Disposable articles having a failure detection system

• US 20040064115A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: McNeil-PPC Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: McNeil-PPC Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hagerty, Karen N., Moscherosch, H. Michael, Arora, Tarun K.
• Application Number:
  US10/261,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm

Abstract

A disposable article, e.g., useful as a sanitary protection device. The disposable article has a primary structure and a liquid-sensitive signaling element in liquid communication with the primary structure. Upon exposure to fluid, the liquid-sensitive signaling element expands to signal the user that the article is approaching capacity.

Claims

1. A disposable article comprising:

a) a substantially planar primary structure having an outer perimeter and suitable for placement adjacent a mammalian body surface; and

b) an expandable, liquid-sensitive signaling element arranged and configured adjacent at least a portion of said outer perimeter, the signaling element comprising resilient material held in a strained configuration that is capable of expanding to a relatively unstrained configuration upon exposure of the signaling element to bodily fluids.

2. The disposable article of claim 1 wherein the primary structure comprises an absorbent structure.

3. An external sanitary pad comprising the disposable article of claim 1.

4. The external sanitary pad of claim 3, wherein the pad has a thickness of less than about 5 mm.

5. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the signaling element expands to at least about 200% of the initial volume after exposure of the signaling element to a saturating amount of 0.9 wt-% saline solution.

6. The disposable article of claim 5, wherein the signaling element expands to at least about 500% of the initial volume after exposure of the signaling element to a saturating amount of 0.9 wt-% saline solution.

7. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the signaling element comprises sponge material.

8. The disposable article of claim 7, wherein the sponge material comprises regenerated cellulosic sponge.

9. The disposable article of claim 7, wherein the sponge material comprises foam.

10. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the signaling element is surrounded with a water soluble material.

11. The disposable article of claim 1, wherein the signaling element comprises absorbent material.

12. The disposable article of claim 11, wherein the absorbent material is compressed.

13. The disposable article of claim 11, wherein the absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of hydrogels, modified starches, gelatin, methyl-cellulose, hydroxypropyl-methyl-cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, ethylene oxide polymers, polyethylenimine, and derivatives and combinations thereof.

14. A method of making a disposable article comprising the steps of:

a) forming a primary structure;

b) manipulating resilient material into a deformed condition;

c) restraining the resilient material in the deformed condition to form a signaling element; and

d) attaching the signaling element to the primary structure.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the signaling element is attached to the primary structure in the deformed condition.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the signaling element is attached to the primary structure before the restraining step.