A tampon assembly having a barrel, a plunger, and a pledget is provided. The plunger is slidably received in the barrel. The pledget is in the barrel between the insertion tip and the plunger so that a force applied on the plunger can expel the pledget from the barrel. The barrel has a plurality of petals defining an insertion tip, which has a first taper ratio of more than about 0.3 to less than 1.0. The pledget has a shaped tip that is disposed in the insertion tip.

The disclosed tampon may include a pledget having a rearward end; a wicking member having a trailing portion trailing the rearward end and having a rearward edge; and a withdrawal cord with an attached portion attached to the pledget and a free portion trailing the rearward edge. In an opened condition the pledget has a pair of side edges and a pledget width, and includes fibrous absorbent material and an outer cover of a first section of nonwoven web at least partially covering the absorbent material, the trailing portion of the wicking member including at least four layers of nonwoven web, at least one of which is an extension of the first section of nonwoven web. The wicking member may have a width substantially equal to the pledget width; and the trailing portion may have a length of at least about 10 mm and no greater than about 60 mm.

The present disclosure describes a tampon article, a composite fibrous web, and a method of making same. Such an article includes an outer carrier component including an inner surface that defines an internal void. Including an absorbent component elongate along an axis and is disposed in the internal void. The absorbent component includes an outer surface that extends about the axis and faces the inner surface. The absorbent component further includes a composite fibrous web of staple cellulosic fibers and a meltspun web of filaments entangled with the web of staple cellulosic fibers. The composite fibrous web can be in a compressed configuration in the internal void such that at least portion of the outer surface of the absorbent component is defined by the meltspun web of filaments. The tampon can include a withdrawal cord coupled to the absorbent component.

An apparatus for applying a field of microwave energy for the processing of an absorbent article is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elongate chamber having a longitudinal axis and first and second circularly polarized microwave radiation transmitting device radiatingly coupled to the elongate chamber and oriented so that the microwave energy is transmitted from the first and second circularly polarized microwave radiation transmitting devices is directed toward the longitudinal axis. The elongate chamber has a surface distributed about the longitudinal axis, a proximal end providing ingress for the absorbent article into the elongate chamber, and a distal end providing egress of the absorbent article from the elongate chamber. The second circularly polarized microwave radiation transmitting device is coupled to the elongate chamber at a position relative to the longitudinal axis that ranges from about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees relative to the position of the first circularly polarized microwave radiation transmitting device.

An apparatus for compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device, and a method of compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device are described. The apparatus can have a press unit support structure rotatable about a fixed axis. An axial direction press unit is associated with the press unit support structure. Second press unit is associated with the press unit support structure wherein the second press unit is one of a non-linear direction press unit or a press unit having a compression surface area which decreases with the movement of compression.

An apparatus for compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device, and a method of compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device are described. The apparatus can have a first press unit support structure and a second press unit support structure, and each of the first press unit support structure and the second press unit support structure is rotatable about an axis. A first press unit has a compression surface area which decreases with the movement of compression associated with the first press unit support structure. A second press unit is associated with the second press unit support structure, wherein the second press unit is one of an axial direction press unit, a non-linear direction press unit, or a press unit having a compression surface area which decreases with the movement of compression.

An apparatus for compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device, and a method of compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device are described. The apparatus can have a first press unit support structure and a second press unit support structure, and each of the first press unit support structure and the second press unit support structure is rotatable about an axis. A first press unit has a compression surface area which decreases with the movement of compression associated with the first press unit support structure. A second press unit is associated with the second press unit support structure, wherein the second press unit is one of an axial direction press unit, a non-linear direction press unit, or a press unit having a compression surface area which decreases with the movement of compression.

An apparatus for compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device, and a method of compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device are described. The apparatus can have a press unit support structure rotatable about a fixed axis. An axial direction press unit is associated with the press unit support structure. Second press unit is associated with the press unit support structure wherein the second press unit is one of a non-linear direction press unit or a press unit having a compression surface area which decreases with the movement of compression.

Systems and method of facilitating hemostasis in a tract in a patient are disclosed. The method can include, in some cases, delivering an elongate member into the tract, the elongate member comprising a lumen; injecting a suspension through the elongate member, the suspension comprising pledgets comprising surface irregularities; a hemostatic agent; and particles comprising an average diameter less than an average diameter of the pledgets. The pledgets, hemostatic agent, and particles pack the tract and promote hemostasis.

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making tampons including primary and secondary absorbent members. During assembly, primary absorbent members, a continuous length of secondary absorbent members, and a continuous cord are advanced in a machine direction. Leading edges of the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance. Discrete secondary absorbent members are cut from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members. Leading edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members are also separated from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance. The continuous cord is positioned on a first surface of the secondary absorbent members. And a second surface of a secondary absorbent member is positioned in contact with and in a facing relationship with a primary absorbent member. A thread is sewn through the continuous cord, the secondary absorbent member, and the primary absorbent member.