Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-18
2001-02-13
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S358000, C604S367000, C604S385010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06187990
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence guards, sanitary napkins and like articles, and is concerned with methods of preventing the generation of undesirable odors and/or the growth of undesirable microorganisms as the article is worn.
PROBLEMS
Many designs of absorbent articles of this kind are known to the art. Conventionally, the absorbent body of such articles is produced by dry-defibering cellulose pulp contained for instance in rolls, bales or sheets, and transforming the fluffed pulp to a pulp mat, sometimes while admixing so-called superabsorbents, which may be polymers capable of absorbing several times their own weight in water or body fluid.
The absorbent body may also include other components, for instance components that will improve the ability of the absorbent body to take-up and disperse liquid, and that will increase its coherency and its ability to resist deformation in use.
Articles of this kind are liable to generate undesirable odors when in use, caused among other things by microbial metabolism, biological or chemical decomposition of components in body fluids, such as urine or menstruation fluid, for instance.
Another problematic area associated with the use of absorbent articles is the risk of infection caused by pathogenic microorganisms.
Another problem is found in the working environmental risks that can arise when handling soiled diapers that contain a large quantity of microorganisms. The growth of microorganisms that can take place in a soiled, used diaper during its storage after use can contribute to elevated odor problems and can also increase the risk of spreading undesirable microorganisms.
Another problem is the different forms of skin irritation and skin infections that can be caused directly or indirectly by microorganisms.
Microorganisms or their products that are known to contribute to the occurrence of undesirable odors, to cause infections in the urinal tract or to be associated with the occurrence of skin problems are, for instance such microorganisms as Proteus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Candida.
DESCRIPTION OF THE KNOWN PRIOR ART
Different methods of alleviating the aforedescribed problems have been proposed. The International Patent Applications WO 91/11977 and WO 91/12031 describe methods of adsorbing undesirable odors in zeolite included in the absorbent article. U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,632 describes the addition of copper salt to a diaper with the intention of preventing the decomposition of urea to ammonia and therewith prevent the occurrence of unpleasant smells.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,034 describes the significance of pH in an absorbent article, and the significance of impregnating the article with a buffering substance by means of which the pH of the article can be maintained at between 3.5 and 6.0, which is advantageous from both the aspect of inhibiting the growth of undesirable bacteria, and therewith the generation of undesirable odors, and in avoiding a negative effect on the skin. European Patents EP 202127 and EP 311344 describe the adjustment of pH in absorbent articles that include superabsorbent material. Since buffering substances can have a negative effect on many superabsorbent materials, it is necessary to take separate measures to avoid undesirable effects. In the case of European Patent EP 202127, the superabsorbent material and buffering substances are placed in mutually separated zones in the absorbent article. In the case of European Patent EP 311344, the buffering and the superabsorbent properties have been combined in one and the same material, and a separate bacteria-inhibiting substance has also been added.
The drawback with these described methods is that when only an odor-absorbing agent is added, the bacteria are still able to grow, and the bacteria inhibiting agents, which are often selective, can create risks, for instance, in the form of allergenic properties or negative ecological consequences when handling waste. Furthermore, the use of this type of agent involves the risk that resistant strains will occur.
It is known within the medicine and foodstuff technologies to use bioconservation with the aid of bacterial antagonism as a conserving method, and to inoculate special bacteria strains to favourize bacteria populations that are beneficial to the stomach and intestines, for health-promoting purposes. Examples in this respect are conventional yoghurt and soured milk, and also novel bioactive foodstuffs. This methodology also includes the use of bacteria such as so-called probiotic bacteria as a substitute for antibiotic bacteria.
Canadian Patent CA 1,298,556 teaches the medical use of selected strains of lactobacteria, wherein, among other things, whole cells or cell fragments of Lactobacillus are used to treat or preclude the occurrence of urinal tract infections. International Patent Application WO 93/09793 describes the use of lactobacteria and skimmed milk preparations for precluding or preventing urogenital infections. International Patent Application WO 92/13577 describes a tampon or sanitary napkin that has been impregnated with a culture of lactic-acid producing bacteria, preferably of the genus Pediococcus, isolated from healthy individuals. The tampon or sanitary napkin is intended for the prophylactic treatment of urogenital infections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article of the kind mentioned in the introduction which will allow the article to be worn, even for a long period, without permitting microorganisms to grow or to become active to an extent such as to promote undesirable odors, to incur the risk of infection or to have a negative effect on the skin. Another object of the invention is to enable antagonistic microorganisms to be transferred to the wearer so as to amplify in the wearer's urogenital zone the occurrence of such microbiological flora as those that will assist in preventing the occurrence of urinary tract infection. These objects have been achieved in accordance with the invention by adding to the absorbent article microorganisms which exhibit antagonistic properties against present undesirable strains or arising undesirable strains of microorganisms present in the absorbent article or in the urogenital zone of the wearer during regular use of the absorbent article, wherein said microorganisms are added in an amount and have an activity such as to restrain the growth of undesirable species or establishing of new undesirable species of microorganisms.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3794034 (1974-02-01), Jones, Sr.
patent: 4589876 (1986-05-01), Van Tilburg
patent: 4983163 (1991-01-01), Winans, Jr. et al.
patent: 1298556 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 2 309 575 (1974-09-01), None
patent: 0 202 127 (1986-11-01), None
patent: 0 311 344 (1989-04-01), None
patent: 0 446 619 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 2 143 738 (1985-02-01), None
patent: 8 505 491 (1987-05-01), None
patent: WO 91/12031 (1991-08-01), None
patent: WO 92/13577 (1992-08-01), None
patent: WO 93/09793 (1993-05-01), None
By Gregor Reid, “Applications for bacterial adhesion and biofilm studies in relation to urogenital tissues and biomaterials: A review”,Journal of Industrial Microbiology,vol. 13, 1994, pp. 90-96.
By Gregor Reid, “Adhesion of lactobacilli to urinary catheters and diapers: Effect of surface properties”,Journal of Biomedical Materials Research,vol. 28, 1994, pp. 731-734.
By Christine C. Sanders et al., “Toxic shock syndrome: An ecologic imbalance within the genital microflora of women”,American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,vol. 142, 1982, pp. 977-982.
By G. Reid et al., “Influence of lactobacilli on the adhesion ofStaphylococcus aureusandCandida albicansto fibers and epithelial cells”,Journal of Industrial Microbiology,vol. 15, 1995, pp. 248-253.
Andersson Rolf
Forsgren-Brusk Ulla
Håkansson Eva Grahn
Holm Stig
Runeman Bo
Peppers Miley Craig
SCA Molnlycke AB
Weiss John G.
Young & Thompson
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