Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-22
2003-09-02
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3625)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S389000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06613030
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins, pantiliners, tampons, perspiration pads, adult incontinence devices and the like to be attached directly to the skin of the wearer. The articles utilise an improved adhesive so as to facilitate easy application and removal of the article from the wearer, whilst ensuring maintenance of the article in the desired position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to adhesives which are particularly useful to absorbent articles for absorption of body liquids which naturally emanate from a body without a wound. For example to attach sanitary napkins or pantiliners in the genital region. Also incontinence devices which are worn e.g. in the genital region or perspiration pads which are worn in the arm pit region of a person can suitably employ the adhesive of the present invention.
Such adhesives have been generally disclosed in for example US statutory invention registration H1602 or WO 96/33683 and WO 95/16424. The latter discloses sanitary articles having a topical adhesive which is applied on the wearer facing side of a sanitary napkin along the entire periphery. WO 96/13238 discloses a topical adhesive which is described in terms of frequency dependency. EP-638 303 discloses the use of a topical adhesive on side cuffs of sanitary napkins in order to keep the cuffs in an upright position. Swiss publication CH-643730 discloses the use of a very long sanitary napkin having chamfered outer edges with a topical adhesive at the four corners of the outer edges in order to provide a topical adhesive area well outside the region of pubic hair growth.
However all of these disclosures typically disclose a product which is designed to be utilised in combination with an undergarment and hence the degree of adhesion actually provided is very low and is not designed to withstand any excessive pressure. Moreover the adhesive is only discussed in general terms or concentrates on the area of application of the adhesive to the article. The nature of adhesive per se other than the basic physical requirements such as pressure sensitivity are not discussed in particular with reference to the chemical composition or the adhesive criteria.
The prior art in the general field of adhesives for attachment to the skin is particularly developed in the field of articles such as band-aids, plasters and bandages. These articles are however typically applied in an emergency situation, where for example, a cut into the skin of the wearer has occurred and absorption of the body liquids emanating from a wound is desired. In this context performance aspects of the article such as easy application and use of the product, comfortable wear as well as painless removal, and discreteness are again subordinate, to other criteria in this case such as sterility, healing support, and mechanical protection of the wound. Also such wound covering absorbent articles are mostly adhered to the skin where prior to application of the absorbent article bodily hair can be removed or where little hair grows.
In order to provide the desired level of adhesion of such bandages, the prior art typically discloses the utilisation of certain adhesives having very high cohesive strengths such as rubber based adhesives and acrylics. These adhesives are then applied as thick layers to maximise the adhesive force by which the bandage is secured to the skin of the wearer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,146 discloses hydrophilic elastomeric pressure sensitive adhesives suitable for use with ostomy devices, bandages, ulcer pads, sanitary napkins, diapers, and althetic padding. The adhesive comprises at least 1 uradiation cross linked organic polymer and an adhesive plasticizer.
GB 2 115 431 discloses adhesives for bandages, wounds or burn dressings, EKG adhesives, sanitary napkins, diapers and ulcer pads. The adhesive comprises an uradiation cross linked organic polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolodine and an adhesive plasticizer.
However, for application such as absorbent articles it is important that the adhesive has a skin compatible composition and not be harsh or aggressive towards the skin or cause skin irritation or inflammation. Also it is preferred if the adhesive is compliant with the skin of the wearer such that maximum skin surface contact between the adhesive and the skin is achieved. Moreover, it is also desirable to provide an adhesive such that the absorbent article can be readily removed from the wearer, without the wearer experiencing any unacceptable pain level. This is particularly important under circumstances, where the article is removed and reapplication of the article once or even a number of times is required for example to allow for urination and or to ensure the application of such articles on sensitive skin and wearer groups such as infants. However, on the other hand the desired level of adhesion, albeit painless should of course also be maintained during such multiple applications of the article.
Hence there exists a need to disposable absorbent articles having an adhesive for the secure attachment and painless removal of the article from the skin suitable for use of sensitive skin of an infant and or of the genitalia and it is thus an object of the present invention to provide such an article.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an adhesive that exhibits an ability to adhere to skin upon reapplication, particularly multiple reapplication for example when the article is removed for urination purposes or is misplaced, whilst still allowing painless removal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an adhesive which upon removal from the skin of the wearer leaves no residues. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adhesive which does not cause a cold or otherwise unacceptable temperature sensation upon application to the wearer.
An additional object of the present invention to provide an adhesive which provides flexibility, stretchability and contractability so that it is able to adapt to the contours of the body during all bodily movements and hence be comfortable for the wearer of the article, whilst still having sufficient adhesive capacity to ensure secure attachment during use.
It has now been surprisingly found that the above drawbacks will be substantially alleviated by providing the absorbent article with an adhesive as defined hereinafter. The adhesive provides secure attachment, is pleasing to the skin upon application, and yet causes no discomfort upon removal and maintains its adhesive strength over the period of wear even under exposure to excess liquids.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a disposable absorbent article in association with the adhesive as defined herein:
The adhesive allows attachment of disposal absorbent articles to the skin of the wearer, the adhesive being provided as a layer having a certain thickness or calliper C measured in millimeters (mm), typically on at least part of the wearer facing surface of the article.
Detailed analysis of the sequence of common situations occurring from the application of absorbent articles to the time of removal of such articles has shown that specific adhesive characteristics need to be preferably satisfied in order to achieve the desired performance objectives, in particular to secure initial attachment, secure attachment during use and painless removal after wear. The characteristics which have been considered in this context are the elastic modulus describing the elastic; behaviour of the material and the viscous modulus which describes the viscous behaviour of the adhesive material.
The viscous behaviour of the adhesive can be interpreted to represent an indication of the ability of the adhesive to quickly attach and securely adhere to a particular surface. The elastic behaviour can be interpreted as an indication of the “hardness” behaviour of the adhesive. Its value is also important for good initial attachment. Their combinat
Cinelli Fabio
Coles Peter
Corzani Italo
Munro Hugh Semple
Yasin Mohammed
Chapman Jeanette
Meyer Peter D.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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