Oval Tampon Assembly Sealing and Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tampon devices either become saturated and fail to absorb further fluids, or have poor fit issues leading to fluid leakage and user discomfort due to inadequate sealing with the vaginal canal walls.

Innovation Solution

A tampon assembly featuring a flexible, oval-shaped impermeable portion with an absorbent pad secured to one side, providing a secure seal with the vaginal walls and facilitating fluid absorption, while being designed for easy insertion and removal, and potentially recyclable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a circular-shaped impervious membrane is used, then fluid blocking capability is improved, but fit-up with vaginal canal walls deteriorates leading to leakage and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid blocking capabilityVSAvoidfit-up with vaginal canal walls
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the shape of the impervious membrane from circular to oval, creating asymmetry in the dimensions. The oval shape has a major axis and minor axis with different lengths, allowing better adaptation to the anatomical shape of the vaginal canal. This asymmetric geometry enables improved fit-up between the membrane edges and the vaginal canal walls, preventing fluid leakage while maintaining the fluid blocking capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Quantity of substance

If absorbent material is used alone, then fluid absorption is improved, but saturation occurs preventing additional absorption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid absorption capacityVSAvoidabsorption duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two distinct functional components: an absorbent material portion and an impervious membrane portion. The absorbent material (such as gauze, cotton, or foam) provides initial fluid absorption capacity, while the impervious membrane (made of materials like plastic, rubber, or latex) provides a barrier that prevents fluid passage once the absorbent material becomes saturated. This combination extends the duration of effective fluid management by providing both absorption and blocking functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a secure seal with vaginal walls is achieved, then fluid leakage is prevented, but insertion complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidinsertion complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible impervious membrane that can dynamically change its configuration. During insertion, the membrane can be folded or compressed to a smaller size for easy introduction into the vaginal canal. Once in place, the membrane expands or unfolds to achieve its full oval shape, creating an effective seal against the vaginal walls. This dynamic transformation simplifies the insertion process while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Effectively prevents fluid leakage, provides comfort, and can be used for birth control, prolapse support, and cervical cell collection, with improved sealing and absorption capabilities compared to prior art.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent portion which is secured to one side face of the impermeable portion so that when the assembly is positioned within a user for use, the absorbent portion is positioned to absorb fluids exiting the cervix

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9357982B2Tampon assembly
Publication Date: 2016.06.07 EDMUNDS KATHLEEN
  • US9357982B2 patent drawing
  • US9357982B2 patent drawing
  • US9357982B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A tampon assembly includes a flexible and relatively thin impermeable portion having two opposite side faces and an outer edge which is oval in shape so that the oval shape of the impermeable portion has a largest dimension as measured through the center of the impermeable portion and a smallest dimension as measured through the center of the impermeable portion, and the largest dimension is at least about 1.5 times the size of the smallest dimension. The assembly further includes an absorbent pad portion which is secured to one side face of the impermeable portion so that when the assembly is positioned within a user, the absorbent pad portion is positioned in a condition for absorbing fluids and the outer edge of the impermeable portion sealingly engages the walls of the vaginal canal.