CZ20004008A3 - An absorbent interlabial article having a substance thereon to help maintain it in position - Google Patents

Abstract

An absorbent interlabial product (20) for use during menstruation, for incontinence protection, and/or both has at least one wearer body contacting surface (20A) on which is a substance that contacts the wearer's body and helps the interlabial product to remain in place in a desired position in the interlabial space. The substance may be adhesive or non-adhesive. In embodiments in which the substance is non-adhesive, it may have no initial tackiness so that it will not drift to the wrong parts of the wearer's body when the product is placed between the labia. Non-adhesive substances include moisture-activated substances that become viscous and tacky upon contact with relatively small amounts of moisture.

Description

An absorbent interlabial article having a substance therefor to assist in maintaining it in position

Technical field

The present invention relates to absorbent articles or devices. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to an improved absorbent article worn by female wearers interlabially (between the labia) in the event of menstruation, for protection in cases of incontinence, or both. The improved absorbent article has a fabric on its body contacting surface to help it stay in place against the wearer's body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The overall style and variety of absorbent articles designed to absorb body fluids such as menses, urine and faeces are well known. With respect to women's protective devices, the technique offers two basic product types: sanitary napkins that have been developed for external wear around the pubic region, while tampons have been developed for internal wear within the vaginal cavity to interrupt menstrual flow therefrom. Such tampon products are described in US Patent No. 4

412,833, entitled " Tampon Spray Product, " granted to Weigner et al., Nov. 1, 1983, and US Patent No. 4

413 986, entitled " Assembling a Swab with a Sterile Insertion Device, granted to Jacobs, November 8, 1983.

Hybrid products have been designed to combine the structural features of sanitary towels and tampons into a single product. Such hybrid products are described in U.S. Patent No. 2,092,346 entitled "Sanitary Napkin, Granted for Arone, September 7, 1937, and U.S. Patent No. 3,905,372," Protective Cover for Women's Hygiene, Granted for Denkinger , September 16, 1975. Other hybrid products introduced in less depth are known as labial or interlabial sanitary napkins and are characterized by having a portion which at least partially resides within the wearer's vestibule and a portion that at least partially resides outside her. Such devices are described in U.S. Patent No. 2,662,527, entitled "Sanitary napkin, granted to Jack, December 15, 1953; and U.S. Patent No. 4,631,062 entitled "Labial Sanitary Napkin, granted to Lassen et al., Dec. 23, 1986.

Interlabial liners have the potential to provide even greater freedom from discomfort due to their small size and reduced risk of leakage. Numerous attempts have been made in the past to produce absorbent articles combining the best features of tampons and sanitary napkins, while avoiding at least some of the disadvantages associated with each type of article. Examples of such products are described in U.S. Patent No. 2,917,049 issued to Delaney on Dec. 15, 1959; U.S. Patent 3,420,235 issued to Harmon on Jan. 7, 1969; U.S. Patent No. 4,595,392 issued to Johnson et al. on June 17, 1986; and U.S. Patent No. 5,484,429, issued to Vukos et al. on Jan. 16, 1996. An interlabial product commercially available is the INSYC MINIFORM interlabial insert, marketed by A-Ferm of Portland, OR, and described in U.S. Patents. Nos. 3,983,873 and 4,175,561, issued to Hirschman on October 5, 1976 and November 27, 1979 respectively.

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However, many of these products have not met with great commercial success. They have drawbacks associated with all the above products. For example, the article described in the Delaney patent does not appear to be capable of being easily and conveniently inserted due to the possibility of opening the layers of absorbent material during insertion. A commercially available IN-SYNC interlabial device suffers from the drawback that it may tend to allow flow around its edges. Such a flow can cause contamination of the body or panties, which many consumers find unacceptable. In addition, previously known interlabial devices, such as the INSYC Miniform interlabial pad, may not reliably cover the vaginal inlet or urethra (vaginal introitus or urethra) during all body movements (eg, when the wearer is squatting). Also, these articles may not be reliably expelled when urinating their wearer. Further, such an interlabial pad may not have sufficient absorbent capacity to be used during the wearer's menstrual period and / or may fall out of the interlabial space upon full filling. In order to cope with the menstrual flow, the wearer must wear the pad in conjunction with the pad.

Thus, there is a need for an improved interlabial article which, when used, will reduce the incidence of soiling of the body and panties. Such a product should easily slide on and be comfortable to wear. There is also a need for an interlabial article that also covers the walls of the wearer's labia during its range of body movements and reliably covers the vaginal inlet and preferably also the urethra during these movements. There is also a need for an improved interlabial product that has a reliable capacity to serve as a self-sustaining protection during the strong daily flows of the wearer's menstrual flows and has no problem of falling out of the interlabial space after its absorption capacity has been filled. There is also a need for an improved absorbent interlabial article that can be used as part of a feminine hygiene protection system or with some feminine hygiene kit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, interlabial articles and incontinence devices. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to an improved absorbent article which can be slipped into the interlabial space of a female wearer for menstruation (menses and effluents during a cycle), or incontinence (urine) or both. The absorbent interlabial article has at least one body contacting surface that includes a fabric that contacts the wearer's body and helps the interlabial article to remain in place in the desired position in the interlabial space. This may be either adhesive or non-adhesive. In embodiments in which the substance is not adhesive, the substance need not have any initial tack, so that it will not adhere to the wrong parts of the wearer ' s body when placed between the labs. Non-adhesive substances contain moisture-activatable substances which become viscous after contact with relatively small amounts of moisture and develop tackiness.

The substance should preferably adhere the interlabial article to the inner surfaces of the labia minora (small labia) or alternatively to the labia majora (large labia) or both to the labia minora and labia majora so that it remains adhered to these surfaces (on both sides of the interlabial space) when the wearer moves such that the labia expand (for example, when the wearer is squatting).

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This allows the interlabial article to remain in place during wear conditions and also ensures that it is contacted by the wearer ' s urine stream during urination and thus removed. The need for such substances becomes more important as the load that the interlabial product is expected to retain (i.e., the weight of absorbed body fluids) increases. The unfilled interlabial article will typically have a weight of less than or equal to about 5 grams. As the weight of absorbed body fluids increases, the force of gravity on the filled interlabial product increases. This leads to the need for increased stability to keep the interlabial product in place, especially when the exudate load is greater than or equal to about 8 grams.

Moisture-activated substances are particularly preferred for use with the interlabial article, since making these interlabial articles easier to slip than self-adhesive or adhesive adhesive coated articles. They are also particularly important for sealing against this part of the human body, since moisture is naturally present. Some particularly preferred moisture-activated substances are polyethylene glycols (PEG), sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose resins, hydroxyethylcelluloses, hydroxypropylcelluloses, hydroxypropylmethylcelluloses, functionalized guaras (such as cationic guar and hydroxypropylguar), carrageenan, glycols (dihydroalcohols, hexylene glycols, propylene glycols) three or more hydroxyl groups such as glycerin, active surfactants such as polyoxylalkylates (polyoxyethylene stearates), ethoxylated alcohols, sugar surfactants (such as glucose, fructose and sucrose), alone or in combination with pectin, guar gum and other resins.

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Polyethylene glycols are particularly preferred for several reasons. Some of the larger molecular weight polyethylene glycols are typically solids capable of dissolving in water. These can be easily applied to the interlabial product. The polyethylene glycols may be deposited on the body contacting surface of the interlabial product using any of the processing steps described in more detail below. Once applied, they typically dry into a non-sticky solid, preferably in powder form. This is preferred because it is desirable that the substance does not form an occlusion layer over the body contacting surface of the interlabial article. Polyethylene glycols, because they are very water-soluble, are also able to lose their tendency to adhere to the labia when the wearer urinates, so that the interlabial product will be expelled by the urine as expected. Their water solubility also ensures that they will not interfere with the ability of flushing interlabial products to flush in the toilet and do not float in the toilet like other products. (The tendency of other products to float leads to an exceptionally unfavorable situation for users to remove these products from the toilet bowl and then discard them). Polyethylene glycols are also biodegradable, unlike most silicone based self-adhesive adhesives.

These materials can also be blended into lotions (softeners) in which the lotion provides lubricity during the insertion process and the moisture-activated substance in the lotion causes the mixture to become sticky upon contact with moist labial tissues. In such a composition, the lotion or emollient may serve as a carrier for particulate material.

The absorbent interlabial article is in one embodiment a small, liner-like assembly that includes a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and a liquid impervious backsheet. And an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The article preferably comprises a preferred bending axis, preferably positioned generally along the longitudinal centerline of the article. When the article is folded about this axis and slid into the interlabial space of the wearer, the topsheet maintains contact with the walls of the wearer's labia. The liquid-permeable topsheet is preferably composed of rayon or needled rayon. The absorbent core is also preferably comprised of rayon, cotton or a blend of rayon and cotton. Preferably, the article comprises biodegradable materials. In particularly preferred embodiments, the backsheet of the interlabial article is dispersible in water. A tab may be attached to the backsheet to facilitate insertion and optional removal of the articles by fingers.

In alternative embodiments, the absorbent interlabial article may employ adhesives. For example, in one embodiment, the absorbent interlabial article has a longitudinal centerline oriented in the same direction as the wearer's vaginal aperture, a longitudinal center region along the longitudinal centerline, and a pair of longitudinal side regions laterally from the longitudinal centerline. In this embodiment, the absorbent interlabial article comprises a self-adhesive adhesive on the body contacting surface on the longitudinal side regions of the interlabial device such that the self-adhesive adhesive does not block or slow, but allows urine to flow into the interlabial article from the wearer's urethra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although this description is completed with claims that specifically explain and clearly claim the subject matter constituting 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

The present invention is believed to be more fully understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Giant. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the absorbent interlabial article of the present invention.

Giant. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent interlabial article shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Giant. 3 is a side view of the absorbent interlabial article shown in FIG. 1.

Giant. 4 shows the absorbent interlabial article shown in FIG. 1, folded along a preferred bending axis and clamped to fit with the wearer's fingers.

Giant. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a female wearer showing the location of the absorbent interlabial article in the wearer's interlabial space.

Giant. 6 is a prior art sanitary napkin that may be used in a method of using a feminine hygiene product system or as part of a feminine protection kit with an absorbent interlabial article of the invention.

Giant. 7 is a typical prior art tampon that can be used in a method of using a feminine hygiene product system or as part of a feminine protection kit with an absorbent interlabial article of the invention.

