A sanitary napkin comprising a body-facing layer comprising a body-facing surface; a liquid-impermeable garment-facing layer; and an absorbent structure therebetween; wherein the body-facing surface comprises indicia configured to facilitate the processing of data contained in an image of the body-facing surface and wherein the indicia comprise hydrophobic material. A computer implemented method for estimating menstrual fluid quantity using the sanitary napkin and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform a method for estimating menstrual fluid quantity.

A disposable hygiene article having an absorbent core with a first region which has its narrowest width (M) in the transverse direction (x) in a front portion or at a location of a transition between the front portion and a crotch portion of the article. The absorbent core comprises a high-density first region and a low density second region. The absorbent core in the crotch region has first and second rear compression lines. The compression lines mutually diverge in a direction towards the core front edge. Each line has a diverging angle (.sub.2; .sub.3) of from 15-60 with respect to a centre line (A). The second region has an average density which is at least 20% lower than the average density of the first region.

A disposable hygiene article having an absorbent core with a first area having its narrowest width in the transverse direction in a front portion or at a location of a transition between the front portion and a crotch portion of the article. The absorbent core has a high-density region and a low density region. The absorbent core has a compression line forming an essentially upside down turned V such that the front tip of the V is located on the centre line and the legs of the V diverge towards the core rear edge at a mutual angle (.sub.1) of from 30-120. The low density region has an average density which is at least 20%, preferably at least 30% and most preferably at least 50% lower than the average density of the high density region. Also disclosed is a method of making the article.

Absorbent articles including sanitary napkins, panty liners and incontinence pads, wherein an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article is reduced from rising by the contraction force of an elastic stretchable member, and the absorption performance is improved and lateral leakage is prevented. In FIG. 5, a sanitary napkin 1 includes a side nonwoven fabric 7 that has an absorber 4 interposed between a permeable front sheet 3 and an impermeable back sheet 2 and forms a solid gather BS rising on each of both side portions on a skin side by a contraction force due to an elastic stretchable member 14. The side nonwoven fabric 7 has a fixed zone 20 joined to the absorbent article 4 side by folding back in both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the napkin, a standing zone 21 rising on a skin side by joining the elastic stretchable member 14 in an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the napkin, and a non-fixed zone 22 where the elastic stretchable member 14 is neither joined between the fixed zone 20 and standing zone 21 nor joined to the absorber 4 side.

Particular embodiments of the inventive technology may provide an incontinence pad that includes projection, such as a raised ridge, or a short length projection, that extends from a pad base of and effects application of a force against the urethra of a user (the force, typically upward, that may result from sitting by the user and/or tight fitting shorts and/or pulling a cord attached to the projection); the projection may act to transfer a force from the projection to the urethra. This force may partially or entirely obstruct flow of urine through, or out of the urethra, that might occur otherwise (i.e., without the projection). Another example of the many independent aspects of the inventive technology relates to the provision, as part of an incontinence pad, of a cord that is attached to part of the pad, such as (in only certain embodiments) the aforementioned upward projection.

A feminine hygiene product that includes a top layer, a base layer, a protrusion formed in the top layer, a fluid absorbing section, and a reservoir section. The protrusion includes a primary channel, and the protrusion is configured to be inserted within an orifice of a user. The fluid absorbing section includes a plurality of fluid channels, and the plurality of fluid channels are configured to wick fluid away from the primary channel of the protrusion. The plurality of fluid channels have a gradient of absorbency, and a highest absorbency is distal from a proximal opening of the primary channel. The primary channel of the protrusion is positioned within the fluid absorbing section. The reservoir section is positioned between the top layer and the base layer. The reservoir section is positioned at a distal opening of the primary channel of the protrusion and comprises an absorbent material.

Particular embodiments of the inventive technology may provide an incontinence pad that includes projection, such as a raised ridge, or a short length projection, that extends from a pad base of and effects application of a force against the urethra of a user (the force, typically upward, that may result from sitting by the user and/or tight fitting shorts and/or pulling a cord attached to the projection); the projection may act to transfer a force from the projection to the urethra. This force may partially or entirely obstruct flow of urine through, or out of the urethra, that might occur otherwise (i.e., without the projection). Another example of the many independent aspects of the inventive technology relates to the provision, as part of an incontinence pad, of a cord that is attached to part of the pad, such as (in only certain embodiments) the aforementioned upward projection.

An absorbent article (20;620;720;820;920;1020) capable of inhibiting leakage of a fluid insult generally extends in a plane defined by a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. The absorbent article (20;620;720;820;920;1020) contains fluid-shrinkable members (60,61), a topsheet (11;611;711;811), and a base pad (12;812) that includes a baffle (28;828) and an absorbent core (30) positioned between the topsheet (11;611;711;811) and the baffle (28;828). The topsheet (11;611;711;811) extends in the longitudinal direction to define a distal end (153) and an opposing proximal end (152). At least a portion of the proximal end (152) remains generally unbonded to the baffle (28;828). The fluid-shrinkable members (60,61) extend in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article (20;620;720;820;920;1020) so that at least a portion of the fluid-shrinkable members (60,61) are located adjacent to the proximal end (152) of the topsheet (11;611;711;811). Thus, when the fluid-shrinkable members (60,61) contract upon contacting a fluid insult, the proximal end (152) of the topsheet (11;611;711;811) can raise outwardly from the plane of the absorbent article (20;620;720;820;920;1020). The raised area creates a barrier to the leakage of fluids from the center of the absorbent article (20;620;720;820;920;1020) towards its end. Contraction of the fluid-shrinkable members can also cause an outer region of the topsheet (11;611;711;811) to raise outwardly from the plane of the absorbent article (20;620;720;820;920;1020) to create a barrier to the leakage of fluid from the center of the absorbent article (20;620;720;820;920;1020) towards the side edge. Because such barriers are generally created only after contact with a fluid insult, their effectiveness is not diminished through use of the article prior to the insult.

Particular embodiments of the inventive technology may provide an incontinence pad that includes projection, such as a raised ridge, or a short length projection, that extends from a pad base of and effects application of a force against the urethra of a user (the force, typically upward, that may result from sitting by the user and/or tight fitting shorts and/or pulling a cord attached to the projection); the projection may act to transfer a force from the projection to the urethra. This force may partially or entirely obstruct flow of urine through, or out of the urethra, that might occur otherwise (i.e., without the projection). Another example of the many independent aspects of the inventive technology relates to the provision, as part of an incontinence pad, of a cord that is attached to part of the pad, such as (in only certain embodiments) the aforementioned upward projection.

An absorbent article includes an absorbent core, a liquid impervious backsheet, a liquid pervious topsheet, a functional layer, an adhesive layer and a releasable film. The functional layer includes a plurality of functional particles that are made from a material selected from sodium carbonate, argireline, mineral rock crystal, porphyritic andesite, borneol, mint essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, jasmine essential oil, far-infrared radiation particles and combinations thereof.