阅读说明：本技术 用于检测流体的个人卫生装置 (Personal hygiene device for detecting fluids ) 是由 W·C·尼利 R·B·皮尤 A·托纳 于 2019-08-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供了一种个人卫生装置,该个人卫生装置可具有主体,该主体具有被配置成吸收流体的吸收材料；设置在该主体内的传感器；以及被配置成与该传感器通信的控制器。该传感器具有导体和绝缘体,该绝缘体包含该导体的至少一部分,并且该传感器被配置成检测第一电气值和不同于该第一电气值的第二电气值。该传感器还被配置成在检测到第二电气值时将信号传输到该控制器。(A personal hygiene device may have a body having an absorbent material configured to absorb a fluid; a sensor disposed within the body; and a controller configured to communicate with the sensor. The sensor has a conductor and an insulator containing at least a portion of the conductor, and is configured to detect a first electrical value and a second electrical value different from the first electrical value. The sensor is also configured to transmit a signal to the controller upon detecting a second electrical value.)

1. A personal hygiene device comprising:

a body having an absorbent material configured to absorb a fluid;

a sensor disposed within the body, wherein the sensor comprises at least one pair of linear conductive leads spaced apart from each other and configured to generate an electric field between each other when a current is applied to one or more of the conductive leads, wherein the sensor further comprises an insulator disposed between the absorbing material and at least a portion of each of the conductive leads; and

a controller configured to communicate with the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a first capacitance value and a second capacitance value different from the first capacitance value, and to transmit a signal to the controller indicative of one or more of the first and second capacitance values, wherein the first and second capacitance values are dependent on the presence of a fluid within the electric field between the conductive leads when current is applied to one or more of the conductive leads.

2. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conductive leads are substantially parallel to each other.

3. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the electrically conductive leads is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the body.

4. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pair of linear conductive leads are configured within the body in a generally U-shaped configuration such that the pair of linear conductive leads extend in a first direction and bend to extend in a second direction different from the first direction.

5. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions with respect to the body.

6. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of the electrically conductive leads comprise one or more of an electrically conductive wire, or an electrically conductive yarn.

7. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of the conductive leads comprise a conductive wire having a non-conductive core and a conductive coating.

8. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the cross-section is substantially elliptical.

9. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cross-section is substantially annular.

10. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a separator disposed between the pair of linear conductive leads, wherein the separator comprises a fluid permeable material.

11. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the fluid permeable material comprises a hydrogel.

12. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the separator is spaced apart from each of the pair of linear conductive leads.

13. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a power source configured to provide a current to the sensor.

14. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the personal hygiene device is a tampon.

15. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the personal hygiene device is a sanitary napkin.

16. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insulator is treated such that a surface of the insulator is one or more of hydrophilic, hydrophobic, fully hydrophilic, fully hydrophobic, oleophilic, or oleophobic.

17. A personal hygiene device comprising:

a personal hygiene product having an axial length, the personal hygiene product comprising an absorbent core in a form suitable for insertion into a body of a user to absorb menses;

a capacitive sensor assembly disposed within the absorbent core, wherein the capacitive sensor assembly comprises at least one pair of linear conductive leads spaced apart from each other by a dielectric gap, the linear conductive leads configured to generate an electric field between each other when a current is applied to one or more of the linear conductive leads, wherein the sensor further comprises an insulator disposed between the absorbent core and at least a portion of each of the conductive leads;

a controller comprising communication circuitry capable of wireless communication with a user device; and

a signal transmission conduit extending from the capacitive sensor assembly and interconnecting the capacitive sensor assembly with the controller to facilitate transmission of information measured via the capacitive sensor assembly to the user device.

18. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the capacitive sensor assembly extends substantially the entire axial length of the personal hygiene product in a first direction and is curved to extend in a second direction.

19. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 18, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

20. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the communication circuit is capable of low power bluetooth wireless communication with the user device.

21. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the communication circuit is capable of near field wireless communication with the user device.

22. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the smart hand-held device comprises a hand-held personal electronic device capable of interacting with a user.

23. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the user device comprises a receiver and a software application capable of notifying or alerting a user by sending a signal based on data received from the capacitive sensor assembly.

24. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the user device comprises a software application that is capable of directly ordering and purchasing additional personal hygiene products through an internet-based consumer service.

25. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the user device comprises a software application capable of estimating an ordered amount based on historical data of bodily fluid discharge.

26. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the user device comprises a software application capable of predicting the time and rate of bodily fluid discharge.

27. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the signal transmission conduit comprises a cable.

28. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the signal transmission conduit comprises a conductive ink deposited on a flexible substrate.

29. The personal hygiene device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the insulator is treated such that a surface of the insulator is one or more of hydrophilic, hydrophobic, fully hydrophilic, fully hydrophobic, oleophilic, or oleophobic.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to personal hygiene devices configured to detect the presence of a fluid, and in particular to personal hygiene devices including capacitive sensors.

