# US 10,117,790 B2 · Personal hygiene product with a digital element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,790 B2 - Document ID: US10117790B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/045,663 - Filed: 2016-02-17 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-26 - Assignees: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. - Applicants: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. - Inventors: Randall Braxton Pugh; William Chester Neeley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117790B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/42: with wetness indicator or alarm - A61F 13/20: Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor - A61F 13/2051: {characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core} - A61F 13/84: Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - G08B 21/20: responsive to moisture - G08B 21/245: {Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands} - A61F 2013/424: {having an electronic device} - A61F 2013/427: {pH indicator} - A61F 2013/8473: {for diagnostic purposes} - A61F 2013/8479: {including electric or magnetic devices} - G01N 27/048: {for determining moisture content of the material} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A personal hygiene product with a digital element is described. In one embodiment, a conductive sensor assembly is disposed within the personal hygiene product that includes one or more moisture sensors that generate a resistive signal indicative of saturation of the personal hygiene product when in wetting contact with menstrual fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A personal hygiene product with a digital element comprising: a personal hygiene product having an axial length comprising an absorbent core in a form suitable for insertion into a user's body to absorb menstrual fluid; a conductive sensor assembly disposed within the absorbent core including one or more moisture sensors disposed on a sensor substrate, each moisture sensor being located at a select position along the axial length of said personal hygiene product, each moisture sensor including a moisture sensitive switch connected to a resistor where a resistance value of the moisture sensitive switch is less than a resistance value of the resistor and wherein each resistor is between 1 kΩ and 10 kΩ, said conductive sensor assembly generating a signal indicative of saturation level of said personal hygiene product when said conductive sensor assembly is in wetting contact with the menstrual fluid; an external digital element coupled to said conductive sensor assembly including a substrate having a communication circuit capable of wireless communication with a smart hand held electronic device, a processor, a power source and a first mating connector; a signal transmission conduit extending from said conductive sensor assembly and interconnecting said conductive sensor assembly to said external digital element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said conductive sensor assembly extends substantially the entire axial length of said personal hygiene product. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the one or more moisture sensitive switches include an interdigitated electrode structure connected to a resistor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 further wherein said signal transmission conduit includes a magnetic connector and said external digital element includes a mating magnetic connector such that said external digital element is magnetically connected to said signal transmission conduit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing biometric data of the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing pH level of the bodily fluid discharge of a user and surrounding environment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing temperature of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing hormone levels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit is capable of low power blue tooth wireless communication with a smart hand held device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit is capable of near field wireless communication with a smart hand held device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product of claim 1 wherein the smart hand held device comprises a hand held personal electronic device capable of interface with a user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a receiver and a software application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of signaling or alerting a user-based quantified data received from said conductive sensor assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of direct order and purchase of additional personal hygiene products through an internet-based consumer services. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of estimating order quantity based on historical data of bodily fluid discharge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 11 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of predicting time and rate of bodily fluid discharge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit includes a cable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit includes conductive ink deposited on a flexible substrate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit is magnetically coupled to said digital element.