up to 35% by weight of low density polyethylene, and from about 2% to about 6% by weight of an unsaturated vegetable oil.

Claim 11

An ostomy pouch comprising a first front panel and a second rear panel sealed together along at least a portion of their periphery to form said pouch, said first front panel having an aperture, both said first front panel and said second rear panel formed of a composite film comprising a starch containing blended polymeric film coated on one surface with a barrier of polyvinylidene chloride and a ply of water absorbent or water proof tissue paper laminated to the other surface of said starch containing blended polymeric films, said tissue paper plies constituting the exterior surface of said pouch, a third panel affixed to the inner surface of said first front panel and extending into the area of said first front panel aperture, said third panel formed of a composite film comprising a starch blended polymeric film coated on one surface with a barrier of polyvinylidene chloride, an adhesive label affixed to the portion of said third panel extending into the area of said first front panel aperture and also affixed to a portion of the tissue paper ply of said first front panel around said first front panel aperture, a stomal aperture through said adhesive label and said third panel to provide access to the pouch interior, and wherein said starch blended polymeric films comprise from about 15% to about 25% by weight of hydrophobic starch, ethylene vinyl acetate wherein each starch blended polymeric film contains from about 15% to about 20% by weight of vinyl acetate, up to 35% by weight of low density polyethylene, and from about 2% to about 6% by weight of an unsaturated vegetable oil.