Smart Absorbent Article and Components:

Jens Hellmold, Beckum, Germany; Alissa Idelson, Rheinbach, Germany; and Lisa Heirman, Buggenhout, Belgium.
Assigned to Ontex BV, Buggenhout, Belgium; and Ontex Group NV, Erembodegem, Belgium.

Filed: 6/13/18
Issued: 3/26/24

An absorbent article (100) suitable for detecting a wetness event therein and/or risk of exudate leakage therefrom, said absorbent article comprising: a liquid impermeable backsheet (141); a liquid permeable topsheet (142); an absorbent core (143) interposed between said backsheet (141) and topsheet (142), a clip-on data processing module (103) that is capable of being removed; and a substrate (1) comprising a first surface (2) proximal to a body facing side of the absorbent article (100) and a second surface (3) opposite said first surface (2) and arranged proximal to a garment facing side of said absorbent article (100), said substrate (1) comprising a plurality of sensor tracks (101) disposed on said first surface (2) wherein said sensor tracks (101) are in electrical communication with a plurality of exposed electrically conductive terminals (33) of the clip-on data processing module (103) when connected at a position proximal to a first end (5) of the substrate (1) such to form a closed electrical circuit, characterized in that said substrate (1) comprises one or more slits (15) and an insulating layer (200) placed over said first surface (2) to sandwich at least a portion of said sensor tracks (101) therebetween, and in that a pocket (16) is formed between said first surface (2) and said insulating layer (200) at least proximal to said first end (5), said pocket (16) being in fluid communication with said slit(s) (15) and arranged to retain at least a portion of said clip-on data processing module (103) therein, wherein said portion comprises the exposed electrically conductive terminals (33), and wherein said substrate (1) consists of the liquid impermeable backsheet (141) and said insulating layer (200) is a non-conductive film, and wherein the pocket (16) is delimited along a garment facing outer surface of the pocket (16) by the garment facing surface of the substrate (1) and along a skin facing inner surface of the pocket (16) by the insulating layer (200), and along at least the longitudinally extending dimensions of a perimeter of the pocket (16) by a bonding seal (22) such that the pocket remains impermeable to exudates.