US 11,938,005 B2
Smart absorbent article and components
Jens Hellmold, Beckum (DE); Alissa Idelson, Rheinbach (DE); and Lisa Heirman, Buggenhout (BE)
Assigned to ONTEX BV, Buggenhout (BE); and ONTEX GROUP NV, Erembodegem (BE)
Appl. No. 16/314,413
Filed by ONTEX BV, Buggenhout (BE); and ONTEX GROUP NV, Erembodegem (BE)
PCT Filed Jun. 13, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/065648
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 29, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/229121, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 20, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 17176324 (EP), filed on Jun. 16, 2017; application No. 17201652 (EP), filed on Nov. 14, 2017; application No. PCT/EP2018/064392 (WO), filed on Jun. 1, 2018; and application No. PCT/EP2018/065406 (WO), filed on Jun. 11, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0167490 A1, Jun. 6, 2019
Int. Cl. A61F 13/42 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/20 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01); G01N 27/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 13/42 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0002 (2013.01); A61B 5/002 (2013.01); A61B 5/202 (2013.01); A61B 5/207 (2013.01); A61B 5/6804 (2013.01); A61B 5/6808 (2013.01); A61B 5/6892 (2013.01); A61F 13/15699 (2013.01); G01N 27/126 (2013.01); A61B 2562/029 (2013.01); A61B 2562/043 (2013.01); A61B 2562/164 (2013.01); A61F 2013/424 (2013.01); A61F 2013/429 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An absorbent article (100) suitable for detecting a wetness event therein and/or risk of exudate leakage therefrom, said absorbent article comprising:
a liquid impermeable backsheet (141);
a liquid permeable topsheet (142);
an absorbent core (143) interposed between said backsheet (141) and topsheet (142),
a clip-on data processing module (103) that is capable of being removed;
and a substrate (1) comprising a first surface (2) proximal to a body facing side of the absorbent article (100) and a second surface (3) opposite said first surface (2) and arranged proximal to a garment facing side of said absorbent article (100), said substrate (1) comprising a plurality of sensor tracks (101) disposed on said first surface (2) wherein said sensor tracks (101) are in electrical communication with a plurality of exposed electrically conductive terminals (33) of the clip-on data processing module (103) when connected at a position proximal to a first end (5) of the substrate (1) such to form a closed electrical circuit,
characterised in that said substrate (1) comprises one or more slits (15) and an insulating layer (200) placed over said first surface (2) to sandwich at least a portion of said sensor tracks (101) therebetween, and in that a pocket (16) is formed between said first surface (2) and said insulating layer (200) at least proximal to said first end (5), said pocket (16) being in fluid communication with said slit(s) (15) and arranged to retain at least a portion of said clip-on data processing module (103) therein, wherein said portion comprises the exposed electrically conductive terminals (33), and wherein said substrate (1) consists of the liquid impermeable backsheet (141) and said insulating layer (200) is a non-conductive film, and wherein the pocket (16) is delimited along a garment facing outer surface of the pocket (16) by the garment facing surface of the substrate (1) and along a skin facing inner surface of the pocket (16) by the insulating layer (200), and along at least the longitudinally extending dimensions of a perimeter of the pocket (16) by a bonding seal (22) such that the pocket remains impermeable to exudates.