A system for measuring fluid absorption and retention properties of various samples having one or more materials, layers and/or articles. The system includes an optically or radiographically transparent fixture. The system enables measuring voxels having a grayscale value that demonstrate a difference in fluid densities and thereby enable the study of fluid flow and movement within and/or amongst various materials and articles in real time.

A menstrual device having a storage volume. The menstrual device has a frame and a fluid barrier seal layer attached to the exterior surface of the frame. The menstrual device has an expanded configuration that includes an at rest configuration and a deployed configuration. The menstrual device has a compact configuration where the menstrual device is confined to a size, shape and/or geometry smaller than an expanded configuration such that it can be more easily inserted into the body. The menstrual device in a compact configuration is contained within an applicator, where the applicator assists in ejecting the menstrual device into the body.

A wearable absorbent hygiene article includes an electronics unit, a power source and a magnetic switch. The magnetic switch operably couples the electronics unit to the power source. The magnetic switch is configured such that the power source supplies power to the electronics unit when the magnetic switch is in an ON state and such that the power source does not supply power to the electronics unit when the magnetic switch is in an OFF state. The magnetic switch is further configured such that a movement of a magnet relative to the magnetic switch switches the magnetic switch from the OFF state to the ON state.

Disclosed are systems and methods of a health monitoring device comprising: a flexible circuit, an absorbent product, and, a processing unit. The flexible circuit comprises: an electrochemical biosensor, a color sensor, an LED, and, a moisture sensor. The electrochemical biosensor comprises a plurality of reference electrodes. The processing unit comprises: a GPS antenna, a power unit, a BLUETOOTH? low energy transceiver, a GPS transceiver, a microcontroller, and, an accelerometer. The processing unit is electronically coupled to the flexible circuit. The methods comprise: obtaining health data from health monitoring device; recording the health data on the memory unit; transmitting the health data to a data communication device; and, displaying the health data on the data communication device.

Reusable garments and personal care products that have diagnostics embedded therein can be a 2-in-1 diagnostic and hygiene tool. In one example, a reusable menstrual pad with diagnostics embedded therein can serve as a low-cost detection tool for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in developing regions. The pad, e.g., cloth-based sanitary napkin, can house a diagnostic mechanism so when menstrual blood hits the surface of the pad while in use, the mechanismor testing stripcan process the blood to test it for HPV markers. The pad can address a complex problem by leveraging the monthly frequency of menstrual cycles to routinely test for HPV.

To know an absorption and diffusion state with time of drainage. In a state in which an absorbent article is put on a human body type dummy doll equipped with a body fluid-supplying means, the absorbent article is photographed after the fluid is excreted from the dummy doll by an X-ray CT apparatus; and at least one absorption modes of absorption modes of the drainage into the absorbent article after the excretion in the state in which the absorbent article is put on the dummy doll, and absorption dynamics of the drainage on the absorbent article after the excretion is displayed/analyzed based on the photographed image.

A method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to the present invention includes a first step of successively introducing an aggregate of absorbent fibers and a water-absorbent resin into a gap that is formed between a first surface and a second surface and is smaller than a thickness of the aggregate of the absorbent fibers, recesses and protrusions being formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface, a second step of applying a shearing force to the aggregate of the absorbent fibers by moving the first surface relative to and parallel to the second surface in order to mix the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin, and a third step of causing the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed to fall, and stacking the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin by suctioning the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin into a recessed portion having a predetermined shape.

A wearable absorbent hygiene article includes a liquid permeable top layer, a back layer, an absorbent member, an electronics unit, a power source and a switch. The liquid permeable top layer is adapted to face the wearer during use. The back layer is opposite to the top layer. The absorbent member is located between the top layer and the back layer. The switch operably couples the electronics unit to the power source. The switch is configured such that the power source supplies power to the electronics unit when the switch is in an ON state and such that the power source does not supply power to the electronics unit when the switch is in an OFF state. The power source, the switch and at least a portion of the electronics unit are disposed between the top layer and the back layer.

To provide a user-friendly disposable article including a disposable base fabric provided with at least one of a permeable sheet and a fiber sheet, and multiple elastic members that are joined to at least one of the permeable sheet and the fiber sheet so as to have a joined part and a non-joined part; and a joining part for joining the disposable base fabric and an article to be attached so that the multiple elastic members give an elastic force to a surface to be applied to the skin, arranging the disposable base fabric on the surface side for applying to the skin.

A menstrual device having a storage volume. The menstrual device has a frame and a fluid barrier seal layer attached to the exterior surface of the frame. The menstrual device has an expanded configuration that includes an at rest configuration and a deployed configuration. The menstrual device has a compact configuration where the menstrual device is confined to a size, shape and/or geometry smaller than an expanded configuration such that it can be more easily inserted into the body. The menstrual device in a compact configuration is contained within an applicator, where the applicator assists in ejecting the menstrual device into the body.