Urinary incontinence pads

Abstract

To provide a urinary incontinence pad that is easy to put on and take off and causes minimal discomfort while wearing it. [Solution] A urinary incontinence pad is provided that is attached to the urethral opening. The urinary incontinence pad comprises a main body having a back surface that contacts the vaginal vestibule to close the urethral opening and a front surface opposite to the back surface, and a tab that rises from the front surface. When the urinary incontinence pad is attached to the urethral opening, the tab is folded along the surface and used in a state where it is housed between the vaginal vestibule and the labia minora.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to urinary incontinence pads.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a water-absorbing sheet known as a product for preventing urinary incontinence in women absorbs urine that has leaked from the urethral orifice and protects underwear. Although such a water-absorbing sheet can protect clothes including underwear from urine, it cannot eliminate the feeling of wetness or odor caused by urine, and may cause dissatisfaction among users.

[0003] In contrast, Patent Document 1 discloses a urinary incontinence pad that prevents involuntary urine leakage from the urethral orifice itself. This urinary incontinence pad is attached to the vaginal vestibule surrounding the urethral orifice so as to occlude the urethral orifice,

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The urinary incontinence pad of Patent Document 1 is provided with a loop-shaped handle for the user to grasp when removing the pad from the urethral orifice. This handle protrudes outside the labia minora during the wearing of the urinary incontinence pad. Therefore, during the wearing of the urinary incontinence pad, especially when the body is moved, the user may feel discomfort.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a urinary incontinence pad that is easy to attach and detach and causes less discomfort during wearing. [[ID=зо]]

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] (Item 1) A urinary incontinence pad that is attached to the urethral opening, The main body has a back surface that is in contact with the vaginal vestibule so as to close the urethral opening, and a front surface opposite to the back surface, A tab that rises from the aforementioned surface and Equipped with, The tab is used when the urinary incontinence pad is fitted to the urethral opening, folded along the surface and housed between the vaginal vestibule and the labia minora. Urinary incontinence pads.

[0008] (Section 2) When the urinary incontinence pad is attached to the urethral opening, and the direction in which the user's legs are aligned is defined as the lateral direction, the tab extends in the lateral direction on the surface. The urinary incontinence pad described in item 1.

[0009] (Section 3) A second tab that rises from the aforementioned surface. Furthermore, When the urinary incontinence pad is attached to the urethral opening, and the direction from the user's back to their abdomen is defined as the longitudinal direction, the second tab extends in the longitudinal direction on the surface. Urinary incontinence pads as described in item 2.

[0010] (Section 4) The tab, when folded along the surface, is positioned inside the outer edge of the main body when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface. A urinary incontinence pad as described in any of items 1 to 3.

[0011] (Section 5) The tab is positioned on the surface offset from the center of gravity of the main body. A urinary incontinence pad as described in any of items 1 to 4.

[0012] (Section 6) When the incontinence pad is worn on the urethral orifice, with the ventral side of the user on the upper side and the dorsal side on the lower side, the back surface includes a first region having adhesiveness capable of being attached to the vaginal vestibule, and a second region disposed at the upper end portion of the back surface and having lower adhesiveness than the first region. The tab is disposed offset above the center of gravity of the main body portion on the surface. The incontinence pad according to item 5.

[0013] (Item 7) When the incontinence pad is worn on the urethral orifice, with the ventral side of the user on the upper side and the dorsal side on the lower side, the back surface includes a first region having adhesiveness capable of being attached to the vaginal vestibule, and a second region disposed at the lower end portion of the back surface and having lower adhesiveness than the first region. The tab is disposed offset below the center of gravity of the main body portion on the surface. The incontinence pad according to item 5.

[0014] (Item 8) The tab is disposed so as to overlap the center of gravity of the main body portion on the surface. The incontinence pad according to any one of items 1 to 4

[0015] (Item 9) The main body portion includes a base material and a tab sheet attached to the base material and forming the surface. The tab is integrally formed with the tab sheet. The incontinence pad according to item 1 or 2.

[0016] (Item 10) The bending rigidity of the tab sheet and the tab is greater than the bending rigidity of the base material. The incontinence pad according to item 9.

[0017] (Item 11) The thickness of the tab sheet and the tab is greater than the thickness of the base material. The incontinence pad according to item 9 or 10.

[0018] (Section 12) A second tab that rises from the aforementioned surface. Furthermore, The second tab is positioned with a space between it and the first tab. A urinary incontinence pad as described in item 1 or 2. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to this disclosure, a urinary incontinence pad is provided that is easy to put on and take off and causes little discomfort while being worn. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a urinary incontinence pad according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the external view of the vulva with a urinary incontinence pad attached. [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows a side view of a urinary incontinence pad. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows the urinary incontinence pad viewed from the surface side. [Figure 6] Figure 1 shows the urinary incontinence pad viewed from the reverse side. [Figure 7] A diagram showing a modified urinary incontinence pad viewed from the reverse side. [Figure 8A] A view of a urinary incontinence pad, showing another modified example, from the reverse side. [Figure 8B] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the reverse side. [Figure 9] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the reverse side. [Figure 10A] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface. [Figure 10B] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface. [Figure 10C] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface. [Figure 10D] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface. [Figure 10E] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface. [Figure 11A] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface at a slight angle. [Figure 11B] Figure 11A shows the tab in the folded state. [Figure 12A] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface at a slight angle. [Figure 12B] Figure 12A shows the tab in the folded state. [Figure 13] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the reverse side. [Figure 14A] A side view of a urinary incontinence pad relating to yet another modified example. [Figure 14B] Figure 14A shows the urinary incontinence pad viewed from the front side. [Figure 15A] A side view of a urinary incontinence pad relating to yet another modified example. [Figure 15B] Figure 15A shows the urinary incontinence pad viewed from the front side. [Figure 16A] A side view of a urinary incontinence pad relating to yet another modified example. [Figure 16B] Figure 16A shows the urinary incontinence pad viewed from the front side. [Figure 17] A diagram showing a urinary incontinence pad, another modified example, viewed from the surface. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0021] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated. Furthermore, each drawing is schematic, with parts omitted or exaggerated as appropriate, to facilitate understanding.

