Drypad with rapid absorption and liquid removal
AssigneeMedline Industries, Inc.
InventorsCaleb Townsend, Vincent Hahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a liquid removal drypad and liquid removal system suitable for absorbing and removing liquid produced by an individual. The drypad can include one or more perforated conduits arranged with an absorbent material. A source of reduced pressure can be connected to the one or more perforated conduits to remove liquid from the drypad. The drypad can be positioned under a patient and liquid produced by the individual can be removed by applying reduced pressure to the drypad. The drypad can be made by combining one or more conduits with an absorbent material.
Claims20
A liquid removal drypad comprising:
- a structure comprising one or more layers of absorbent material arranged with one or more perforated conduits, the one or more perforated conduits being capable transporting liquid away from the drypad when subject to reduced pressure;
- a liquid-permeable nonwoven layer disposed on a first side of the structure, an open electrical circuit comprising conductive ink printed on the liquid-permeable nonwoven layer, the open electrical circuit capable of being closed by conduction of electricity through a body of liquid contacting separate portions of the circuit;
- and
- a hydrophobic layer disposed on a second side of the structure.
A method of removing liquid from a drypad, the method comprising:
- disposing the drypad under a patient, the drypad comprising:
- a structure comprising one or more layers of absorbent material arranged with one or more perforated conduits, the one or more perforated conduits being capable transporting liquid away from the drypad when subject to reduced pressure,
- a liquid-permeable nonwoven layer disposed on a first side of the structure, an open electrical circuit comprising conductive ink printed on the liquid-permeable nonwoven layer, the open electrical circuit capable of being closed by conduction of electricity through a body of liquid contacting separate portions of the circuit, and
- a hydrophobic layer disposed on a second side of the structure;
- allowing the patient to excrete bodily fluid on the drypad;
- applying reduced pressure to the one or more perforated conduits to remove at least a portion of the fluid from the drypad.
A method of making a liquid removal drypad, the method comprising:
- forming a stack of a structure and a hydrophobic layer, the structure including one or more layers of absorbent material and one or more perforated conduits, and the hydrophobic layer including an open electrical circuit comprising conductive ink printed thereon;
- and
- sealing edges of the one or more layers of absorbent material and the hydrophobic layer while retaining a port accessing the one or more perforated conduits on an exterior of the drypad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.