Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which is substantially flat prior to use for wearing adjacent a body discharge area having a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline orthogonal thereto, and defining longitudinal and lateral directions respectively. The disposable absorbent article includes a liquid pervious top sheet, a back sheet joined to the top sheet, and an absorbent core intermediate the back sheet and the top sheet. The absorbent core includes an expanding member for expanding the article into a tridimensional structure while being worn by a user. The expanding member is activated by body fluids. The top sheet is capable of expanding as the absorbent article expands upon activation by body fluids.

Abstract: A spacer for use in a disposable absorbent article. The spacer is symmetric about a longitudinal axis and has two transversely oriented springs generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The transversely oriented springs have different spring rates, so that transverse compression caused by the wearer's thighs may be readily accommodated, yet the spacer remain open to receive fecal material. The spacer may be advantageously used in a disposable absorbent article having a void space between the topsheet and the core, and maintain this void space under the weight of the wearer.

Abstract: A method for use in laparoscopic hernia repair comprises the steps of inserting a distal end of a laparoscope through a patient's abdominal muscles to a point outside of the parietal peritoneum, and inserting through the abdominal muscles a distal end of an elongate instrument provided at that distal end with a balloon in a collapsed configuration, the balloon being transparent to optical radiation. Upon disposition of the balloon between the abdominal muscles and the peritoneum, the balloon is inflated and the instrument is subsequently manipulated from outside the patient to push the inflated balloon against connective tissues between the abdominal muscles and the peritoneum to shift the tissues to form a pre-peritoneal space. During the manipulation of the instrument with the balloon, the laparoscope is to view, through and around the inflated balloon, the connective tissues and other organic structures.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a front part (12), a rear part (14) and an intermediate crotch part (13), such as a diaper, an incontinence guard or like article. The article includes an absorbent body (1), a liquid-impermeable bottom sheet (7) joined to the absorbent body, and a top sheet (9) which is free from connection with the absorbent body over a large part of its surface and which lies proximal to the wearer's body when the article is worn, and which top sheet includes an opening (15) which extends from the rear article part into the crotch part, and elastic devices (24, 25) which are fastened to the top sheet in a stretched state and which when contracting from the stretched state cause the part of the top sheet that is not joined to the absorbent body to be distanced from the body. The top sheet (9) includes a further opening (16) which extends from the front part (12) into the crotch part (13).

Abstract: An absorbent article having a front part (12), a rear part (14) and an intermediate crotch part (13), such as a diaper, an incontinence guard or like article. The article includes an absorbent body (1), a liquid-impermeable bottom sheet (7) joined to the absorbent body, and a top sheet (9) which is free from connection with the absorbent body over a large part of its surface and which lies proximal to the wearer's body when the article is worn, and which top sheet includes an opening (15) which extends from the rear article part into the crotch part, and elastic devices (24, 25) which are fastened to the top sheet in a stretched state and which when contracting from the stretched state cause the part of the top sheet that is not joined to the absorbent body to be distanced from the body. The top sheet (9) includes a further opening (16) which extends from the front part (12) into the crotch part (13).

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article, such as a baby diaper, a child's training pant, an adult incontinent garment, or the like, having an elasticized chassis which provides laterally oriented contractive forces about the lower torso of the wearer. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the absorbent article will resemble a skirt or, alternatively, a pair of "boxer shorts".

Abstract: A Z-folded barrier cuff is provided to allow both sufficient lateral spacing of the barrier cuffs for the genitals in the front and for BM containment in the back as well as sufficient cuff height in the crotch area for good fit into the leg crease and good containment of body exudates. The barrier cuff is Z-folded by folding a first portion back upon itself such that a first segment and a second segment is formed. A second portion is folded laterally inwardly back upon itself such that a third segment is formed. Thus, the Z-folded barrier cuffs are properly laterally spaced in the crotch area and near the end edges while providing sufficient height to properly contain body exudates.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article defines an outer cover, an absorbent chassis and an absorbent support member which is configured to maintain the absorbent chassis close to a wearer's body in use. The absorbent chassis includes a backsheet, a bodyside liner which is connected to the backsheet in a superposed relation and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the bodyside liner. The absorbent chassis is attached to the outer cover at the waist edges and remains at least partially unattached from the outer cover between the waist edges. The absorbent support member is attached to the absorbent chassis and extends between and connects the absorbent chassis to the side edges of the outer cover. The absorbent support member maintains the absorbent chassis in a close, conforming fit with the wearer's body even after the chassis becomes saturated with body exudates while the outer cover is free to move independently from the absorbent chassis.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a flexible, fibrous support structure or framework in a fixed shape or configuration having particles of a superabsorbent material adhered thereto with temperature softened outer support surfaces, or with an adhesive to maintain sufficient spacing between adjacent superabsorbent particles such that liquid can more freely enter the absorbent article for contact with the superabsorbent particles.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner and an absorbent core. A fecal retaining structure defines a perimeter having an aperture therein. The fecal retaining structure includes channels extending outwardly from the aperture. The fecal retaining structure preferably includes a cavity about the perimeter thereof and in communication with the channels. The cavity preferably communicates with the channels and provides additional volume for storage of fecal material. The fecal retaining structure preferably is formed by two layers of resiliently compressible material having different rigidity and compression resistance. One of the layers is smaller than the other layer such that space to form the cavity is present inside the fecal retaining structure. In a preferred embodiment the fecal retaining structure has a bicycle-seat shape with the narrow front portion extending into the front portion of the absorbent article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for introducing molecules such as genes and pharmaceutical compounds into living blood cells of a patient for therapeutic purposes. A device is placed into contact with the body of the patient for generating an electric field at a preselected location within a selected blood vessel. Preselected molecules are infused into the selected blood vessel. Simultaneously an electric signal is applied to the applied device to repeatedly subject a quantity of blood flowing within the selected blood vessel past the preselected location to electric fields of a predetermined amplitude and duration. The parameters of the electric fields are precisely controlled in order to make the walls of preselected cells in the blood transiently permeable to permit the molecules to enter said preselected cells without killing said cells.