[0022] [1. Components of a urinary incontinence pad] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a urinary incontinence pad 1 according to one embodiment. The urinary incontinence pad 1 is a product for preventing urinary incontinence in women and is attached to the urethral opening 91 to close off the urethral opening 91 in order to prevent involuntary leakage of urine from the user's urethral opening 91. The urinary incontinence pad 1 may or may not be absorbent. The urinary incontinence pad 1 traps urine inside the urethral opening 91 and suppresses leakage of urine from the urethral opening 91. As a result, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can protect clothing, including underwear, from urine and reduce the feeling of wetness and odor caused by urine.

[0023] Figure 2 is an external view of the female vulva 90 with the urinary incontinence pad 1 attached, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. As shown in these figures, the urethral opening 91 is located anterior to the vaginal opening 93. Anterior to the urethral opening 91 is the clitoris 96 (including the clitoral body 96A and clitoral glans 96B). Unless otherwise specified, when describing body parts, anterior-posterior and lateral are defined relative to the user. The urethral opening 91 and the vaginal opening 93 are formed in the vaginal vestibule 92. The vaginal vestibule 92 is a generally flat area whose anterior side is surrounded by the clitoris 96 and whose left and right sides are surrounded by the labia minora 95. The left and right sides of the labia minora 95 are further surrounded by the labia majora 94. The urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached to the portion of the vaginal vestibule 92 surrounding the urethral opening 91 and is housed between the vaginal vestibule 92 and the labia minora 95. In Figure 2, the portion of the urinary incontinence pad 1 that is hidden by the labia minora 95 and the urethral opening 91 that is hidden by the urinary incontinence pad 1 are shown by dotted lines.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the urinary incontinence pad 1 comprises a main body 2 and tabs 3 that rise from the surface 2A of the main body 2. In the example in Figure 1, the main body 2 includes a base material 10 and an adhesive layer 20 disposed on the back surface 10B of the base material 10. The back surface 10B of the base material 10 is the surface that faces the urethral opening 91 when the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached to the urethral opening 91. The adhesive layer 20 has adhesive properties that allow it to be attached to the vaginal vestibule 92 and forms the back surface 2B of the main body 2. The back surface 2B of the main body 2 is the surface that contacts the vaginal vestibule 92 so as to close the urethral opening 91. On the other hand, the surface 2A of the main body 2 (the surface opposite to the back surface 2B) is formed by the base material 10 and coincides with the surface 10A of the base material 10 (the surface opposite to the back surface 10B). As a result, when the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached to the urethral opening 91, the main body 2 is attached to the vaginal vestibule 92 via the back surface 2B. It is preferable that the tab 3 is integrally formed with the base material 10, but it may also be formed by attaching a separate tab.

[0025] The base material 10 is formed in a sheet shape, and the adhesive layer 20 is laminated on the back surface 10B of the base material 10. The main body 2 is also in a sheet shape as a whole. Before use of the urinary incontinence pad 1, a release film 4 is attached to the adhesive layer 20. That is, the release film 4 is attached to the back surface 2B of the main body 2. The release film 4 is a film (sheet) that covers the adhesive layer 20 from the outside (opposite side of the base material 10) and protects the adhesive layer 20. When the urinary incontinence pad 1 is used, the release film 4 is peeled off from the adhesive layer 20, and the exposed adhesive layer 20 is attached to the vaginal vestibule 92 surrounding the urethral opening 91. The adhesive layer 20 is made to adhere tightly to the vaginal vestibule 92.

[0026] Tab 3 is a part that the user can pinch with their fingers when attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1, making it easier for the user to attach or detach the urinary incontinence pad 1. Tab 3 is sized to be easily grasped by the user when attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1. When attaching the urinary incontinence pad 1, for example, the user pinches Tab 3 with their fingers, positions the main body 2 relative to the urethral opening 91, and attaches the adhesive layer 20 to the vaginal vestibule 92. More specifically, the user holds the main body 2 by pinching Tab 3 with one hand and removes the release film 4 from the main body 2 with the other hand. Then, while still pinching Tab 3 with one hand, the user spreads the labia minora 95 to the left and right with the other hand, exposing the vaginal vestibule 92 (especially the area around the urethral opening 91) from between the labia minora 95. In this state, the user moves the hand that is pinching Tab 3, aligning the urinary incontinence pad 1 relative to the urethral opening 91 while directing the adhesive layer 20 toward the exposed vaginal vestibule 92. Then, the adhesive layer 20 is pressed against the vaginal vestibule 92 to make contact and the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached and secured. On the other hand, when removing the urinary incontinence pad 1, for example, the user pinches the tab 3 with their fingers and pulls the tab 3 so that the main body 2 peels off along the vaginal vestibule 92, and removes the urinary incontinence pad 1 from the urethral opening 91.