Giant. 8 is a front view of an individual package for an interlabial article in an unopened state.

Giant. 9 is a front view of an individual package in an open state with the interlabial product folded therein.

Giant. 10 is a plan view of a device suitable for determining flushability according to the method described in the Test Methods section below.

Giant. 11 is a cross-section of the flushing device of FIG. 10, taken along its line 10-10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to absorbent articles or devices. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to an absorbent interlabial article. The absorbent interlabial article has at least one body contacting surface that includes a substance that contacts the wearer's body and helps the interlabial article to remain in place in the desired position in the interlabial space. Giant. 1-3 illustrate one embodiment of the absorbent interlabial article, the interlabial article 20. However, the present invention is not limited to a structure having the particular arrangement shown in these drawings.

As used herein, the term "absorbent interlabial article" refers to an assembly having at least some absorbent components and which is specifically arranged to rest at least partially in the space (gap) between the labia of the female wearer during wear. When the absorbent interlabial article 20 is of an appropriate size for an individual wearer, preferably this lag between the labia of the female wearer wears more than half of the entire absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention; more preferably substantially all of the absorbent interlabial article 20 lies within the interlabial space; and most preferably the entire absorbent interlabial article 20 lies within the interlabial gap.

As used herein, the term "interlabial space, this refers to the space (gap) in the pubic area of female anatomy, which is located between the inner surfaces of the large labia. · 9 · · 9 9 9 · 9 ·· · 99 999 999

99,999 9,999 9 9

9900 99 99 99 9

99 99 999 99 999 (labia majora) extending into the entrance cavity (vestibule) of the wearer. Inside this interlabial space, there are small labia minora, an entrance vestibule and major urogenital components containing the clitoris, urethra opening (urethra) and vagina opening. Standard medical authorities teach that the vestibule refers to the space limited to the sides by the inner surfaces of the small labia and extending inwardly to the base between the clitoris and the vagina opening. Thus, it is understood that the interlabial space as defined above may refer to the space between the inner surfaces of the large labia, including the space between the inner surfaces of the small labia, also known as the (entrance) vestibule. The interlabial space for the purposes of the present disclosure does not substantially extend beyond the vagina opening into the vaginal interior.

As used herein, the term labia refers generally to both large labia and small labia. Labia are terminated at the front and back in the front and back connections. In the art, those skilled in the art understand that there is a wide range of variations among women with respect to the relative size and shape of the large and small labia. However, these differences need not be specifically discussed for the purposes of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the absorbent interlabial article within the wearer ' s interlabial space, as defined above, will require placement between the inner surfaces of the large labia, regardless of the exact location of the boundary between the major and minor labs at the particular wearer. For a more detailed description of this part of female anatomy, we recommend Gray Anatomy, Running Press, 1901 Ed. (1974), pages 1 025-1 027.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 shown in FIG.

1, has a longitudinal centerline L that extends along the x-axis. The term " longitudinal as used herein " refers to a line, axis or direction in the plane of the interlabial article 20 that is generally aligned with (e.g., approximately parallel to) the vertical plane that bisectors the standing wearer on the left and right body halves, when the interlabial article 20 is worn. The terms transverse, lateral (or lateral), or "y-direction" used herein are interchangeable and refer to a line, axis, or direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The lateral direction is shown in FIG. 1 as the direction "y. The absorbent interlabial article 20 shown in FIG. 1, also has a transverse direction axis T. The direction z shown in FIG.

2, the direction is parallel to the perpendicular plane described above. The term "upper" refers to the orientation in the "z" direction toward the wearer's head. “The bottom or (down) down is towards the wearer's legs.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 shown in FIG. 13 is one preferred embodiment. The interlabial article 20 has a body facing (or body contacting) side 20A and an opposing bottom side 20B. The interlabial article 20 includes an insert-like main body portion (or central absorbent portion) 22 and optionally a snap and pull tab 52 that is attached to the underside 20B of the main body portion 22, generally providing the interlabial article with a cross-sectional T-section. have any suitable arrangement. Non-limiting examples of shapes for the main body portion 22 in plan view, as in FIG. 1, comprise an oval, elliptical, trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, rhombic, or any combination thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred plan view for the main body portion 22 and the overall absorbent shape.

the interlabial article 20 is generally ovoid or elliptical. The plan view of the main body portion 22 tapers from the transverse centerline T toward its front and rear ends. The main body portion 22 in this embodiment is relatively flat in its side profile, but may taper slightly from the front to the rear, as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 1-2, the absorbent interlabial article preferably comprises a liquid pervious topsheet 42, a liquid impermeable backsheet 38 attached to the topsheet 42, and an absorbent core 44 disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. Preferably, the interlabial article 20 has a size and shape that allows at least a majority of its portion to fit comfortably within the wearer's interlabial space and cover its vaginal opening, and preferably also the wearer's urethra. The interlabial article 20 at least partially blocks, and more preferably completely blocks and retains the flow of menses, urine and other body exudates from the wearer's vaginal opening and urethra.

The size of the interlabial article 20 is important for its comfort and efficiency. The length of the interlabial article 20 is measured along the longitudinal centerline L in the longitudinal (or x) direction. The length L1 of the absorbent interlabial article 20 is greater than about 60 mm and less than about 130 mm, preferably between about 75 and about 105 mm. The width of the absorbent interlabial article 20 is measured along the transverse centerline T in the transverse (or y) direction. The absorbent interlabial article 20 preferably has a width W _x that is between about 25 mm and about 50 mm. The thickness (or caliper) is the dimension in the direction of the product 20. The caliper measurements provided herein were obtained using an AMES gauge with a load (gauge) of 1.7 kPa and a foot with a diameter of 2.44 cm. Those skilled in the art will recognize that if the heel with a diameter of 2.44 cm is not suitable for

00 00 0 0

00 000 00

00,000 «0 00 0

00 00 000 00 000 specific sample size, the foot size may vary, while the load on the dipstick varies to maintain a limiting pressure of 1.7 kPa. The caliper T _x absorbent interlabial device 20 is preferably smaller than the width W and length _x Lj. The caliper T1 of the absorbent interlabial article 20 is preferably less than or equal to about 8 mm, preferably the caliper T1 is less than or equal to about 6 mm, and even more preferably the caliper is less than or equal to about 4 mm.

Assembling the absorbent interlabial article 20 according to the particular size parameters given above results in a product with increased comfort and efficiency, as compared to prior interlabial devices. For example, many women have difficulty locating appropriately within the interlabial space of interlabial pads that are shorter than the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention. While appropriately positioned, such liners have an increased tendency to allow the body exudates to flow around the edges of the liner. In addition, many previous interlabial products have not been provided with a liquid impervious backsheet. These devices could therefore allow contamination of the body and panties as a result of contact with the lower surface of these articles.

The interlabial article 20 is preferably provided with sufficient absorbency to absorb and retain exudates excreted by the body of the wearer. However, the absorbent capacity of the article is dependent, at least in part, on the physical volume of the absorbent interlabial article 20. The article preferably has a capacity of at least about 1 gram of 0.9% saline and may have a capacity of up to about 30 grams using absorbent gels or foams. that expand when wet. Absorption capacities typically range from about 2 to about 12 grams, for saline. Preferably the product capacity is ·

• 4 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 99 99 999 99 99 9

9900 99 99 99 9

9 · 99 999 99 999 greater than or equal to about 6 g, for brine. Those skilled in the art will understand that the capacity for absorbing body exudates such as menses will typically be less than the capacities given above by absorbing saline. The method for measuring the absorption capacity is described in the Test Methods section below. Because the interlabial space can expand, larger volumes can be accommodated in the space between the labia, especially if the fluid is stored as a gel that adapts to body pressures. In addition, if the absorbent interlabial article 20 does not rest entirely within the wearer's interlabial gap, some of the absorbed exudates may be stored outside the wearer's interlabial space.

Referring to FIG. 1-3, the individual components that may be suitable for various embodiments of the interlabial article 20 of the present invention will now be discussed in more detail.

The topsheet 42 comprises a first liquid pervious member. The topsheet 42 should be conformable, soft feeling and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. Further, the topsheet 42 is liquid pervious permitting liquids (e.g., menses and / or urine) to readily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable topsheet 42 may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials such as woven and nonwoven materials, polymeric materials such as apertured formed thermoplastic films, apertured plastic films and hydroformed thermoplastic films, porous foams, reticulated (network-like) foams, reticulated thermoplastic films and thermoplastic. mules. Suitable woven and nonwoven materials may be comprised of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (such as, for example, polymer fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene or rayon fibers), or a combination of natural and artificial fibers.

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One suitable topsheet 42 for use in the present invention is a nonwoven material, such as a TAMPAX tampon overwrap, which is made of starch bonded rayon fibers and is available from Walpole, MA, US. A suitable topsheet may have a basis weight of about 18 g / m ² . This material is particularly suitable for use as the topsheet 42 because it is a biodegradable material.

As used herein, the term biodegradable materials refers to materials having a biodegradability greater than or equal to about 70% (percentage of theoretical carbon dioxide evolution) after 28 days as measured by the Sturm Test, designated as Method 301B by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2 rue Andre Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France. The materials comprising the interlabial article of the present invention preferably have a biodegradability of greater than about 80% and more preferably greater than or equal to about 90%.

Another suitable type of topsheet 42 comprises an apertured formed film. The apertured formed films are permeable to body exudates and, if properly punched, tend to have a reduced tendency to allow liquids to pass back through and rewet the wearer's skin. Thus, the body contact surface of the formed film remains dry, thereby reducing body contamination and creating a more comfortable feel for the wearer. Suitable molded films are described in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,135 entitled "Tapered Capillary Absorbent Structures", issued to Thompson on December 30, 1975; U.S. Patent No. 4,324,246 entitled " Disposable Absorbent Article Having a Spatter-Resistant Topsheet, granted to Mullane et al., Apr. 13, 1982; is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,342,314 entitled " Resilient Plastic Structure Having Fiber-Like Properties Granted

Radel et al., Aug. 3, 1982; U.S. Patent No. 4,463,045 entitled "Macroscopically Expanded, Three-Dimensional Plastic Structure, Having a Glossy Visible Surface and Having a Tactile Impression, Granted to Ahra et al., Jul. 31, 1984; U.S. Patent 4,637,819 entitled Macroscopically Expanded, Three Dimensional Polymeric Structure for Transferring Both Dynamically and Statically Contacted Fluids from One Surface to Another, granted to Quellette et al., Jan. 20, 1987; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,609,518 and 4,629,643, both issued to Curro et al. 2 September 1986 and 16 December 1986 respectively; U.S. Patent No. 5,006,394 entitled " Multilayer Polymer Film " issued to Baird on April 9, 1991; and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 442,935 entitled Liquid Transfer Structures having Surface Energy Gradients filed in the name of Quellette et al. on May 31, 1995 (PCT Publication WO 96/00548, published Jan. 11, 1996). A preferred topsheet of the molded film for the present invention is the molded film described in one or more of the above patents and sold on sanitary napkins as a DRI-WEAVE topsheet by The Procter and Gamble Company of Cincinnati, OH.

