Hygienic absorbent devices

Details Hygienic absorbent devices Hygienic absorbent devices

1992-05-27

1995-12-26

Green, Randall L.

Surgery

Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material

Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...

604370, 604366, A61F 1320

Patent

active

054783356

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to hygienic absorbent devices and in particular relates to devices in the form of sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence pads and the like.
Conventional absorbent devices such as sanitary napkins or towels, diapers, incontinence pads and the like normally comprise an absorbent core and a liquid pervious cover sheet over the body facing side thereof. The cover sheet will make direct contact with the user's skin in use. Any body fluids such as blood, urine and the like will contact the cover sheet before being transmitted therethrough to the absorbent core. It is a common problem with hygienic absorbent devices that in use if pressure is exerted on the device absorbed fluid may be squeezed out of the core and be returned back to the surface of the device thereby re-wetting the cover sheet and hence also the skin of the user. This fluid wet-back of conventional absorbent devices is undesirable because it can render the devices uncomfortable to wear and also cause skin irritation and rashes if contact between the body fluid and the skin in prolonged. Some success in overcoming this fluid wet-back problem has been obtained by interposing a contoured or deformed intermediate layer between the cover sheet and absorbent core. Such layers, however, have a fairly complex construction and also require special deforming or contouring apparatus for their manufacture.
In European Patent Specification No. 0178108 there is described a hygienic absorbent pad comprising an absorbent layer, a cover layer and an intermediate layer which is an embossed plastics net. The use of embossed plastics nets having a well defined three dimensional character was proposed to provide good separation of the cover layer from the absorbent layer, serves to inhibit fluid wet-back. However not only does the imposition of a three dimensional character on the intermediate layer, increase the complexity and cost of the product it also may make the product more bulky and less deformable and can cause a rough feeling. However EP-A-0176108 taught that it was necessary to use such corrugated materials to achieve low wet-back and did not suggest that effectively flat materials could be employed.
U.K. Patent Specification No. 2225724 discloses an absorbent device comprising an absorbent core, a cover layer and an intermediate layer comprising an apertured, contoured film of an elastomeric polymer material. The production of such contoured apertured intermediate layer suffers from the drawbacks as described above but GB-A-225724 taught that the use of such corrugated materials were necessary to achieve low wet-back and did not suggest that effectively flat materials could be employed.
It is also known that menstrual fluid may be retained on the surface of a cover layer and cause unsightly staining. Entrappment of fluid in the cover sheet interstices, for example between the fibers of a non-woven cover sheet may also cause discomfort for the user.
The problems of surface cleanliness and fluid wet-back have been addressed in European Patent Specification No. 0040084. This reference teaches an absorbent article including an absorbent core which has an overlaying liquid pervious topsheet with a layer of fibers affixed to the non-body facing side and a layer of an embossed plastics film provided with a multiplicity of tapered capilliaries located between the fibrous layer and the core. The layer of fibers affixed to the inner surface of the top, is necessary to improve strike through or penetration of fluid through the top sheet. Thus the absorbent devices of EP0040084 require the use of complex layers and require specialised processing techniques for their manufacture.
The present invention seeks to ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art in that the use of contoured, bulky intermediate layers or complex composite layers to assist fluid penetration is avoided by the use of two overlying and adjacent apertured polymer films to cover the absorbent core of an absorbent device such as a disposable napkin. In this way not onl

REFERENCES:
patent: 3460536 (1969-08-01), Champaigne
patent: 3994299 (1976-11-01), Karami
patent: 4173046 (1979-11-01), Gallagher
patent: 4323068 (1982-04-01), Aziz
patent: 4323069 (1982-04-01), Ahr et al.
patent: 4519798 (1985-05-01), Dinius
patent: 4780352 (1988-10-01), Palumbo
patent: 4798603 (1989-01-01), Meyer et al.
patent: 5047023 (1991-09-01), Berg
patent: 5079081 (1992-01-01), Lai

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Hygienic absorbent devices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Hygienic absorbent devices, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hygienic absorbent devices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1365357