Abstract: Shaped tampons having varying perimeters are provided. Tampons disclosed comprise a mass of absorbent material formed into a self-sustaining shape comprising an insertion end, a withdrawal end, and a center region. The center region has at least one perimeter which is less than a largest insertion end perimeter and is less than a withdrawal end perimeter. The shaped tampons may also have varying average fiber density regions. The shaped tampons may be wrapped in tightly conforming wrappers which optionally aid in maintaining the self-sustaining shape prior to use. Optionally, the shaped tampons may utilize tampon applicators which enable a user to visually see the shape of the tampon prior to use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid removal system for applications where there is a need for liquid removal including laboratories and workshops as well as medical applications as well as dental applications. The liquid removal system exhibits improved wearing comfort by comprising an interface device which is compressible in the longitudinal and/or transverse dimension.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent product having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and comprising a front and a rear end portion (8, 10), an intermediate crotch portion (12), edges extending in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, an upper, liquid-permeable surface layer (2), a lower, liquid-impermeable surface layer (4), an absorbent body (6) arranged between the surface layers (2, 4) and comprising edges in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, liquid barriers (5) extending in the longitudinal direction arranged essentially parallel to those edges of the product running in the longitudinal direction, the liquid barriers (5) each having a free edge (7), side flaps (3) extending in the longitudinal direction outside the liquid barriers (5) and comprising parts of at least one of the surface layers (2, 4), and elastic elements (11; 14; 30) extending in the longitudinal direction and fastened to the liquid barriers (5) or to the side flaps (3),

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent article for managing bodily fluids, comprising a high coefficient of friction (“COF”) backsheet and at least one tape tab extending therefrom. The tape tab comprises a minimum amount of pressure sensitive adhesive sufficient to maintain the position of the article when a user's undergarments are away from her body. When the undergarments are near her body, the high COF backsheet acts as the predominant means for maintaining the position of the article due to normal forces exerted by the user's body and undergarments. When the user wants to remove the article from her undergarments, the tape tab provides additional advantages. The user may grasp the tape tab itself for removing the article as an alternative to grasping a portion of the soiled article. In addition the soiled article may be folded or rolled up, and then held in that configuration with the tape tab, for convenient and discreet disposal.

Abstract: A toilet flushable diaper for use by infants and incontinent adults. The diaper has a liquid impervious back sheet comprised of a soluble film center layer covered on both sides with flocking or nonwoven material. An absorbent member is carried on the inner surface of the back sheet comprises a liquid pervious cover which encapsulates an inner body for absorbing urine and other body fluids. The diaper is formed with a weakened tear sheet which enables manual tearing of it into several pieces, allowing the pieces to dissolve when absorbing water as they are flushed down a toilet.

Abstract: An absorbent structure in an absorbent article such as a diaper, a pant diaper, an incontinence guard, a sanitary napkin or the like, includes a combination of a porous material such as fibers and/or foam, and at least 50% by weight of a superabsorbent material in at least one area thereof in which the superabsorbent material is distributed. The superabsorbent material is cross-linked by ionic bonds, preferably a polyvalent metal ion. The superabsorbent may further be covalently cross-linked.

Abstract: A support device used when applying an ostomy appliance to a wearer, and in particular, a device that assists the wearer in applying the body side member of the ostomy appliance without substantial use of the wearer's arms or hands. The support device assists the wearer to apply steady pressure to the body side member until proper sealing is obtained between the body side member and wearer's skin. The preferred embodiment includes a base member sized to releasably accept the body side member, the base member including an opening sized to the approximate circumference of a stoma opening of the body side member. The support device further includes an end member, and first and second support members vertically disposed between the base member and the end member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter that includes an elongate body having distal and proximal ends, the elongate body having at least one lumen therethrough, a distal portion of the elongate body having a perimeter. First and second retention members of the catheter are first and second retention members selectively disposed in either an insertion state or a retention state. In the insertion state, the first and second retention members form a distal body defining a central axis, the central axis being generally spaced apart from the perimeter of the distal portion of the elongate body, the distal body and elongate body insertable along a passageway of a mammal. In the retention state, the first and second retention members are selectively disposed in a spaced apart configuration to resist proximal movement of the catheter along the passage of the mammal.

Abstract: The disposable excreta management device has a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, a wearer-facing surface and an opposing surface. The disposable excreta management device comprises a flexible bag to contain excreta and an adhesive flange to attach the device to the body of a wearer. The flexible bag has an opening positioned on the wearer-facing surface. The excreta management device has an orifice provided on the flexible bag and comprises a seal means to resealably close the orifice. A peel force of the seal means to the surface of the flexible bag is between 0.3 N/cm and 4.0 N/cm.

Abstract: The diaper with legs of the present invention is a lower torso garment worn by a user to retain excreted waste matter. The diaper may have fasteners to close the waist and legs, or may be of the pull-on type. The diaper includes a flat sheet wrapped around the torso with legs extending from the sides of the sheet. A front waist arch and a rear waist arch are disposed at an upper portion of the edges of the sheet. The arches extend the height of the diaper in front and back. An elastic material is disposed at the waist arches, at the junction between the legs and the central portion of the diaper, and at the end of the legs. The elastic material disposed at the end of the legs and at the junction between the legs and the central portion provide double leak protection at the legs.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a liquid absorbent core having upper and lower surfaces and extending over a crotch region and further into front and rear waist regions, a liquid-pervious first sheet having an upper section covering the upper surface of the core and a lower section covering the lower surface of the core, and a liquid-impervious second sheet lying outside the lower section of the first sheet. The core is formed with a slit extending completely through in the thickness direction from the upper surface to the lower surface and extending in the longitudinal direction from the front waist region to the crotch region. The upper and lower sections of the first sheet define a tubular liquid passage extending along a longitudinal center line from the front waist region to the crotch region.