Background

There are many types of personal hygiene devices (e.g., products) on the market today. Examples of such personal hygiene devices include tampons, bed pads, disposable diapers, and disposable sanitary napkins. In particular, feminine hygiene products can be used during the menstrual cycle of women. Women may experience various menstrual flow during each cycle, with some days having more menstrual flow than others. Due to this variation in flow rate, it is sometimes difficult to accurately predict and judge when a hygiene product should be used or replaced. This often causes the personal hygiene product to become oversaturated, resulting in potential accidental or spillage outside the absorbent area of the product. In addition, continued use of supersaturated hygiene products can lead to negative health side effects, such as toxic shock syndrome and other infections.

Many women manually track or monitor their menstrual cycles in order to obtain predictability of menses, thereby avoiding the unintended arrival of menses without the use of personal hygiene products or the aforementioned kinds of accidents. There are over two hundred smart device applications that can be used to manually monitor menses. The user inputs data into an application on a smart device (e.g., a smart phone or other handheld device), and the application generates data for predicting, for example, the start date of menstruation, the flow pattern, and the length of menstruation. Many of these smart device applications alert in anticipation of the start and end of menses. However, all available devices rely on data based on subjective manual input by the user and may not reliably meet the main needs that most users of feminine hygiene products have: i.e., predictability and reliability. None of these applications are capable of actively monitoring the active absorbent capacity of a personal hygiene product while the user is wearing or using the personal hygiene product.

In addition to the need for predictability and reliability in the use of personal hygiene products, personal hygiene products are either located close to or inserted into the body of the user and are therefore able to somehow collect data regarding patterns of discharge and biometrics that are not available to manual input applications. This data is beneficial to avoid social embarrassment, and also to the overall health of the user, for example to provide accurate data to a physician or to alert the user when there is an irregularity in the normal pattern of bodily fluid drainage.

For example, menstrual problems and discharge patterns are among the most common causes of hospitalization for women. Generally, the first response by the physician will be to have the woman keep writing a "menstrual diary" as a record of the date of the period, the length of the period, the flow rate, etc. Menses that deviate from the normal monthly cycle (such as having a longer or shorter duration than usual, or not occurring at all) may indicate a potential health problem. For example, abnormally long periods of menstrual bleeding may indicate an irregularity such as a polyp, fibroid, cancer or infection within the uterus or cervix. Many conditions can be revealed from menstrual flow data; including dysmenorrhea (periods of pain); hypomenorrhea (irregular periods); amenorrhea (menopause); and menorrhagia (periods of heavy load).

The location of the personal hygiene product may enable it to collect internal and external biometric data such as temperature or pH. Menses also includes discharges with biometric information, for example. Monthly menstruation involves the process of the uterus shedding the endometrium to allow a new endometrium to replace. Menses includes uterine blood (meaning endometrial tissue), vaginal secretions, and cervical fluid. Menses also includes information provided by hormones (such as estrogens and progesterone) and enzymes associated with pregnancy (such as hydrolases and lysosomes).

For example, in a home health setting, an individual receives periodic checks ranging from multiple times per day to once per week for a home health worker. If an individual has additional health issues (if these do not occur during the examination), an isolated visit may not capture or accurately issue a warning. Valuable biometrics, which can be collected from personal hygiene products, will accurately convey large amounts of data, which, if electronically available to a health professional, will provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the patient's health. In addition, personal hygiene products having sensor systems may facilitate remote monitoring by healthcare professionals or family members.

A proper combination of personal hygiene products incorporating a sensor system capable of interacting with an intelligent handheld electronic device will meet the ultimate needs of the personal hygiene product consumer. The sensor system needs to be biocompatible and include an array capable of wireless communication. Accordingly, there is a need for a personal hygiene product that is capable of collecting, processing and transmitting data regarding the absorbent capacity of the product and the discharge of bodily fluids of an individual user to an intelligent handheld electronic device of the user. There is also a need for enabling an individual user to interact with data once it is transferred to an intelligent handheld electronic device.

Disclosure of Invention

A personal hygiene device according to the present invention may have a body having an absorbent material configured to absorb fluid; a sensor disposed within the body; and a controller configured to communicate with the sensor. The sensor may be or include a conductor and an insulator disposed adjacent at least a portion of the conductor. The sensor may be or include a capacitive sensor and/or may include a pair of insulated conductors spaced apart from one another. The sensor may be configured to detect a first electrical value and/or a second electrical value different from the first electrical value. Such electrical values may be or include electric field strength, dielectric constant and/or capacitance or other electrical values. The sensor may be configured to transmit a signal indicative of the detected electrical value to the controller.

