Digital Hygiene Product Sensor Enclosure
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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 limitations, and inadequate resource allocation in healthcare settings, while existing digital solutions are not biocompatible, cost-effective, or user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A personal hygiene product with a digital element that includes a conductive sensor assembly and wireless communication capabilities, integrated into the absorbent core or externally connected, allowing for biometric data collection and transmission to a smart device, providing predictive analytics and alerts for saturation and health monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking applications are used to monitor menstrual cycles, then users can track basic cycle information, but the data is subjective and unreliable for predicting actual absorption needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual tracking systems with automated sensor-based detection. Conductive sensors embedded in the absorbent core automatically detect fluid saturation levels and transmit data wirelessly, eliminating the need for subjective manual entry and providing objective, real-time absorption capacity monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The personal hygiene product performs self-monitoring through integrated sensors that automatically detect saturation levels without user intervention. The product autonomously tracks its own absorption capacity and communicates status to the user's device, eliminating reliance on manual tracking efforts.
2Ease of operation
If personal hygiene products remain simple and disposable, then they are cost-effective and easy to use, but they cannot provide real-time monitoring or data collection capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges digital monitoring components with the disposable personal hygiene product. Sensors, conductive elements, and communication modules are integrated directly into the absorbent core and housing, creating a unified product that maintains ease of use while adding sophisticated monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The personal hygiene product serves multiple functions: it provides absorbency, monitors saturation levels in real-time, wirelessly transmits data, and alerts users. This multi-functionality allows the product to maintain simplicity while delivering advanced monitoring features through integrated digital elements.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing connectors and enclosures are used for digital elements, then manufacturing is straightforward, but the digital element is vulnerable to moisture and physical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, moisture-resistant enclosure that seals the digital elements while conforming to the product's compact structure. This protective housing shields sensors and electronics from bodily fluids and moisture exposure, ensuring reliable operation in the harsh physiological environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure utilizes composite materials that combine moisture resistance, flexibility, and mechanical strength. These composite structures protect the digital elements from both chemical exposure to fluids and physical damage, while maintaining ease of manufacturing through integrated molding processes.
4Quantity of substance
If standard electronic components are used in personal hygiene products, then cost is reduced, but the components are not biocompatible or water-resistant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the parameters of electronic components by selecting materials with specific properties: biocompatibility, moisture resistance, and flexibility. These parameter changes ensure that standard-cost components can function reliably in the physiological environment without requiring expensive specialized materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different components based on their specific requirements. Sensors contactting bodily fluids use biocompatible coatings, while connection points use moisture-resistant sealants. This localized application of specialized properties protects vulnerable areas without requiring all components to be expensive specialized materials.
Data Source
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 and/or capacitive signal indicative of saturation of the personal hygiene product when in wetting contact with menstrual fluid.