HEM
This thesis project re-looks into existing stoma bag as a prosthetic medical device used for waste collection.
The stoma bag market has not seen any significant changes for the past 30 years. And the current designs only serve to further stigmatize the condition with its uncomfortable form and unpleasant visuals.
HEM is an alternative stoma pouch with a much larger capacity of up to 500ml. With almost five times the volume of an existing stoma bag, HEM could carry a full day’s worth of waste output without draining.
HEM was designed to reduce draining frequency and eliminate the inconvenient process when ostomates are outside.
The shift from existing vertical waste collection to a horizontal orientation meant that users would have to manually divert waste output across pouch, and towards the back.
However, this new system gives HEM a significant advantage of volume and weight distribution – allowing the pouch to hold a much larger waste volume, without compromising on good support and comfort.
Instead of having a waste bag hung onto one’s abdomen, HEM is akin to a waist pouch accessory worn over a stoma. It hopes to give users the freedom, assurance and confidence to leave house without being tied down by the anxiety of carrying a full stoma bag.
With the same volume of waste in both pouches, the visual comparison clearly shows that HEM stays flat and discreet under clothing. The bulging effect is significantly reduced as waste is evenly distributed across the horizontal pouch.
HEM shows the potential of stoma bags to be worn as an accessory, rather than hung as a waste bag. By doing so, it changes the perspective of the condition for both the ostomates and for the people around them.
THE PROCESS JOURNEY