In embodiments in which the topsheet is an apertured film, the body facing surface of the topsheet of the formed film is hydrophilic to assist transfer of fluids through the topsheet 42 faster than if the surface was not hydrophilic to the body, thereby reducing the likelihood of body fluids being rather than flowing into the topsheet 42 rather than flowing into it and being absorbed in the absorbent core 44. The body surface of the topsheet 42 may be rendered hydrophilic by treating it with an active surfactant as described in U.S. Patent 4,950,254, issued to U.S. Pat. Osborne, III. In a preferred embodiment, the surfactant is incorporated into the polymeric materials of the topsheet of the formed film.

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The inner surface of the topsheet 42 may be secured in contact relationship with the underlying absorbent layer. This contacting relationship results in faster fluid penetration through the topsheet 42. The topsheet 42 may be maintained in contact with the underlying layer by attaching the topsheet 42 to the underlying layer. However, it is not absolutely necessary to attach the face of the topsheet 42 to the face of the underlying layer. The topsheet 42 may be maintained in contact with the underlying absorbent component by entangling the fibers of the backsheet with the topsheet, fusing the topsheet 42 to the underlying absorbent layer with a number of discrete individual fusions, or by other means known in the art. The topsheet may also be maintained in contact with the backsheet as a result of applying body pressure against the body facing surface of the interlabial article.

It is not necessary for the topsheet 42 to include a layer or material that is separate from or differentiated from the absorbent core 44. The topsheet 42 and the absorbent core 44 may be comprised of a single unit structure in which the body facing surface of the absorbent core 44 will serve as a liquid pervious. the topsheet 42. In such an embodiment, the liquid-permeable, body-facing surface may be hydrophilic or even hydrophobic if the fluids readily penetrate the surface and into the interior of the absorbent core 44. In addition, such a unitary topsheet 42 and absorbent core 44 may be sized. pores, capillary gradient or hydrophilicity gradient, or any combination thereof, to assist in absorbing and retaining fluids within the absorbent core 54.

The absorbent core 44 best seen in FIG. 2, is disposed between the topsheet 42 and the backsheet 38. Absorbent

the core 44 provides means for absorbing exudates such as menses and other body fluids. The absorbent core 44 is preferably compressible, conformable, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. The absorbent core 44 preferably has the same overall shape as the overall absorbent interlabial article 20.

The absorbent core 44 may comprise any suitable material capable of absorbing and / or retaining fluids (eg, menses and / or urine). The absorbent core 44 can be manufactured from a wide variety of liquid absorbent materials commonly used in sanitary articles, such as pulverized wood pulp, which is commonly referred to as airborne pulp. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials include cotton fibers or cotton liners, crepe cellulose wadding, fused meltblown polymers including coform, chemically stiffened, treated or crosslinked cellulose fibers, synthetic fibers such as crimped polyester fibers, peat moss, tissue containing tissue paper webs and its laminates, absorbent foams, absorbent sponges; superabsorbent polymers (in fibrous and particulate form), absorbent gelling materials, or any equivalent material or combination of these materials or mixtures thereof. Preferred absorbent materials include folded tissue (tissue paper), cotton webs, woven materials, nonwoven webs, rayon, including needled rayon, and thin layers of foam. The absorbent core 44 may comprise a single material or combination of materials.

The preferred material for the absorbent core 44 is a rayon rayon or a rayon / cotton blend. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the absorbent core 44 is a web that comprises a blend of 50%: 50% bleached, bleached cotton fibers, and blended rayon fibers. For materials incorporating the absorbent core 44, it was found to work well. 4 44 44 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 44 44 444 4 4 44 4 4444 44 4 44

44 44 444 4 · 4 a three-lobed filament yarn, known as GALAXY filament yarn, available from Courtaulds Fibers, Inc. of Axis, Alabama.

In other embodiments, the absorbent core 44 may consist of multiple independent layers of the same or different materials (such as layers of absorbent materials with different absorbent properties) that are readily separable so that the different layers may be separated for degradation.

The backsheet 38, which is best shown in FIG. 2 and 3, prevent the absorbed and absorbed core 44 contained exudates from wetting products and / or body parts that may contact the absorbent interlabial article 20, such as panties, pajamas, undergarments, hair, wearer's thighs, etc. Backsheet 38 it should be impervious to liquids (e.g., menses and / or urine) and flexible. As used herein, the term flexible refers to materials that are compliant and easily conform to the overall shape and contours of the human body. The backsheet 38 also provides protection for the wearer ' s fingers when the absorbent article 20 is slipped on or optionally removed by the fingers.

The backsheet 38 may include a woven or nonwoven material, polymeric films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, composite materials such as a film-coated nonwoven material, or an organic material such as a collagen layer. Other suitable materials include biodegradable polymers which can be processed into films and the like. Suitable biodegradable polymers include BIONELLE 3001, available from Showa Hugh Polymer Co. of Tokyo, Japan, and Matter Bi ZF03U-A, available from Bicorp Co., a distributor for Novamont S.P.A., Rome, Italy, and a biodegradable Biopol polymer from Monsanto. In one embodiment, the backsheet may be made of polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 mm to about 0.051 mm. An exemplary polyethylene film is manufactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the designation P18-04O1. Preferably, however, the backsheet comprises a film having a similar thickness, but is made of the biodegradable BIONELLE polymer described above.

The backsheet may also allow vapor to escape from the absorbent article 20 (i.e., is breathable), while still preventing the exudates from passing through the backsheet. A suitable breathable backsheet is an apertured film laminate, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,135 to Thompson, which is inverted so that the smaller apertures of the tapered capillaries face the absorbent core 44 that is adhesively laminated to the microporous film such as described in Exxon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,073.

In preferred embodiments, the backsheet 38 is dispersible and / or water soluble. Polyvinyl alcohol (containing polyvinyl alcohol copolymers) has been found to be a suitable material for the soluble backsheet 38. The polyvinyl alcohol may be applied to a tissue, a nonwoven material such as a biodegradable nonwoven material (e.g., rayon), or coated with a wax such as paraffin or other hydrophobic layer to reduce the rate at which it dissolves in water. This allows the backsheet 38 to maintain its integrity during use, while maintaining its ability to dissolve in water while disposing of the interlabial article 20.

The term dispersible, as used herein for an absorbent interlabial article or components thereof, refers to a article or material that disintegrates into at least two pieces in gently mixed water. This product will disintegrate into pieces in a traditional toilet and / or domestic pipe system and will eventually

efficiently processed by the waste treatment system. The term soluble as used herein refers to an absorbent interlabial article or component thereof that at least partially dissolves and substantially assumes a liquid form or is otherwise indistinguishable to the naked eye from the liquid composition in which it is dissolved.

The components of the absorbent interlabial article 20 described above (topsheet 42, backsheet 38, and absorbent core 44) may be assembled in any suitable manner. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1-3, the components of the main body portion 22 are assembled in a sandwich configuration, with components of such dimensions that the edges of the topsheet 42 and backsheet 38 extend beyond the edges of the absorbent core 44.

The components of the interlabial article 20 may be joined together in any suitable manner. The term "connected" as used herein includes arrangements in which a portion is directly attached to the other portion by its attachment directly to the second portion; and those arrangements by which a part is connected to the second part indirectly by attaching the first part to the intermediate part (s), which in turn is reconnected to the second part; and arrangements in which one part is integral with the other part, i.e. one part is substantially part of the other part.

The topsheet 42 and backsheet 38 are preferably at least circumferentially joined using known techniques. As shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the topsheet 42 is preferably attached to the backsheet 38 along the seam 60. The seam 60 is preferably liquid impervious. The seam 60 may be formed by any means commonly used in the art for this purpose, such as gluing, crimping, or heat sealing. The seam 60 and the area of the interlabial article 20 near the seam 60 should be soft, compressible and adaptable. If the seam 60 and the surrounding area are too stiff or incompressible, the wearer may experience discomfort when wearing the interlabial article 20.

In addition to the peripheral seam, the components of the absorbent interlabial article 20 may be joined together in their faces. The cheeks of the components of the interlabial article 20 may be bonded together by adhesives, stitching, thermal and / or pressure bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds, ultrasonic bonds, blending or entanglement of fibers or other structural elements including components of the absorbent interlabial article 20, such as blowing fused fibers containing one component to yet another component, by extruding one component to another, or by any other means known in the art. The components of the interlabial article 20 may be joined with water-soluble adhesives to increase the tendency of the article 20 to disperse into a plurality of fragments in gently mixed water (such as a toilet). Therefore, it is desirable that the material joining the components lose their strength when exposed to excess water, such as when placed in a toilet. Water-soluble or water-dispersible adhesives such as those based on carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohols, starches and the like are well known in the art.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 is preferably provided with an optional slip-on and / or removable tab 52 attached to the backsheet 38. The tab 52 may be of any suitable size to provide convenient finger grip during insertion and, optionally, removal of the device 20. In a preferred embodiment shown FIG. 1-3, the tab 52 is about 20 mm long and about 13 mm high (i.e., measured after attachment in the z direction). The tab 52 is preferably attached to a surface of the backsheet 38 that is pivoted away from the topsheet 42. The tab 52 provides a gripping location for the wearer of the article prior to deployment.

The interlabial absorbent article 20 is designed to be expelled upon urination. However, the tab 52 may provide an alternative mechanism for removing the article (i.e., finger removal). The tab 52 may be made of a variety of materials and may not be absorbent. In one example, the tab 52 may be formed of a nonwoven material that is thermally bonded to the tissue layer. A suitable nonwoven material is known as COROLIND and is available from Corovin, GmbH, Peine, Germany. A suitable airlaid material is available from Merfin Hygienic Products, Ltd. of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and has a basis weight of about 61 g / m ² and a quality designation number of 176.

