Abstract: This application relates to the use of slitted regions in absorbent members formed of absorbent materials that remain relatively thin until wetted with such fluids. Suitable materials include presently preferred varieties of polymeric foam materials. Single and multi-layered absorbent members incorporating slitted regions are disclosed, as well as the use of pre-formed cup-shaped slits for enhanced initial fluid acquisition. Such slitted regions in combination with planar expansion properties enable the absorbent members to respond dynamically to various fluid loading conditions to create useful structural features. The slitted regions, in combination with absorbent materials having expansion potential in at least one direction within the plane of the absorbent member, cause the slitted regions to buckle and/or deform out of the plane of the absorbent member, thereby causing the slit surfaces to displace angularly and/or translationally with respect to one another.

Abstract: Relatively thin, collapsed, i.e. unexpanded, polymeric foam materials that, upon contact with aqueous body fluids, expand and absorb such fluids, are disclosed. A process for consistently obtaining such relatively thin, collapsed polymeric foam materials by polymerizing a specific type of water-in-oil emulsion, commonly known as High Internal Phase Emulsions or "HIPE", is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are absorbent articles, such as diapers, for the management of incontinence. Such articles utilize in their absorbent cores an fluid acquisition/distribution component and a fluid storage/redistribution component maintained in fluid communication with the acquisition/distribution component. The fluid acquisition/distribution component can be any porous hydrophilic, e.g., fibrous or foam-based, material which will provide an initial Fluid Acquisition Rate of at least 2 mL of synthetic urine per second and will also preferably provide a 30-minute Vertical Wicking Height of at least 2 cm. The fluid storage/redistribution component comprises a hydrophilic, flexible, open-celled polymeric foam having a free absorbent capacity of at least about 12 mL of synthetic urine per gram of dry foam and an absorbent capacity under a 5.1 kPa confining pressure which is at least 5% of this free capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed are absorbent articles, such as diapers, for the management of incontinence. Such articles utilize in their absorbent cores a fluid acquisition/distribution component and a fluid storage/redistribution component maintained in fluid communication with the acquisition/distribution component. The fluid acquisition/distribution component can be any porous hydrophilic, e.g., fibrous or foam-based, material which will provide an initial Fluid Acquisition Rate of at least 2 mL of synthetic urine per second and will also preferably provide a 30-minute Vertical Wicking Height of at least 2 cm. The fluid storage/redistribution component comprises a hydrophilic, flexible, open-celled polymeric foam having a free absorbent capacity of at least about 12 mL of synthetic urine per gram of dry foam and an absorbent capacity under a 5.1 kPa confining pressure which is at least 5% of this free capacity.