In some aspects, the conductor may be or include a plurality of conductors (e.g., a pair of conductors), such as at least a pair of linear conductors, each of which is substantially parallel to one another. A capacitive sensor for detecting the presence of a fluid according to the present invention may include a plurality of conductors and an insulating material positioned adjacent each conductor of the plurality of conductors. At least a portion of the insulating material is disposed between at least two of the plurality of conductors. The plurality of conductors may be configured to have a first capacitance value when no fluid is present within the sensor and a second capacitance value when a fluid is present in the sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect an absolute measurement and/or a relative measurement of the electrical characteristic, such as a change from the first capacitance to the second capacitance. Such measurements may be analyzed and may be communicated to a user of the personal hygiene device.

Drawings

The present application will be further understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the subject matter, there are shown in the drawings exemplary aspects of the subject matter; however, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specific methods, apparatus, and systems disclosed. Furthermore, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the aspect illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the aspect illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective view of a personal hygiene device physically connected to a controller in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side perspective view of a personal hygiene device wirelessly connected to a controller in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front plan view of a sensor according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of the sensor shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front plan view of a sensor according to another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 shows a top plan view of the sensor shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

fig. 18 illustrates an isometric view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a personal hygiene device in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure; and is

Fig. 20 shows a side cross-sectional view of the personal hygiene device of fig. 19.

Detailed Description

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout unless otherwise specified. Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting.

Disclosed herein is a device (e.g., a hygiene product) that includes a sensor system that is capable of interacting with an intelligent handheld electronic device. In the following sections, detailed descriptions of various aspects are described. The description of the various aspects is illustrative of aspects, and various modifications and alterations may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary aspects do not limit the scope of the present application. The sensor system is designed for use in or near the body of a living organism.

The device may be optimized to accurately detect the signal. The sensor of the device may be optimized to maximize the change in capacitance when in contact with the fluid. This optimization can be accomplished by changing the cross-section of one or more conductors of the sensor such that the electric field between the one or more conductors encounters less insulation (fixed) and more fluid (variable). For example, the cross section may be formed in an elliptical shape. To fully maximize the change in capacitance, one or more conductors may be surrounded by a very thin and/or sharp insulating material such as a flat ribbon cable. This shape is undesirable due to comfort considerations. The optimized cross section may be based on a balance between capacitance, comfort, cost, etc. When making insulated ribbon cables, an optimized cross-section can be achieved by using an elliptical extrusion die. The process, such as crimping and rolling, can be applied to classical ribbon cables having a circular cross section.

The device may be optimized by using a separation between one or more conductors of the sensor. A portion of the separator can be implemented with a hydrogel or similar fluid permeable material. The separator can be configured to provide controlled separation between the one or more conductors. The separator may be configured to prevent short circuits. The spacers can be configured to establish a baseline capacitance (e.g., a dry capacitance). The insulator (e.g., which may be fluid impermeable) may be at least partially removed (e.g., contacted) between the conductors. The removed portion of the insulator may be replaced with a permeable material such as hydrogel. In some cases, the insulator may be formed with gaps or with portions comprising permeable material. At least a portion of the remaining insulator may provide an electrical opening. Both insulation and hydrogel may be used to mechanically separate the conductors. When the sensor is in contact with the fluid, the fluid can now penetrate directly between the conductors. This configuration may have an increased change in capacitance when contacted by a fluid (e.g., resulting in improved accuracy). A co-extrusion process may be used to form the sensor.

The device can be further optimized by applying a surface treatment to the insulator and/or separator. The surface treatment may increase the absorption of fluid (e.g., resulting in faster and more accurate sensing of the user). Surface treatments may also be applied to tampons comprising the devices. The fibrous wadding in the tampon, especially under heavy compression, can fill the space outside the sensor insulation and serve to carry fluid to the vicinity of the conductor. Surface treatment of the fibers and/or sensor insulation may improve sensor speed and accuracy. Such treatment may be particularly important if a particular insulator is optimized for cost, wear resistance, dielectric constant, etc. (which may not correspond to surface energy).

In certain aspects, the sensor system of the present disclosure may be or include a capacitive sensor. An example capacitive sensor may include at least one pair of linear conductive leads spaced apart from one another and configured to generate an electric field between one another when an electrical potential is applied across the conductive leads. The conductive leads may include one or more of a conductive wire, a conductive thread, or a conductive yarn. The conductive yarn may comprise a yarn that has been treated (e.g., covered) with a conductive material. The conductive wire may comprise a wire that has been treated (e.g., covered with a conductive material).

