Method for recommending disposable incontinence articles

• US 8,175,893 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Heki, Yukio, Kato, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Morgan, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGESS, JOSEPH D
• Application Number:
  US13/216,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for recommending a disposable incontinence device to be used by an incontinent person. The method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving information, from a user, about incontinence devices which are currently used by the incontinent person; (b) receiving information about the situation which is experienced by the user; and (c) selecting at least one device, based on the information received, among predetermined disposable incontinence devices. By this method, an appropriate disposable incontinence device(s) to be used are recommended depending on the user'"'"'s situation. The present invention is also directed a method for evaluating the quality of life of a caregiver who takes care of an incontinent person.

Claims

1. A method for recommending a disposable incontinence article to be used by an incontinent person, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a product recommendation device;

b. inputting information into the product recommendation device about incontinence articles which are currently used by the incontinent person and information about a situation that is experienced by the incontinent person;

c. processing the information using the product recommendation device;

d. providing output in the form of a selection of at least one disposable incontinence article from a database of predetermined disposable incontinence articles based on the information processed by the product recommendation device; and

wherein the step of inputting information comprises the step of indicating a question and a plurality of possible answers for selection and inputting one or more answers to the question.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step for providing output in the form of a selection of at least one disposable incontinence article comprises a step of providing output in the form of a selection of a combination of two disposable incontinence articles, based on the information inputted, among the predetermined disposable incontinence articles.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

e. evaluating quality of life of a caregiver who takes care of the incontinent person, and

f. repeating the steps (a), (b) and (c).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the question for the information about the incontinent person'"'"'s situation is on ability of body action of the incontinent person.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the question for the information about the incontinent person'"'"'s situation is on ability of at least one of hand and finger activity of the incontinent person.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the question for the information about the incontinent person'"'"'s situation is on content(s) of leakage of the incontinent person.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the question for the information about the incontinent person'"'"'s situation is at least one of on availability and quality of the caregiving.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the question for the information about the incontinent person'"'"'s situation is on amount of urine discharged by the incontinent person for a time period specified by a user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined disposable incontinence articles include at least two disposable incontinence articles which are selected from the group consisting of a disposable taped diaper, a disposable pull-on diaper, a disposable urine incontinence pad, a disposable flat pad, a disposable fecal collector pouch, and a disposable urine collector pouch.

10. A method for recommending a disposable incontinence article to be used by an incontinent person, comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a product recommendation device comprising a central processing unit, a data storage means, and an output means;

b. Inputting information into the product recommendation device about disposable incontinence articles which are currently used by the incontinent person;

c. Processing the information using the product recommendation device;

d. Providing output in the form of a selection of at least one disposable incontinence article from a database of predetermined disposable incontinence articles based on the information processed by the product recommendation device;

e. Inputting information into the product recommendation device about the quality of life of a caregiver who takes care of an incontinent person, wherein the step of inputting information comprises the step of indicating a question and a plurality of possible answers for selection and inputting one or more answers to the question;

f. Processing a value of the quality of life based on the received information in accordance with a predetermined algorithm using the product recommendation device;

g. Providing output in the form of the value of the quality of life;

h. Providing a predetermined level of the value of the quality of life; and

i. Repeating steps (a)-(d) if the value of the quality of life is less than the predetermined level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises inputting information about a free time the caregiver can have within a day.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises inputting information about a degree of physical burden the caregiver has for taking care of the incontinent person.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises inputting information about a degree of mental burden the caregiver has for taking care of the incontinent person.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the question for step (e) about the free time is on how long the caregiver can be apart from the incontinent person within one day.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the question for step (e) about the free time is on how long the caregiver can sleep continuously without being disturbed by the incontinent person within one day.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the question for step (e) about a degree of physical burden is on a physical fatigue the caregiver has.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the question for step (e) about a degree of mental burden is on an odor generated from the incontinent person, or a lack of confidence about the manner for taking care of the incontinent person.