Abstract: A device for capturing a substance, the device including a generally tubular body including a generally tubular inner surface defined by a first layer, the inner surface defining a pocket therewithin, the pocket having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being generally closed and the proximal end being generally open, the proximal end being configured to allow the insertion of a finger into the pocket through the proximal end, and a generally tubular outer surface generally disposed radially outwardly from the inner surface, wherein a portion of the outer surface is adapted to capture the substance.

Abstract: An absorbent device configured for partial disposition within the vestibule of a wearer, and adapted to deliver a therapeutic agent, the device including a fluid-absorbent body having an application region for projection within the vestibule; and a formulation including a therapeutic agent positioned substantially within the application region. Also, a method for producing an absorbent device configured for partial disposition within the vestibule of a wearer, and adapted to deliver a therapeutic agent, the method including manufacturing an absorbent device having a fluid-absorbent body having an application region for projection within the vestibule; and locating a formulation including the therapeutic agent substantially within the application region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of sequestering skin irritants with a skin irritant sequestering composition comprising a substrate, a hydrophilic skin irritant sequestering agent and a hydrophobic skin irritant sequestering agent. In one embodiment the sequestering agents are comprised of modified and non-modified clays. The present invention further also provides a method of sequestering skin irritants comprising administering to the stratum corneum of an individual's skin a skin irritant sequestering composition comprising a substrate, a skin irritant sequestering amount of a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic skin irritant sequestering agents. In one embodiment the skin irritants are bound to sequestering agents present on a substrate. In another embodiment the skin irritants are bound to sequestering agents present on the skin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a skin irritant sequestering composition comprising a tissue substrate, a hydrophilic skin irritant sequestering agent and a hydrophobic skin irritant sequestering agent. In one embodiment the sequestering agents are comprised of modified and non-modified clays. In one embodiment, the skin irritants are bound to sequestering agents present on a substrate. In another embodiment the skin irritants are bound to sequestering agents present on the skin.

Abstract: Methods of using absorbent personal care articles, such a diapers and adult incontinent briefs, comprising an absorbent article and having disposed thereon a skin irritant sequestering effective amount of an unmodified particulate skin irritant sequestering agent, and a lipophilic skin health benefit agent are provided. An unmodified particulate skin irritant sequestering agent can be a clay, such as bentonite or laponite unmodified by organic amphiphilic compounds. A lipophilic skin health benefit agent can be stearic acid, isoparrafin, petrolatum, and a combination thereof. The skin irritant can be bound to the sequestering agent either on an individual's skin or on the absorbent article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination for surface treatment of a substrate, e.g. a nonwoven web, used in personal care product applications. The surface treatment combination not only provides adequate fluid handling properties, but also provides a topical delivery system effective in depositing a thin, tenacious and substantially continuous coating of a botanical extract on skin by an aqueous emulsion mediated dissolution of the agent from a substrate with subsequent transfer and deposition onto the skin. Coatings of the botanical extract on the skin resist removal, thereby preventing damage to the natural skin barrier and providing a protective barrier against chemically- and biochemically-induced skin damage.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet; and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article maintains the temperature and exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. The absorbent article may further include lotion formulations and/or treatment compositions thereon for maintaining or improving skin health.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination for surface treatment of a substrate, e.g. a nonwoven web, used in personal care product applications. The surface treatment combination not only provides adequate fluid handling properties, but also provides a topical delivery system effective in depositing a thin, tenacious and substantially continuous coating of a skin health benefit agent on skin by an aqueous emulsion mediated dissolution of the agent from a substrate with subsequent transfer and deposition onto the skin. Coatings of the skin health benefit agent on the skin resist removal, thereby preventing damage to the natural skin barrier and providing a protective barrier against chemically- and biochemically-induced skin damage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a topical delivery system effective in depositing a thin, tenacious and substantially continuous coating of a silk protein on skin by an aqueous emulsion mediated dissolution of protein from a substrate with subsequent transfer and deposition onto the skin. Coatings of silk protein on skin resist removal, thereby providing a protective barrier against chemically- and biochemically-induced skin damage. The treatment composition also provides a vehicle for administering an effective dose of an active agent to the skin surface.

Abstract: Absorbent personal care articles, such a diapers and adult incontinent briefs, are provided comprising an absorbent article and having disposed thereon a skin irritant sequestering effective amount of an unmodified particulate skin irritant sequestering agent, and a lipophilic skin health benefit agent. An unmodified particulate skin irritant sequestering agent can be a clay, such as bentonite or laponite unmodified by organic amphiphilic compounds. A lipophilic skin health benefit agent can be stearic acid, isoparrafin, petrolatum, and a combination thereof. The skin irritant can be bound to the sequestering agent either on an individual's skin or on the absorbent article.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet; and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article maintains the temperature and exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. The absorbent article may further include lotion formulations and/or treatment compositions thereon for maintaining or improving skin health.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet; and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article maintains the temperature and exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. The absorbent article may further include lotion formulations and/or treatment compositions thereon for maintaining or improving skin health.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet; and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article maintains the temperature and exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. The absorbent article may further include lotion formulations and/or treatment compositions thereon for maintaining or improving skin health.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet; and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article maintains the temperature and exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. The absorbent article may further include lotion formulations and/or treatment compositions thereon for maintaining or improving skin health.

Abstract: A permeable, liquid flow control material composed of: 1) a permeable sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which have a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes/cm; and 2) amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces to define a gradient distribution of amphiphilic protein coating along at least one dimension of the permeable sheet so that the adsorbed amphiphilic protein coating provides controlled wettability along at least one dimension of the liquid flow control material. Desirably, the liquid flow control material is substantially free of fugitive amphiphilic proteins. The material may be used as a permeable, bodyside cover material for absorbent personal care products.

Abstract: A method of applying chemical charge-modifiers to a permeable sheet including the steps of: providing a permeable sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having relatively low surface energies; providing an aqueous solution containing amphiphilic macromolecules, the solution having a relatively high surface tension; contacting the solution containing amphiphilic macromolecules under shear stress conditions with the permeable sheet so that at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules are adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces to form a coated permeable sheet; and contacting the coated permeable sheet with a solution containing chemical charge modifiers to incorporate chemical charge modifiers onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules.

Abstract: A chemically charged-modified filter for removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, the filter being composed of a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic macromolecules adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules; so that when said charge-modified substrate is in contact with the aqueous liquid containing the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles, said particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Abstract: An adsorbent filter for removing caffeine from liquids. The filter is composed of a liquid permeable matrix of fibrous material having individual exposed surfaces; and a distribution of adsorbent clay minerals attached to individual exposed surfaces of the fibrous material by substantially non-transient bonding, so that passage of a liquid having a caffeine concentration ranging from about 20 to about 100 mg per 100 mL of liquid through the matrix for a contact time of less than about 2 minutes results in at least a 40 percent reduction in the caffeine concentration of the liquid. The matrix of fibrous material may be selected from woven fabrics, knit fabrics and nonwoven fabrics. The adsorbent clay minerals include, for example, sodium bentonite clays, calcium bentonite clays, acidified bentonite clays, and modified bentonite clays containing a flocculating agent.

Abstract: A drinking straw that purifies water by forced movement of water through the straw. The straw is composed of: 1) a filter plug made of a fibrous structure, the filter plug having sides, a first end, a second end, and a firmness sufficient to avoid collapse of the fibrous structure under a specified pressure drop; 2) a water purification material integrated in the fibrous structure; and 3) a liquid impervious wrapper covering the sides of the filter plug, the wrapper defining openings at the first and second ends of the filter plug.