Method and device for detecting the presence of multiple insults in an absorbent article

• US 20070083174A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Ales, Thomas, Rotroff, Cullen
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,396 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 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8479 including electric or magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8482 including numeric control, e.g. using computer

Abstract

A method of detecting the presence of an insult in an absorbent article. An electrical property of the article is measured and digitized. To detect an insult, the digital values are used by a microprocessor to determine at least one of the following: (a) a slope in the electrical property compared to a threshold value; (b) a comparison of the electrical property over a period of time to a threshold value; and/or (c) a comparison of the electrical property to a determined threshold value.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:

monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult;

determining a slope in a parameter of the electrical property over time;

comparing the slope to a threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising communicating the presence of an insult to a caregiver and/or a wearer when the difference indicator value compared to the slope is indicative of the presence of an insult.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said monitoring comprises producing an analog output signal indicative of the electrical property of the article, and wherein said method of detecting further comprises

converting the analog output signal into digital values stored in a memory corresponding to the electrical property of the article at intervals of time,

calculating the slope in the electrical property of the article over time using the stored digital values, and

comparing the slope to a threshold value stored in the memory.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the electrical property comprises a resistance value of the absorbent article and wherein the calculated value is a slope value such that when the slope is below the threshold value an insult is indicated.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1:

(1) wherein the article has a coform layer in contact with two conductors and wherein monitoring an electrical property comprises measuring a resistance value between the two conductors;

or

(2) wherein the article has a zone with lower levels of an absorbent material in contact with the two conductors and wherein monitoring an electrical property comprises measuring a resistance value between the two conductors.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising comparing the electrical property over a preset period of time to a threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising determining a threshold value and comparing the electrical property to the determined threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising determining a threshold value and comparing the electrical property to the determined threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.

14. The method as set forth in claim 10:

(1) wherein the article has a coform layer in contact with two conductors and wherein monitoring an electrical property comprises measuring a resistance value between the two conductors;

or

(2) wherein the article has a zone with lower levels of an absorbent material in contact with the two conductors and wherein monitoring an electrical property comprises measuring a resistance value between the two conductors.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22:

(1) wherein the article has a coform layer in contact with two conductors and wherein monitoring an electrical property comprises measuring a resistance value between the two conductors;

or

(2) wherein the article has a zone with lower levels of an absorbent material in contact with the two conductors and wherein monitoring an electrical property comprises measuring a resistance value between the two conductors.

9. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:

monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult;

comparing the electrical property over a preset period of time to a threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the monitoring comprises sampling the electrical property at a sampling rate and wherein the threshold value is a function of the sampling rate.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising communicating the presence of an insult to a caregiver and/or a wearer when the electrical property over time compared to the threshold value is indicative of the presence of an insult.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said monitoring comprises producing an analog output signal indicative of the electrical property of the article, and wherein said method of detecting further comprises

converting the analog output signal into digital values stored in a memory corresponding to the electrical property of the article at intervals of time,

calculating the electrical property over time using the stored digital values, and

comparing the electrical property over time to a threshold value stored in the memory.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the electrical property comprises a resistance value of the absorbent article such that when the resistance over time is below the threshold value an insult is indicated.

15. The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising determining a threshold value and comparing the electrical property to the determined threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.

16. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:

monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult;

determining a threshold value;

comparing the electrical property to the determined threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the threshold is determined as a function of a moving average of the electrical property or as a function of a value of the electrical property over a preset period of time.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising communicating the presence of an insult to a caregiver and/or a wearer when the electrical property compared to the determined threshold value is indicative of the presence of an insult.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said monitoring comprises producing an analog output signal indicative of the electrical property of the article, and wherein said method of detecting further comprises

converting the analog output signal into digital values stored in a memory corresponding to the electrical property of the article at intervals of time,

calculating the electrical property and the threshold value using the stored digital values, and

comparing the calculated electrical property to the determined threshold value.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the electrical property comprises a resistance value of the absorbent article such that when the resistance is below the determined threshold value an insult is indicated.

21. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the article has a coform layer in contact with two conductors and wherein monitoring an electrical property comprises measuring a resistance value between the two conductors.

22. A sensor apparatus for use in detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, the sensor apparatus comprising:

a measuring component for measuring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer, the measuring component producing an analog output signal indicative of the electrical property of the article;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal of the measuring component into digital values; and

a microprocessor for receiving the digital values from the converter, said microprocessor determining at least one of the following;

(a) a slope of the electrical property or of a value which is a function of the electrical property, the slope being compared to a threshold;

(b) a comparison of the electrical property over a period of time to a threshold value; and

/or

(c) a comparison of the electrical property to a threshold value;

said microprocessor determining the presence of an insult in the article as a function of determining (a), (b) and/or (c).

24. An article for use in potty-training a wearer of the article, the article comprising:

a liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer'"'"'s body;

an outer cover in generally opposed relationship with the liner;

an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover;

a sensor for use in detecting the presence of an insult within the article, said sensor comprising

a measuring component for measuring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer, the measuring component producing an analog output signal indicative of the electrical property of the article,

an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal of the measuring component into digital values, and

a microprocessor for receiving the digital values from the converter, said microprocessor determining at least one of the following;

(a) a slope of the electrical property or of a value which is a function of the electrical property, the slope being compared to a threshold;

(b) a comparison of the electrical property over a period of time to a threshold value; and

/or

(c) a comparison of the electrical property to a threshold value;

said microprocessor determining the presence of an insult in the article as a function of determining (a), (b) and/or (c); and

an alarm device for receiving an electrical signal from the microprocessor indicating that the microprocessor has determined the presence of an insult in the article, said alarm device notifying a caregiver and/or the wearer of the presence of the insult in the article.

25. The article of 24:

(1) wherein the measuring component comprises a pair of spaced apart generally parallel conductors and a layer of coform material is in contact with the conductors;

or

(2) wherein the measuring component comprises a pair of spaced apart generally parallel conductors and a zone of lower absorbent material is in contact with the conductors.