Hygiene Product Digital Sensor for Saturation Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current personal hygiene products lack real-time monitoring and data collection capabilities, leading to inefficiencies and health risks due to oversaturation, manual tracking inaccuracies, and limited resource allocation in healthcare settings, and they fail to provide reliable predictability and reliability in absorption capacity.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a digital element within personal hygiene products that includes a sensor array and wireless communication capabilities, allowing for data collection on absorbent capacity and bodily fluid discharge, which can be transmitted to a smart handheld device for real-time monitoring and alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If manual tracking applications are used to monitor menstrual cycles, then users can obtain predictive data about menstruation timing, but the data reliability is compromised due to subjective and manual entry by users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidmanual entry requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The personal hygiene product autonomously monitors and tracks absorption capacity without requiring user intervention. Sensors embedded in the product automatically detect fluid levels and transmit data to a mobile device, eliminating the need for manual user entry while maintaining continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual tracking methods are replaced with electronic sensors and wireless communication systems. The mechanical act of user entry is substituted with automated detection using capacitive, resistive, or inductive sensors that measure absorption levels and transmit data electronically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If personal hygiene products are designed with high absorbent capacity, then leakage prevention is improved, but the product may become oversaturated during heavy flow days leading to spills

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidabsorption capacity variability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The product transitions from a static absorbent capacity design to a dynamic system with real-time monitoring. Sensors continuously measure absorption levels and provide feedback to the user, allowing the system to adapt to varying flow conditions and prevent oversaturation by alerting users when capacity is approaching limits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The product incorporates feedback mechanisms through wireless communication between embedded sensors and mobile devices. Users receive real-time notifications about absorption capacity and alerts when the product is nearing saturation, enabling them to change products proactively before leakage occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If healthcare staff manually monitor patients wearing personal hygiene products, then patient care can be provided, but staff are at risk of injury from lifting and maneuvering patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient monitoring capabilityVSAvoidstaff injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Manual visual inspection and physical handling of patients are replaced with automated sensor-based monitoring systems. The sensors embedded in hygiene products continuously track absorption capacity and transmit data wirelessly, eliminating the need for staff to physically lift or maneuver patients for routine checks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The hygiene product autonomously monitors its own saturation level and communicates status to healthcare providers. This self-monitoring capability allows staff to receive alerts about patients who need product changes without requiring physical contact or lifting, reducing injury risk while maintaining care quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If personal hygiene products are changed frequently to prevent oversaturation, then leakage is prevented, but resource allocation in healthcare settings becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidhealthcare resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Real-time feedback from embedded sensors allows for precise monitoring of actual absorption capacity utilization. Healthcare providers receive targeted alerts only when specific patients need product changes, enabling resource allocation based on actual need rather than routine schedules, thus improving efficiency while maintaining leakage prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides advance warnings before saturation occurs, allowing proactive product changes at optimal times. This prevents both leakage and unnecessary early changes, optimizing the timing of product replacements to match actual absorption needs and improve healthcare resource efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10117790B2Personal hygiene product with a digital element

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 KENVUE BRANDS LLC

AI summary

A personal hygiene product with a digital element is described. In one embodiment, a conductive sensor assembly is disposed within the personal hygiene product that includes one or more moisture sensors that generate a resistive signal indicative of saturation of the personal hygiene product when in wetting contact with menstrual fluid.