Emollient-treated absorbent interlabial application

• US 6,409,713 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1997
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Klofta, Thomas James, Osborn, Thomas Ward III
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruhl, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US08/869,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 604/363, 604/364, 604/385.1, 604/385.17, 604/385.18
• US Class Current: 604/385.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15211 soluble or disintegratable in liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47209 having only interlabial part, i.e. with no extralabial parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/82 with means for attaching to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic materials
• 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 15/34 Oils, fats, waxes or natural resins A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/40 containing ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof , e.g. plant or animal extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/48 Surfactants

Abstract

Absorbent devices, and more particularly absorbent devices that are worn interlabially by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, that have a emollient composition on their body-contacting surface are disclosed. The interlabial device has a body-contacting surface that is pre-moistened or pre-treated with an emollient to prevent drying of the wearer'"'"'s labial tissue and to reduce friction of the structure against the wearer'"'"'s labial tissue. The absorbent device is preferably capable of maintaining contact with the inside surfaces of the wearer'"'"'s labia majora when worn. The emollient composition comprises a plastic or fluid emollient such as mineral oil, petrolatum and/or polysiloxane, an immobilizing agent such as a fatty alcohol or wax to immobilize the emollient on the body-contacting surface of the device, and optionally a hydrophilic surfactant to improve wettability of the coated surface. Because the emollient is substantially immobilized on the surface of the absorbent device, less emollient is required to impart the desired therapeutic or protective emollient coating benefits.

Claims

1. An absorbent device for wearing in the interlabial space of a female wearer, said absorbent device having a body-contacting surface at least a portion of which is capable of maintaining contact with the inside surfaces of the wearer'"'"'s labia when the absorbent device is worn, and an absorbent portion, wherein at least a portion of said body-contacting surface comprises an emollient composition, said emollient composition comprising a substantially water-free emollient, said emollient composition being free of hydrocarbon components having a molecular weight greater than or equal to 1,500, wherein at least a portion of said emollient composition remains on said body-contacting surface without being absorbed into said absorbent device, and wherein said absorbent device is sufficiently flushable that it completely clears the bowl under the Flushability Test at least about 70% of the time in two or fewer flushes.

2. An absorbent interlabial device according to claim 1 that is sufficiently flushable that it completely clears the bowl under the Flushability Test at least about 95% of the time in one flush.

3. An absorbent device for wearing in the interlabial space of a female wearer, said absorbent device having a body-contacting surface at least a portion of which is capable of maintaining contact with the inside surfaces of the wearer'"'"'s labia when the absorbent device is worn, and an absorbent portion, wherein at least a portion of said body-contacting surface comprises an emollient composition, said emollient composition comprising a substantially water-free emollient, said emollient composition being free of hydrocarbon components having a molecular weight greater than or equal to 1,500, wherein at least a portion of said emollient composition remains on said body-contacting surface without being absorbed into said absorbent device, and wherein said absorbent device disperses into at least two fragments as measured by the Water Dispersion Test in less than or equal to about one hour.