Absorbent Article Segmentation for Exudate Color Visualization

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional absorbent articles mask the color of bodily exudates, making it difficult for healthcare professionals to accurately assess the health status of infants and premature babies.

Innovation Solution

The development of configurable absorbent articles that provide accurate bodily exudate visualization by using a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core, which allows the true color of bodily exudates to be represented even after absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional absorbent articles are designed to mask bodily exudates, then absorbency and comfort are improved, but the ability to monitor health status through color visualization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsorbency performanceVSAvoidbodily exudate color information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent article is divided into distinct functional zones: a first region with high absorbency for comfort and a second region with low absorbency for color visualization. This segmentation allows different parts of the same article to serve different purposes - one for absorption and another for health monitoring through color visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the absorbent article are assigned different absorbency characteristics. The first region has high absorbency properties while the second region has low absorbency properties, creating local quality variations that simultaneously achieve both absorbency performance and color visualization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If absorbent articles are designed with high absorbency materials, then bodily exudate containment is improved, but the true color of exudates becomes harder to detect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsorbent material contentVSAvoidexudate color detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent article is divided into distinct functional zones: a first region with high absorbency for comfort and a second region with low absorbency for color visualization. This segmentation allows different parts of the same article to serve different purposes - one for absorption and another for health monitoring through color visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the absorbent article are assigned different absorbency characteristics. The first region has high absorbency properties while the second region has low absorbency properties, creating local quality variations that simultaneously achieve both absorbency performance and color visualization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables healthcare professionals to accurately monitor the color of bodily exudates, providing valuable insights into the health status of infants and premature babies, thereby improving healthcare monitoring and diagnosis.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid permeable topsheet forming a portion of the wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid impermeable backsheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12263073B2Configurable absorbent articles having improved bodily exudate visualization

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Configurable absorbent articles with improved bodily exudate visualization when viewing a wearer-facing surface are provided. The absorbent articles include a liquid permeable topsheet forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article, a liquid permeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid permeable backsheet. The wearer-facing surface exhibits a Delta C* of greater than about 24 and less than about 50 when the absorbent article is subjected to a Bodily Exudate Visualization Test.