# US 2019/0167490 A1 · Smart absorbent article and components

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- Number: US 2019/0167490 A1
- Document ID: US20190167490A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/314,413
- Filed: 2018-06-13
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-16
- Assignees: Ontex BVBA; Ontex Group NV
- Applicants: Ontex Bvba; Ontex Group NV
- Inventors: Jens HELLMOLD; Alissa IDELSON; Lisa HEIRMAN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167490A1

## CPC

- A61F 13/42: with wetness indicator or alarm
- A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)}
- A61B 5/002: {Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building (A61B5/0017 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/202: {Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment}
- A61B 5/207: {Sensing devices adapted to collect urine}
- A61B 5/6804: {Garments; Clothes}
- A61B 5/6808: {Diapers}
- A61B 5/6892: {Mats}
- A61F 13/15699: {Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs}
- G01N 27/126: {comprising organic polymers}
- G01N 33/00: Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N 33/483: Physical analysis of biological material
- A61B 2562/029: Humidity sensors
- A61B 2562/043: in a linear array
- A61B 2562/164: the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
- A61F 2013/424: {having an electronic device}
- A61F 2013/429: {Thermochromic materials, e.g. ink or dye}
- 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)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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 substrate suitable for incorporation into an absorbent article for automatic detection of wetness events therein, the substrate comprising a first surface capable of being arranged proximal to a body facing side of the absorbent article and a second surface opposite said first surface and capable of being arranged proximal to a garment facing side of said absorbent article, said substrate comprising a plurality of sensor tracks disposed on said first surface wherein said sensor tracks are in electrical communication with a clip-on data processing module when connected at a position proximal to a first end of the substrate such to form a closed electrical circuit, typically for measuring resistance, impedance and/or capacitance therethrough, wherein the substrate comprises one or more slits and an insulating layer placed over said first surface to sandwich said sensor tracks therebetween, and a pocket is formed between said first surface and said insulating layer proximal to at least said first end, said pocket being in fluid communication with said slit(s) and arranged to retain at least a portion of said clip-on data processing module therein.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A substrate (1) suitable for incorporation into an absorbent article (100) for automatic detection of wetness events therein and/or risk of exudate leakage therefrom, the substrate comprising a first surface (2) capable of being arranged proximal to a body facing side of the absorbent article (100) and a second surface (3) opposite said first surface (2) and capable of being arranged proximal to a garment facing side of said absorbent article (100), said substrate (1) comprising a plurality of sensor tracks (101) disposed on said first surface (2) wherein said sensor tracks (101) are in electrical communication with a clip-on data processing module (103) when connected at a position proximal to a first end (5) of the substrate (1) such to form a closed electrical circuit, characterised in that said substrate (1) comprises one or more slits (15) and an insulating layer (200) placed over said first surface (2) to sandwich at least a portion of said sensor tracks (101) therebetween, and in that a pocket (16) is formed between said first surface (2) and said insulating layer (200) at least proximal to said first end (5), said pocket (16) being in fluid communication with said slit(s) (15) and arranged to retain at least a portion of said clip-on data processing module (103) therein.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A substrate according to claim 1 wherein the pocket (16) is in the form of a channel extending from the first end (5) to a second end (6) of the substrate (1).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the sensor tracks (101) comprise an electrically conductive material, and are printed sensor tracks, and wherein the printed sensor tracks (101) comprise a carbon-based ink and/or a conductive polymer-based ink, wherein the carbon-based ink comprises a conductive compound selected from the group consisting of graphene, graphite, nano-carbon-tubes and mixtures thereof, and wherein the conductive polymer-based ink comprises a conductive compound selected from the group consisting of polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polyaniline and copolymers thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the insulating layer (200) is liquid impermeable, and the plurality of sensor tracks (101) comprising:
at least one central track (4) extending parallel to a length L of the substrate and parallel to a longitudinal axis (y-y) crossing a first end (5) and a second end (6) of the substrate (1);
at least two side tracks (7,8) extending parallel to the central track (4) along at least a portion of the length L and oppositely arranged such that the central track (4) extends substantially therebetween; and
wetness sensing tracks (9) extending outboard of said two side tracks (7,8) and/or central track (4),
wherein said central track (4), said side tracks (7,8), and said wetness sensing tracks (9) are in electrical communication via one or more shortening elements (10) positioned proximal to said second end (6) and distal from said first end (5), and wherein said insulating layer (200) is sized to cover the at least one central track (4) and at least a portion of the side tracks (7,8), said insulating layer (200) adapted to provide a seal and/or barrier to liquid from coming into contact with said central track (4) and said side tracks (7,8).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the slit(s) (15) comprises one or more insertion indicators arranged to provide an indication to a user of the insertion position of the clip-on processing module (103) therethrough, wherein said insertion indicator is selected from the group consisting of:
indicia positioned on a surface of the insulating layer (200) that faces said substrate such that said indicia is seen through said slit(s) (15);
indicia positioned on the garment facing surface of said substrate (1) such that it surrounds a perimeter of said slit(s) (15);
a patch (17) comprising indicia joinable to the garment facing surface of said substrate (1) such that it surrounds a perimeter of said slit(s) (15); and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein a reinforcement layer (18) is joined to a garment facing surface of said substrate (1) along a perimeter of the slit(s) (15) and at least a portion of said surface outboard of said perimeter, and wherein said slit(s) (15) forms an opening free of said reinforcement layer (18).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A substrate (1) according to claim 6 wherein said reinforcement layer (18) is laminated over the entire garment facing surface of said substrate (1) except the opening; or is laminated only over a central portion of said garment facing surface of said substrate (1) along a length L of said substrate (1) except said opening; or is laminated only over an area of said garment facing surface immediately adjacent to the perimeter of said slit(s) (15) except said opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A substrate (1) according to claim 6 wherein the reinforcement layer (18) is in the form of a patch.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the slit(s) (15) is in the form of a straight linear cut, square cut, square cut with rounded edges, oval cut, rounded rhombus cut, mouth-shaped cut, or combination thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the slit(s) (15) is rounded such that a flap (26) is formed having a flap length Lf arranged to be lifted with a finger for insertion of the unit (103).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the slit(s) (15) is free of sharp edges having a notch radius R of less than 1 mm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensor tracks (101) are divided into a right half circuit (19) and left half circuit (20) symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis (y-y), and comprising at least two central tracks (4) extending parallel to each other along a length L of the substrate (1) each being directly connected to said right half circuit (19) or left half circuit (20), and wherein either said right half (19) is in electrical communication with said left half (20) only when the clip-on processing module (103) is connected thereto, or wherein said right half (19) and said left half (20) are not in electrical communication with each other when the clip-on processing module (103) is connected and rather remain two independent electrical circuits.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A substrate (1) according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensor tracks (101) are divided into a front half circuit (27) and rear half circuit (28) symmetrically disposed about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (y-y), and comprising at least two central tracks (4) extending parallel to each other along a length L of the substrate (1) each being directly connected to said front half circuit (27) and/or rear half circuit (28), and wherein either said front half (27) is in electrical communication with said rear half (28) only when the clip-on processing module (103) is connected thereto, or wherein said front half (27) and said rear half (28) are not in electrical communication with each other when the clip-on processing module (103) is connected and rather remain as two independent electrical circuits.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

