U.S. patent application number 17/621492 was filed with the patent office on 2022-06-30 for sensing panel for hygiene monitoring device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag. The applicant listed for this patent is Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag. Invention is credited to Kent HERMANSSON, Anders JONSSON.
Application Number | 20220202626 17/621492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006402936 |
Filed Date | 2022-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220202626 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HERMANSSON; Kent ; et
al. |
June 30, 2022 |
SENSING PANEL FOR HYGIENE MONITORING DEVICE
Abstract
A flexible sensing panel includes a flexible substrate having
first and second major surfaces, first and second separated side
edges, and first and second ends, the flexible substrate being at
least partly disposed between a flexible protective layer and a
flexible fastening layer, and at least one sensing element being
disposed on the flexible substrate. The protective layer is secured
to the first major surface of the flexible substrate and is folded
over the first and second side edges onto the second major surface
of the flexible substrate and secured thereto to position at least
part of the first and second side edges within the so formed folds,
and wherein the fastening layer is at least partly disposed on the
second major surface of the flexible substrate and secured
thereto.
Inventors: |
HERMANSSON; Kent; (Goteborg,
SE) ; JONSSON; Anders; (Goteborg, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag |
Goteborg |
|
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Essity Hygiene and Health
Aktiebolag
Goteborg
SE
|
Family ID: |
1000006402936 |
Appl. No.: |
17/621492 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
July 5, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2019/068064 |
371 Date: |
December 21, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/5611 20130101;
A61F 13/42 20130101; A61F 2013/424 20130101; A61F 13/625 20130101;
G01N 27/121 20130101; A61F 13/53 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61F 13/42 20060101
A61F013/42; A61F 13/53 20060101 A61F013/53; A61F 13/56 20060101
A61F013/56; A61F 13/62 20060101 A61F013/62 |
Claims
1. A flexible sensing panel for a hygiene monitoring device,
comprising a flexible substrate extending along a longitudinal
direction and a transversal direction and having first and second
mutually opposite major surfaces in the plane of the longitudinal
and transversal direction, first and second mutually opposite,
longitudinally extending and transversally separated side edges,
and first and second mutually opposite, longitudinally separated
ends, the flexible substrate being at least partly disposed between
a protective layer and a fastening means layer, and at least one
sensing element being disposed on the flexible substrate, wherein
the protective layer is disposed on and secured to the first major
surface of the flexible substrate and is folded over the first and
second longitudinally extending side edges onto the second major
surface of the flexible substrate and secured thereto to position
at least part of the first and second longitudinally extending side
edges within the so formed folds, and wherein the fastening layer
is at least partly disposed on the second major surface of the
flexible substrate and secured thereto.
2. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
protective layer disposed on and secured to the first major surface
of the flexible substrate is folded over at least one of the first
and second longitudinally separated ends of the flexible substrate
onto the second major surface thereof and secured thereto.
3. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
folded-over portions of the protective layer and the fastening
layer together covers the full second major surface of the flexible
substrate.
4. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
first and second longitudinally extending side edges are positioned
within the folds along at least 50% of their extension in the
longitudinal direction.
5. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one sensing element is disposed at a distance from the
longitudinally extending, transversally separated side edges and
optionally from the longitudinally separated edges, and wherein the
folded over-portions of the protective layer are not superposed on
the at least one sensing element.
6. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein said
folded-over portions of the protective layer is at least partly
disposed between the fastening layer material and the flexible
substrate.
7. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
protective layer is secured to the flexible substrate by an
adhesive.
8. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
protective layer is made from a liquid impermeable material.
9. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
protective layer is a foam material.
10. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
protective layer has a thickness of from 0.1 to 1 mm.
11. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
protective layer has basis weight of from 100 to 300 g/m2.
12. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein said
fastening layer comprises mechanical fasteners, disposed on a
backing layer.
13. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, comprising at
least two longitudinally or transversally spaced-apart sensing
elements.
14. The flexible sensing panel according to any claim 1, wherein
the flexible sensing panel is elongate along the longitudinal
axis.
15. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein the
ratio of the longitudinal length to the transversal width of the
flexible sensing panel is 5:1 or higher.
16. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, wherein a data
logger unit or a connector for removable attachment of data logger
unit is disposed on a portion of the first major surface of the
flexible sensing panel, and wherein the data logger unit and
connector for removable attachment of the data logger unit is
electrically connected to said at least one sensing element.
17. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, adapted for
being secured to a garment facing surface of an absorbent hygiene
article by the fastening means layer.
18. A hygiene monitoring device, comprising a flexible sensing
panel according to claim 1, and a data logger unit removably
attachable to the sensing panel and electrically connectible to the
sensing elements adapted for detecting the presence of or
quantifying the amount of body fluids absorbed by a absorbent
hygiene article with which the hygiene monitoring device is
associated.
19. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 12, wherein said
mechanical fasteners are hooks.
20. The flexible sensing panel according to claim 1, adapted for
being removably secured to a garment facing surface of an absorbent
hygiene article by means of the fastening means layer.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flexible sensing panel
for a hygiene monitoring device and to a hygiene monitoring device
comprising such flexible sensing panel.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A hygiene monitoring device may be used to monitor a
hygienic state of a user, for example by monitoring the state of an
absorbent hygiene article worn by the user. For example, a hygiene
monitoring device may be used to detect the presence of and/or to
determine the amount of body fluids absorbed in an absorbent
hygiene article, such as a diaper or similar product, in order to
monitor the development of the hygienic state. For example, the
information acquired from such monitoring device may alert a
caregiver or parent that the diaper needs to be changed or may be
used as an assessment tool for developing a nursing plan.
[0003] It has been proposed that the hygiene monitoring device
should be reusable in order to minimise the creation of waste. It
has also been proposed that the hygiene monitoring device should be
able to monitor the hygienic state of the user without direct
contact between the device and the monitored entity. This is
especially desired in the case of monitors for use with hygiene
absorbent articles, in order to reduce the need for cumbersome
cleaning efforts due to soiling of the hygiene monitoring device
with for instance urine or feces.
[0004] Hygiene monitoring devices for absorbent hygiene articles,
that are intended to be placed on an exterior, garment facing
surface, of the absorbent hygiene article, and to be reusable, has
therefore been proposed, see e.g. WO 2016/090492.
[0005] There remains, however, a need for improved reusable hygiene
monitoring devices that are cost efficient in production, that are
robust enough to be used multiple times and that provide an
acceptable comfort when worn.
SUMMARY
[0006] It is desired to provide a reusable hygiene monitoring
device that is cost efficient in production, is robust enough to be
used multiple times and provide an acceptable comfort when worn.
Sensing panels for use in hygiene monitoring devices according to
the features of claim 1 at least in part meets this desire.
Variations of the disclosure are set out in the dependent
claims.
[0007] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a flexible
sensing panel for a hygiene monitoring device, comprising a
flexible substrate extending along a longitudinal direction and a
transversal direction and having first and second mutually opposite
major surfaces in the plane of the longitudinal and transversal
direction, first and second mutually opposite, longitudinally
extending and transversally separated side edges, and first and
second mutually opposite, longitudinally separated edges.
[0008] The flexible substrate is at least partly disposed between a
protective layer and a fastening means layer. At least one sensing
element is disposed on the flexible substrate.
[0009] The protective layer is flexible and disposed on and secured
to the first major surface of the flexible substrate and is folded
over the first and second longitudinally extending side edges onto
the second major surface of the flexible substrate and secured
thereto to position at least part of the first and second
longitudinally extending side edges within the so formed folds.
[0010] The fastening means layer is flexible and at least partly
disposed on the second major surface of the flexible substrate and
secured thereto.
[0011] By arranging a protective layer on at least part of the
first major surface of the flexible substrate, the portions of that
surface covered by the protective layer is protected against wear,
such as scratches, that may otherwise cause damage to the sensing
elements or other components on the flexible substrate. The
protective layer may also provide a desired surface texture and
appearance that could otherwise not be provided by the flexible
substrate
[0012] Folding the protective layer material over the longitudinal
edges of the flexible substrate and securing the folded-over
portions of the protective layer material on the second major
surface of the flexible substrate may have several beneficial
effects.
