DISPOSABLE ARTICLE HAVING A PROACTIVE SENSOR

• US 20020019615A1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ian Robinson
• Original Assignee: Ian Robinson
• Inventors: ROE, DONALD C., COLES, PETER, LITVIN, SIMON S., KHOMJAKOV, OLEG N., KRUCHININ, MIKHAIL K., OSBORNE, THOMAS J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,570,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/495 with faecal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/82 with means for attaching to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8473 for diagnostic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8479 including electric or magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/24 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/26 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/56 Wetness-indicators or colourants
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5308 for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal

Abstract

A disposable article having a sensor that predicts an impending event such as an elimination of bodily waste. The article may also include an actuator that performs a responsive function when the sensor predicts the impending event.

Claims

1. A disposable article to be fitted to a wearer comprising:

a sensor operatively connected to the article, the sensor being adapted to detect an input that correlates to an impending elimination of bodily waste from the wearer; and

means for signaling to the wearer, a caregiver or a component of the disposable article the impending elimination of bodily waste.

2. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the elimination of bodily waste is selected from the following group:

a defecation, a urination, or a discharge of menses.

3. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the input is one or more of the group selected from a change in pressure, a gas concentration, a moisture, an enzyme a temperature, an electrical signal, a biological activity, a chemical activity, a motion, or a separation of buttocks.

4. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects changes in electrical activity of sphincter muscles.

5. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least two active electrodes and at least one reference electrode.

6. The disposable article of claim 1 further comprising an actuator that performs a responsive function when the sensor detects the input.

7. The disposable article of claim 6, wherein the responsive function is a signal to the wearer, the wearer or a component of the disposable article.

8. The disposable article of claim 6, wherein the actuator transforms potential energy to perform the responsive function, the potential energy being one or more selected from the group of mechanical energy, electrical energy, chemical energy.

9. The disposable article of claim 6, wherein the responsive function is one or more selected from the group of creating a void volume, treating skin, creating a foaming system and signaling a caregiver.

10. The disposable article of claim 6, wherein the actuator provides a void space for bodily waste.

11. The disposable article of claim 6 wherein the actuator provides an electrical signal to the sphincter muscle which results in the sphincter muscle at least temporarily contracting.

12. The absorbent article of claim 6 wherein the sensor repeatedly measures changes in electrical activity of sphincter muscles and the actuator sends a signal to the sphincter muscle to at least temporarily contract the sphincter muscle.

13. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the sensor is integral with or separate from the article.

14. The disposable article of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes at least a first, a second and a third electrodes, the first electrode comprising a reference electrode and the second electrode comprising active electrodes in order to allow for a bimodal electrical pickup.

15. The disposable article of claim 1 further comprising a receiver integral with the article.

16. The disposable article of claim 1 further comprising a receiver which is separate from the article.

17. The disposable article of claim 16 further comprising a transmitter.

18. The disposable article of claim 17, wherein the transmitter comprises an infrared telemetry transmitter.

19. The disposable article of claim 1 wherein further comprising:

(a) a topsheet;

(b) a liquid impermeable backsheet having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface, the backsheet being joined to at least a portion of the topsheet; and

(c) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet.

20. A disposable article to be fitted to a wearer having an external anal sphincter, the disposable article comprising:

an electrical sensor operatively connected to the article, the sensor adapted to be attached to the external anal sphincter of the wearer for detecting electrical signals that correlate to an impending elimination of bodily waste; and

means for signaling to the wearer, a caregiver or a component of the disposable article the impending elimination of bodily waste.