Abstract: An absorbent disposable article, such as nappy pants, has a T-shaped tape attached on the outside of the article with such adhesion that the tape withstands a load of at least 25 N in the tape flap without the tape coming away from the outer layer. The tape flap is arranged in a parked state during use and can also be used to seal the article into a closed, folded package after use. When the tape flap has been freed from its parked state, the tape flap forms a stem portion of a T with the two cross-legs of the T permanently attached to the outer layer, so the tensile forces in the tape flap are taken up by the two legs. The outer layer includes a non-woven laminate, with at least one outer ply of spunbond and an inner ply of at least one meltblown.

Abstract: This invention absorbs excess menstrual flow when an intra-vaginal tampon becomes saturated during periods of heavy flow. A system of two small-size soft absorbent cloths, placed externally in the user's crotch and held in place by the female anatomy, absorbs all the excess flow. First, the multi-layer Large Cloth Assembly, inserted between and held in place by the vaginal lips at the opening of the vagina, absorbs fluid which would otherwise run down the inside of the legs when the user stands. Second, the folded Small Cloth placed on the skin between the opening of the vagina and the anus, secured in place by the buttocks closing around it, absorbs fluid which would otherwise leak through the crack between the buttocks, particulary when the body is horizontal. Disposal of both cloths is by a toilet flush. The invention has been effective in clinical trials, is medically safe, simple and hidden from view, comfortable, low cost, and adapted to any anatomy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a menstrual fluid management device that is attached directly to the wearer by use of an adhesive. The device allows for direct and immediate containment of menstrual and other vaginal discharges. In particular, the device improves the prevention of soiling over devices already known in the art by using an attachment flange around an orifice which has a shape of the generally oblong dimensions, where the width in the rear end of the orifice is wider than at the front end, thereby improving the circumscription of the female genitalia and the sealing along the flange to the skin of the wearer.

Abstract: There is provided a multiple-component tampon applicator formed from at least three separate components including a barrel, a plunger, a fingergrip, an insertion tip. The at least three separate components are formed independently from one another, prior to forming the applicator. The multiple components may be formed from materials including, for example, biopolymer including starches and proteins, cardboard, heat shrink plastic, paper slurry, plastic, plastic tubing, pulp slurry, pulp-molded paper, or any combinations thereof. Methods for making a multiple component tampon applicator are also provided.

Abstract: A disposable wearing article includes liquid-pervious topsheets, a liquid-impervious chassis and first and second liquid-absorbent panels. A first absorbent panel is covered with the topsheet and lies on the side of a front waist region. A second absorbent panel is interposed between the topsheet and chassis and continuously lies in a crotch region and a rear waist region. The first absorbent panel has a proximal end extending close to one of end flaps in a transverse direction and a first distal end supposed, along its transversely opposite side edges, to distal side edges of respective leakage-barrier cuffs so that an excrement receiving pocket adapted to open from the front waist region toward a crotch region is defined between the chassis and the first distal end of the first absorbent panel.

Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed having a liquid permeable bodyside cover, a liquid permeable garment side liner and an absorbent core enclosed by the cover and the liner. The absorbent article also has a pair of fringes formed by joining the cover to the liner. The pair of fringes extend laterally outward from the absorbent core and are capable of being biased upward to form a pair of upstanding side walls when placed in an undergarment. The pair of upstanding side walls form a pair of reservoirs located adjacent to the absorbent core. The pair of reservoirs are capable of retaining body fluid that has run off of the cover until the body fluid can be absorbed by the absorbent core.

Abstract: A container assembly provides for the collection, transporting, and dispensing of a fluid specimen. The container assembly includes a cup-shaped container having an open end for collecting the fluid specimen. A lid is attachable to the container to close the open end thereof. The lid includes an access port for providing communication with the collected fluid specimen through the cover and for permitting extraction of a sample therefrom. A self-sealing closure member is supported by the lid in the access port and seals the access port preventing fluid leakage. The extraction device may be used to extract a sample of the fluid specimen. The extraction device is insertable through the self-sealing closure to permit such extraction. Upon removal of the extraction device, the self-sealing closure recloses the access port.

Abstract: An anti-reflux drainage device includes an elongated member defining a lumen, and a valve disposed along the elongated member. The valve can include one or more lumens in fluid connection with the lumen of the elongated member, a socket, a shaft disposed in the socket, and a stopper connected to the shaft that occludes the second lumen when exposed to retrograde pressure. Another such device includes an elongated member and a ball valve. The ball valve can include a seat and a shoulder defined by the elongated member, and a ball disposed in the elongated member between the seat and shoulder that occludes lumen when exposed to retrograde pressure.

Abstract: Absorbent articles with friction-inducing substances at one or more predetermined application zones, as well as methods for using the absorbent articles and methods for preparing the absorbent articles, are disclosed. The absorbent articles have unexpectedly superior fit, distribution, comfort, leak protection, skin protection, absorbency and/or cost-efficiency.