An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having at least two longitudinally extending channel-forming areas and a wetness indicator. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side, which are attached to each other through areas substantially free of absorbent material, so that when the absorbent material swells upon absorption of a liquid the core wrap forms channels along these areas substantially free of absorbent material.

A sensor unit for an absorbent article includes: a urine change-detection unit that detects a change in color of a urine indicator that visually changes a color on contact with urine; and a feces change-detection unit that detects a change in color of a feces indicator that visually changes a color on contact with feces.

An absorbent article includes: a liquid absorbent body; a feces indicator that visually changes between two colors, the feces indicator changing, on contact with feces, from a pre-feces-contact color to a post-feces-contact color; and a urine indicator that visually changes between two colors, the urine indicator changing, on contact with urine, from a pre-urine-contact color to a post-urine-contact color, the feces indicator and the urine indicator being disposed on a non-skin side in a thickness direction with respect to the absorbent body, and one of the two colors of the feces indicator being visually similar to one of the two colors of the urine indicator, whereas the other of the two colors of the feces indicator being visually dissimilar to the other of the two colors of the urine indicator.

A sensor system for detecting a property of or within an absorbent article may comprise an absorbent article and a sensor. The absorbent article may comprise a garment-facing layer and an absorbent assembly. The sensor may be disposed in and/or on the absorbent article. The sensor may be separable from the absorbent article. The sensor may be configured to sense a change in condition within the absorbent article.

A disposable diaper product useful for collecting a urine sample from an infant is disclosed. In one example the product may have a liquid control structure overlying a liquid impermeable backsheet, with a plan surface area defining a volume coextensive therewith, wherein a portion of the volume defined by at least 50 percent of the plan surface area contains no more than 50 percent by weight absorbent material. In another example the product may have a liquid control structure overlying a liquid impermeable backsheet, and have an average Liquid Release Ratio of at least 3 percent. A method for collecting a urine sample from an infant is also disclosed, in which a diaper is used for collection.

A medical swab for medical diagnostic testing in provided herein. In particular, the medical swab may include a crumple zone configured to crumple, elastically deform, plastically deform, bend, flex, collapse, and/or give when an axial force and/or a radial force is applied to the medical swab. In some embodiments, a stem of the medical swab may retract into or extend from one or more bases. In some embodiments, the medical swab can include a telescoping mechanism configured to control retraction and/or extension of the stem. In some embodiments, the medical swab can include a color changing tip and/or a color changing stem.

Systems and methods for detecting determining a volume of urine in an absorbent article such as a diaper. A diaper loading application obtains a first measurement of ambient light received from a photodetector while a light source is off and a second measurement from the photodetector while the light source is transmitting light on an absorbent article. The application determines a normalized measurement of light reflected from an absorbent article by removing an ambient light signal from the second measurement based on the first measurement. The application determines, from the normalized measurement, a presence of urine in the absorbent article. The application further determines an estimated volume of urine in the absorbent article, wherein the determining is based on an elapsed time since the presence of urine and an activity state of an infant wearing the absorbent article.

A combined apparatus for indicating the elevated temperature of an infant and for sensing moisture in a diaper. The combined apparatus includes an elongated sensing strip made of highly efficient liquid absorption and transfer capillary wick material having a first end disposed in engagement with the diaper. The elongated sensing strip has a first side having a pair of screen-printed, spaced apart conductive ink bands which couple electrically at one end with a portable alarm unit and a second side having an elongated band of thermochromic ink printed thereon a segment of which is visible proximate the second end of the elongated sensing strip.

A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame and arranged to support a patient thereon. A sensor is included to detect moisture on the patient and/or the patient support apparatus. The sensor produces signals indicative of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus. One or more alerts are output in response to the signals provided by the sensor to notify a caregiver of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus.

A liquid-indicating alarm diaper device for alerting a person of urine detection by emitting a pleasant smell from a liquid-permeable rupturing capsule includes a diaper having of a pair of apertures. The pair of apertures is configured for each leg of the user to be inserted into a respective one of the pair of apertures. The diaper is positioned around a waist of the user. The diaper positioned on the user defines a space within the diaper. A capsule is positioned in the defined space within the diaper. The capsule comprises of a membrane wall and a perfume. The membrane wall is liquid permeable to rupturing. A liquid such as urine can rupture the membrane wall to release the perfume. A vent positioned in the front of the diaper is an air conduit for air flow of a pleasant scent from the perfume.