A vaginal fluid monitoring device includes an absorbent layer, wherein the absorbent layer is configured to be in proximity to flow of vaginal fluid; an electrochemical detection system configured to obtain data regarding at least one analyte in a vaginal fluid, said electrochemical detection system in fluid communication with the absorbent layer; and wherein the vaginal fluid monitoring device is configured to be coupled with a feminine hygiene product.

A smart diaper system includes a diaper body adapted to be worn by a user and an absorbent pad coupled to the diaper body. The system further includes a wireless communication device fixedly attached to the diaper body and a base station device in wireless communication with the wireless communication device, the base station device configured to determine a distance between the wireless communication device and the base station device.

The present application relates to an electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article and related methods. The electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article includes a flexible waterproof thin film; at least two mutually separated and insulated flexible electrodes disposed on one surface of the flexible waterproof thin film; a water-permeable braided fabric layer; and an absorbent layer disposed on the other surface of the flexible waterproof thin film, located between the flexible waterproof thin film and the water-permeable braided fabric layer, and adapted to absorb a liquid entering from the water-permeable braided fabric layer. The flexible waterproof thin film, the flexible electrodes, and the liquid contained in the absorbent layer form a non-polar variable electrolytic capacitor. The wetness state of the electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article is obtained by detecting the capacitance value of the variable electrolytic capacitor and change thereof.

The invention provides an absorbent article comprising an indication means for indicating the presence of bodily exudates, the indication means comprising a color-changing indication means, wherein the absorbent article and the indication means form one integral unit, the article further comprising a indication device, which comprises a housing and a connection means, such that the indication device can be attached to the absorbent article and be detached from the absorbent article, wherein the indication device comprises a color sensor.

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 method for processing sensor signals representing a wetness event in an absorbent article, the method comprising the steps of: providing an absorbent article comprising a sensor adapted to detect wetness events therein and a first clip-on data processing module in electrical communication with said sensor; providing a database comprising a plurality of information factors, wherein said information factors comprise individualized thresholds for a plurality of absorbent article conditions, each said individualized thresholds being allocated with a corresponding warning condition; receiving from the sensor and/or clip-on data processing module sensor signals representing a plurality of real-time indicators comprising wearing time; wetness events in an absorbent article; interval time between wetness events and/or duration of said wetness event within said absorbent article; processing the sensor signals to determine an absorbent article condition; wherein processing the sensor signals includes combining the information factors with the real-time indicators and, from the sensor signals representative of each individual wetness event: (i) assigning a position of said wetness event within an x, y coordinates of the absorbent article; (ii) grouping wetness event indicators, such as amount of exudate within said wetness event, according to a common position according to step (i); (iii) normalizing the values of the real-time indicators, from the sensor signals; (iv) allocating weightings to the normalised values to generate weighted values for that wetness event; and wherein the weighted values and the grouped wetness event indicators are combined to generate a combined event indicator that is compared with the information factors and when the combined event indicator is equal to one or more of the information factors a signal is generated by the clip-on data processing module according to the one or more corresponding warning conditions.

A sensor device includes: a first protective layer; at least one pad positioned on an upper part of at least a part of the first protective layer; at least one sensing pattern layer positioned on an upper part of at least a part of the first protective layer and electrically connected to one of the at least one pad; a flexible body layer positioned on upper parts of the at least one pad and the at least one sensing pattern layer; and a shield plate layer positioned on an upper part of at least a part of the flexible body layer.

A sensor for detecting urine and stool secretion mounted over two or more layers of garment, said sensor comprising: at least one light source configured to illuminate said garment; at least one photodetector configured to output an indication of the amount of light reflected from said garment; and an electronic circuit configured to detect said secretion by monitoring said output of said photodetector and identifying a temporal pattern being characteristic of said secretion event.

A device for detecting a state of a diaper includes a sensor unit with a conducting unit including at least two electrodes. The electrodes are configured to detect electrical parameters of their environment. A coupling portion is disposed on at least one end side of the conducting unit and is connectable to a measuring device. The conducting unit is attached to a carrier layer. The measuring device comprises an input portion being connectable to the sensor unit, and a processor configured to receive signals corresponding to values of the electrical parameters detected by the sensor unit and to process said signals. A power control means is configured to control electrical power supplied from a power supply, and a determination means is configured to determine whether a state of a diaper has changed. A transmitting means is configured to transmit information regarding the determined state change to a receiving means.

A clip-on module having a specialized housing design, probe contacts, switches, various advertising modes, and various configurations of signal repeaters is disclosed. The module is utilized via attachment to a specialized garment worn by a human patient. To properly apply the housing to the garment, a user will squeeze the module to open using tactile features embedded within the housing, locate the module, and then press-clamp the module to close and attach it. A plurality of probe contacts within the module have sharpness requirements for penetrating one or more layers of the garment while still maintaining low resistance, and will work with a backing material for probe.