An absorbent article (100) suitable for detecting a wetness event therein and/or risk of exudate leakage therefrom, said absorbent article comprising:
a liquid impermeable backsheet;
a liquid permeable topsheet; and
an absorbent core interposed between said backsheet and topsheet,
wherein said backsheet comprises the substrate (1) according to claim 1.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

An absorbent article according to claim 14 further comprising a removable clip-on data processing module (103) having a plurality of exposed electrically conductive terminals (33) capable of directly contacting central (4) and side (7,8) tracks of the plurality of sensor tracks (101).

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

An absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the clip-on data processing module (103) is retained within the pocket (16), said pocket being delimited along its perimeter by a bonding seal (22) and along its garment facing outer surface by the garment facing surface of the substrate (1) and along its skin facing inner surface by the insulating layer (200), wherein said portion comprises the exposed electrically conductive terminals (33).

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

An absorbent article according to claim 14 wherein the pocket (16) is positioned over at least a portion of the absorbent core with the core being interposed between said pocket (16) and the skin of a subject when the absorbent article is worn such that when the clip-on data processing module (103) is inserted into the pocket (16) the absorbent core provides a cushioning layer between said module (103) and said skin of the subject.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A substrate according to claim 1 wherein said substrate (1) consists of a liquid impermeable backsheet.

### Claim 19 (depends on 2)

A substrate according to claim 2 wherein said channel is flanked by oppositely disposed bonding seals (22).

### Claim 20 (depends on 3)

A substrate (1) according to claim 3 wherein the conductive polymer-based ink comprises a conductive compound selected from the group consisting of poly(pyrrole)s (PPY), polyanilines (PANI), poly(thiophene)s (PT), poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS), poly(p-phenylene) (PPP), Poly(acetylene)s (PAC), Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 21 (depends on 3)

A substrate (1) according to claim 3 wherein the conductive polymer-based ink comprises poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS).

### Claim 22 (depends on 4)

A substrate (1) according to claim 4 wherein the wetness sensing tracks (9) remain exposed and are not covered by said insulating layer (200).

### Claim 23 (depends on 8)

A substrate (1) according to claim 8 wherein said patch has a color and/or texture that is visually or tactilely different from the color and/or texture of the garment facing surface of said substrate (1).

### Claim 24 (depends on 9)

A substrate (1) according to claim 9 wherein the slit(s) (15) is in the form of a oval cut, rounded rhombus cut and/or mouth-shaped cut.

### Claim 25 (depends on 14)

An absorbent article according to claim 14, wherein the absorbent article is a disposable diaper, pad or pant.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

An absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein the number of said terminals (33) is at least the same as the number of said central and side tracks (4,7,8).