[0027] When attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1, tab 3 is used in an upright position as shown in Figure 1, making it easier for the user to grasp. On the other hand, while the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached, tab 3 is folded along the surface 2A of the main body 2 and housed between the vaginal vestibule 92 and the labia minora 95 (see Figures 2 and 3). While the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached, tab 3 is placed over the surface 2A of the main body 2. Then, when tab 3 is folded along the surface 2A of the main body 2, the entire urinary incontinence pad 1, including tab 3 and the main body 2, becomes compact and is housed comfortably between the vaginal vestibule 92 and the labia minora 95. Therefore, tab 3 does not come into unnatural contact with the external genitalia 90, including the labia minora 95 and labia majora 94, and does not cause unnecessary irritation. As a result, the presence of tab 3 is less likely to cause discomfort to the user while wearing the urinary incontinence pad 1, especially when the user moves their body. Therefore, discomfort during use is reduced, and the user can comfortably use the urinary incontinence pad 1.

[0028] Figure 4 is a side view of the urinary incontinence pad 1 with the tab 3 folded. As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the tab 3 is preferably formed in a thin, flake shape to further reduce discomfort while wearing it. Furthermore, when the tab 3 is folded, the entire urinary incontinence pad 1, including the tab 3 and the main body 2, is preferably configured as a sheet.

[0029] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of further reducing discomfort during wear, it is preferable that the tab 3 can maintain a bent state along the surface 2A of the main body 2 when no external force is applied. In this case, the tab 3 will not strongly press on the labia minora 95 in the direction of spreading them apart (making them stand up) during wear, making discomfort less likely. It is preferable that the tab 3 can maintain a bent state until it makes surface contact with the surface 2A, as shown by the solid line in Figure 4, when no external force is applied, but it is also acceptable for it to be slightly raised from the surface 2A, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 4. On the other hand, the tab 3 can be made to stand upright as shown in Figure 1 by applying an external force such as pinching it with your fingers, and can be angled from 0° to 180° relative to the surface 2A of the main body 2. From the viewpoint of making the tab 3 easier to pinch, it is preferable that the tab 3 can stand upright at a right angle to the surface 2A of the main body 2.

[0030] The urinary incontinence pad 1 is typically individually packaged for hygienic reasons. Figure 4 shows a pouch 5 containing the urinary incontinence pad 1, indicated by a dashed line. From the viewpoint of miniaturizing the pouch 5, it is preferable that the tab 3 is housed in the pouch 5 in a state where it lies down along the surface 2A of the main body 2, as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the tab 3 may be conditioned to remain lying down along the surface 2A of the main body 2 even after being removed from the pouch 5, by maintaining its folded position within the pouch 5. In other words, the property of the tab 3 to maintain a folded state along the surface 2A of the main body 2 even when no external force is applied may be formed within the pouch 5. Alternatively, this property may be formed before the tab 3 is housed in the pouch 5, for example, by pressing it against the surface of the main body 2.

[0031] Figure 5 shows the urinary incontinence pad 1 viewed from the surface 2A side of the main body 2. In this figure, the release film 4 has been removed. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, the tab 3 (more precisely, the boundary line L1 between the tab 3 and the main body 2, which extends along the base of the tab 3 to the main body 2) extends substantially parallel to the surface 2A of the main body 2 in the horizontal direction. Unless otherwise specified, the horizontal direction of the urinary incontinence pad 1 means the direction in which the bases of the user's legs are aligned when the urinary incontinence pad 1 is worn, with the left leg side being the left side and the right leg side being the right side. On the other hand, the vertical direction of the urinary incontinence pad 1 means the direction from the user's back to the abdomen when the urinary incontinence pad 1 is worn, with the user's ventral side (clitoris 96 side) being the upper side and the dorsal side (vaginal opening 93 side) being the lower side. When the tab 3 (boundary line L1) extends horizontally, the two fingers that grasp the tab 3 can be positioned in front of and behind the body. Therefore, the user can more easily attach and detach the urinary incontinence pad 1 by placing their hand below their urethral opening 91 and pinching the tab 3.

[0032] In the example shown in Figure 5, the shape of the base material 10 (and consequently the shapes of the main body 2 and the adhesive layer 20) is approximately triangular, and more specifically, approximately isosceles, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2. In this embodiment, the vertex of the approximately isosceles triangle corresponds to the clitoris 96 side when the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached, and the base of the approximately isosceles triangle corresponds to the vaginal opening 93 side when the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached. The two equal sides of the approximately isosceles triangle correspond to the left and right edges of the main body 2.

[0033] In the example shown in Figure 5, the tab 3 is folded along the surface 2A of the main body 2 and, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2, fits inside the outer edge 2P of the main body 2. In other words, when viewed from the same direction, the tab 3 does not protrude from the main body 2. Therefore, when the tab 3 is folded, the overall shape of the urinary incontinence pad 1, including the tab 3 and the main body 2, does not become unnecessarily uneven, further reducing discomfort while wearing it.

[0034] In Figure 5, the tab 3 in a downward-folded state is shown by a solid line, and the tab 3 in an upward-folded state is shown by a dotted line. Thus, from the viewpoint of reducing discomfort during wear, it is preferable that the tab 3 be folded to at least one side and contained within the outer edge 2P. That is, the tab 3 may be configured so that it does not protrude from the outer edge 2P when folded to one side, but protrudes from the outer edge 2P when folded to the other side. Of course, the tab 3 may also be configured so that it is contained within the outer edge 2P of the main body 2 regardless of which side it is folded to. If the tab 3 is designed to fold to one side, it is preferable that it is contained within the outer edge 2P of the main body 2 at least when folded in the direction in which it is designed to fold.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2, the boundary line L1 between the tab 3 and the main body 2 is positioned offset from the center of gravity G of the main body 2 on the surface 2A of the main body 2. In other words, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2, the boundary line L1 does not coincide with the center of gravity G and does not run over the center of gravity G. As a result, when the tab 3 is pinched and pulled with fingers, the tensile force is not evenly distributed on the main body 2, and peeling begins from the area on the adhesive layer 20 where the tensile force is greater. As a result, the urinary incontinence pad 1 becomes easier to peel off from the vaginal vestibule 92. In this disclosure, the center of gravity G of the main body 2 may be the geometric center of the figure drawn by the outer edge 2P of the main body 2 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A (the position of the arithmetic mean taken for all points belonging to the figure), or it may be the position of the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the center of mass of the main body 2 to the surface 2A. In the example shown in Figure 5, the horizontally extending tab 3 (boundary line L1) is positioned on the surface 2A of the main body 2 offset above the center of gravity G, but it may also be positioned offset below the center of gravity G. When the horizontally extending tab 3 (boundary line L1) is positioned offset above the center of gravity G, the urinary incontinence pad 1 becomes easier to peel off from top to bottom, and when it is positioned offset below, it becomes easier to peel off from bottom to top. From the viewpoint of ease of peeling, when the distance between the boundary line L1 and the center of gravity G is d1 and the length of the main body 2 is d2, it is preferable that d1 / d2 > 0.10, more preferably d1 / d2 > 0.20, and even more preferably d1 / d2 > 0.30. The length d2 of the main body 2 is the maximum length of the main body 2 in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tab 3 (boundary line L1) extends.

