NFLD Invention company creates Revolutionary One Pass Ostomy

Patient living with Crohn’s Disease Invents Device that Restores Dignity

For Immediate Release

St. John’s NFLD: December 16, 2010

The saying goes that if mother is the necessity of invention, then ingenuity is the father. And for Phil Rondeau of Uncle Phil’s Think Tank, the inspiration to create a better way to live with an ostomy came from firsthand knowledge; he had one.

An ostomy is a surgically created opening in the colon which allows for the discharge of body wastes into a pouch like mechanism. The most widely known type of ostomy is the colostomy.

Inventor Phil Rondeau was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 18, and after several surgeries, had an ileostomy in 1997. Finding that the pouch did not empty completely, Phil was determined to find a solution, in spite of the fact that no device existed. With supplies from a local hardware store, Phil had created a prototype draining device called the One Pass. He used this homemade device for over 4 years, returning to work, not hampered by extended visits to the bathroom.

“Having an ostomy can be very difficult not only practically but also psychologically. I felt unclean when trying to empty the pouch. I knew there had to be a better way”, said inventor of the One Pass Ostomy, Phil Rondeau.

The emptying of the ostomy normally takes about 5 minutes; the One Pass can completely drain the device in 5 seconds. No longer will patients need to carry extra kits or bags as they go about their daily lives. “The goal was to restore a sense of dignity not only for myself but hopefully, for millions of others living with an ostomy”, added Rondeau.

Although statistics aren’t clear due to confidentiality, an estimated 3-5 million ostomy procedures are performed annually worldwide with an estimated growth rate of 3%/year: ostomies are increasingly common among our ever aging population.

With assistance from the National Research Council in St. John’s, Rondeau and his team have created a few prototypes, two of which are currently being used by ostomates (those with an ostomy) with great results: one test subject just went on holiday.

Phil Rondeau and his team are now determined to get their remarkable invention manufactured and distributed to the global market. The One Pass is patent pending in 142 countries. Phil and his team know that the business potential is enormous. And their website, www.opodd.com is already getting traffic from interested parties.

But for Phil Rondeau, it’s about something more humane, it’s about restoring a sense of dignity for those living with an ostomy. “With the One Pass, you can have a sense of freedom and that means everything in the world”, added Rondeau.

About the One Pass Ostomy

The Pass Ostomy Draining Device, a hand held tool that allows users to drain the contents of their pouch no matter where they are or what they are doing.  Furthermore, it does this in a matter of seconds and the user’s hands barely touch the pouch.

On November 29th, 1980, at the age of 18, inventor Phil Rondeau was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Following this diagnosis and over the next 17 years, Phil underwent eight bowel resections surgeries and many hospitalizations. Upon another flare up of the Crohn's Disease in the summer of 1997, the doctors recommended that he have an ileostomy and in late September of 1997 Phil underwent the surgery. Upon his release from the hospital, he returned home and from the first day home began to realize that he found the emptying of the pouch to be disagreeable and not efficient. The fecal matter that was left in the bag left him with an unclean feeling.

With no device existing, Phil conceived what such a device would look like and how it could and would work if it did exist. With this thought in his head, he stopped at his local hardware store and purchased the materials he felt would be required for his device.  He continued to use this early prototype for 4 years.

For more information about the One Pass Ostomy Device, including images and video, visit:   http://www.opodd.com/OPODD/Home.html