Method and computer program for monitoring use of an absorbent product

• US 9,931,252 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag (Essity AB)
• Original Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB (Essity AB)
• Inventors: Carney, Joshua, Carln, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, QUANG
• Application Number:
  US14/361,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20140292520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• 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 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A method for monitoring use of an absorbent product, such as an incontinence pad or a diaper, worn by a wearer is provided. The method includes obtaining, by way of a mobile device, intake information indicative of intake of fluid and/or solid material by the wearer, obtaining, by way of the mobile device, voiding information indicative of urinary and/or faecal voiding by the wearer, predicting, based on the intake and voiding information, future voiding by the wearer, and providing, by way of the mobile device, product-related information based on the prediction. In this way, the product-wearer or his caregiver can be provided with valuable information related to the use of the product, for example recommendations on when to change the product.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a use of an absorbent product worn by a wearer, comprising at least the steps of:

obtaining, by manually entering into a mobile device, capacity information related to a capacity of the absorbent product,

obtaining, by manually entering into the mobile device, intake information indicative of intake of fluid and/or solid material by the wearer,

obtaining, by manually entering into the mobile device, voiding information indicative of urinary and/or faecal voiding by the wearer,

predicting, by the mobile device, based on the intake and voiding information, a future voiding by the wearer, wherein the mobile device is configured to determine a first parameter, based on said capacity information, indicative of a maximum volume or weight of said urinary and/or faecal voiding being absorbed by the absorbent product and determine a second parameter, based on said predicted future voiding, indicative of an amount of urinary and/or faecal voiding at a future point in time; and

comparing, by the mobile device, the first parameter and the second parameter to provide product-related information to the wearer via a display of the mobile device,

wherein said product-related information comprises

a recommendation to change the absorbent product before a certain time, and a recommendation to exchange the absorbent product for another absorbent product having higher or lower capacity than the currently worn absorbent product,

wherein the voiding information indicative of urinary and/or faecal voiding by the wearer is entered into the mobile device only manually, and

wherein the absorbent, product is free of a sensor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intake information comprises information relating to one or more intakes of fluid and/or solid material by the wearer, and the voiding information comprises information relating to one or more urinary and/or faecal insults by the wearer.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprises obtaining, by the mobile device, information about the wearer, wherein the information about the wearer comprises information selected from at east one of:

normal intake routines of the wearer;

normal voiding behaviour of the wearer;

age of the wearer;

gender of the wearer;

health of the wearer, and

use of medicines by the wearer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intake information comprises an indication of a point in time for one or more intakes, and the voiding information comprises an indication of a point in time for one or more insults of urine and/or faeces.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intake information comprises an indication of an amount of one or more intakes of fluid and/or solid material.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voiding information comprises an indication of an amount of one or more insults of urine and/or faeces.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intake information comprises an indication of a type of the intake, and/or the voiding information comprises an indication of a type of voiding.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the capacity information comprises information selected from at least, one of:

a type of the absorbent product,

an absorbency level of the absorbent product, and

a size of the absorbent product.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product-related information further comprises a recommendation to change the absorbent product before a future point in time at which a predicted amount of urine and/or faeces exceeds an amount of urine and/or faeces that can be absorbed by the absorbent product.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product-related information comprises a recommendation as to the use of the absorbent product.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said product-related information is further provided by at least one of audible, and vibratory signaling, on the mobile device.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent product is an absorbent personal hygiene article.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the absorbent personal hygiene article is one of a male or female incontinence protector, a sanitary pad, a diaper with tape fastener, a pant diaper and a belted diaper.

14. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing thereon a computer program for monitoring a use of an absorbent product worn by a wearer, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, causes the mobile device to perform the method according to claim 1.

15. A mobile device that monitors a use of an absorbent product worn by a wearer, the mobile device comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing thereon the computer program according to claim 14.