The capacitive sensor may comprise an insulator. The insulator may be one or more of hydrophilic, hydrophobic, omniphilic (omniphilic), omniphobic (omniphobic), oleophilic, or oleophobic. For example, the insulator may be treated to render the surface of the insulator one or more of hydrophilic, hydrophobic, all-hydrophilic, all-hydrophobic, oleophilic, or oleophobic. An insulator may be disposed between the absorptive material and at least a portion of each of the conductive leads. For example, an electrically insulating material may be disposed around at least a portion of each of the linear electrically conductive leads. In this way, an insulating material may be disposed between each of the linear conductive leads. The insulating material may also insulate the linear conductive leads from the absorptive material. Thus, when a current is applied to one or more of the linear conductive leads, an electric field is generated between the linear conductive leads. The linear conductive leads and the current are configured such that at least a portion of the generated electric field passes through the absorbing material. As the fluid level (e.g., saturation) of the portion of the absorbing material in the generated electric field changes, the electrical properties (e.g., capacitance) of the dielectric or other material in the field may change. Such changes may be measured and may be indicative of the fluid level of the personal hygiene device incorporating the sensor system. For example, the sensor system may be configured to detect a first capacitance value and a second capacitance value different from the first capacitance value.

The controller may be integral with or configured to communicate with a sensor system (e.g., a capacitive sensor). When measuring the electrical characteristic of the capacitive sensor, a signal may be transmitted to the controller. The signal may be indicative of one or more of the first and second capacitance values. As described herein, the first and second capacitance values may depend on the presence of a fluid within an electric field between the linear conductive leads when a current is applied to one or more of the linear conductive leads. The controller may be configured to analyze the received signals and may determine an associated fluid level (e.g., saturation). Such determination may be an absolute determination or a relative determination. Further, the controller may communicate the associated fluid level to a user of the device, for example, via a user interface.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the personal hygiene device 100 includes a body 110 (e.g., a substrate, a housing, etc.), with sensors 120, 220 disposed adjacent to, embedded within, or attached to the body. The personal hygiene device 100 may be or include a tampon configured for insertion into the body. The personal hygiene device 100 may also comprise a mattress, a diaper, a sanitary napkin, an undergarment liner, a surgical dressing, or another personal hygiene article configured to absorb liquid.

The body 110 may be formed of or may contain an absorbent material 112. The absorbent material 112 may be configured to absorb liquids, such as bodily fluids, and particularly menses, that come into contact with the material. The body 110 may comprise one absorbent material 112, or it may comprise a combination of materials. The absorbent material 112 may have an inner core and an outer core (not shown) comprising materials of different compositions. In some aspects, the absorbent material 112 may comprise cotton, rayon, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, or another suitable absorbent material. The personal hygiene device of some aspects may be designed to be in direct contact with or inserted into the human body, and the absorbent material of such aspects should be biocompatible with the human body so as to avoid adverse reactions upon contact with or insertion into the human body.

With further reference to fig. 1 and 2, the body 110 has a proximal end 114 and a distal end 116. In some aspects, the body 110 may be substantially cylindrical, extending from a proximal end 114 to a distal end 116. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the precise measurement of the personal hygiene device may vary depending on the application and personal needs of the user. In some non-limiting aspects, the length of the body 110 can be less than three inches. However, other implementations and dimensions may be used. In some aspects, the absorbent material 112 within the body 110 may be configured to absorb liquid and expand accordingly. Likewise, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the absorbent capacity may vary in various aspects depending on the application and personal needs of the user (e.g., the duration and amount of the user's menstrual cycle). Some aspects absorb a relatively small amount of liquid, e.g., less than 6 grams. Other aspects may be configured to absorb a greater amount of liquid, such as up to six grams, up to nine grams, up to twelve grams, up to fifteen grams, or up to eighteen grams of liquid. It should be understood that some aspects may be configured to absorb more than eighteen grams of liquid, and the volumes described above should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

The personal hygiene device 100 may include a sensor system such as sensor 120. The sensor 120, 220 may be fixedly secured to the body 110, or it may be removably attached to the body 110. In some aspects, the sensors 120, 220 may be embedded within the absorbent material 112. Alternatively, the sensors 120, 220 may be positioned at or proximal to the outer surface 111 of the body 110. Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the sensors 120, 220 are completely encapsulated within the absorbent material 112. In some aspects, the sensors 120, 220 may be partially encapsulated within the absorbent material 112. The sensor 120, 220 may extend substantially the length of the body 110, or it may be shorter than the body 110.

