Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lubricious polymeric composition that includes polymer and one or more lubricants. Articles formed from the lubricious polymeric composition possess enhanced softness, flexibility and lubricity. The present disclosure also provides a method for making an article formed from a lubricious polymeric composition having polymer and one or more lubricants.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lubricious polymeric composition that includes polymer and one or more lubricants. Articles formed from the lubricious polymeric composition possess enhanced softness, flexibility and lubricity. The present disclosure also provides a method for making an article formed from a lubricious polymeric composition having polymer and one or more lubricants.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides low pH fibers that are treated with additives, preferably after regenerating the cellulosic fiber, to control the pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in an aqueous environment where the fiber is placed. The low pH fibers can be formed into fibrous articles such as tampons or wipes. The low pH fibers with the additives provide health benefits to the user in that they hinder the ability of harmful bacteria to flourish.

Abstract: Provided is a tampon applicator having one or more insertion indicators to gauge and/or control the insertion depth of a tampon. The one or more insertion indicators may be located on the tampon applicator barrel, plunger, tampon, removal string, or any combinations thereof. As a result of the one or more insertion indicators, a woman can adjust the insertion depth of the tampon to her body's requirements ensuring leakage protection, comfort, or both.

Abstract: A tampon pledget is made by assembling one or more pads in a pad compression configuration, radially compressing the pad compression configuration in a traverse direction into a cylindrical form, and axially compressing the cylindrical form in a direction along a vertical axis to form the tampon pledget. In one embodiment, the axial compression is performed as a pressure is applied to at least one of a first and a second end of the cylindrical form. In one aspect of the present invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 6.0 grams to 9.0 grams and a density of about 0.4603 grams/cubic centimeter. In another aspect of the invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 9.0 grams to 12.0 grams and a density of about 0.4755 grams/cubic centimeter.

Abstract: Provided is a tampon applicator having one or more insertion indicators to gauge and/or control the insertion depth of a tampon. The one or more insertion indicators may be located on the tampon applicator barrel, plunger, tampon, removal string, or any combinations thereof. As a result of the one or more insertion indicators, a woman can adjust the insertion depth of the tampon to her body's requirements ensuring leakage protection, comfort, or both.

Abstract: A method of injection molding produces a microcellular material. In this method, a polymer is melted and blended with a supercritical fluid to produce a single-phase polymer-gas solution. This solution is injected through a nozzle and into a mold. When injected through the nozzle, gas in the solution (from the supercritical fluid) emerges from the polymer, which then solidifies. In emerging from the solution, the gas causes the nucleation of cells that result in a microcellular structure. A foam material comprises a polymer having a microcellular structure formed by the nucleation of micro-cells. The micro-cells are formed by the dispersing of a supercritical fluid in a liquid solution of the polymer when the polymer is subjected to a pressure drop. A feminine hygiene device is fabricated from a foamed polymer.

Abstract: A dosage comprising an antibiotic, an estrogen, and a progestagen is provided. The dosage can be oral, or administered in other methods, such as intravaginally with a tampon. The dosage can be used for menstrual suppression, contraception, and/or hormone replacement therapy. A method of treating a patient with the dosage comprises administering the dosage to the patient over a course of treatment, in amounts or frequencies that can remain constant, or be varied.

Abstract: A tampon has two pledgets or one pledget with an absorbent layer and a leak shield located therebetween. The pledgets or pledget with the absorbent layer and the leak shield are folded such that the leak shield covers a portion of the surface of at least one of the pledgets. Both pledgets or the one pledget with the absorbent layer have absorbencies that are each greater than an absorbency of the leak shield. In another embodiment of the tampon, the leak shield comprises a fluid impervious or fluid repellent material(s). In another embodiment of the tampon, the leak shield comprises of an absorbent or hydrophilic material. Yet in another embodiment, the leak shield comprises of multiple layers of materials that are hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A tampon package includes a tampon assembly sealed within packaging material. The packaging material is continuously sealed about its perimeter to form an internal air-tight chamber for retaining the tampon assembly therein. The tampon package includes a tampon pledget disposed within an applicator barrel. In one embodiment, the packaging material is made from a water-barrier material. The water-barrier material may be a laminate of polyolefin or polyethylene terephthalate and an ethylene vinyl acetate material.

Abstract: A method for the study and evaluation of the performance of medical devices in vivo is disclosed. The medical devices are preferably tampons that are observed and evaluated in the vaginal cavities of women during their menstrual cycles in order to obtain data relative to tampon performance for the improvement of tampon technology. The method preferably uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), although other types of imaging techniques may be used. The present invention also resides in a method of MRI analysis in which a three-dimensional surface model image of a medical device such as a tampon or similar feminine hygiene product in vivo is created from two or more two-dimensional cross section images and combined with a second surface model image to produce a single image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lubricious polymeric composition that includes polymer and one or more lubricants. Articles formed from the lubricious polymeric composition possess enhanced softness, flexibility and lubricity. The present disclosure also provides a method for making an article formed from a lubricious polymeric composition having polymer and one or more lubricants.

Abstract: There is provided a tampon applicator assembly having a barrel with an improved fingergrip. The improved fingergrip has one or more flared portions and/or one or more rib-like or ring-like gripping structures. As a result of these features, the tampon assembly provides a user with improved control, which results in proper pledget placement and thus comfort to the user.