Smart Absorbent Article with Detachable Optical Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current absorbent articles for personal hygiene lack effective monitoring systems for automatic stock management and environmentally friendly voiding pattern detection, requiring significant caregiver intervention and manual record-keeping, and existing sensors are costly and not suitable for disposable use.
Innovation Solution
An absorbent article with a color-changing indicator and a detachable optical sensor detection device that automatically tracks usage and sends signals for inventory management, using a system with Blue and Red light sources to detect wetness and trigger orders when stock levels are low.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor with signal processing unit, transmitter and battery is integrated into the absorbent article for monitoring conditions, then monitoring capability is improved, but cost increases and the sensor is not suitable for disposable use
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is divided into two separate components: a disposable absorbent article containing only the indicator, and a reusable detection device containing the sensor, signal processing unit, and transmitter. This segmentation allows the absorbent article to remain simple and disposable while the monitoring functionality is provided by the reusable detection device.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex sensor components (signal processing unit, transmitter, battery) are extracted from the absorbent article and placed in a separate reusable detection device. Only the simple indicator remains in the disposable absorbent article, enabling it to be discarded after use while the monitoring system is reused.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a color-changing indicator is used to indicate presence of exudates, then detection capability is improved, but automatic monitoring and stock management capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The color-changing indicator serves as an intermediary that converts the presence of exudates into a visual signal detectable by the optical sensor. The indicator changes color in response to exudate contact, and this color change is then detected and processed automatically by the detection device, bridging the gap between simple visual indication and automatic monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual visual inspection of the color-changing indicator is replaced by an automated optical sensor system that detects color changes and triggers automatic monitoring functions, stock management, and alert systems, eliminating the need for manual record-keeping.
3Device complexity
If manual record keeping and caregiver intervention is used for stock management, then system complexity is reduced, but time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic stock management through the detection device that continuously monitors the absorbent article status and automatically tracks usage patterns, eliminating the need for manual record-keeping by caregivers. The system serves itself by automatically detecting when stock needs replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device provides continuous feedback on the status of absorbent articles through automatic detection of the indicator state, enabling real-time stock management and automatic alerting when replenishment is needed, replacing manual monitoring with an automated feedback loop.
4Loss of substance
If environmental friendliness is improved by reducing waste, then disposal frequency increases, but monitoring accuracy may be reduced if sensor is disposed with article
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the monitoring functionality into a reusable detection device that maintains measurement precision through proper care and maintenance, while the disposable absorbent article with indicator is replaced only when needed. This allows environmental friendliness to be improved by reducing overall waste while maintaining sensor accuracy in the reusable component.
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
The system provides seamless and automatic stock management, reducing caregiver intervention and enabling environmentally friendly detection of voiding patterns, ensuring timely replenishment of absorbent products while minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
an indicator (60) for indicating the presence of exudates... the indicator (60) comprising a color-changing indicator (60)
Implementation Method 2
the detection device comprises an optical sensor... adapted to detect the change of optical property of the indicator
Implementation Method 3
the detection device comprises... at least two powered light sources disposed within the housing and spaced from the optical sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
An absorbent article for personal hygiene such as a diaper, or training pant, or incontinence insert, the absorbent article comprising: a liquid permeable topsheet; a liquid impermeable backsheet; an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and backsheet; an indicator for indicating the presence of exudates and being positioned on a body-facing side of said backsheet, the indicator comprising a color-changing indicator; the article further comprising a detection device that can be removably attached to the absorbent article, wherein the detection device comprises an optical sensor and when attached to the absorbent article is positioned to overlap at least a portion of said indicator at a detection device position at the front of the absorbent article, and wherein the absorbent core comprises a core wrap enclosing absorbent material therein and wherein a top layer of the core wrap is joined to a bottom layer of the core wrap to form one or more channels substantially free of absorbent material, and wherein the indicator extends between at least portions of said channel(s) along the Y axis and is arranged such that it prolongs beyond the channel(s) at a first distance D1 towards front edge.