The interlabial absorbent article 20 of the present invention is preferably removable by the toilet. The term removable by the toilet as used herein means that the interlabial article can be disposed of in the toilet. Preferably, the interlabial article is at least flushable. In particularly preferred embodiments, the article may be provided with one of the following characteristics: dispersibility, settability, disintegration, and biodegradability.

As used herein, the terms flushable and flushable refer to the ability of a product to pass through typical, commercially available home toilets and pipe drainage systems, without causing clogging or other problems that may be directly associated with the physical structure of the product. However, it is recognized that there may be many differences between the different disposable toilets available. Thus, for the purposes of the appended claims, a test for determining the flushability of a menstrual article, such as an absorbent interlabial article, is provided in a portion of the test methods below.

The interlabial absorbent article 20 of the present invention is preferably dispersible and disintegrates into at least two pieces into an absorbent article

two hours when exposed to relatively gentle stirring of water at room temperature, as described in the water dispersion test, in the Test Methods section below. More preferably, the flushable interlabial absorbent article 20 disintegrates into a plurality of fragments within about 60 minutes, or more preferably within about 30 minutes, and most preferably within about 15 minutes, as measured by the water dispersion assay. Preferably, the article will disintegrate into fractions that are individually less than about 38.7 cm ² , more preferably less than about 25.8 cm ² , most preferably less than about 12.9 cm ² . In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, each of the components of the interlabial absorbent article 20 disintegrates into a plurality of pieces when immersed in gently stirred water. Alternatively, the components of the interlabial absorbent article 20 may separate from one another without disintegrating into a plurality of pieces (for example, the topsheet 42, the backsheet 38, and the core 44 may separate from each other while each remains intact).

Applicability refers to the tendency of an absorbent interlabial article, such as an absorbent interlabial article 20, to settle eventually at the bottom of a septic tank or other waste treatment system rather than float on the surface of such tanks or treated wastes.

Disintegration and biodegradability can be measured in accordance with the 28 day digestion test, which is included in the test methods section of this disclosure. The absorbent interlabial article 20 preferably comprises biodegradable materials. Although biodegradable materials are preferred for the absorbent interlabial article 20, it is not necessary that each and all materials used be biodegradable. For example, the article 20 may contain superabsorbent particles that are not biodegradable and this will not affect the ability of the overall article 20 to remain flushable in the toilet and efficiently treated in the wastewater treatment system. On an overall basis, the interlabial product is about 70% biodegradable, preferably at least about 80% biodegradable, more preferably at least about 90% biodegradable, and most preferably at least about 95% biodegradable.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention in its fully assembled configuration includes at least one preferred bending axis A. The preferred bending axis A is preferably generally positioned along the longitudinal centerline L of the article 20. The preferred axis along which the absorbent will tend to bend, the absorbent interlabial bending is a line or axis, the interlabial article 20 when subjected to inward transverse compression forces F on the sides 32 of the article 20. The axis of the preferred bending A may naturally result from the configuration of the article or the article 20 may be a weakened axis or region. any or all of the topsheet 42, backsheet 38, and core 44 to form the preferred bending axis A. This weakened axis may be formed by any of a variety of known techniques such as grooving, pre-folding. tions, longitudinal cutting and the like. The absorbent interlabial article 20 may comprise a preferred bending region formed by a plurality of preferred bending axes. An infinite number of these axes can create this preferred bending region.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 is folded along the preferred bending axis A as shown in FIG. 4, before sliding into the interlabial space. Once inserted, the article 20 will preferably tend to degrade slightly, keeping the topsheet 42 of the article 20 in contact with the inner walls of the wearer's labia. The article 20 may be resiliently slightly slanted along the axis of the preferred bending A to increase the tendency of the device 20 to degrade. This allows the composite article 20 to act as a spring in both wet and dry conditions and, consequently, increases the tendency of the topsheet 42 of the article to remain in contact with the internal surfaces of the labia when the absorbent interlabial article 20 is in place. The device 20 constructed according to this preferred embodiment, however, does not necessarily require any additional structural features to ensure the ability to maintain such contact.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 described herein is preferably both flexible and compressible. Flexibility and compressibility are important to create comfort. If the absorbent interlabial article 20 is too flexible, it will not comfortably or easily be positioned between the labia folds, if it is too stiff, the article will be uncomfortable, and when the wearer is in the sitting position, the article may be pushed forward against the clitoris, causing discomfort.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention is believed to offer several advantages over prior interlabial pads. Products assembled with the above-mentioned size ranges and preferred shapes have been found to be particularly suitable for deploying a variety of wearers.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 as shown in FIG. 1-3 (i.e., the one in which the article is tapered at the ends) allows the article to fit easily and comfortably in the interlabial space of the wearer. An article 20 having such a tapered shape when folded along the preferred bending axis A (as in Figure 4) will have a profile at which the highest point along the bending axis A (as measured in the z direction) is near the center of the article 20 rather than at the endings. The composite configuration of the article 20 when it has the appropriate size as · 99

9 9 9 9 9

9 99 99 • 9 9 9 9 9

9 9 9 9 9

9 9 99 999 99 is described above, allowing permanent coverage of the labial walls and vaginal inlet. This coverage substantially reduces the incidence of bypass around the article 20 by menstrual or other body exudates that exhibit previous interlabial pads.

In addition, the absorbent interlabial article 20 described above has been found to be particularly effective in trapping lumps that may be formed from menstrual exudates. It is believed that this property is enhanced by the overall flat topsheet 42 of the article 20, which in use is folded about the preferred bending axis A. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the topsheet 42 comprises a low basis weight nonwoven material such as the nonwoven material described above. artificial silk. The absorbent core 44, as discussed above, preferably comprises a blend of 50% rayon: 50% cotton. The improved performance in receiving menstrual exudates, and lumps in particular, is demonstrated by the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention as described above when the topsheet 42 and absorbent core 44 comprise rayon. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the interlabial product works as follows. It is believed that the low basis weight topsheet provides fluid apertures to pass directly into the absorbent core, while lumps adhere better to the rayon fabric material than many other types of topsheet materials.

The liquid impermeable backsheet 38 of the absorbent interlabial article 20 is also responsible for improved product performance. As described above, the backsheet 38 reduces the likelihood of contamination of the body or clothing from the exudates absorbed by the article 20. Additionally, when the article 20 is folded about the preferred bending axis A, the backsheet 38 will be " 0 " > 0 0 4 «0 0 0 to form a recess 62 that protects the wearer's breasts from soiling when the article 20 is slid in.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 (with or without a backsheet) may also be worn in conjunction with an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin or panty liner. In such a case (particularly when the interlabial article is provided with a backsheet), the absorbent interlabial article 20 will keep the sanitary napkin or panty liner cleaner, allowing the wearer to wear the sanitary napkin or panty liner longer than usual. In cases where the interlabial article 20 does not have a backsheet, the sanitary napkin or panty liner may perform the function of the backsheet.

Previous interlabial inserts did not provide the properties of the article 20 of the present invention and are therefore unable to achieve the performance and comfort results described herein. Several of the preceding inserts consisted of a small, generally cylindrically shaped, absorbent material which is slid into the interlabial space. These products were not provided with a liquid impermeable backsheet. Consequently, they are characterized by having less clean fit and removal and may be associated with increased soiling of the panties and body as compared to the present invention 20.

Other prior inserts actually contained an impermeable backsheet, but these inserts were much larger than the article 20 of the present invention and contained substantial portions that rested outside the interlabial space. Such embodiments can often lead to increased body contamination as the exuded body fluids move to the outer surfaces of the inserts. In addition, it is believed that the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention offers the convenience of convenience (eg, reduced wearing awareness), as compared to the above larger prior art inserts. These and other interlabial products were not • «I • 9 99 9 * 9 99 • 999 9999 99

99,999,999

99,999,999,999 9,999,999,999 9

99 99 999 99 999 were not flexible enough and at the same time did not cover both labia when the wearer moved in certain ways (eg, when he sat down in a squat) and, therefore, these devices did not adapt to and stretch with the labia. This resulted in less efficient collection of body exudates. Still other interlabial devices were folded and held in a folded configuration. This would prevent these products from opening and closing to conform to the labia as the wearer moved.

During the development of the present invention, it has been found that the absorbent interlabial article 20 conforms better to the labial gap than previously available interlabial pads. In addition, the overall flat and composite configuration of the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention is found to provide better visual guidance for wearers on how to slide and use the article. Thus, the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention is associated with easier and more accurate fit, as compared to prior interlabial pads.

As previously discussed, the interlabial absorbent article 20 of the invention is designed to be maintained within the interlabial space of the wearer. As shown in FIG.

4, to use the interlabial absorbent article 20 of the present invention, the wearer grips the tab 52 of the article 20. If the article 20 is not provided with the tab 52, the wearer may hold the folded article 20 on the sides 32 and count the slide. As shown in FIG. 4, the article 20 is then further pushed by finger or fingers in the recess 62 formed by the composite backsheet 38. The recess 62 covers the toes of the wearer during the insertion. This feature ensures hygienic insertion of the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention. The wearer may assume a squatting position during deployment and assist in expanding the labial surfaces.

Giant. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention inserted into the interlabial space of the wearer W. The Urogenital component shown in FIG. 5 include bladder B, vagina V, urethra U, clitoris C, large intestine I, rectum AN, vaginal inlet VI, annular ring H, labia minora N and labia majora J. FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship of these anatomical features of the wearer W to the absorbent interlabial article 20 when appropriately slid for use. Once the absorbent interlabial article 20 is slid, the topsheet 42 tends to adhere to the inner surfaces of the labia. When the wearer is standing, the walls of the labia close more closely around the folded absorbent interlabial article 20.

Other embodiments of the interlabial article 20 are also possible. Non-limiting examples of other suitable interlabial article configurations are disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,762,644, entitled Toilet Removable Absorbent Interlabial Product, issued to Osborn et al. on June 9, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The interlabial article described in this patent may comprise a central absorbent portion and a pair of flexible extensions attached to the central absorbent portion. These flexible elongations preferably extend downwardly and laterally from the top of the main absorbent portion and are preferably capable of maintaining contact with the inner surfaces of the wearer's major labia.

