Healthcare professionals—including surgeons, ostomy care nurses, wound, ostomy and continence nurses, enterostomal therapy nurses, and other clinicians involved in ostomy care—play an important role in helping people adapt to life with an ostomy and achieve confidence and independence in everyday self-care.

LiberOsto™ addresses one practical aspect of ostomy care that may receive less attention: emptying a drainable ostomy pouch into a conventional toilet.

For people using drainable ostomy pouches, pouch emptying is a routine and recurring part of daily self-care. Although considerable attention is appropriately given to pouch selection, fit, skin protection and management of stoma output, the practical mechanics of emptying a pouch into a conventional toilet may receive less attention.

Conventional toilets are not specifically configured for ostomy pouch emptying. Depending on the individual's mobility, dexterity, balance, vision, pouch position and bathroom configuration, emptying may involve bending, kneeling, leaning, squatting or carefully directing the pouch contents toward the toilet bowl. For some individuals, these maneuvers may be difficult and may contribute to splashing or accidental soiling.

LiberOsto™ is a reusable, freestanding, height- and angle-adjustable Class I medical device designed to assist adults in emptying a drainable ostomy pouch into a conventional toilet from an upright position.

Positioned beside the toilet, it provides a direct drainage pathway from the pouch outlet toward the toilet, with adjustable height and angle to accommodate the user's needs and toilet configuration.

LiberOsto™:

• does not attach to the patient, stoma, pouch or toilet;
• requires no permanent bathroom modification;
• does not replace the patient's existing ostomy appliance; and
• can be moved aside when not in use or disassembled for transportation between locations.

It may be used by adults with drainable pouches associated with ileostomy, colostomy, jejunostomy or urostomy, as well as by an adult caregiver or nurse assisting with pouch emptying. LiberOsto™ may also support drainage following colostomy irrigation when appropriate.

1. Position the device
   Place LiberOsto™ beside the toilet.
2. Adjust the height and angle
   Adjust the device according to the user's pouch level and toilet configuration.
3. Empty the pouch
   Position the pouch outlet over the funnel and open the pouch. The contents pass through the funnel and drainage pipe toward the toilet waterline.

This provides a controlled drainage pathway intended to help reduce splashing and accidental soiling while allowing pouch emptying from an upright position.

LiberOsto™ is reusable and should be cleaned and used in accordance with its Instructions for Use.

Healthcare professionals may wish to consider LiberOsto™ as an optional assistive device for adults who experience difficulty or inconvenience with conventional pouch emptying, including those who:

• have difficulty bending, kneeling or squatting;
• have difficulty maintaining balance;
• experience back, hip, knee or other mobility limitations;
• have temporary mobility restrictions following surgery, illness or injury;
• use a wheelchair or have reduced mobility;
• have difficulty accurately directing pouch contents into the toilet;
• experience recurrent splashing or accidental soiling;
• have limited vision that makes pouch drainage more difficult;
• rely on another person for assistance with routine pouch emptying; or
• prefer an alternative approach that may support greater privacy and independence.

Individual circumstances vary. Healthcare professionals would consider the patient's ability to safely position themselves, operate their pouch outlet, adjust and inspect the device, and follow the LiberOsto™ Instructions for Use.

LiberOsto™ may be introduced as an optional assistive device for routine pouch emptying rather than as a replacement for the patient's pouching system or established ostomy-care practices.

A simple question during ostomy education or follow-up may help identify an otherwise unrecognized practical difficulty:

“Do you experience difficulty, discomfort, splashing or problems with balance when emptying your pouch into the toilet?”

Healthcare professionals can then help patients determine whether this method of pouch emptying may be appropriate for their individual circumstances and direct them to the Instructions for Use and instructional materials.

LiberOsto™ was conceived, designed and developed in Canada from both clinical and personal experience by two specialist physicians, including a surgeon who temporarily lived with an ileostomy.

Development has also been informed by feedback obtained through three surveys presented to people living with an ostomy through the United Ostomy Associations of America website, with responses from hundreds of participants, as well as by input from healthcare professionals.

The underlying technology has received patent protection in Canada, among other jurisdictions, with additional intellectual property protection being pursued.

The practical value of providing an appropriate drainage point for ostomy care has also been recognized internationally. Dedicated ostomate-compatible facilities have been introduced in countries including Japan and Spain, where some public and residential washrooms provide specially designed drainage basins at an accessible height, together with water supplies or hand showers to assist with ostomy care.

These approaches illustrate a relevant principle: for some people living with an ostomy, providing a drainage point at an appropriate working height can make pouch emptying and related care more accessible and convenient.

LiberOsto™ addresses this practical need differently by providing a freestanding drainage pathway for use with an existing toilet, without requiring installation of a dedicated sanitary fixture or permanent bathroom modification.

As LiberOsto™ progresses toward commercial introduction, OstoVersa Care Ltd. welcomes observations from surgeons, ostomy care nurses and other healthcare professionals regarding:

• patient understanding and ease of use;
• suitability for different patient needs and mobility levels;
• positioning and adjustment;
• cleaning and routine handling;
• caregiver experience;
• patient acceptance and perceived usefulness;
• practical difficulties encountered during use; and
• opportunities to improve instructions, educational materials or future product development.

Feedback from patients is also welcome. Please do not submit personally identifiable patient information or confidential medical information through the general website feedback form.

Watch the LiberOsto™ Demonstration Video (English and French)
See how LiberOsto™ is positioned, adjusted and used.

Review the Instructions for Use (IFU)
Review intended use, setup, operation, cleaning, warnings and precautions.

Provide Professional Feedback
Share your observations and recommendations with OstoVersa Care Ltd.

Encourage Patient Feedback
Patient experience can contribute to continued evaluation and product improvement.