The sensors 120, 220 may be positioned approximately in the center of the body 110 when viewed along an axial direction extending from the proximal end 114 to the distal end 116. In some aspects, the sensors 120, 220 may be closer to the outer surface 111 of the body 110 than to the center, as shown in the illustrative aspect of fig. 14. In some aspects, personal hygiene device 100 may include a plurality of sensors 120 (sensors 220 of fig. 2). According to fig. 14, each of the sensors 120 (sensors 220 of fig. 2) may be radially positioned about the center of the body 110. Referring to fig. 17, a plurality of sensors 120 (sensors 220 of fig. 2) may be positioned throughout body 110 such that at least some of sensors 120 are disposed at different distances from proximal end 114. In some aspects, the personal hygiene device 100 may include two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight sensors 120 (sensors 220 of fig. 2). The number of sensors is not limiting and the personal hygiene device 100 may comprise a different suitable number of sensors. The sensors 120, 220 may have the same dimensions and parameters, or they may be different. In some aspects, the plurality of sensors 120, 220 may include sensors of different sensing types. For example, some personal hygiene devices may include a sensor that detects moisture, a sensor that detects the consistency of a liquid (e.g., type of liquid), the amount of liquid absorbed, a physical change in the size of the device (e.g., expansion of the absorbent material 112 after absorption of the liquid), or another sensing parameter that may be advantageously included in one aspect of the personal hygiene device.

In another aspect, the sensors 120, 220 may be capacitive sensors and include capacitors. The sensor may include a conductor that contacts the insulating material 124. In some aspects, the sensor 120, 220 includes a plurality of conductors. Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the sensor 120, 220 may have a first conductor 122a and a second conductor 122b, each having a length and extending approximately parallel to the other conductor. The first conductor 122a and the second conductor 122b may be configured to have a voltage or potential difference therebetween. As such, the sensors 120, 220 may be capacitive sensors because the first conductor 122a and the second conductor 122b operate as capacitors. As such, the sensor 120, 220 (including the first and second conductors 122a, 122b) may be configured to detect a change in capacitance, and/or a change in potential difference based on the detected environment of the first and second conductors 122a, 122 b.

The sensor 120, 220 may include an insulating material 124 configured to insulate at least a portion of the conductor from the absorbent material 112 of the personal hygiene device 100. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the insulative material may comprise many different materials having varying conductive properties. The insulating material 124 may include plastic, rubber, fluoropolymer, a naturally occurring material, or another suitable material having insulating properties. Insulating material 124 may include or may be formed from thermoplastic urethane (TPU). Additionally or alternatively, suitable materials may include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, thermoplastic rubber, neoprene, styrene butadiene rubber, silicone, fiberglass, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, thermoplastic elastomers, or combinations of the foregoing.

The insulating material 124 may have various thicknesses. In some exemplary aspects, for example, the thickness may be less than about 1 mm. In further aspects, the thickness may be less than 0.3mm, or the thickness may be between 0.1mm and 1 mm.

In some aspects, the insulating material 124 may also include a coating (not shown) on its surface. The coating may include various materials that improve the flexibility, speed, and/or accuracy of the sensor. Non-limiting examples of suitable coatings include Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). Other coatings may be used to configure wettability and other physical and electrical properties. As another example, the insulation material 124 may be formed from TPU, with a loading of up to 100 weight percent of the total weight of the insulation material 124.

Various embodiments of sensors are described herein, and it should be understood that each of these embodiments may share certain similarities with other embodiments. In some aspects, the entire conductor is encapsulated within the insulating material 124. Referring to fig. 3-5, in some aspects, dielectric gap 123 is defined by a space between first conductor 122a and second conductor 122 b. As shown in the exemplary embodiments of fig. 3-4, the dielectric gap 123 of the sensor 220 may have a suitable dielectric material 130 (e.g., air, hydrogel, etc.) disposed therein. The dielectric material 130 may be at least partially disposed between the first conductor 122a and the second conductor 122b, and may exhibit insulating properties.

Referring to fig. 3-6, in some aspects, the dielectric material 130 within the dielectric gap 123 can comprise one material or a plurality of suitable materials. In some aspects, the dielectric material 130 may include an insulating material 124. On the other hand, the dielectric material 130 is entirely composed of the insulating material 124. Alternatively, the dielectric material 130 may comprise a different composition and not include the insulating material 124 at all.

Referring to fig. 4, the sensor 220 has a dielectric material 130 disposed between a first conductor 122a and a second conductor 122b (e.g., in a dielectric gap 123 as shown in fig. 2). The dielectric material 130 may be a semi-permeable material such that liquid may pass through it. The dielectric material 130 may include a porous material exhibiting hydrophilic characteristics. In some aspects, the dielectric material 130 comprises a hydrogel. Hydrogels may be constructed of biocompatible materials having varying dielectric properties and relative permittivities. As shown in fig. 4-5, the dielectric material may be formed to have different shapes and sizes. As shown in the embodiment of fig. 4, the sensor 220 may have a dielectric material 130 (e.g., having a circular cross-section) that is generally complementary to the shape of the insulating material 124. As shown in the embodiment of fig. 5, the sensor 320 may include a dielectric material 130 partially surrounding or overlapping the insulating material 124.

For some aspects of capacitive sensors, it may be advantageous to keep the width of the dielectric gap 123 approximately constant. As such, the dielectric material 130 may need to be sufficiently rigid to support the structure of the sensor 220 and withstand the appropriate expected compressive, tensile, and shear forces acting on the sensor during normal use.

