Absorbent core having improved fluid handling properties

Details Absorbent core having improved fluid handling properties Absorbent core having improved fluid handling properties

1996-06-07

1998-06-09

Weiss, John G.

Surgery

Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material

Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...

604368, A61F 1315

Patent

active

057626413

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a 371 of PCT/US94/07201 filed on Jun. 27, 1994.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an absorbent core for use in articles such as disposable diapers, incontinence articles, sanitary towels, training pants and the like, having improved fluid handling properties.
Typically absorbent articles of this kind comprise a liquid previous topsheet that faces the wearer's body, a liquid impervious backsheet that faces the wearer's clothing, and an absorbent core interposed between the liquid previous topsheet and the liquid impervious backsheet. The absorbent core must be capable of absorbing and handling relatively large volumes of fluid and other exudates discharged from the body of the wearer, and especially relatively large fluid volumes discharged over relatively short periods of time. The absorbent core needs to be capable of acquiring, distributing, and storing discharges initially deposited on the topsheet of the absorbent article. Preferably the design of the absorbent core is such that the core acquires the discharges substantially immediately after they have been deposited on the topsheet of the absorbent article, with the intention that the discharges do not accumulate on or run off the surface of the topsheet, since this may result in inefficient urine containment by the absorbent article which may lead to wetting of outer garments and discomfort for the wearer. In addition, preferably the absorbent core will have a design that facilitates the initially retained discharges to be transported away from the area of initial retention to a place within the core where they can be stored, so that regions of the core do not become prematurely saturated and so that bulk of the absorbent material in the core is utilized effectively.
There have been many attempts to design an absorbent core to satisfy, or improve, the above requirements. For example, WO92/11831 discloses an absorbent article having an absorbent core that comprises a wrapped multi-layer absorbent body comprising at least one acquisition/distribution layer for acquiring body discharges; at least one storage layer positioned subjacent each acquisition layer, and having a further storage layer subjacent the wrapped multi-layer body.
The acquisition/distribution layer comprises a low density web or batt of material that can be fibrous non-woven material. The layer can contain a small amount absorbent gelling material, provided it does not affect its acquisition/distribution properties. The storage layers comprise "high speed" absorbent gelling material, i.e. material that gives a high rate of absorption, and optionally some fibrous material. The gelling material can be particulate, but is preferably fibrous. A preferred embodiment of the wrapped absorbent body comprises two acquisition/distribution layers and two storage layers, and has a pathway, or other type of interconnection, between each pair of layers. The pathway is thought to be necessary to allow body discharges to travel through an upper storage layer that may be subject to "gel blocking" and therefore have a reduced discharge uptake or transportation, to an underlying pair of acquisition/distribution and storage layers. Further pathways tend to be necessary as further storage layers are added.
"Gel blocking" is a phenomenon that tends to interfere with the transportation of fluids in an absorbent structure, by increasing the resistance to fluid flow through that structure. This typically occurs either through swollen superabsorbent particles filling the available inter-fibre void spaces or swollen finer superabsorbent particles blocking capillary (transport) channels thereby restricting the transport of fluid.
The absorbent article disclosed in WO92/11831 has the disadvantage that it is a relatively complex structure because of the need to provide pathways between the upper storage layers and the layers underlying those storage layers. Despite the provision of the pathways between the layers there may still be a tendency in some instances, part

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