[0036] On the other hand, from the viewpoint of ease of application of the urinary incontinence pad 1, the tab 3 (boundary line L1) may overlap with the center of gravity G. This makes it easier to apply the urinary incontinence pad 1 as it stabilizes its position during application. Even if the tab 3 (boundary line L1) does not overlap with the center of gravity G, it is preferable that the tab 3 (boundary line L1) is close to the center of gravity G. When the distance between the boundary line L1 and the center of gravity G is d1 and the length of the main body 2 is d2, it is preferable that d1 / d2 < 0.30, more preferably that d1 / d2 < 0.20, and even more preferably that d1 / d2 < 0.10.

[0037] Figure 6 shows the urinary incontinence pad 1 viewed from the back surface 2B of the main body 2. In this figure, the release film 4 has been removed. As shown in the figure, the back surface 2B of the main body 2 is formed by an adhesive layer 20 and includes a first region A1 and a second region A2. The boundary line between the first region A1 and the second region A2 is indicated by the symbol L2. The first region A1 has adhesive properties that allow it to be attached to the vaginal vestibule 92. The second region A2 is a region with lower adhesive properties than the first region A1. When the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached, the first region A1 is positioned to cover the portion of the vaginal vestibule 92 surrounding the urethral opening 91. That is, as shown in Figure 6, the portion C1 of the main body 2 that should cover the urethral opening 91 is located within the first region A1. The second region A2 is located at the outer edge of the back surface 2B. In the example of Figure 6, the second region A2 is located at the upper end of the back surface 2B. On the other hand, the first region A1 occupies the entire area below the second region A2 within the back surface 2B.

[0038] The first region A1, which is more adhesive than the second region A2, can be firmly attached to the area surrounding the urethral opening 91 in the vaginal vestibule 92. As a result, the urethral opening 91 is firmly closed while the urinary incontinence pad 1 is in place. On the other hand, when removing the urinary incontinence pad 1, it can be easily peeled off the vaginal vestibule 92 by starting to peel it off from the second region A2 located on the outer edge of the back surface 2B. Although more force is required to start peeling, the adhesive force of the second region A2, which is the starting area for peeling, is relatively weak, so it is possible to start peeling without applying much force. In the example in Figure 6, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be easily peeled off from the upper side where the second region A2 is located, towards the lower side. Note that since the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached to the vaginal vestibule 92, which is made of mucous membrane that is sensitive to irritation, if strong force is applied to peel it off from the vaginal vestibule 92, the user may experience pain. However, in this embodiment, since strong force is not required to begin peeling off the urinary incontinence pad 1, stimulation to the vaginal vestibule 92 is reduced, and pain when peeling off the urinary incontinence pad 1 is reduced.

[0039] In Figure 6, the position of tab 3 (boundary line L1), which is located on the surface 2A side of the main body 2, is shown by a dotted line for reference. In the examples of Figures 5 and 6, tab 3 (boundary line L1) is positioned on the surface 2A and back surface 2B of the main body 2, offset above the center of gravity G of the main body 2. That is, tab 3 (boundary line L1) and the second region A2 are positioned on the surface 2A and back surface 2B of the main body 2, offset to the same side with respect to the center of gravity G. Therefore, when the tab 3 is pinched and pulled with the fingers to peel the urinary incontinence pad 1 from the vaginal vestibule 92, the pulling force is more easily transmitted to the second region A2. In other words, the force can be efficiently applied to the second region A2, which is the starting area for peeling. Consequently, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be peeled off more easily from the vaginal vestibule 92, and the pain when peeling off the urinary incontinence pad 1 is also reduced.

[0040] Various methods can be considered to impart stronger adhesion to the first region A1 than to the second region A2, and these methods can be appropriately adopted. Hereinafter, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2, the portion of the adhesive layer 20 that overlaps with the first region A1 will be called the first portion 21, and the portion that overlaps with the second region A2 will be called the second portion 22.

[0041] First, by making the adhesive constituting the first part 21 have higher adhesive strength than the adhesive constituting the second part 22, it is possible to impart stronger adhesiveness to the first region A1 than to the second region A2.

