Personal hygiene product with a digital element

• US 10,117,790 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Pugh, Randall Braxton, Neeley, William Chester
• Primary Examiner(s): Su, Susan
• Application Number:
  US15/045,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20160250081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 604361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/20 Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/2051 characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/424 having an electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/427 pH indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8473 for diagnostic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8479 including electric or magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A personal hygiene product with a digital element is described. In one embodiment, a conductive sensor assembly is disposed within the personal hygiene product that includes one or more moisture sensors that generate a resistive signal indicative of saturation of the personal hygiene product when in wetting contact with menstrual fluid.

Claims

1. A personal hygiene product with a digital element comprising:

a personal hygiene product having an axial length comprising an absorbent core in a form suitable for insertion into a user'"'"'s body to absorb menstrual fluid;

a conductive sensor assembly disposed within the absorbent core including one or more moisture sensors disposed on a sensor substrate, each moisture sensor being located at a select position along the axial length of said personal hygiene product, each moisture sensor including a moisture sensitive switch connected to a resistor where a resistance value of the moisture sensitive switch is less than a resistance value of the resistor and wherein each resistor is between 1 kΩ and

10 kΩ

, said conductive sensor assembly generating a signal indicative of saturation level of said personal hygiene product when said conductive sensor assembly is in wetting contact with the menstrual fluid;

an external digital element coupled to said conductive sensor assembly including a substrate having a communication circuit capable of wireless communication with a smart hand held electronic device, a processor, a power source and a first mating connector;

a signal transmission conduit extending from said conductive sensor assembly and interconnecting said conductive sensor assembly to said external digital element.

2. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said conductive sensor assembly extends substantially the entire axial length of said personal hygiene product.

3. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the one or more moisture sensitive switches include an interdigitated electrode structure connected to a resistor.

4. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 further wherein said signal transmission conduit includes a magnetic connector and said external digital element includes a mating magnetic connector such that said external digital element is magnetically connected to said signal transmission conduit.

5. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing biometric data of the user.

6. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing pH level of the bodily fluid discharge of a user and surrounding environment.

7. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing temperature of the user.

8. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing hormone levels.

9. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit is capable of low power blue tooth wireless communication with a smart hand held device.

10. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit is capable of near field wireless communication with a smart hand held device.

11. The personal hygiene product of claim 1 wherein the smart hand held device comprises a hand held personal electronic device capable of interface with a user.

12. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a receiver and a software application.

13. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of signaling or alerting a user-based quantified data received from said conductive sensor assembly.

14. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of direct order and purchase of additional personal hygiene products through an internet-based consumer services.

15. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of estimating order quantity based on historical data of bodily fluid discharge.

16. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of predicting time and rate of bodily fluid discharge.

17. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit includes a cable.

18. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit includes conductive ink deposited on a flexible substrate.

19. The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit is magnetically coupled to said digital element.