FOUR-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD

• US 20170135876A1
• Filed: 11/17/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Original Assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Alexander, Timmers, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,201,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8488 including testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]

Abstract

A system for measuring fluid absorption and retention properties of various samples having one or more materials, layers and/or articles. The system includes an optically or radiographically transparent fixture. The system enables measuring voxels having a grayscale value that demonstrate a difference in fluid densities and thereby enable the study of fluid flow and movement within and/or amongst various materials and articles in real time.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to represent fluid associated with a personal care product, the system comprising:

a sample of said personal care product;

a fluid source containing a fluid;

a syringe pump operatively connected to said fluid source, said syringe pump controlling fluid flow;

a line operatively connected to said fluid source, said line having a line end, said line and said line end comprising a low density material having a density sufficiently distinct from said sample;

a platform movable about at least one axis,

a fixture having an upper region, a middle region and a lower region, said fixture comprising a radiographically transparent material, said fixture further comprising;

a bore positioned within said fixture to receive said line;

a first arm defining an opening in communication with said bore, said opening permitting access to an interior volume of said fixture;

said first arm being hingedly connected to said fixture thereby permitting said first arm to move about an axis thereby enlarging said opening and revealing said interior volume; and

a wrapper positioned within said fixture, said wrapper having an opening at a first end in communication with said line end, said wrapper substantially encompassing said sample such that fluid entering said wrapper through said line end is substantially contained within said wrapper thereby creating a barrier between said sample and a surface defining said interior volume, said wrapper comprising a low-density material that is sufficiently distinct from said sample;

wherein said fixture exerts a force of between about 0.1 psi and 5.0 psi.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fixture further comprises a second arm, said second arm being hingedly connected to said fixture thereby permitting said second arm to move about a second axis thereby enlarging said opening and revealing said interior volume.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fixture further comprises a retaining mechanism to assist in holding said personal care product.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said fluid is one of water, saline, menses, blood, synthetic menses, glycerin, and combinations thereof.

5. The apparatus claim 1, wherein said fixture is at least partially visually transparent.

6. An apparatus configured to represent fluid associated with a personal care product, the system comprising:

a sample of said personal care product;

a fluid source containing a fluid;

a syringe pump operatively connected to said fluid source, said syringe pump controlling fluid flow;

a line operatively connected to said fluid source, said line having a line end, said line and said line end comprising a low density material other than metal having a density sufficiently distinct from said sample;

a platform movable about at least one axis,

a fixture comprising a radiographically transparent material, said fixture further comprising;

a first region connectable to said platform;

a second region connectable to said first region, said second region simulating a second region of said human body, said second region having at least one contoured surface upon which to position said sample;

a third region connectable to said second region;

wherein said first region and said third region simulate an additional region of said human body and/or support said second region.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said second region further comprises a barrier that provides a barrier between said sample and a said contoured surface, said barrier comprising a low-density material that is sufficiently distinct from said sample.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said fixture exerts a force of between about 0.1 psi and 5.0 psi.