The sensors 120, 220 may have an approximately circular cross-section when viewed in an axial direction extending from the proximal end 114 to the distal end 116 of the body 110. In some aspects, the sensor 120, 220 may include a plurality of cross-sections corresponding to a plurality of conductors. Referring to fig. 2, a sensor having two conductors (a first conductor 122a and a second conductor 122b) may have two circular cross-sections approximately adjacent to each other, each of the two cross-sections corresponding to the first conductor and the second conductor, respectively. In some aspects, as depicted in the exemplary implementation of fig. 6, the sensor 420 may have a non-circular elliptical cross-section. In further aspects, the sensor may have a substantially rectangular cross-section. It should be understood that the sensor cross-section is not limiting, and that the present disclosure contemplates other shapes that will result in a suitable sensor.

Referring now to fig. 9-12, the capacitive sensor 120 or 220 may generate an electric field 140. The characteristics of the electric field 140 and capacitance of the sensor 120 are both affected by many parameters, such as the surface area of the conductors 122a and 122b, the distance between the conductors 122a and 122b, and the material disposed within the dielectric gap 123. As such, when one or more factors affecting capacitance change, such a change may be detected and may be indicative of an environmental change, such as a fluid within the electric field of capacitive sensor 120 or 220.

In some aspects, it may be advantageous to maintain as short a distance as possible between conductors 122a and 122b to improve capacitance and sensor accuracy. While the sensor is scalable, it should be understood that the personal hygiene product should not be sized so that it is unreasonably large or small for any of its intended uses. According to some aspects, the insulating material 124 may be a thin layer such that the separation between the conductor 122 and the absorbing material 112 is minimized. In addition, the amount or percentage of open (air or fixed dielectric) surface area between conductors 122a and 122b (as opposed to having fluid disposed therebetween) may facilitate detection of a change in dielectric constant as the fluid enters the system. For example, for air, k is 1, and for fluids, k is 50.

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor can be calculated using the following equation:

where C is the capacitance, k is the relative permittivity of the material between the conductors, A is the area of the conductors, d is the distance between the conductors, and e₀Is a constant (8.8542X 10) corresponding to the dielectric constant of free space in vacuum^-12F/m). Parallel plate models are presented herein to explain the concept, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that complex models will be used to more accurately describe the capacitance of a real system.

In some aspects, the area of conductor a and the distance d between conductors 122a and 122b (corresponding to dielectric gap 123) may remain substantially constant. The dielectric layer 130 disposed in the dielectric gap 123 between the conductors 122a and 122b may be configured to have a variable composition such that its relative permittivity k varies. In some aspects, the dielectric material 130 has a first relative permittivity value when the dielectric material does not include a liquid and a second relative permittivity value when the dielectric material includes a liquid. The physical and chemical composition of the dielectric material with the liquid may be different from the physical and chemical composition of the dielectric material without the liquid, and thus the first and second relative permittivity values may also be different. According to some aspects, a dielectric material containing a liquid will have a higher relative dielectric constant k than the same dielectric material that does not contain a liquid. In such aspects, the capacitance C of the dielectric material with the liquid may be greater than the capacitance of the dielectric material without the liquid.

In operation, if a liquid becomes at least partially disposed within the dielectric gap 123, the capacitance of the sensor 120 changes. Such changes may be detected by circuitry in communication with sensor 120 (or sensor 120) and communicated to an external device.

In some aspects, the personal hygiene device 100 may be connected to a controller 150. The controller 150 may receive data from the sensor 120. In some cases, controller 150 may perform calculations or forward information further to another device. Controller 150 may be a printed circuit board or a computing device such as, but not limited to, a proprietary interface device, a cellular telephone, a wrist watch, an electronic bracelet, or a personal computer. The controller 150 may be configured to provide information corresponding to the sensor 120 to a user. The information may include, for example, the detection of liquid within the sensor, the amount of liquid detected, the consistency of the liquid, and the duration of time that the liquid is present within the personal hygiene device. Referring to fig. 7-8, the controller 150 may be connected to the personal hygiene device 100 by a physical wire 152. Alternatively, they may be connected by wireless communication 154. The wireless communication may include, but is not limited to, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ANT, radio frequency, infrared, near field communication, or another suitable wireless interface. The controller 150 may be physically attached to the personal hygiene device 100, for example, disposed on the body 110 or within the absorbent material 112 of the body 110. Alternatively, the controller 150 may be separate from the main body 110.

The controller 150 may communicate with a user device such as a smart phone, personal computer, tablet, server, cloud service, and the like. In some aspects, a sensor system, such as sensor 120, can communicate wirelessly with a user device via controller 150 or a transceiver. The user device may include a software application that may include, for example, an interface that quantifies the received user-based data and generates a visual representation of the quantified data for the user (including, but not limited to, generating a chart, display, or alert for the user, for example).