[0042] Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the first region A1 can be given stronger adhesion than the second region A2 by making the patterns of the first portion 21 and the second portion 22 different. Specifically, by making the density of the adhesive layer in the first region A1 greater than the density of the adhesive layer in the second region A2, the first region A1 can be given stronger adhesion than the second region A2. For example, as shown in Figure 6, it is preferable that the first portion 21 be a solid, patternless layer so that it can firmly close the urethral opening 91. In other words, in this example, the adhesive layer is arranged without gaps throughout the entire first region A1. On the other hand, the second portion 22 is formed with a pattern in which parts with and without the adhesive layer 20 are mixed, or a pattern in which parts with a large thickness and parts with a small thickness of the adhesive layer 20 are mixed (for example, a pattern in which the surface of the adhesive layer 20 is wavy in a cross-sectional view). In other words, the adhesive layer is thinned out and arranged within the second region A2. As a result, within the second region A2, the contact area between the adhesive layer 20 and the vaginal vestibule 92 is reduced, which reduces the resistance when peeling off the urinary incontinence pad 1, making it easier to peel off the urinary incontinence pad 1 and, consequently, further reducing the pain when peeling it off.

[0043] As shown in Figure 6, the second portion 22 can be formed into numerous longitudinal stripes. The stripes of the second portion 22 may be linear stripes, as in the example in Figure 6, or they may meander. Furthermore, the stripes of the second portion 22 may extend intermittently, with breaks in places along the longitudinal direction. This allows the urinary incontinence pad 1 to be easily peeled off longitudinally along the stripes of the adhesive layer 20, starting from the second region A2. In the example in Figure 6, since the second portion 22 is positioned at the upper end of the back surface 2B, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be easily peeled off longitudinally from top to bottom.

[0044] The thicknesses of the first part 21 and the second part 22 may be the same, but as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the thickness of the first part 21 can be greater than the thickness of the second part 22. This method also effectively imparts stronger adhesion to the first region A1 than to the second region A2. This is because the pressure applied to the first part 21 is greater compared to the case where the thicknesses of the first part 21 and the second part 22 are equal. In this case, the adhesion of the first part 21 to the vaginal vestibule 92 is increased, and the urethral opening 91 can be closed more firmly.

[0045] When r1 is the ratio of the area of ​​the second region A2 to the total area of ​​the first region A1 and the second region A2, from the viewpoint of ease of peeling, it is preferable that r1 > 0.005, more preferable that r1 > 0.01, and even more preferable that r1 > 0.03. On the other hand, it is preferable that r1 < 0.9, more preferable that r1 < 0.8, and even more preferable that r1 < 0.7.

[0046] The base material 10 is preferably made of a biocompatible material. From the viewpoint of improving the fit to the vaginal vestibule 92 and improving the wearing comfort, the base material 10 is preferably made of flexibility, elasticity, cushioning, and lightness. For example, the base material 10 can be made of synthetic resin, elastomers such as rubber and thermoplastic elastomers, or natural materials such as cotton. Examples of preferred materials that give the base material 10 the above properties include foams such as polyethylene foam, nonwoven fabrics, and synthetic resin base materials formed in sheet form. Examples of synthetic resins include polyethylene resin, polyester resin, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane resin, and silicone resin.

[0047] The adhesive layer 20 is preferably made of a biocompatible material. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of improving the fit to the vaginal vestibule 92 and improving the wearing comfort, the adhesive layer 20 is preferably made of a material that is flexible, elastic, cushioned, and lightweight. The adhesive layer 20 can be made of an adhesive that has such properties.

[0048] Tab 3 is also preferably made of a biocompatible material. Tab 3 may be integrally constructed from the same material as the base material 10, or it may be made of a different material.

[0049] [2. Features] In the above embodiment, the user can easily attach and detach the urinary incontinence pad 1 by operating the tab 3. Furthermore, while the urinary incontinence pad 1 is in place, the tab 3 is folded along the surface 2A of the main body 2 and housed between the vaginal vestibule 92 and the labia minora 95. Therefore, discomfort caused by the presence of the tab 3 is suppressed while the urinary incontinence pad 1 is in place. As a result, the user can use the urinary incontinence pad 1 comfortably.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a second region A2 with lower adhesiveness than the first region A1 is provided on the outer edge of the back surface 2B of the main body 2. As a result, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be easily peeled off the vaginal vestibule 92 by starting to peel it off from the second region A2. This also reduces the pain when peeling off the urinary incontinence pad 1.

[0051] [3. Variant] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications are possible. Furthermore, the gist of the above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined as appropriate within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

[0052] [3-1] The adhesive layer 20 may be omitted. For example, the urethral opening 91 may be closed by simply bringing the back surface 10B of the non-adhesive base material 10 into contact with the vaginal vestibule 92. Alternatively, the adhesive layer 20 may be omitted by making the back surface 10B of the base material 10 adhesive by constructing the base material 10 from a material with adhesive properties on its surface, such as silicone resin or hydrocolloid.

[0053] [3-2] In the above embodiment, the tab 3 (boundary line L1) extended substantially parallel to the horizontal direction on the surface 2A of the main body 2, but it may also extend at an angle to the horizontal direction or substantially parallel to the vertical direction. From the viewpoint of making it easy to pinch and peel off the tab 3, it is preferable that the tab 3 (boundary line L1) is positioned on the surface 2A of the main body 2 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tab 3 (boundary line L1) extends, and offset from the center of gravity G.

[0054] [3-3] In the above embodiment, the second region A2 is located at the upper end of the back surface 2B of the main body 2, but it can also be located in various other places. However, from the viewpoint of making it easier to peel off the urinary incontinence pad 1, the second region A2 is preferably located at the outer edge of the back surface 2B, and can be located at the lower end of the back surface 2B, for example, as shown in Figure 7. In the example in Figure 7, the first region A1 occupies the entire area above the second region A2 within the back surface 2B. In this example, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be easily peeled off from the lower side where the second region A2 is located towards the upper side.