The interlabial article 20 is preferably at least partially retained in place by exerting a slightly lateral, outwardly directed pressure on the inner surfaces of the wearer's small labia, the large labia or both. In addition, the article may also be held in place by attracting the naturally wet surfaces of these labs to the material comprising the topsheet 42. Optionally, it may have an absorbent

4 4 4 · · · ·

4 4 4 44 4 44 • 44 444 4 4 44 4

The interlabial article 20, or any part thereof, such as at least one body contacting the surface of the interlabial article, thereon a substance to assist the article in staying in the desired position in the interlabial space. The substance should preferably adhere the interlabial article 20 to the inner surfaces of the small labia of the wearer, or alternatively to the inner surfaces of the large labia of the wearer, or to both the labia minora and labia majora, so that it remains adhered to these surfaces (on both sides of the interlabial space) ), without the aid of the wearer's panties, or the like, when the wearer moves in such a way that the labia expand (e.g., when the wearer is sitting in a squat with his legs apart in the shoulder width). This will allow the interlabial article 20 to remain in place during wear conditions and ensure that it is contacted by the urine stream when the wearer urinates, so that it is readily removed or removed from position by wiping, for example, with toilet paper.

The unladen absorbent interlabial article 20 will weigh less than or about 5 grams. The need for a substance to assist the interlabial article in staying in place becomes more important as the load (i.e., the weight of absorbed body fluids) expected to contain the interlabial article 20 is expected to increase. As the weight of absorbed body fluids increases, the force of gravity on the loaded interlabial product increases. This leads to the need for increased stability to keep the article 20 in place, especially when the exudate load is greater than or equal to about 8 grams (e.g., 8, 10, 12, or 15 grams). Thus, for example, when the unloaded absorbent interlabial article 20 weighs 2 grams and is expected to retain 10 grams of body exudates, the interlabial article 20 must remain in place at a force (or pressure) of 12 grams. Also, in some, 0, 0, and 0, and in some. In cases where the interlabial article 20 becomes filled, having an arrangement with flexible elongations, one of these elongations may be separated from adjacent labia, while the other flexible elongation remains adhered. to the adjacent labia. This leads to an increased risk of contamination of the wearer's undergarments and / or outerwear at larger doses, due to the possibility that body exudates could move around the side of the interlabial product that is no longer in contact with the wearer's labia.

The substance used to keep the interlabial article 20 in place should be strong enough to hold it in place, especially against the naturally wet surfaces of the interlabial portion of the wearer's body. It should also be a material that allows the absorbent interlabial article 20 to be capable of removal without pain or injury to the wearer. The article holding substance maintains it in place under the desired load as described above, but allows the interlabial article to be expelled from the interlabial space into the toilet when the wearer urinates. However, this substance need not be adhered to withstand fluid pressures from the urethra greater than or equal to about 100 cm of water column height. That is, it only needs to withstand the pressure that is between the weight of the article when filled up to a pressure of less than about 100 cm water column (170 cm water column pressure is an approximate downward pressure when a typical female adult wearer urinates).

The substance for holding the interlabial article 20 in place preferably has certain additional characteristics. It should allow the article 20 to be easily placed in an appropriate position without discomfort and to be worn without irritation. It should also preferably be biodegradable to be suitable for being disposed of in the toilet. The presence of this substance should also not interfere with flushability! of this product if

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99 99 9 9 9 99 9 the interlabial product has a flush design. Preferred fabrics for keeping the interlabial product in place are those that provide resistance to shear forces (such as those acting when the wearer's walking), but can be conveniently removed using peeling forces.

The fabric for holding the interlabial article 20 in place may include materials typically referred to as adhesives as well as materials not generally considered to be adhesives (i.e., non-sticky substances). Suitable adhesives include self-adhesive adhesives and non-self-adhesive adhesives. Suitable pressure-sensitive adhesives include silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesives such as polysiloxane, treated polysiloxanes, and hydrocolloid-based adhesives.

The interlabial article is preferably provided with a non-adhesive substance on its body contacting surface to keep the interlabial article in place. The non-adhesive may be of the type that has tack (or tack, adhesion) or does not. Suitable non-adhesives include waxes (such as microcrystalline waxes, paraffins, silicone waxes, polyethylene waxes), fatty alcohols, high molecular weight alcohols, fatty acids, petrolatum, sealing lubricants, nonionic active surfactants such as ethoxylated alcohols, long chain ethoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated fatty acids, alkoxylated amides, alkoxylated amines, alkylaminoalkylamines, alkyl substituted amino acids, moisture activated substances, and combinations thereof. Yet another non-adhesive is the OLEAN fat substitute, manufactured by the Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, based on U.S. Patent 5,085,884, issued February 4, 1992, U.S. Patent 4,422,131, issued June 6, 1995, both to Young et al. al .; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,131, issued to Elsen et al. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that these materials can hold the article in place due to high viscosity or surface tension.

Moisture-activated substances are substances that have little or no initial tack (i.e., will be dry to contact with moisture), but when contacted with moisture (preferably relatively small amounts of moisture), they become viscous and develop tackiness. Preferred moisture-activated materials for use in the present invention lose when flooded with excess urine. Moisture activated preferred for use with most of its tackiness, moisture, such as when the wearer materials are particularly an interlabial article 20, because they can make its deployment easier than self-adhesive or adhesive adhesive coated articles because the article does not adhere to the body when slung and that the wearer expands his labia and risks contaminating his hands when placing the interlabial article, which may be necessary when adhesives are used. In addition, moisture-activated materials will not tend to adhere to the wrong parts of the wearer's body when the article is placed between the labia, and become poorly oriented as the adhesives will be. They are particularly useful for retaining the interlabial device against this part of the wearer ' s body since moisture is naturally present therein. In other words, they are capable of hydrating in vivo (naturally).

Some particularly preferred moisture-activated materials are polyethylene glycols (PEG), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (preferably US grade US Pharmacopia), alcohols, glycols (dihydroalcohols) such as propylene glycols, hexylene glycols, polyols containing three or more hydroxyl groups such as glycerin and sugar alcohols and other molecules capable of hydrogen bonding by contact with water in the interlabial region, active surfactants such as polyoxylalkylates (polyoxyethylene stearates), ethoxylated alcohols, sugar surfactants and sugars (such as glucose, fructose and sucrose), or combinations or mixtures thereof. The foregoing materials can be used alone or in combination with each other, such as in combination with polyethylene glycols, or in combination with pectin, guar gum, locust bean gum, hydroxypropylguar gum, polyglucomannan gum, cationic guar gum, cationic guar gum, anionic guar gum, alginate, xanthan gum, or combinations or mixtures thereof, and combinations or mixtures thereof with polyhydric alcohols.

Polyethylene glycols (HO- (CH ₂ CH ₂ - 0) _n - Η), abbreviated as PEG, are substances such as those found in cough syrups to cover the throat of a person. Polyethylene glycols are available from Union Carbide under the trademark CARBOXWAX, PEG200 to PEG600 (PEG having a molecular weight between 200 and 600) is a fluid at or below 27 ° C. PEG900 to PEG20000 and above are solids at or below 27 ° C. All are at least 60% soluble in water at 20 ° C. Preferably, higher molecular weight PEGs in solid form are used. However, lower molecular weight may also be used. The polyethylene glycols may be applied to the body contacting surface of the interlabial product of the processing steps,

Once applied, they typically dry to a non-sticky powder form. Because they are water-soluble, polyethylene glycols are also able to lose their tendency to adhere to the labia when the wearer urinates, so that the interlabial product will be expelled by urination as intended. Their water solubility also ensures that they will not interfere with the ability of flushable interlabial uses as described in any of the traditional details described below, to be flushed and not floated in the toilet, how other products do (the tendency of other products to float diminishes the ability of products to flow down the toilet when flushed and leads to an exceptionally unfavorable situation for users who have to remove these products from the toilet bowl and then discard them). Polyethylene glycols are also biodegradable, unlike most silicone-based self-adhesive adhesives.

One particularly preferred moisture-activated substance is a mixture of 1.75 g of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, US production; 0.25 g polyethylene oxide, NF; and 125 ml of distilled water. If the mixture is applied only to the sides of the article, the mixture will preferably be applied in a total amount of 0.15 g to each interlabial product (wet weight), or in a total amount of 0.30 g to the interlabial product if the mixture is applied to the whole body contacting surface product.

The fabric for maintaining the absorbent interlabial article 20 in place may be combined with other agents before it is applied to the interlabial article. These other substances may serve as part of the fabric to maintain the interlabial article 20 in place, or as a carrier for the fabric to maintain the interlabial article in place. Non-limiting examples of substances that can serve in any of these methods are lotions, emollients, and mineral oil. For example, the substance to maintain the interlabial article in place may be polyethylene glycol, which is mixed in a lotion composition that provides lubricity in the slip-on process and develops tackiness upon contact with moisture. In another example, a plasticizer that is in particulate form may be used as the carrier for PEG. In yet another example, PEG may be in liquid form and serve as a carrier for other materials. These other materials may include, but are not limited to, spermicides.

The above-described fabrics may be applied to the body contacting surface of the interlabial article in a discontinuous pattern, a continuous pattern, or in a pattern having both continuous and discontinuous portions. Applying these substances in a discontinuous pattern may be useful if it is desirable to minimize the interfering impact of the substance on the uptake of fluids into the interlabial article 20, since fluids may be transferred to the absorbent core between the discontinuous zones of the substance. Applying these substances in a continuous pattern may be useful if it is desired to use the contact that the substance has with the body of the wearer to create a barrier (obstruction) to the flow of exudates on the body contacting the surface of the interlabial article. However, deposition of substances in a continuous pattern need not create an impermeable barrier to prevent menses or urine from being absorbed by the interlabial article 20.

The fabric may be applied by any suitable method, such as by spraying, short bath impregnation, transfer rollers or printing, for example by gravure or screen printing. The fabric may be applied directly to the interlabial article or may be applied to another material or component which is then adhered to the desired portion of the interlabial article.

