A medical device including a plasma-treated porous substrate that is functionalized to provide a hydrophilic surface, and a process for preparing such a medical device, are disclosed. The method includes plasma treating at least a portion of a surface of a porous substrate with a gas species selected from oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and combination thereof. The gas species is configured to functionalize the surface of the medical device and form a hydrophilic surface.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to an absorptive solid (e.g., an animal bedding) produced from a microcrop such as Lemna. An absorptive solid of the present disclosure may comprise (i) an odor-absorbing amount of chlorophyll, and (ii) a carbohydrate extracted from a microcrop, the carbohydrate itself comprising at least some of the odor-absorbing amount of chlorophyll. A process for generating an absorptive solid may comprise the actions of: (i) lysing a microcrop consisting of at least one photosynthetic aquatic species to generate a lysed microcrop; (ii) separating the lysed microcrop into a solid fraction and a juice fraction; (iii) separating the solid fraction to form a solid; and at least one of: (a) milling the solid to generate an absorptive powder, (b) shaping the solid to generate the absorptive pellet or an absorptive granule; and (c) extruding the solid to generate an absorptive extrudate.

A method for producing an absorbent structure for absorbent sanitary articles, comprising the steps of: advancing a first non-woven layer at a first speed, with a first surface of said first non-woven layer facing a suction chamber, distributing superabsorbent granular material on a second surface of said first non-woven layer opposite to said first surface, volumizing said first non-woven layer by means of a toothed portion that penetrates into said first non-woven layer through said second surface and movable with respect to said first non-woven layer with a speed difference.

A medical device including a plasma-treated porous substrate that is functionalized to provide a hydrophilic surface, and a process for preparing such a medical device, are disclosed. The method includes plasma treating at least a portion of a surface of a porous substrate with a gas species selected from oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and combination thereof. The gas species is configured to functionalize the surface of the medical device and form a hydrophilic surface.

The present disclosure is directed to substrates or topsheets having repeating patterns of apertures for absorbent articles. Each of the repeat units comprises at least three apertures.

A absorbent member manufacturing method of the invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent member (100) including synthetic fibers (10b). The method involves: a transporting step of transporting a plurality of sheet fragments (10bh) including synthetic fibers (10b) to an accumulating depression (41) by using a duct 3; an accumulating step of accumulating, in the accumulating depression (41), the plurality of sheet fragments (10bh) transported in the transporting step, and forming an accumulation (100a) which is a constituent member of the absorbent member (100); and a pressing step of pressing the accumulation (100a) over its entirety in the thickness direction.

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.

A membrane for skin comprising a plurality of randomly oriented core-shell nanofibers is provided in the present invention, where each of said core-shell nanofibers comprises at least an active-ingredient-loaded polymeric core and a non-polymeric shell consisting of active ingredients only surrounding the core. Related fabrication method of said membrane is also provided in the present invention.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods and systems for deriving odor- and moisture-absorbing products from a microcrop (e.g., photosynthetic aquatic species). More specifically, the present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to forming an absorptive product from Lemna, including an animal litter, an animal bedding, a diaper product, a spill clean-up product, and any combination thereof. A process for forming an absorbent product from a microcrop may comprise the actions of (a) lysing the microcrop to generate a lysed microcrop; (b) separating the lysed microcrop into a solid fraction and a juice fraction; (c) processing the solid fraction to generate an absorbent solid; and/or (d) forming, by a shaping unit, the absorbent solid into pellets or granules that may be incorporated into the absorptive product. An absorptive product may have odor-reducing properties that are due in part to chlorophyll (e.g., from a microcrop).

An absorbent article is disclosed having a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a synthetic superabsorbent polymer derived from a first renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound, wherein said superabsorbent polymer exhibits a defined Saline Flow Conductivity value and Absorption Against Pressure value. Alternately, an absorbent article is disclosed having a synthetic polyolefin derived from a first renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound. The synthetic polyolefin exhibits defined performance characteristics making the polyolefin particularly useful in certain components of the absorbent article. Methods for making the aforementioned absorbent articles are also disclosed.