[0055] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 7, tab 3 (boundary line L1) is positioned on the back surface 2B, offset below the center of gravity G. Note that in Figure 7, the position of tab 3 (boundary line L1) on the front surface 2A is shown by a dotted line for reference. In this example as well, since tab 3 (boundary line L1) and the second region A2 are positioned on the front surface 2A and back surface 2B of the main body 2, offset to the same side relative to the center of gravity G, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be removed more easily.

[0056] Alternatively, the second region A2 may be formed along the entire outer edge of the back surface 2B, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B. In the example shown in Figures 8A and 8B, peeling can be easily started from any position along the outer edge of the back surface 2B. That is, the user can freely choose the direction in which to peel, thus improving the operability of the urinary incontinence pad 1. The shape of the first region A1 surrounded by the second region A2 is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, substantially similar in shape to the outer shape of the second region A2, as shown in Figure 8A. In this case, the width of the second region A2 can be substantially constant along the outer edge 2P of the main body 2. Alternatively, the shape of the first region A1 may be, for example, substantially rectangular (see Figure 8B), substantially circular, or substantially elliptical.

[0057] [3-4] In the above embodiment, the second portion 22 is formed in a stripe pattern, but other patterns may be used to form a pattern in which parts with and without the adhesive layer 20 are mixed, or a pattern in which parts with a large thickness and parts with a small thickness of the adhesive layer 20 are mixed. For example, from the viewpoint of weakening the adhesiveness of the second region A2 and making it easier to peel off the urinary incontinence pad 1, the second portion 22 can be, for example, a grid pattern or a dot pattern. Alternatively, the second portion 22 may be a border pattern with many lines extending in the horizontal direction, and the horizontal lines may extend in a straight line, meander, or extend intermittently with breaks in places in the horizontal direction. In this case, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be easily peeled off in the horizontal direction.

[0058] [3-5] As shown in Figure 9, the second portion 22 may be omitted from the adhesive layer 20. That is, within the back surface 2B of the main body 2, the adhesive layer (first portion 21) may exist only in the first region A1, and the second region A2 may not have an adhesive layer, with the second region A2 being formed by the back surface 10B of the base material 10. In this case as well, the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be easily peeled off by starting to peel off the second region A2.

[0059] [3-6] The shape of the main body 2 (base material 10) is not limited to the approximately triangular shape described above, but can be various shapes. For example, the shape of the main body 2 (base material 10) can be approximately elliptical (see Figure 10A), egg-shaped (teardrop-shaped) (see Figure 10B), approximately rectangular (see Figure 10C), approximately trapezoidal (see Figure 10D), peanut-shaped (approximately elliptical with the center of the longitudinal direction indented from both the left and right sides) (see Figure 10E), etc.

[0060] Alternatively or in addition to the above, the shape of tab 3 is not limited to the shape described above, but can be of various shapes. For example, tab 3 can be formed to be vertically elongated as shown in Figures 10A and 10C, rather than horizontally elongated as in the above embodiment.

[0061] Furthermore, in Figures 10A to 10E, the boundary line L2 between the first region A1 and the second region A2, located on the back surface 2B of the main body 2, is shown as a dotted line for reference. As shown in these examples, the position of the second region A2 can also be arranged in various ways.

[0062] Furthermore, the various features relating to the shape and position of the main body 2, tab 3, and the first region A1 and second region A2 exemplified here can be combined in various ways other than those exemplified here.

[0063] [3-7] In the above embodiment, only one tab is provided on the surface 2A of the main body 2, but multiple tabs may be provided. In this case, the user can select the tab they find easiest to use or use multiple tabs, making it easier to attach and detach the urinary incontinence pad 1. For example, as shown in Figures 11A to 12B, a second tab 6 may be provided in addition to the tab 3 described above. The second tab 6 also rises from the surface 2A of the main body 2. Note that in Figures 11A to 12B, for simplicity, only the surface 2A of the main body 2 is shown.

[0064] The second tab 6 (more precisely, the boundary line L3 between the second tab 6 and the main body 2, extending along the base of the second tab 6 to the main body 2) may extend parallel to tab 3 (boundary line L1) in the same direction on the surface 2A of the main body 2, or it may extend in a different direction. In the latter case, the user can select the direction of operation by selecting the tab. For example, as shown in Figures 11A to 12B, if tab 3 (boundary line L1) extends in the horizontal direction, the second tab 6 (boundary line L3) may be configured to extend in the vertical direction. In this case, the second tab 6 (boundary line L3) may extend substantially parallel to the vertical direction, or it may extend at an angle to the vertical direction. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2, tab 3 and the second tab 6 may intersect in a cross shape, as shown in Figures 11A and 11B, or they may form a T shape, as shown in Figures 12A and 12B. In Figures 11A to 12B, tab 3 is divided into left and right halves, with a notch where the second tab 6 is inserted, at a position where it intersects with the second tab 6.

[0065] In Figures 11A and 12A, tabs 3 and 2 and 6 are upright on the surface 2A of the main body 2 so that the user can grasp them when attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1. On the other hand, Figures 11B and 12B show the urinary incontinence pad 1 being worn, and of tabs 3 and 2 and 6, only tab 3, which extends horizontally, is folded along the surface 2A of the main body 2. The second tab 6, which extends vertically, can be positioned between the left and right labia minora 95 even if it remains upright while the urinary incontinence pad 1 is being worn, thereby reducing discomfort during wear. Therefore, the second tab 6, which extends vertically, may be fixed in an upright position and not foldable. Alternatively, the second tab 6, which extends vertically, may be foldable along the surface 2A of the main body 2 so that the user can arbitrarily accommodate it between the vaginal vestibule 92 and the labia minora 95.

[0066] [3-8] As shown in Figure 13, the adhesive layer 20 may be configured to have a constant adhesive strength throughout the entire surface area 2B of the main body 2, and to avoid the existence of multiple areas with different adhesive properties, such as the first area A1 and the second area A2.

