Method and device for detecting the presence of multiple insults in an absorbent article
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, the absorbent article comprising two conductors, said method comprising:
- monitoring an electrical resistance between the two conductors as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical resistance changes in response to an insult;
determining a slope of the electrical resistance over time;
comparing the slope to a threshold value to determine the presence of an insult.
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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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, the absorbent article comprising two conductors, said method comprising:
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monitoring an electrical resistance between the two conductors as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical resistance changes in response to an insult; determining a slope of the electrical resistance over time; comparing the slope to a threshold value to determine the presence of an insult. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13)
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7. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:
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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; and determining the presence of an insult based on a rate of change in the monitored electrical property, a percent change in the monitored electrical property, a moving average of the monitored electrical property, and a comparison of the monitored electrical property to a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. A method of detecting the presence of a first insult and a second insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:
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monitoring an electrical resistance of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical resistance changes in response to an insult; determining a first threshold value; comparing the electrical resistance to the first threshold value to determine the presence of a first insult; after determining the presence of the first insult, sampling after a waiting period the electrical resistance for a set time to determine a second threshold value; and comparing the electrical resistance to the second threshold value to determine the presence of a second insult. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A sensor apparatus for use in detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, the sensor apparatus comprising:
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two conductors positioned within the absorbent article; a measuring component for measuring an electrical resistance between the two conductors as the article is being worn by a wearer, the measuring component producing an analog output signal indicative of the electrical resistance; 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 one or more of the following; (a) a slope of the electrical resistance or of a value which is a function of the electrical resistance, the slope being compared to a threshold; (b) a comparison of the electrical resistance over a period of time to a threshold value; and (c) a comparison of the electrical resistance 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). - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An article for use in potty-training a wearer of the article, the article comprising:
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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, the absorbent body generally having a first ratio of fluff to super absorbent material (SAM), the absorbent body comprising a target zone having a second ratio of fluff to SAM different from the first ratio of fluff to SAM; a pair of spaced apart generally parallel conductors positioned at least partially in the target zone; a sensor for use in detecting the presence of an insult within the article, said sensor comprising a measuring component for measuring an electrical resistance of the conductors as the article is being worn by a wearer, the measuring component producing an analog output signal indicative of the electrical resistance, 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 one or more of the following; (a) a slope of the electrical resistance or of a value which is a function of the electrical resistance, the slope being compared to a threshold; (b) a comparison of the electrical resistance over a period of time to a threshold value; and (c) a comparison of the electrical resistance 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.
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25. The article of 24, wherein the second ratio of fluff to SAM is higher than the first ratio of fluff to SAM.
Specification