Abstract: Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinence briefs, diaper holders, training pants, feminine hygiene garments and the like, that have a unique side panel improves the overall fit of the absorbent article as well as reducing the red marking of the wearer's skin. Such absorbent articles include a chassis assembly preferably having a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to the topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet; a pair of side panels joined to the chassis assembly; and a closure system for maintaining the absorbent article on the wearer. The side panels have a low extension force leg zone and a high extension force waist zone.

Abstract: A urine-receiving pad for men including a bag of a laminated sheet which includes an inner sheet, an outer sheet and an absorbent core therebetween, and a pair of elastic members provided along the opening. By holding and pushing both ends of the elastic members with fingers, the elastic members are buckling-deformed to open the opening. When a penis is inserted into the opening and then the fingers are released, the penis is suitably pressed by elastic restoration forces of the elastic members, to prevent easy coming out of the penis therefrom. Since the pressing force resulting from the buckling-deformation of the elastic members is so small, too much pressure onto the penis is prevented. Further, the urine-receiving pad can be attached with only one hand.

Abstract: An absorbent article including an inner sheet and first and second outer sheets. The first outer sheet is of a fine interstice while the second outer sheet is fluid permeable. Through crepe processing, a great number of recesses are formed on an absorbent crepe sheet having wrinkles as the inner sheet. Highly absorbent polymers are charged in the recesses. Then, the first outer sheet adheres to the face on the opening side of the recesses of the inner sheet, while the second outer sheet adheres to the face of the opposite side of the inner sheet. The second outer sheet is positioned toward the side of fluid absorption. When a fluid is applied on the absorbent article, the fluid passes through the second outer sheet onto the inner sheet and the highly absorbent polymers. Because the crepe wrinkles are elongated and extended when the inner sheet absorbs fluid, the recesses are enlarged.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent pants diaper includes an elastic pant provided with holes corresponding to the locations of the anus and the urethral opening when worn. Liquid impermeable layers cover the holes and are sealed to the elastic pant around the holes to thereby form pockets for receiving feces and urine respectively. The pockets also contain absorbent and/or superabsorbent material.

Abstract: An absorbent article is provided that is comfortable and suitable for absorbing and containing liquid and solid body exudates without leakage. The absorbent article may be a diaper that includes a backsheet layer, a substantially liquid-permeable liner layer, and an absorbent core located between the backsheet and the liner. The backsheet generally defines a front waistband section, a rear waistband section, and an intermediate section, with the intermediate section interconnecting the front and rear waistband sections and disposed between laterally opposed side margins. The backsheet layer has at least one pleat adjacent each side margin that defines an expanded volume when the pleat expands, the expanded volume being greater than the volume when the pleat is unexpanded. The pleat is accessible to body exudates that pass through or around the absorbent core.

Abstract: A disposable training diaper which is an aid to toilet training youngsters, particularly those who may suffer from insecurity as to where feces should be deposited. The toddler is led to believe that the fecal matter is being deposited in the diaper. As the toddler is so believing, the fecal matter is deposited in the toilet because a flap on the underside of the diaper is opened when the toddler is seated on the toilet. Once the toddler realizes it has been deposited in the toilet, the toddler is shown the result, rewarded and the activity is thereby favorably reinforced.

Abstract: A process for the continuous manufacture of articles of hygiene such as nappy-pants, of the type comprising an absorbent pad arranged between a liquid-impervious outer sheet and a liquid-permeable inner sheet, characterised in that absorbent pads are deposited at intervals onto a liquid-permeable continuous strip unwound from a reel in that a film of plastic material is extruded and deposited in the state where it has not yet solidified onto the strip and onto the pads, by applying the film against the strip and against the pads to make it adhere thereto and in that, after solidification of the film, a composite strip is cut transversely in the region situated between the absorbent pads, into individual articles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a containment flap for use on an absorbent article. The containment flap has a proximal edge which is joined to the absorbent article and an opposite distal edge. The containment flap includes a barrier layer which is stitched with at least one elastomeric thread adjacent the distal edge of the containment flap. Also disclosed is an absorbent article including such a containment flap and a method of making such an absorbent article.

Abstract: A folded disposable diaper to be packed in a package while being folded inwardly about two first folding lines extending in a longitudinal direction of the diaper and then folded inwardly about two second folding lines extending in a transverse direction thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The diaper includes an absorption core having four thin areas and one thick area. The thickness of the diaper at the thin area is equal to or less than one half of the thickness of the diaper at the thick area. The first folding line is positioned outside of the center of the thin area in the transverse direction. Therefore, when the diaper is folded about the first folding lines, each of the thin areas is folded on itself to prevent an increase in the thickness of the folded diaper, while maintaining the absorbency of the absorption core.