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.

The present disclosure provides an absorbent article for personal hygiene. More particularly, in one embodiment, the absorbent article absorbent article includes at least one property changing indicator. A detector device is also provided that includes at least one sensor. The sensor is adapted to detect the property change of the property change indicator in the absorbent article. In one particular embodiment, for example, the property changing indicator may include an optical property indicator such as a color change indicator and the sensor may include an optical sensor such as a color sensor.

Described herein are apparatus and methods for detecting substances of abuse or other analytes in liquids. For example, the apparatus and methods described herein can be used for real-time detection of analytes, such as substances of abuse. The methods comprise providing a detection area comprising a chromatographic membrane capable of receiving the liquid and allowing for migration of the liquid, the chromatographic membrane comprising an anti-analyte antibody-particle conjugate, an analyte-conjugate protein at a test line; exposing at least the first location of the apparatus to the liquid; and determining whether an interaction between the analyte-conjugate protein and the liquid occurs to detect the presence of the analyte. The chromatographic membrane may further comprise an anti-species antibody at a control line. Specific buffers are disclosed, and these buffers may be used in the preparation of the apparatus to overcome challenges associated with miniaturization and challenges associated with exposure to beverages.

The present disclosure provides an absorbent article for personal hygiene. More particularly, in one embodiment, the absorbent article absorbent article includes at least one property changing indicator. A detector device is also provided that includes at least one sensor. The sensor is adapted to detect the property change of the property change indicator in the absorbent article. In one particular embodiment, for example, the property changing indicator may include an optical property indicator such as a color change indicator and the sensor may include an optical sensor such as a color sensor.

Described herein are apparatus and methods for detecting substances of abuse or other analytes in liquids. For example, the apparatus and methods described herein can be used for real-time detection of analytes, such as substances of abuse. The methods comprise providing a detection area comprising a chromatographic membrane capable of receiving the liquid and allowing for migration of the liquid, the chromatographic membrane comprising an anti-analyte antibody-particle conjugate, an analyte-conjugate protein at a test line; exposing at least the first location of the apparatus to the liquid; and determining whether an interaction between the analyte-conjugate protein and the liquid occurs to detect the presence of the analyte. The chromatographic membrane may further comprise an anti-species antibody at a control line. Specific buffers are disclosed, and these buffers may be used in the preparation of the apparatus to overcome challenges associated with miniaturization and challenges associated with exposure to beverages.

Described herein are a wearable apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of a targeted substance in a liquid. For example, the wearable apparatus can be a fingernail that detects illicit drugs in a beverage. The wearable apparatus comprises a detection layer comprising an indicator that is configured to display a signal upon the detection of an interaction with the targeted substance. In some examples, the wearable apparatus can include a lateral flow assay.

An excrement sensing device and a diaper with an excrement sensing device are provided. The diaper includes a detachable sensing part, an electronic part and a diaper main body. The detachable sensing part includes a first light guide structure and a second light guide structure. The electronic part includes a signal processor. A light guide gap is formed between two light guide openings of the first light guide structure and the second light guide structure. After the optical signal from the emitter is transmitted through the first light guide structure, the light guide gap and the second light guide structure, the optical signal is received by the receiver. When excrement enters the light guide gap, the optical signal is subjected to a change. In response to the change of the optical signal, the signal processor generates a warning signal.

A wetness indicating polymeric film and method of making the film is provided. The method includes feeding a polymer film into a flexographic printing apparatus; printing at least one wetness indicator ink onto a first side of the perforated polymer; and perforating the polymer film by forming a plurality of apertures or enlarged micropores that extend from the first side to the second side. The apertures or enlarged micropores permit a sufficient quantity of an aqueous liquid to pass from the second side through the perforated polymer film to the first side. Upon contact, the aqueous liquid reacts with the wetness indicator ink to cause a color change visible by an unaided human eye. In an absorbent article including the inventive film as a backsheet, the total amount of liquid that passes through the backsheet is negligible and the barrier properties of the backsheet as a whole are not compromised.

An absorbent article including features facilitating toilet training of a wearer is provided. The article includes at least a first appearing graphic that changes from an initial, less visible state to a subsequent, more visible state in the absence of wetness, thereby to provide positive encouragement to a child during toilet training. The appearing graphic becomes less visible if subjected to liquid. A wetness sensation member may also be provided to give tactile, negative sensation to the child, thereby giving feedback received by at least two different senses. Additionally or alternatively, a second appearing graphic, different from the first appearing graphic, may be provided to increase a child's interest in the toilet training process. The first and second appearing graphics may become visible at different times, thereby providing a sequential or spaced reveal of the image.

The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing a diaper that has multiple moisture sensing elements on interior side of its bottom impermeable layer or on any surface of the top permeable layer. The moisture sending elements are made by spraying conductive ink on a moving sheet of either the bottom impermeable layer or the top permeable layer, before other layers of the diaper are attached. Spraying of conductive ink on the moving sheet causes parallel lines of conductive inks to be formed on the layer. The parallel lines of conductive ink run through the entire length of either of the layers and are designed to get connected with a detecting device. When a user urinates inside the diaper, the moisture causes a closed circuit between at least two of the parallel lines of conductive inks. These formations of closed circuits, between parallel lines of conductive inks, are detected by the detecting device. Also, with increasing volume of moisture, the resistance of the closed circuits also tends to decrease. This rate of decrease of resistance is also detected by the detecting device and is used to calculate a volume of moisture present in the diaper. The detecting device then generates a suitable alarm to give an idea about the saturation level of the diaper. The process of manufacturing sensing elements by spraying conductive inks on moving sheet of layer reduces the processing and modification overhead of specially designed conductive ink printers and also does not impact the manufacturing time of a diaper manufacturing assembly line.