[0067] [3-9] As shown in Figures 14A and 14B, the main body 2 may further include a tab sheet 12 attached to the base material 10. The tab sheet 12 is positioned on the surface 10A side of the base material 10 via an adhesive layer 11 made of adhesive, forming the surface 2A of the main body 2. The adhesive layer 11 is laminated on the surface 10A of the base material 10 and is sandwiched between the tab sheet 12 and the base material 10, bonding the base material 10 and the tab sheet 12 together. The material of the tab sheet 12 is the same as the material of the base material 10.

[0068] Tab 3 is integrally formed with tab sheet 12. That is, tab 3 and tab sheet 12 are made up of a single sheet, and tab sheet 12 corresponds to the portion of that single sheet that is adhered to the surface 10A of the base material 10 via the adhesive layer 11. On the other hand, tab 3 corresponds to the portion of that single sheet that is not adhered to the surface 10A of the base material 10 via the adhesive layer 11. Therefore, tab 3 can be peeled up from the surface 10A of the base material 10 along the boundary line L1 between tab 3 and tab sheet 12 (the boundary line between tab 3 and the main body 2), and stands upright on the surface 10A of the base material 10 (the surface 2A of the main body 2). In Figure 14A, tab 3 in the state of standing upright from the surface 10A of the base material 10 is shown by a dotted line (the same applies to Figures 15A and 16A below). After the adhesive layer 20 is attached to the vaginal vestibule 92, the tab 3 returns to a state parallel to the substrate 10, not curled up from the surface 10A of the substrate 10, as shown by the solid line in Figure 14A.

[0069] With the above configuration, the tab 3 is independent of the base material 10. Unlike the embodiment shown in Figure 4, where the tab 3 protrudes from the base material 10 toward the surface 10A, the tab 3 extends from the tab sheet 12 parallel to the surface 10A. Therefore, compared to the case where the tab 3 and the base material 10 are integrally configured, the tab 3 is easier to fold, and discomfort during wear is effectively reduced.

[0070] In the examples shown in Figures 14A and 14B, tab 3 is positioned at the lower end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10 and can be peeled up from the lower end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10. However, tab 3 may also be positioned at the upper end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10, as shown in Figures 15A and 15B, and configured to be peeled up from the upper end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10.

[0071] In the examples shown in Figures 14A to 15B, the outline of tab 3 overlaps with the outer edge 2P of the main body 2. That is, the single sheet constituting the tab sheet 12 and tab 3 may have substantially the same shape as the base material 10 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2.

[0072] Furthermore, in the examples shown in Figures 14A to 15B, the boundary line L1 between tab 3 and tab sheet 12 extends substantially parallel to the horizontal direction on the surface 2A of the main body 2. However, the boundary line L1 may extend at an angle to the horizontal direction, or it may extend substantially parallel to the vertical direction.

[0073] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 16A and 16B, the main body 2 may further include a second tab 7 that rises from the surface 2A of the main body 2. The second tab 7, like tab 3, is a part that the user can pinch with their fingers when attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1, and facilitates the user's operation of attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1. The second tab 7 is also formed to a size that is easy for the user to grasp when attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1. In addition, the second tab 7 is used in an upright position as shown by the dotted line in Figure 16A so that it is easy for the user to grasp when attaching or detaching the urinary incontinence pad 1. On the other hand, while the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached, the second tab 7, like tab 3, is folded along the surface 10A of the base material 10 (surface 2A of the main body 2) and is housed between the vaginal vestibule 92 and the labia minora 95. The second tab 7 is superimposed on the surface 10A of the base material 10 (surface 2A of the main body 2) while the urinary incontinence pad 1 is attached. Therefore, the presence of the second tab 7 helps to suppress any discomfort the user may experience. From the viewpoint of further reducing discomfort during wear, it is preferable that the second tab 7, like the tab 3, can maintain a bent state that lies along the surface 10A of the base material 10 (the surface 2A of the main body 2) when no external force is applied.

[0074] The second tab 7 is positioned with a gap between it and tab 3. In this case, tab 3 and the second tab 7 can be grasped simultaneously. For example, tab 3 and the second tab 7 can be grasped simultaneously so that the index finger touches tab 3 and the thumb touches the second tab 7. If only one tab is grasped, the posture when attaching the urinary incontinence pad 1 tends to become unstable, but by grasping tab 3 and the second tab 7 simultaneously with the same finger, the posture when attaching the urinary incontinence pad 1 becomes more stable, and the attachment operation becomes easier. It is preferable that the second tab 7 extends substantially in the same direction and parallel to tab 3.

[0075] The second tab 7 can be integrally constructed with tab 3 and tab sheet 12. That is, tab 3, the second tab 7, and tab sheet 12 are composed of a single sheet, and the second tab 7, like tab 3, corresponds to the portion of this single sheet that is not adhered to the surface 10A of the base material 10 via the adhesive layer 11. Therefore, the second tab 7 can be peeled up from the surface 10A of the base material 10 along the boundary line L4 between the second tab 7 and tab sheet 12 (the boundary line between the second tab 7 and the main body 2 that extends along the base of the second tab 7 to the main body 2), and stand upright on the surface 10A of the base material 10 (the surface 2A of the main body 2) (see Figure 16A). After the adhesive layer 20 is attached to the vaginal vestibule 92, the second tab 7 also returns to a state parallel to the base material 10, not peeled up from the surface 10A of the base material 10, as shown by the solid line in Figure 16A.

[0076] With the above configuration, the second tab 7 is also independent of the base material 10. Therefore, compared to the case where the second tab 7 and the base material 10 are integrally constructed, the second tab 7 is easier to fold, and discomfort during wear is effectively reduced.