In some aspects, the software application may be capable of providing a visual representation of the absorption level of the personal hygiene product to a user based on the liquid absorption capacity and the actual absorption of bodily fluids. In some aspects, the software application may be able to provide a user with a time frame of absorbency and expected saturation point. In some aspects, the software application may generate an alert signal to the user if the personal hygiene product is about to saturate, or is saturated. In some aspects, the software application may generate a visual representation of the quantified data, including but not limited to, for example, a user's rate of fluid discharge or historical data of fluid discharge.

In some aspects, the software application may be capable of accumulating data generated over time as a result of using multiple personal hygiene products. In some aspects, the software application may be capable of generating a graph, chart, or other interface based on historical data to show a baseline of bodily fluid discharge. In some aspects, the software application may be capable of generating predictive analytics and communicating this information to the user. For example, if a personal hygiene product with a sensor system is used for a menstrual cycle, such information may allow a user to predict a start date and an end date. Such information may allow the user to learn about the periodic process, including days or periods of more or less traffic.

In some aspects, the software application may generate information about the consumable usage rate of the user to predict how many personal hygiene products are needed, including but not limited to, for example, daily, weekly, or per cycle. In some aspects, the software application may generate a reminder or alert for the user to purchase the personal hygiene product, including but not limited to, for example, when the start date of menstruation has been identified. In some aspects, the software application may provide an order quantity estimate to the user based on historical data of bodily fluid discharges by the user. In some aspects, the interface of the software application may be directly linked to an internet-based consumer service in which the user may order and purchase additional personal hygiene products for direct shipment. In some aspects, the software application may be able to automatically place an order directly for direct dispatch to the user based on the consumable usage rate. The software application may facilitate the purchase of additional personal hygiene products. The software application may connect the user to an internet-based consumer service.

In some aspects, the personal hygiene device 100 may be configured to be connected to a power source 160. The power supply 160 may provide power to the sensor 120, the controller 150, the wired or wireless communication 152 or 154, or another element associated with the device. The power source 160 may be coupled to the body 110. In some aspects, the power source 160 may be a battery.

The sensor 120 may be configured to have an "on" state and an "off state. In the "on" state, the sensor 120 may receive a charge within its conductor 122 and actively communicate with the controller 150. In the "on" state, conductor 122 is not energized and data is not communicated to controller 150. In some aspects, the sensor 120 may be configured to switch from an "off" state to an "on" state when it is removed from a protective wrap (such as a shipping container or retail package). In another aspect, the sensor 120 may be manually switched from the "off" state to the "on" state by a user. The user may turn on the sensor via a physical switch or via a command within controller 150. On the other hand, the sensor 120 may automatically switch to the "on" state when an external condition is satisfied, such as when the personal hygiene device is in physical proximity to the controller 150.

The sensor 120 may be configured without binary "on" and "off states. For example, the sensor 120 may have a continuous state. The sensor 120 may be a passive component. The sensor 120 may generate a signal and/or a change in state based on the movement of the fluid around the sensor. The sensor 120 may include a capacitor having a capacitance that fluctuates based on the fluid surrounding the sensor 120. The change in the sensor 120 (e.g., the change in capacitance) may be measured by the controller 150. In some cases, the sensor 120 may be configured to perform measurements and/or signal adjustments prior to sending a signal or signal fluctuation to the controller 150. For example, the sensor 120 may be configured to filter out signals, noise, etc. that vary below a threshold.

Fig. 13-20 depict additional non-limiting alternative aspects of the present disclosure. Fig. 13 shows a personal hygiene device 500 having a plurality of sensors 120. As shown in the aspect of fig. 13, the sensor 120 may be disposed near the center of the body 110 such that the conductors 122a, 122b extend in a first direction and then loop back in an opposite second direction, e.g., to maximize the conductive surface area. While fig. 13 shows a cross-section of the device 500, it should be understood that the conductors 122a, 122b are shown extending into and out of the page. In some aspects, the sensor 120 may be positioned proximate to a surface of the body 110. As shown in the illustrative aspect of fig. 14, personal hygiene device 600 includes sensors 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d positioned radially about a centerline of body 110. As described with reference to FIG. 13, the sensors 120a-d may include a pair of conductors 122a, 122b looped to extend into and out of the page, but formed from a continuous wire or lead. Alternatively, conductors 120a-d may comprise different conductors, each conductor configured to be part of sensing device 500.

