Reusable Menstrual Holder With Segmented Absorbent Pouch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disposable sanitary pads are costly and not viable for women in disadvantaged countries, leading to the use of ineffective and unsafe improvised materials, which disrupts their ability to attend school or work due to hygiene and availability issues.
Innovation Solution
A reusable pad holder with a liquid-permeable inner layer and outer layer forming a pouch, allowing for the insertion and replacement of absorbent materials like cloth or paper, and featuring wings or strings for secure attachment to undergarments, enabling effective and hygienic menstrual absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable sanitary pads are used, then hygiene and comfort are improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sanitary pad is divided into two main segments: a reusable holder (outer layer with wings) and a disposable absorbent insert (inner layer). The holder can be washed and reused multiple times, while only the absorbent inner layer needs to be replaced after each use. This segmentation allows users to invest in a durable component and discard only the contaminated absorbent material, significantly reducing long-term costs while maintaining hygiene standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables selective discarding of the absorbent inner layer while recovering and reusing the holder outer layer. After each use, the inner layer is removed and discarded, while the outer layer is washed and reused for subsequent periods. This approach recovers the more expensive structural components and discards only the inexpensive absorbent material, resolving the contradiction between hygiene and cost.
2Ease of manufacture
If reusable materials are used, then cost decreases, but hygiene and effectiveness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pad into reusable and disposable components, the design allows the reusable holder to be thoroughly washed and sanitized, while the disposable inner layer ensures that contamination does not persist. This segmentation enables cost-effective reusability without compromising hygiene, as the critical absorbent portion is replaced regularly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers the holder for repeated use after washing, while discarding the absorbent inner layer after single use. This approach maintains hygiene by ensuring the reusable portion is properly cleaned and the disposable portion is replaced, preventing cross-contamination while reducing overall costs compared to fully disposable pads.
3Ease of manufacture
If improvised materials are used, then cost decreases, but effectiveness and safety worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with uniform dimensions and consistent structural properties, ensuring reliable performance across multiple uses. The standardized size, shape, and attachment mechanisms (wings or strings) provide consistent effectiveness, unlike improvised materials that vary in quality and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder incorporates specific design parameters such as wing extensions for attachment to undergarments or strings for tying around the waist. These parameter changes transform a simple pouch into an effective sanitary device that stays in place during physical activity, significantly improving effectiveness over improvised solutions.
4Reliability
If disposable pads are used, then hygiene is improved, but availability worsens in disadvantaged countries
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable holder can be washed and reused multiple times, reducing the frequency of purchases needed. In disadvantaged countries where access to disposable pads is limited, users can invest in one holder and maintain hygiene by washing it between uses, making the solution more available and sustainable in resource-limited settings.
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
Provides an affordable, easy-to-manufacture solution for effective menstrual absorption, reducing costs and improving hygiene and comfort, allowing women to manage menstruation without the constraints of disposable pads.
Implementation Method 1
The holder comprises a liquid permeable inner layer and an outer layer that are affixed together at the peripheral edges to form a pouch
Data Source
AI summary
A reusable holder for absorbent material for absorbing menstrual flow is made from a liquid permeable inner layer affixed to an outer liquid impermeable layer at the peripheral edges to form a pouch between the two layers. An opening in the inner layer provides access to the pouch so that disposable or reusable absorbent material such as paper or cloth may be placed in the pouch to absorb menstrual flow. After use, the absorbent material may be removed from the pouch via the opening so that the used absorbent material may be disposed of or washed for re-use. Wings extending from the sides of the reusable holder allow the holder to be fastened around an undergarment to keep the holder in place. Alternatively, strings are attached to the reusable holder to allow it to be worn like a g-string.