Slitted absorbent members for aqueous body fluids formed of expandable absorbent materials

An absorbent member having a peripheral region and a deposition region contiguous with said peripheral region and laterally surrounded by said peripheral region, the absorbent member comprising:

• (a) at least one layer of absorbent material which, upon contact with aqueous body fluids, expands and absorbs said aqueous body fluids, said absorbent material comprising a collapsed polymeric foam material, said polymeric foam material comprising a hydrophilic, flexible structure of interconnected open cells, said layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface and said lower surface defining a planar direction and a normal direction perpendicular to said planar direction, said absorbent material being expandable in at least one direction within said planar direction, said polymeric foam material having:
• (i) a specific surface area per foam volume of at least about 0.025 m.sup.2 /cc;
• (ii) at least about 0.1% by weight of a toxicologically acceptable hygroscopic, hydrated salt incorporated therein;
• (iii) in its collapsed state, an expansion pressure of about 30 kPa or less;
• and
• (iv) in its expanded state, a density when saturated at 88.degree. F. (31.1.degree. C.) to its free absorbent capacity with synthetic urine having a surface tension of 65.+-.5 dynes/cm of from about 10% to about 50% of its dry basis density in its collapsed state;
• and
• (b) at least one slitted region comprising at least one slit extending at least partially through said layer, said slit comprising at least two slit surfaces which are displaceable with respect to one another when said aqueous body fluid is introduced into said deposition region;
• whereby when said aqueous body fluid is introduced into said deposition region, at least a portion of said slitted region expands more rapidly than and to a greater degree than surrounding regions of said layer, and whereby at least a portion of said slitted region becomes deformed and buckled in said normal direction, thus causing said slit to open and expose said slit surfaces to said aqueous body fluid for more rapid acquisition.

An absorbent member having a peripheral region and a deposition region contiguous with said peripheral region and laterally surrounded by said peripheral region, the absorbent member comprising:

• (a) at least one layer of absorbent material which, upon contact with aqueous body fluids, expands and absorbs said aqueous body fluids, said absorbent material comprising a hydrophilic, flexible structure of interconnected open spaces, said layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface and said lower surface defining a planar direction and a normal direction perpendicular to said planar direction, said absorbent material being expandable in at least one direction within said planar direction in response to absorption of said aqueous body fluid into said interconnected open spaces;
• and
• (b) at least one slitted region comprising at least one slit extending at least partially through said layer, said slit comprising at least two slit surfaces which are displaceable with respect to one another when said aqueous body fluid is introduced into said deposition region and absorbed into said interconnected open spaces, said slit surfaces having an initial orientation prior to introduction of said aqueous body fluid wherein said slit surfaces are substantially non-parallel and form an open receiving channel for enhanced acquisition of said aqueous body fluid into said interconnected open spaces.