An incontinence assist appliance for a user comprises an envelope including a surface, such as an upper outside surface, for contact with the user. A removable bladder is receivable within the envelope and includes a port for attachment of a catheter which passes through an opening in the outer envelope. The bladder contains a urine absorbing substance so that it avoids spills of liquid urine. The envelope may be formed as a wearable garment. A pair of trousers incorporating the appliance in each leg is also provided.

Systems and methods for detecting a color of a color changing indicator in the presence of ambient light. A system includes a light source, a photodetector, and a processor. The processor obtains a first measurement of ambient light received from the photodetector while the light source is off. The processor causes the light source to transmit light. The processor obtains a second measurement from the photodetector during the transmission, the second measurement including the ambient light and the pulsed light reflected from an object. The processor determines a color of the color changing indicator by removing an ambient light signal from the second measurement based on the first measurement and therefrom determines a volume of bodily exudate present.

An absorbent article has an absorbent body with a colored fiber layer colored in a different color from a color of any member other than the absorbent body across a whole in a front-back direction and a width direction thereof. The colored fiber layer is visually recognizable from an outside.

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 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.

An absorbent article comprises an absorbent core sandwiched between a topsheet and a backsheet. The article defines a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The absorbent core comprises an absorbent component enclosed by a core cover comprising an upper and a lower side, and the core is formed with a sealing arrangement for joining the upper and lower sides comprising two channel sealings extending along an longitudinal axis in the crotch portion and defining a first channel sealing width and a second channel sealing width, respectively. The front portion of the core is formed with a recess defining a depth extending from a front edge of the core and into the front portion. A distance is defined between said front edge of the core and a front edge of each channel sealing, such that the ratio of the depth and the distance is within the interval 0.05-0.8.

An absorbent article having an outer cover with an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, an absorbent core positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover, and a wetness indicator graphic located on the outer cover. The wetness indicator graphic has a permanent graphic defining at least one non-printed area and a changing graphic located within the at least one non-printed area of the permanent graphic such that the permanent graphic and the changing graphic together give the appearance of a uniform graphic.

The invention relates to an incontinence monitoring system including a plurality of electrodes on an absorbent article including an absorbent core and a device for electrical connection with the electrodes and monitoring one or more electrical properties of the electrodes. A first set of the electrodes are adapted for detection of wetness associated with urinary incontinence events, and a second set of the electrodes are adapted for detection of faecal incontinence events. The invention also relates to an absorbent article, sensor and device as well as methods for monitoring incontinence.

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having a longitudinally extending channel-forming area 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 a channel is formed along the area substantially free of absorbent material.

A wetness indicator composition comprising at least one pH-indicator colorant, from about 0.001% to about 75% by weight of at least one color-stabilizer, and from 0.1% to 70% by weight of at least one hardening agent, and wherein the wetness indicator has a defined and properly selected hot to cold solidification rate, hardness and melt point.