The substance may be placed on any suitable part of the interlabial article 20. It may be placed on the entire body contacting surface of the interlabial article 20 or on a portion thereof. For example, the fabric may be placed on all or part of the body-contacting surface of the main body portion 22. If the interlabial article is of the type comprising a central absorbent portion and a flexible elongation extending therefrom, the fabric may be placed on the central absorbent portion. or both the central absorbent portion and the flexible elongation. Thus, the substance may be placed on the central region of the interlabial article 20, but not on the peripheral portion of the interlabial article. More preferably, however, the substance may be placed on the peripheral portion of the body contacting surface of the interlabial product, but not in the central region. The placement of this substance in the latter may be advantageous if it is desired to minimize any tendency of the substance to interfere with the acceptance of body fluids into the interlabial article 20. The substance may also be used to form an airtight closure to prevent ecsudate flow towards the ends (and / or sides). ) of this product. The fabric may cover any of the following percentages of surface area of the body contacting surface of the main body portion 22, the central absorbent portion, the flexible elongations, or the entire body contacting surface of the interlabial article (greater than or equal to about): 5%, 10%, 20%, 30 %, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%.

The substance may be applied to the interlabial article 20 in any suitable amount. For this purpose, the amount of substance applied to the interlabial article 20 will be expressed in terms of the weight of the total article containing the article and the weight of the substance. Preferably, the substance constitutes less than or equal to about 20%, preferably less than or equal to about 10%, and most preferably less than or equal to about 5%, of the total weight of the article so as not to contribute excessively to the total weight of the interlabial article. This allows more weight of the total product to be devoted to providing absorption capacity.

There are many possible specific designs of interlabial products with different substances on top of each other to help these interlabial products stay in place • ♦

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 04 4 44 4 44 4 4 4 4 4 44 44 444 in the desired position in the interlabial space. The interlabial article may have one or more substances described herein on top of each other in any of the application patterns described herein.

For example, a portion of the main body 22 of the interlabial article having the arrangement shown in FIG. 1-3, or flexible elongation of the interlabial article described in the patent incorporated herein, may be provided with a biocompatible adhesive to assist in the adhesion of that portion of the interlabial article within the surfaces of the wearer's labia. The strength of such an adhesive should be selected to help maintain the interlabial article 20 in place while still allowing the article to be removed reliably and conveniently from the wearer's interlabial space. Examples of suitable adhesives include hydrocolloids or hydrogel adhesives currently available on the market, and acrylic resin-based adhesives.

In other embodiments, any combination of the materials described herein, or a combination of deposition patterns, or both may be used. One non-limiting example would be to apply a combination of an adhesive and a non-adhesive to the interlabial product. For example, in the case of an interlabial article having the arrangement described in U.S. Patent No. 5,762,644 to Osborn et al., Polyethylene glycol may be provided to the body contacting surface of the central absorbent portion and the self-adhesive adhesive may be provided on flexible extensions. When adhesives are used, they are preferably applied to portions of the interlabial article that do not block or slow the flow of urine from the urethra into the interlabial article 20.

In another example, the interlabial article 20 may be provided with one or more agents described herein (such as an adhesive) around the periphery of the body contacting surface of the interlabial article to assist in maintaining the article in place adjacent to the wearer's labia. The fabric may be applied in a continuous or intermittent pattern, or in a pattern that is partially continuous and partially intermittent. A swelling absorbent material may be placed within the area defined by the substance. If a complete seal is desired at the wearer's body, the swelling absorbent may be used to eliminate any gaps or voids that may occur adjacent the wearer's body that may result from misalignment of the interlabial article relative to the wearer's wear and formation of the self-sealing product. Some non-limiting examples of swellable absorbent materials include, but are not limited to, superabsorbent material, hydrogel-forming materials, absorbent foam materials, treated cellulose-based crosslinked fibers, and compressed absorbent materials such as those used in tampons.

Numerous other embodiments and properties of the substances for keeping the interlabial product in place are also possible. For example, the substances described herein preferably have wet vapor transmission rates sufficient to maintain the natural state of hydration of the labial tissue. Suitable wet steam transfer sizes are not less than about 300 gm / hr, with a relative humidity difference of 10 to 100%. In addition, any of the materials described herein may be used in conjunction with, or combined with, emollients such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,609,587, entitled Diaper, having a lotion topsheet comprising a liquid polyolester plasticizer and an immobilizing agent. March 1997 for Roe; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,588, entitled Plena, having a lotion topsheet, issued July 1, 1997 to Roe et al.

In addition to the various embodiments of the fabrics for maintaining the interlabial article 20 in place as described herein, the interlabial article may be provided with other optional features. For example, it has been found that the interlabial product of the present invention provides a substantial perceptible benefit to the user in controlling odors associated with body exudates. Additional odor control agents may be added to further reduce odors. Such odor control agents include, but are not limited to, activated charcoal, zeolites, silica, polyacrylic acids (superabsorbents), certain quaternary compounds, triethyl citrate, cyclodextrin, or any combination thereof. Particularly preferred are the cyclodextrin compounds disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,429,628 to Trihn et al. And U.S. Patent 5,780,020 to Petersen et al. In addition, deodorants may be added to further mask these odors.

In addition, the active ingredients may be added over the counter of the marketed vaginal drugs for one or more of the following purposes: cleansing, providing a soothing and refreshing effect, deodorant, relieving minor irritations, reducing pathogenic microorganisms, changing pH to promote normal vaginal flora contraction effect, reduction of surface tension, creation of mucolytic or proteolytic effect. These over-the-counter drugs include: calcium propionate, dioctylsodium sulfosuccinate, nonoxynol 9, octoxynol 9, potassium sorbate, povidone-lodine (PVP-Lodin), sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium propionate.

In these and other embodiments, the interlabial article 20, or any component thereof, may be made of extensible and / or elastically extensible materials to assist the ability of the interlabial article to remain in place when exerted on the article while wearing force. These materials are believed to be particularly useful for any packaging or topsheet on the interlabial product, and for any 9

flexible elongation, or both. It is also within the scope of this disclosure for these extensible and / or resiliently extensible materials that they can be used as components of the absorbent articles described herein with or without any of the materials described herein to help these absorbent articles remain in place against the body of the wearer. That is, the disclosure also describes a new interlabial product made of at least some of the components that are elongate and / or elastically extensible.

However, it is particularly desirable to form the interlabial article or any portion thereof from a stretchable and / or resiliently expandable material when substances are applied to the interlabial article to help the interlabial article remain in the interlabial space. For example, if the interlabial article has parts that are adhered to the labia, preference is given to some extensibility for increased comfort and reduced irritability. In particular, it is desirable not to restrict the movement of the wearer's labia when the wearer's body is moving. Suitable extensible materials that could be used for the components of the interlabial article are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,790, entitled Extensible Absorbent Articles, issued to Osborn et al. on 18 March 1997.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 may be worn as a " self-contained article. In addition, superior functioning in reducing body and clothing contamination for extended periods of wear (such as overnight) can be obtained by using an absorbent interlabial article 20 as part of a feminine hygiene product system. One such system that is effective in reducing soiling is an absorbent interlabial article such as an absorbent interlabial article 20 that is worn concurrently with a sanitary napkin such as a sanitary napkin 70 (shown in Figure 6).

• 0

000 00 00 00

00 0 0 0 0 0

000 0 0 00 0

00 000 00

Such an interlabial article system in conjunction with a sanitary napkin is more effective than both the sanitary napkin and the interlabial sanitary napkin worn alone. The absorbent interlabial article used in the systems of the present invention can, and preferably has, all of the preferred attributes of the absorbent interlabial article 20 described above. The sanitary napkin 70 of this system may be any suitable, traditional sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin 70 preferably comprises at least a liquid pervious topsheet 72, a liquid impermeable backsheet 74 attached to the topsheet, and an absorbent core 76 disposed between the topsheet 72 and the backsheet 74. Additionally, the sanitary napkin 70 preferably includes a self-adhesive adhesive 80 disposed on the sanitary napkin. The adhesive 80 allows the sanitary napkin 70 to adhere to the crotch portion of the wearer's undergarments. When the undergarment is worn in its usual crotch position, the sanitary napkin 70 will rest adjacent the pubic region of the wearer's body. The sanitary napkin 70 may also be provided with additional adjustments commonly found in sanitary napkins comprising ailerons or flaps, such as aileron 7 8. A suitable sanitary napkin for use in the above-described system is the ALWAYS sanitary napkin, Ultrathin Maxi, with the ailerons being manufactured. and packaged by the Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, according to one or more of US Patents: B1 4,589,876; 4,687,487; 4,950,264; 5,009,653; 5,267,992;

354 400; 5,389,094; 5,489,283; 5,620,430; No. 5,704,930 and Case 32,649. Other sanitary napkins, such as those without wings 78 and non-ultrathin type, are also acceptable.

To use the absorbent interlabial article and sanitary napkin as a feminine hygiene product system, the wearer slips the absorbent interlabial article into its interlabial space and places the sanitary napkin in the crotch portion

4 Φ ΦΦ ΦΦ Φ 4 4

ΦΦΦΦ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

ΦΦ Φ Φ Φ ΦΦ

ΦΦ ΦΦΦ Φ Φ Φ • ΦΦΦ ΦΦ φ ΦΦ

Součástky ΦΦ φ · ΦΦΦ ΦΦ Φ underwear. These two steps may be performed in either order. Some women will prefer to place the sanitary napkin first in the crotch of the panty to catch and absorb drops of menstrual fluid that can be released before the interlabial article can be inserted. Other women choose to put on an absorbent interlabial article first. After the absorbent interlabial article is slid and the sanitary napkin is placed in the crotch of the undergarment, the undergarment is stretched upward to its conventional wear position. Consequently, the sanitary napkin will rest adjacent the pubic region of the wearer ' s body and will be worn simultaneously with the absorbent interlabial article.

Preferably, the absorbent interlabial article used with the above-described system is changed each time the wearer urinates. The composite sanitary napkin can be worn for a longer period of time (longer than changing the absorbent interlabial article) since the volume of body fluids will be deposited on and absorbed by the interlabial article as opposed to the sanitary napkin. In particular, if the absorbent interlabial article 20 is provided with a pull tab 52, some women will prefer to remove the absorbent interlabial article 20 over urination and then reinsert it if it is not filled to its full capacity. In addition, if a woman chooses not to get rid of the interlabial product by flushing in the toilet, the tab 52 provides a hygienic way for the woman to remove and dispose of the product.

The sanitary napkin and absorbent interlabial article of the above-described system may be packaged together as a feminine hygiene kit. This kit facilitates the use of the system of the invention. The package associated with such a kit will preferably include instructions on how to use the absorbent interlabial article and sanitary napkin according to the method described above as a system of feminine hygiene products.

