Absorbent article with sensor array for body exudate detection

摘要

An absorbent article incorporating a non-contact electronic sensor array that may indicate the presence of a body exudate is disclosed. In particular, the absorbent article includes at least a non-contact electronic sensor array that may include one or more gas sensors, a controller and a signaling device. The signaling device is capable of alerting a user (wearer or caregiver) that an insult of urine or bowel movement has occurred. In accordance with the present disclosure, various attachment mechanisms are disclosed for attaching the non-contact electronic sensor array, controller and signaling device to an absorbent article.

主权项

1. An absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising an outer cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an absorbent structure positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover; a non-contact electronic sensor array, the non-contact electronic sensor array comprising a plurality of gas sensors, wherein the non-contact electronic sensor array monitors gas concentration levels of gases emitted by two or more volatile compounds within the absorbent article, wherein each sensor in the non-contact electronic sensor array identifies a particular gas; a controller configured to detect changes above a threshold level in the gas concentration levels of the plurality of gas sensors within the non-contact electronic sensor array as the result of an insult within the absorbent article, wherein the insult is a urine insult, a bowel movement insult, or a combination thereof; and a signaling device that alerts a user of changes in the gas concentration levels detected by the controller via an alert and discriminates between a urine insult and a bowel movement insult, wherein the alert is deactivated at or near the absorbent article or remotely from a smart phone or computer.