Fig. 15-17 depict aspects having various sensor configurations within the body 110. In some aspects, as shown in fig. 15, personal hygiene device 700 may have sensor 120 positioned within body 110 such that sensor 120 is closer to proximal end 114 than to distal end 116. Alternatively, the opposite aspect is also possible where the sensor 120 is closer to the proximal end 114 than to the distal end 116. Fig. 16 depicts a personal hygiene device 800 that includes one sensor 120 that extends from the proximal end 114 to the distal end 116 through substantially the entire length of the body 110. Additionally, the sensors 120 of the device 800 may loop back and extend from the distal end 116 toward the proximal end 114 in a "U-shaped" configuration.

Referring to fig. 17, personal hygiene device 900 may include a plurality of sensors 120 disposed within personal hygiene device 100. While each successive sensor shown in fig. 17 is shown as being separated from the preceding sensors by approximately equal distances, it should be understood that the distance between the various sensors may vary.

Fig. 18 depicts one aspect of the present disclosure wherein the personal hygiene device is a sanitary napkin 1000. The sanitary napkin 1000 may comprise one or more layers. One or more of the layers may comprise an absorbent material, such as absorbent fibers. The sensors 120 may be disposed within and/or between one or more layers. The sensor 120 may be located in only a portion of the sanitary napkin 1000. In other implementations, the sensor 120 may extend along the length and/or width of the sanitary napkin 1000. One or more layers of the sanitary napkin may be surface treated as further described herein.

In some aspects, as shown in fig. 19, the personal hygiene device 1100 can have the sensor 120 disposed within the body 110. The sensor 120 may include generally parallel conductors 122a, 122b, such as wires or conductive wires including a non-conductive core and a conductive coating. The configuration of conductors 122a, 122b may operate as capacitors extending along the length of device 1100. Fig. 20 depicts personal hygiene device 1100 showing sensor 120 (e.g., conductors 122a, 122b) of device 1100 looping in a "U-shaped" configuration.

Aspects of personal hygiene devices as described herein provide a number of advantages over existing products. Some aspects provide for active monitoring of the absorbent capacity of a personal hygiene product while the personal hygiene product is being worn or used by a user. The device can collect data about menstruation patterns and other biometrics. The collected data may be used to instruct the user to adjust or replace the sanitary device to avoid oversaturation of the absorbent material and to prevent accidental discharge. This may help reduce the risk of related health issues (e.g., infection) and avoid unpleasant social interactions or embarrassment. Some aspects allow for the collection of multiple variables that can be used to predict likely health scenarios and provide data to physicians when necessary. Continuous monitoring may also help remind the user to adopt a new hygiene device even if the user forgets to do so, and the collected data may be used to alert the user in the event of an interruption to a normal or expected periodic pattern.

The term "plurality", as used herein, means more than one. The singular forms "a," "an," "the," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular numerical value. Thus, for example, reference to "a material" is a reference to at least one of such materials, equivalents of such materials known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

The transitional terms "comprising," "consisting essentially of … …," and "consisting of … …" are intended to imply their accepted meanings in patent parlance; that is, (i) "comprising" is synonymous with "including", "containing", or "characterized by", and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps; (ii) "consisting of … …" excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claims; and (iii) "consisting essentially of … …" limits the scope of the claims to the specified materials or steps "and materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Aspects described by the phrase "comprising" (or its equivalent), such as those aspects described independently by "consisting of …" and "consisting essentially of …", are also provided.

When values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. In general, use of the term "about" represents approximations that can vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the disclosed subject matter and will be explained based on their function in the particular context in which the approximation is used and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In some cases, the number of significant digits for a particular value can be one non-limiting method of determining the range of the word "about". In other cases, the gradient used in a series of values may be used to determine an expected range for each value that may be used for the term "about". Where present, all ranges are inclusive and combinable. That is, reference to values stated in ranges includes each and every value within that range.

When a list is provided, it is to be understood that each individual element of the list, and each combination of elements in the list, is an individual aspect, unless otherwise specified. For example, a list of aspects provided as "A, B or C" would be considered to include aspects "a", "B", "C", "a or B", "a or C", "B or C" or "A, B or C".

The term "substantially parallel" as used herein with respect to two elements relative to each other includes two elements that are close to, but not completely parallel to each other, as well as two elements that are completely parallel to each other. The term "substantially perpendicular" as used herein with respect to two elements relative to each other includes two elements that are close to each other but not exactly perpendicular, as well as two elements that are exactly perpendicular to each other.

Throughout the specification, words are to be given their ordinary meaning as will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art. However, to avoid misunderstandings, the meaning of certain terms will be specifically defined or clarified.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with various aspects of the various figures, those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes may be made to the above described aspects without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular aspects disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims.

Features of the present disclosure that are described above in the context of separate aspects may also be provided in combination in a single aspect. Conversely, various features of the disclosure that are described in the context of a single aspect can also be provided separately or in any subcombination. Finally, while aspects may be described as part of a series of steps or as part of a more general structure, each step may itself be considered a separate aspect, capable of being combined with other aspects.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.