An alternative suitable feminine hygiene article system includes the absorbent interlabial article 20 of the present invention used concomitantly with an absorbent tampon, such as the tampon 86 shown in FIG. 7. The absorbent tampon of this feminine hygiene product system may be any suitable, traditional menstrual tampon comprising any tampon sold under the trademark TAMPAX and sold by the Procter & Gamble Company of Cininnati, OH. The tampon used may be of the applicator type or of the thermometer type, and any attachment device known in the art may be used. The swab is first inserted into the vaginal cavity of the wearer. Upon insertion of the tampon, an absorbent interlabial article is inserted into the wearer's interlabial space. The interlabial article and the tampon are worn simultaneously for a period of time. The absorbent interlabial article may be removed and changed each time the wearer urinates, or may be removed and then re-inserted after urination.

Similarly, the absorbent tampon and absorbent interlabial article 20 of the system may be packaged in a single package as a feminine hygiene kit. This kit facilitates the use of an alternative system of the invention.

The systems and associated kits of the present invention may also include the simultaneous use of an absorbent interlabial article, a tampon and a sanitary napkin. Kits containing all three types of feminine hygiene products may also be packed in a package and contain appropriate instructions for their use.

In addition to the systems described above, the absorbent interlabial article 20 may be worn simultaneously with a panty liner, or incontinence liner, for menstruation and incontinence.

9 9 99 99 99 99 99

99 9 9 9 9 9 • 999 9 9 9 99 9

46 Absorbent interlabial the product 20 described above can be combined and packed with pantie insert, liner for incontinence, or sanitary napkin, to create sets for

female incontinence. Preferably, the kit comprises a suitable packaging material instructing the wearer to use feminine hygiene products for light incontinence protection. The absorbent interlabial article 20 may be worn in traditional panties or may be used with menstrual panties.

Numerous alternative embodiments of the absorbent interlabial article of the present invention are possible. For example, these articles are made to be removed by urination, although an alternative pulling thread or loop may be used. These products can also be used with plasticizers and / or medical treatments. For example, a suitable emollient for use on the absorbent interlabial device 20 of the invention is composed of about 50% petrolatum (such as White Protopet 1S, manufactured by Witco Corp.), about 35% cetearyl alcohol (a mixed linear primary alcohol _Cie-Ci8 manufactured by The Procter and Gamble Company under the designation TA1618), and about 15% of ceteareth-10 manufactured by BASF. A plasticizer surface layer of about 0.03 grams / liner has been found to be suitable.

The absorbent interlabial article 20 of the invention may be provided with a visual marking at the center of the topsheet 42 indicating the area of greatest absorbent capacity of the article 20. The label may consist of a differently colored area, such as a pink oval. The marking may be about 12 mm wide and about 20 mm long. The absorbent interlabial article 20 may also be provided with a visual indication for replacement. In other words, the article 20 may have on the surface of the topsheet 42 at a predetermined distance inward from the seam 60 some ring, connection pattern, compression line, or other visual indicator. When the absorbed body exudates have reached or are outside the visual indication of the replacement, the user will know to replace the absorbent interlabial article 20. This replacement indication is particularly useful for users who remove the article 20 before urinating and then put it back on, whether this has already reached its absorption capacity.

If desired, the absorbent interlabial article 20 may be packaged individually, such as the package 50 shown in FIG. 8 and 9. An individual package 50 may be comprised of a number of suitable materials comprising foils and toilet flushing materials. In FIG. 8 and 9, the package 50 is made of a foil that is frangibly sealed at the edges. The package 50 is provided with an opening tab 56, which may have any suitable configuration. Suitable methods of frangible package closure are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,146 to Swanson and U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,166 to Minton et al. Suitable loops for such packages are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,413,568 issued to Roach et al.

It is to be understood that the materials and other features and components described herein may also be applied to other types of absorbent articles, including but not limited to diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, incontinence devices and panty liners.

METHODS OF TESTING

Absorption capacity

The absorption capacity can be determined as follows. The test is performed on samples that have been conditioned by leaving them in a room with a relative humidity of 50%

and at about 23 ° C for two hours prior to the test, the test should be performed under similar conditions.

The product concerned is weighed to the nearest 0.1 grams. The product is then immersed in a beaker with sterile 0.9% saline (available from Baxter Travenol Company of Deerfield, IL) such that the product is completely submerged and is not bent or otherwise twisted or folded. The product is immersed in solution for 10 minutes. Then, the article is removed from the saline solution and placed horizontally on a wire mesh with mesh apertures having 0.64 cm x 0.64 cm square holes for five minutes to allow the saline solution to drip. Then, both sides of the article are covered with absorbent absorbent papers such as, for example, filter paper # 631, available from Filtration Science Corp. of Eaton-Dikeman Division of Mount Holly Springs, PA. A uniform load of 6.9 Pa is placed over the product to push out excess fluid. The absorbent papers are replaced every 30 seconds until the amount of fluid transferred to the absorbent drinkers is less than 0.5 grams within a 30 second interval.

The product is then weighed to the nearest 0.1 grams and the dry weight of the product is deducted. The difference in grams is the absorption capacity of the product.

Dispersibility in water

Equipment

Stirrer: Junior Orbit Shaker available from Lab Line Instruments of Melrose Park, Illinois.

with a scale from -1.1 to 48.8 ° C, divided into individual stages.

Thermometer ··

• 1 • 4 • 4

Timing device: digital stopwatch.

Container with lid: glass container 0.568 1 with lid.

Conditioned room: temperature and humidity controlled so that they remain within the following limits:

temperature: 23 ° C + 2 ° C, humidity: relative humidity 50 + 2%.

Test preparation

1) Fill a glass container with 300 ml of tap water at 23 ° C + 2 ° C.

2) Set the shaker speed to 250 rpm according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Test performance

1) Hold the sample (eg absorbent interlabial product 20)

7.6 to 10.2 cm above the water surface in the vessel. Gently lower the sample onto the water surface.

2) Place the lid on the container.

3) Place the container in the Junior Orbit Shaker with the container on its side.

4) Start the stirrer with the on / off switch and at the same time switch on the timer.

5) Record the time taken to divide the sample into at least two pieces. The separation is not the separation of several individual fibers from an otherwise intact sample. This time is the total time the sample is mixed.

6) Repeat steps 1 through 5 for the other 3 samples.

• 9

9 9 9 9 • 9 99 9 9

9 9 9 9 9

9

99 99

Calculation and reporting of results

Calculate and report the mean and standard deviation of the time for dispersion in water for the four samples tested.

Flushability test

Overview

As noted above, the terms flushable 'refers to the ability of a product to pass through typical, commercially available toilet and pipeline drainage systems, without causing clogging or other problems that may be directly related to the physical characteristics of the product. For the purposes of the appended claims, the products are evaluated in terms of their flushability through relatively easy draining of the toilet and their release from the siphon and subsequent transmission in a simulated piping system. The flushability of such a product should be measured by the following test procedure.

The test procedure is designed to mimic a two-day, normal use of a family toilet of 4 persons (2 men and 2 women). The test uses flushing sequences and simulates the following conditions: use by male urinators, use by female urinators (including subsequent drying after urinating with toilet paper), discarding the product (ie, interlabial product or other test product) with toilet paper cleaning and use stool. The amount of toilet paper to use for each flush is a normal dose of 2 strips of seven sheets. The normal dose is based on a consumer survey of typical habits and practices. The test is designed to

9 to simulate the conditions the product will encounter if flushed with a traditional toilet and into a city sewer or some septic tank. The samples are evaluated for: 1) toilet discharge and siphon release, 2) drainage blockage drainage, and 3) disintegration during flushing.

· 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

9

99 99

Equipment

In FIG. 10 is a plan view of a suitable flush test device. This equipment includes:

- a water-saving, siphon swirl toilet with 13.2 liters of water), labeled 210 (additional toilets may be added to the piping arrangement shown in Figure 10 to evaluate the performance of test samples using different flushing mechanisms such as commercial, pressure toilets), approximately 18 meters of acrylic pipes with an inner diameter of 10 cm (as can be seen from Figure 10), this pipe is assembled in a roughly square configuration, having linear strokes 211, 213, 215, 217, 219 and 221, approximately meters long, cast iron fittings T 223 slightly downstream of the toilet 210, which is open to the atmosphere for ventilation, five cast-iron 90 ° elbows 212, 214, 216, 218 and 220, a projection (obstruction) 222, located perpendicular (Fig. 11) approximately about 4.6 meters from a pipe end and approximately 2.5 cm long, and a sieve (Tyler sieve # 4) to capture solid effluents, to evaluate sample disintegration.

The equipment used for this method is set to be equivalent to ANSI standard A112.19.2M-199O for glass porcelain fittings. The pipe is installed to provide a drop of 2 centimeters per meter of pipe length.

Materials

Toilet paper used in the test: CHARMIN ^r , manufactured by the company

The Procter and Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Synthetic faecal material: prepared according to the method described below.

Test flush sequence

The flush sequence test simulates a two-day normal use of a toilet for a family of 4 persons (2 men and 2 women, based on research into consumer habits and practices). The sequence of 34 complete flushes consists of 14 flushes with an empty bowl, 8 flushes with toilet paper only, 6 flushes with paper and the test product, and 6 flushes with toilet paper and simulated fecal material (SFM). When used, SFM is placed in the bowl just before adding the toilet paper. The SFM batch of 160 grams + 5 grams consists of two pieces of 2.5 centimeters by 10 centimeters and one piece of 2.5 centimeters by 5 centimeters. The folded toilet paper strips (or menstrual product) are placed in a bowl at 10 second intervals. Ten seconds after the last strip of paper or product is placed in the bowl, the toilet is flushed. The flushing sequence is described below as a series of two procedures combined in the following order:

Procedure # 1 (to perform first 6 times for a total of 30 flushes)

1) Flush only with toilet paper. After 2 minutes after the water reaches the simulated obstacle, record the value of the blockade. • Record the blockade value. • 3 · · · * · C · · · «drain pipes, wait 1 minute and go to step 2.

2) Rinse with empty bowl. After the water reaches the projection point (or obstruction), record the drain pipe blockage value in 2 minutes and go to step 3.

3) Rinse with toilet paper and the product. After the water reaches the projection point, record the drain pipe blockage value in 2 minutes, wait 1 minute and go to step 4.

4) Rinse with empty bowl. After the water reaches the projection point, record the drain pipe blockage value in 2 minutes and go to step 5.

