03.16.04
A patent has been issued for a body fluid absorbent panel, comprised of a first sheet which is liquid-pervious and a second sheet. There is a core between the first and second sheets, comprised of component fibers defining a three dimensional network structure and absorbent polymer particles distributed in said network structure. The structure contains polymer particles contained within the network structure that are held between adjacent component fibers or bonded to said component fibers. The component fibers are comprised of the first fibers of a lower melting point and second fibers of a higher melting point. The network structure has first spots at which the first fibers are fused together and second spot s at which the first fibers are fused to the second fibers and bonds between the first fibers at where the first spots are stronger than bonds between the first and second fibers at the second spots.