Absorbent article with sensor array for body exudate detection

• US 8,933,292 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Abraham, Jose K., Richardson, Kathy Geralyn, Nhan, Davis Dang Hoang, Tower, Theodore T., Krautkramer, Candace Dyan, MacDonald, John Gavin
• Primary Examiner(s): SU, SUSAN SHAN
• Application Number:
  US13/283,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 604/361
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/424 having an electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An absorbent article incorporating a non-contact electronic sensor array that may indicate the presence of a body exudate is disclosed. In particular, the absorbent article includes at least a non-contact electronic sensor array that may include one or more gas sensors, a controller and a signaling device. The signaling device is capable of alerting a user (wearer or caregiver) that an insult of urine or bowel movement has occurred. In accordance with the present disclosure, various attachment mechanisms are disclosed for attaching the non-contact electronic sensor array, controller and signaling device to an absorbent article.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a chassis comprising an outer cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an absorbent structure positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover;

a non-contact electronic sensor array, the non-contact electronic sensor array comprising a plurality of gas sensors, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors gas concentration levels of gases emitted by two or more volatile compounds within the absorbent article, wherein each sensor in the non-contact electronic sensor array identifies a particular gas;

a controller configured to detect changes above a threshold level in the gas concentration levels of the plurality of gas sensors within the non-contact electronic sensor array as the result of an insult within the absorbent article, wherein the insult is a urine insult, a bowel movement insult, or a combination thereof; and

a signaling device that alerts a user of changes in the gas concentration levels detected by the controller via an alert and discriminates between a urine insult and a bowel movement insult, wherein the alert is deactivated at or near the absorbent article or remotely from a smart phone or computer.

2. An absorbent article as defined in claim 1, further comprising a housing unit, wherein the housing unit comprises the non-contact electronic sensor array, the controller and the signaling device.

3. An absorbent article as defined in claim 2, wherein the housing unit is in close proximity to the chassis of the absorbent article, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array detects the presence of gases within or around the absorbent article after an insult of urine, bowel movement, or combinations thereof.

4. An absorbent article as defined in claim 1, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors gas concentration levels of fatty alcohols, small chain fatty acids, and sulfur compounds.

5. An absorbent article as defined in claim 4, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors gas concentration levels associated with ammonia, thiols, and indole.

6. An absorbent article as defined in claim 1, comprising a gas emitting substance, wherein the gas emitting substance emits a gas after an insult within the absorbent article, and wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors gas concentration levels of the gas emitting substance within the absorbent article.

7. An absorbent article as defined in claim 1, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors changes in humidity and temperature within the absorbent article.

8. An absorbent article as defined in claim 1, wherein the alert is selected from an auditory signal, a vibratory signal, a visual signal, or combinations thereof.

9. An absorbent article as defined in claim 8, wherein the signaling device generates an alert that is transmitted wirelessly to a radio at a remote location.

10. An absorbent article as defined in claim 1, wherein the signaling device generates an alert that is transmitted to at least one computer device or smart phone, wherein the computer device or smart phone is adapted to receive data from the signaling device, generate at least one report utilizing at least a portion of the data, and provide a user access to the data and the at least one report.

11. An absorbent article as defined in claim 1, wherein the volatile compounds are acetic acid, ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, skatole, thiols, indole or combinations thereof.

12. An absorbent article comprising:

a chassis comprising an outer cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an absorbent structure positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover;

a gas emitting substance, wherein the gas emitting substance emits a gas after an insult within the absorbent article;

a non-contact electronic sensor array, the non-contact electronic sensor array comprising a plurality of gas sensors, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors gas concentration levels of the gas emitting substance within the absorbent article, wherein each sensor in the non-contact electronic sensor array identifies a particular gas;

a controller configured to detect changes above a threshold level in the gas concentration levels of the plurality of gas sensors within the non-contact electronic sensor array as the result of an insult within the absorbent article, wherein the insult is a urine insult, a bowel movement insult, or a combination thereof; and

a signaling device that alerts a user of changes in the gas concentration levels detected by the controller via an alert and discriminates between a urine insult and a bowel movement insult, wherein the alert is deactivated at or near the absorbent article or remotely from a smart phone or computer.

13. An absorbent article as defined in claim 12, further comprising a housing unit, wherein the housing unit comprises the non-contact electronic sensor array, the controller and the signaling device.

14. An absorbent article as defined in claim 13, wherein the housing unit is in close proximity to the chassis of the absorbent article, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array detects the presence of gases within or around the absorbent article.

15. An absorbent article as defined in claim 12, wherein the signaling device generates an alert selected from the group consisting of an auditory signal, a vibratory signal, a visual signal, and combinations thereof.

16. An absorbent article as defined in claim 15, wherein the signaling device generates an alert that is transmitted wirelessly to a radio at a remote location.

17. An absorbent article as defined in claim 12, wherein the signaling device generates an alert that is transmitted to at least one computer device or smart phone, wherein the computer device or smart phone is adapted to receive data from the signaling device, generate at least one report utilizing at least a portion of the data, and provide a user access to the data and the at least one report.

18. A signaling device comprising:

a non-contact electronic sensor array, the non-contact electronic sensor array comprising a plurality of gas sensors, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors gas concentration levels of gases emitted by volatile compounds, a gas emitting substance, or combinations thereof within an absorbent article, wherein each sensor in the non-contact electronic sensor array identifies a particular gas; and

a controller configured to detect changes above a threshold level in the gas concentration levels of the plurality of gas sensors within the non-contact electronic sensor array as the result of an insult within the absorbent article, wherein the insult is a urine insult, a bowel movement insult, or a combination thereof;

wherein the signaling device alerts a user of changes in the gas concentration levels detected by the non-contact electronic sensor array;

wherein the signaling device is contained in a housing unit, wherein the housing unit is in close proximity to the absorbent article;

wherein the signaling device generates at least one alert selected from an auditory signal, a vibratory signal, a visual signal, or combinations thereof and discriminates between a urine insult and a bowel movement insult;

wherein the signaling device transmits the at least one alert remotely to a radio, a computer device, a smart phone, or combinations thereof, wherein the computer device or smart phone is adapted to receive data from the signaling device, generate at least one report utilizing at least a portion of the data, and provide a user access to the data and the at least one report; and

wherein the at least one alert is deactivated at or near the absorbent article or remotely from a smart phone or computer.