Personal hygiene product with a digital element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016250081-A1
Application number	US-201615045663-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 26, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A personal hygiene product with a digital element is described. In one embodiment, a conductive sensor assembly is disposed within the personal hygiene product that includes one or more moisture sensors that generate a resistive signal indicative of saturation of the personal hygiene product when in wetting contact with menstrual fluid.

First claim

1 . A personal hygiene product with a digital element comprising:
a personal hygiene product having an axial length comprising an absorbent core in a form suitable for insertion into a user's body to absorb menstrual fluid; a conductive sensor assembly disposed within the absorbent core including one or more moisture sensors disposed on a sensor substrate, each moisture sensor being located at a select position along the axial length of said personal hygiene product, each moisture sensor including a moisture sensitive switch connected to a resistor where a resistance value of the moisture sensitive switch is less than a resistance value of the resistor, said conductive sensor assembly generating a signal indicative of saturation level of said personal hygiene product when said conductive sensor assembly is in wetting contact with the menstrual fluid; a external digital element coupled to said conductive sensor assembly including a substrate having a communication circuit capable of wireless communication with a smart hand held electronic device, a processor, a power source and a first mating connector; a signal transmission conduit extending from said conductive sensor assembly and interconnecting said conductive sensor assembly to said external digital element.

2 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said conductive sensor assembly extends substantially the entire axial length of said personal hygiene product.

3 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the one or more moisture sensitive switches include an interdigitated electrode structure connected to a resistor.

4 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 further wherein said signal transmission conduit includes a magnetic connector and said external digital element includes a mating magnetic connector such that said external digital element is magnetically connected to said signal transmission conduit.

5 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the resistors are between 1kΩ and 10kΩ.

6 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing biometric data of the user.

7 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing pH level of the bodily fluid discharge of a user and surrounding environment.

8 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing temperature of the user.

9 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the conductive sensor assembly is capable of sensing hormone levels.

10 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit is capable of low power blue tooth wireless communication with a smart hand held device.

11 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit is capable of near field wireless communication with a smart hand held device.

12 . The personal hygiene product of claim 12 wherein the smart hand held device comprises a hand held personal electronic device capable of interface with a user.

13 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 12 wherein the smart hand held device includes a receiver and a software application.

14 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 12 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of signaling or alerting a user-based quantified data received from said conductive sensor assembly.

15 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 12 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of direct order and purchase of additional personal hygiene products through an internet-based consumer services.

16 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 12 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of estimating order quantity based on historical data of bodily fluid discharge.

17 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 12 wherein the smart hand held device includes a software application capable of predicting time and rate of bodily fluid discharge.

18 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit includes a cable.

19 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit includes conductive ink deposited on a flexible substrate.

20 . The personal hygiene product with a digital element of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission conduit is magnetically coupled to said digital element.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Pugh Randall Braxton
• Neeley William Chester

Classifications

• A61F2013/424

  having an electronic device · CPC title

• A61F13/2048

  Ball-shaped tampons · CPC title

• A61F13/20

  Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• A61F13/472

  specially adapted for female use · CPC title

• A61F13/42 Primary

  with wetness indicator or alarm · CPC title