[0077] In the examples shown in Figures 16A and 16B, tab 3 is positioned at the lower end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10, the second tab 7 is positioned at the upper end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10, and the tab sheet 12 is positioned in the vertical center of the surface 10A of the substrate 10. Therefore, tab 3 can be rolled up from the lower end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10, and the second tab 7 can be rolled up from the upper end of the surface 10A of the substrate 10.

[0078] In the examples shown in Figures 16A and 16B, not only the outline of tab 3 but also the outline of the second tab 7 overlaps with the outer edge 2P of the main body 2. That is, the single sheet constituting the tab sheet 12, tab 3, and second tab 7 may have substantially the same shape as the base material 10 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface 2A of the main body 2.

[0079] In the examples of Figures 16A and 16B, boundary lines L1 and L4 extend substantially parallel to each other in the transverse direction on the surface 2A of the main body 2. However, boundary lines L1 and L4 may extend at an angle to the transverse direction, or they may extend substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction, as shown in Figure 17. In the example of Figure 17, tab 3 is located at the right end of the surface 10A of the base material 10, second tab 7 is located at the left end of the surface 10A of the base material 10, and tab sheet 12 is located in the center of the surface 10A of the base material 10 in the left-right direction. Therefore, tab 3 can be rolled up from the right end of the surface 10A of the base material 10, and second tab 7 can be rolled up from the left end of the surface 10A of the base material 10.

[0080] The urinary incontinence pad 1 is superior if it is somewhat flexible, as this makes it easier to adhere to the skin. On the other hand, the tabs 3 (and the second tab 7) should be somewhat rigid so that the posture of the urinary incontinence pad 1 is more stable when attached, making the attachment process easier. From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the bending rigidity of the sheet (hereinafter simply referred to as "sheet") constituting the tab sheet 12 and tabs 3 (and the second tab 7) is greater than the bending rigidity of the base material 10. If the material of the sheet is the same as the material of the base material 10, it is preferable that the thickness of the sheet is greater than the thickness of the base material 10. In this case, the flexibility of the urinary incontinence pad 1 can be appropriately ensured while also appropriately ensuring the rigidity of the tabs 3 (and the second tab 7). The thickness of the sheet is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 2 mm or less. The thickness of the base material 10 is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 1 mm or less. The difference between the thickness of the sheet and the thickness of the base material 10 is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 1.7 mm or less. For example, the sheet thickness can be set to 0.9 mm, and the base material 10 thickness can be set to approximately 0.8 mm. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Urinary incontinence pads 2 Main body 2A surface 2B back side 2P outer edge 3 tabs 4. Release film 5 pouches 6. Second Tab 7. Second Tab 10 Base material 10A surface 10B back side 11 Adhesive layer 12 Tab Sheets 20 Adhesive layer 21 Part 1 22 Part 2 90 Vulva 91 Urethral meatus 92 Vaginal vestibule 93 Vaginal opening 94 Labia majora 95 Labia minora 96 clitoris 96A Clitoral body 96B Clitoral glans A1 1st area A2 2nd area C1 Part of the main body that should cover the urethral opening G center of gravity L1~L4 boundary line

Claims

1. A urinary incontinence pad that is attached to the urethral opening, The main body has a back surface that is in contact with the vaginal vestibule so as to close the urethral opening, and a front surface opposite to the back surface, A tab that rises from the aforementioned surface and Equipped with, The tab is used when the urinary incontinence pad is fitted to the urethral opening, folded along the surface and housed between the vaginal vestibule and the labia minora. Urinary incontinence pads.

2. When the urinary incontinence pad is attached to the urethral opening, and the direction in which the user's legs are aligned is defined as the lateral direction, the tab extends in the lateral direction on the surface. The urinary incontinence pad according to claim 1.

3. A second tab that rises from the aforementioned surface. Furthermore, When the urinary incontinence pad is attached to the urethral opening, and the direction from the user's back to their abdomen is defined as the longitudinal direction, the second tab extends in the longitudinal direction on the surface. The urinary incontinence pad according to claim 2.

4. The tab, when folded along the surface, is positioned inside the outer edge of the main body when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface. A urinary incontinence pad according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The tab is positioned on the surface offset from the center of gravity of the main body. A urinary incontinence pad according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. When the urinary incontinence pad is attached to the urethral opening, with the user's ventral side facing upwards and their dorsal side facing downwards, the back surface includes a first region having adhesive properties that can be attached to the vaginal vestibule, and a second region located at the upper end of the back surface, which has lower adhesive properties than the first region. The tab is positioned on the surface so as to be offset above the center of gravity of the main body. The urinary incontinence pad according to claim 5.

7. When the urinary incontinence pad is attached to the urethral opening, with the user's ventral side facing upwards and their dorsal side facing downwards, the back surface includes a first region having adhesive properties that can be attached to the vaginal vestibule, and a second region located at the lower end of the back surface, which has lower adhesive properties than the first region. The tab is positioned on the surface so as to be offset below the center of gravity of the main body. The urinary incontinence pad according to claim 5.

8. The tab is positioned on the surface such that it coincides with the center of gravity of the main body. A urinary incontinence pad according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The main body includes a base material and a tab sheet attached to the base material and forming the surface, The aforementioned tab is configured integrally with the aforementioned tab sheet. A urinary incontinence pad according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The bending rigidity of the tab sheet and the tab is greater than the bending rigidity of the base material. The urinary incontinence pad according to claim 9.

11. The thickness of the tab sheet and the tab is greater than the thickness of the base material. The urinary incontinence pad according to claim 9.

12. A second tab that rises from the aforementioned surface. Furthermore, The second tab is positioned with a space between it and the first tab. A urinary incontinence pad according to claim 1 or 2.

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