5) Rinse with toilet paper and simulated fecal material (SFM). After the water has reached the projection point, record the drain pipe blockage value in 2 minutes, wait 1 minute.

Procedure # 2 (to perform 1 time)

1) Flush only with toilet paper. After 2 minutes after the water reaches the projection point (obstruction), record the drain pipe blockage value, wait 1 minute, and go to step 2.

2) Rinse with empty bowl. After the water reaches the projection point, record the drain pipe blockage value in 2 minutes and go to step 3.

3) Flush only with toilet paper. After the water reaches the projection point, record the drain pipe blockage value in 2 minutes, wait 1 minute and go to step 4.

4) Rinse with empty bowl. After the water reaches the projection point, record the drain pipe blockage in 2 minutes.

φ · φ · «φ

ΦΦ · · φ • φ 9 9 9 9 9 9

C · C · · · «·« ·

The total number of flushes per sequence is 34.

If, after a second flush in the flush sequence, the product remains in the bowl or in the siphon after flushing, the toilet paper and / or test product is immersed in the drainage pipe manually and the flushing sequence will continue. At the end of each test load and prior to the commencement of subsequent testing, the drainage pipe shall be released.

The flushing sequence described above is repeated three times for each product tested.

Data reporting

The degree of blockage of the drainage pipe is determined by measuring the length of water accumulated behind the obstruction. Every 30 centimeters, steps are marked on the drain pipe upstream of the obstruction. Every 30 centimeters of water clogged corresponds to 0.6 centimeters, or 6.25% of the blockage at the obstruction point. Residues of the test product that leak from the drain line are also collected.

The following data shall be recorded for each evaluation:

1) Incidence of product failure (%) to release bowl and siphon in one flush.

2) Incidence of product failure (%) to release bowl and siphon in two flushes.

3) Product occurrence on simulated protrusion.

4) Maximum level (%) of drainage pipe blockage.

5) Cumulative (cumulative) level (%) of drainage pipe blockade over the two days of the simulated test.

• 9

The articles described herein preferably leave the bowl completely at least 70% at a time in two or less flushes, more preferably at least about 80% even more preferably at least a flush, and most preferably at a time of one flush, about 90% at a time in at least about 95% at the time of one flush. The products described herein will preferably have a maximum level of drainage pipe blockage less than or equal to about 80%. The products described herein will preferably have a cumulative drainage blockage level over two days of the simulated test period of less than or equal to about 50%.

Synthetic faecal material preparation

I. Materials Required:

o Synthetic faecal matter Feclone (900 grams);

(available from Siliclone Studio, Valley Forge, PA, as dry concentrate BFPS-7), and tap water at 100 ° C (6,066 grams).

II. Equipment required:

o mixer (available from Hobart Corp., Troy, OH, as Model A200), o pusher (available from Hobart Corp., Troy, OH, as Model 4812), o disposable centrifuge tubes with screw heads (50 ml) (available from VWR Scientific, Chicago, IL, part number 21-008-176), a water bath to control the temperature to 37 ° C.

III. Preparation:

0 A • 0

* tet «0 0 0 0

1. Pour water at 100 ° C into the mixer mixing vessel and add dry Feclone concentrate.

2. Stir at low speed for 1 minute.

3. Stir at medium speed for 2 minutes.

4. After the material is mixed well, transfer it to the punch.

5. Pierce a small hole in the tip of each centrifuge tube with an ice tip.

6. Push the Feclone into the centrifuge tubes.

7. Fit the heads to the centrifuge tubes and store them in the refrigerator.

8. Place the tubes in a water bath at 38 ° C before use.

Twenty-eight day digestion test

Purpose:

Determining the extent to which the absorbent article degrades upon exposure to biologically active, anerobic sludge. Anerobic conditions are typically found in septic tanks of the household, as well as in urban waste treatment facilities in the form of anerobic digesters. Test articles, such as an absorbent article, are associated with anerobic digested sludge to determine the extent and rate of disintegration of the test products over a 28 day period. This decomposition (measured by weight change) is typically measured in this assay on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28. This analysis is conducted according to the International Protocol: Evaluation of Anerobic Disintegration of the Test Product, November 1992, by the National Sanitation Foundation, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

• Ci • 9 * 9

Materials:

Control product

Normal Tampax brand swabs will be used as a positive control product in the anerobic digestion test.

Material preparation

Before adding test and control products to the reaction vessels, these materials will be dried in a hot air oven at 103 ° C + 2 ° C for 2 hours and then weighed to determine the initial weight. Then approximately the same weighing control and test products will be placed in appropriate containers.

Anerobic sludge:

The sludge used in this assessment is an anerobic sludge obtained from an urban wastewater treatment plant or raw sludge obtained as an inflow from a wastewater treatment plant that has been concentrated by settling and decanting (clarifying) the overlapping water. Before use in the evaluation, the following sludge parameters shall be measured, in accordance with standard laboratory operating procedures:

total solids, total volatile solids, pH.

This sludge should meet the following criteria for use in the evaluation:

pH between 6.5 and 8, solids > 15,000 mg / l, solids > 10,000 mg / l.

Measures for sludge activity require that the control (reference) tampon material must lose at least 95% of its initial dry weight after 28 days of sludge exposure.

• ·

Method:

Test and control products are added to a 2-liter wide-necked glass reaction vessel containing 1,500 ml of anerobic digestion sludge or concentrated raw sludge. Three containers are prepared for the test material for the sampling day. Thus, if disintegration is measured on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28, there will be a total of 15 reaction vessels for the test product and 15 vessels for the control product. The vessels are sealed and placed in an incubator maintained at 35 + 2 ° C. On the designated sampling days, three reaction vessels for test and control material will be removed from the incubator. On these designated days, the contents of each container will be sieved through a 1 mm sieve to detect any undissolved material. Any collected material will be rinsed with tap water, the sieves removed and placed in a hot air oven at 103 + 2 ° C for at least 2 hours. This dried material will be weighed to determine the final weight. Visual observations of the physical appearance of the materials as they are removed from the reaction vessels will also be performed and recorded.

Results:

The extent and extent of anerobic degradation of each test and control material is determined from the initial dry weight of the material and the dried weight of the material removed on the sampling days. The percentage of anerobic decomposition is determined using the following equation (the percentage of the anerobic decomposition). weight loss):

(No. dry mass - final dry mass) Decomposition percentage: ---------------------------------- - x 100 (initial dry weight)

For each day of sampling, the average percentage of degradation for the test and control products will be presented. For purposes of the appended claims, the percent degradation values for day 28 of this assay are.

The disclosures of all patents, patent applications (and any patents derived therefrom, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications) and publications mentioned throughout this disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference. However, it is not expressly admitted that any of these documents incorporated herein by reference discloses or describes the present invention.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (21)

PATENT CLAIMS An absorbent article (20), slidable into the interlabial space of a female wearer and having at least one (20A) body contacting surface; The absorbent article is characterized in that it comprises a non-adhesive substance on the body contacting surface, wherein the non-adhesive substance contacts the inner surfaces of the wearer labia minora (labia minora), labia majora (labia majora) or both labia minora and labia majora, and it helps the interlabial article to remain in place in the desired position within the interlabial space of the wearer. 2. An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said fabric has no initial adhesion. 3. An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein the non-adhesive is selected from the group consisting of waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, surfactants, petrolatum, and sealing lubricants. 4. An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein the non-adhesive comprises an indigestible fat. 5. An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein the non-adhesive comprises a moisture activated substance. 6. An absorbent article according to claim 5 wherein the moisture-activated substance is a type that develops adhesion when contacted with moisture up to a certain first amount thereof and loses its adhesion. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · «·« «And when contacted with moisture exceeding this first amount of moisture. 7. An absorbent article according to claim 5 wherein the moisture-activated substance is selected from the group consisting of: sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycols, glycols, polyols, surfactants, ethoxylated alcohols, and sugars. 8. An absorbent article according to claim 5 wherein the moisture-activated substance comprises a mixture of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene oxide and water. 9. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said substance is water-soluble, biodegradable, or both water-soluble and biodegradable. An absorbent article slidable into the interlabial space of a female wearer and having at least one surface contacting body; The absorbent article is characterized in that said body contacting surface has a self-adhesive adhesive thereon which helps the absorbent article to remain in place in the desired position within the wearer's interlabial space, wherein the self-adhesive adhesive allows body exudates to flow into the absorbent article. The absorbent article of claim 10, having a longitudinal central region and a pair of longitudinal side regions laterally from the longitudinal central region, wherein the adhesive is provided on the longitudinal side regions of the absorbent article. The absorbent article of claim 10 or 11, further comprising a non-adhesive to the body contacting surface to assist the absorbent article to remain in place. Absorbent article according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the absorbent article can be removed by urination. An absorbent article, slidable into the interlabial space of a female wearer and having at least one body contacting surface; The absorbent article is characterized in that it comprises dried solid material on at least a portion of the body contacting surface, the dried solid material hydrating in vivo (naturally) and providing tack to adhere to the labial inlet cavity. 15. An absorbent article which can be inserted into the interlabial space of a female wearer; characterized in that it is able to retain at least 8 grams of body fluids while remaining in place in the interlabial space without the aid of panties when the wearer sits in a squat position with legs spaced apart approximately in the width of his shoulders. An absorbent article, slidable into the interlabial space of a female wearer and having at least one body contacting surface; The absorbent article is characterized in that it comprises one or more components that are extensible. 17. The absorbent article of claim 16, further comprising a body contact agent 99 99 ·· · 9 · 9 · 9 · 9 * 9 9 * 9 A surface that contacts the vaginal inlet cavity of the wearer and helps the article to remain in place in the desired position within the wearer's interlabial space. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the time required to disperse said absorbent article into at least two pieces, as measured in a respective water dispersibility test, is less than two hours. An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that it is sufficiently flushable to completely release the toilet bowl, in a respective flush test, for at least 70% of the time in two or less flushes. 20. An absorbent article according to any preceding claim that is at least partially biodegradable. An absorbent article having at least one body contacting surface; characterized in that it comprises at least one body contacting surface comprising a non-adhesive to help the absorbent article remain in position relative to the wearer's body, the non-adhesive comprising at least one of the following: (a) a non-adhesive selected from the group consisting of waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, active surfactants, petrolatum, and sealing lubricants; or (b) indigestible fat; or (c) a moisture activated substance.