[0013] The longitudinal edges of the sensing panel, formed when
folding the protective layer over the longitudinal edges of the
flexible substrate, may be perceived as soft and non-abrasive as
the folding of the protective layer creates a curvature at the edge
formed by folding the protective layer material.
[0014] The folding-over of the protective layer may prevent entry
of undesired substances, such as water, body fluids and/or dirt
into the sensing panel structure. Such undesired substances may
result in damage to and malfunction of the sensing panel.
[0015] The folding-over of the protective layer may provide a
flexible sensing panel that has a low tendency of forming permanent
creases in the flexible sensing panel after being bent. During use,
the flexible sensing panel may need to be bent to form a curve in
order to fit the exterior surface of the absorbent hygiene article
on which the panel is intended to be secured. Also, during further
use, removal and storage, the panel may be bent. In order for the
sensing panel to be used and reused many times before disposal, it
is advantageous that formation of permanent creases and folds in
the sensing panel resulting from it being used is kept low. The
above-mentioned combination of features provides a robust sensing
panel that withstands the forces it is subjected to during use and
that can be reused many times.
[0016] In addition to being folded over the longitudinally
extending side edges, the protective layer may also be folded over
at least one of, or both, the first and second longitudinally
separated edges of the flexible substrate onto the second major
surface thereof and secured thereto, in order to also make the
longitudinally separated ends soft, non-abrasive, protected and/or
resistant to creases.
[0017] The folded-over portions of the flexible protective layer
and the flexible fastening means layer may together cover the full
second major surface of the flexible substrate. By this, also the
second major surface of the flexible substrate may be protected
from mechanical wear, such as scratches.
[0018] The first and second longitudinally extending side edges of
the flexible substrate may be positioned within the folds along at
least 50% of their extension in the longitudinal direction. Stated
differently, the flexible protective layer may be folded over the
longitudinally extending side edges of the flexible panel along at
least 50% of the longitudinal extension of the side edges. While it
may not be necessary that the full length of the longitudinally
extending side edges are positioned within the folds, it may be
advantageous that this is the case for at least 50, 60, 70 or 80%
of the longitudinal extension of the side edges, even though it may
of course be possible that it may be the case for up to 100, 95 or
90% of the longitudinal extension of the side edges.
[0019] On the flexible sensing panel, the at least one sensing
element may be disposed at a distance from the longitudinally
extending, transversally separated side edges and optionally also
from the longitudinally separated edges. The folded over portions
of the protective layer may then preferably not be superposed on
the at least one sensing element, i.e. such that no part of folded
over portions of the protective layer overlies any portion of the
sensing element.
[0020] It may be important that the protective layer is not
covering the sensing elements, as this may lead to an impairment of
the sensing performance.
[0021] The folded over portions of the protective layer may at
least partly be disposed between the fastening means layer and the
flexible substrate. In other words, the fastening layer material
may extend transversally and optionally longitudinally into the
area of the folded-over portions of the protective layer and is
secured to that surface of the folded over portions that face away
from the flexible substrate. By such arrangement, the fastening
material layer may constitute a large percentage of that surface of
the flexible sensing panel. Also, by arranging the fastening means
layer on top of the folded-over portions of the protective layer,
the edges of the protective layer are not exposed.
[0022] The protective layer may be secured to the flexible
substrate by means of an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive
adhesive, to enable easy attachment of the protective layer to the
surfaces of the flexible substrate.
[0023] The protective layer may be made from a liquid impermeable
material, in order to provide a water-proofing the flexible sensing
panel.
[0024] The protective layer may be made from a foam material to
provide a soft feel and a flexible material.
[0025] The protective layer may have a thickness of from 0.1 to 1
mm, such as measured with an ordinary Vernier caliper without
compressing the material.
[0026] The fastening means layer may comprise mechanical fasteners,
such as hooks, disposed on a backing layer for enabling repeated
securement to and removal from a surface, such as for example a
surface of fibrous non-woven. At least two longitudinally or
transversally spaced apart sensing elements may be disposed on the
flexible substrate. This may enable the sensing panel to function
in a hygiene monitoring device adapted to detect the presence of or
measure the amount of body liquids absorbed in an absorbent hygiene
article by means of measuring the impedance between the two sensing
elements, as is inter alia described in the afore-mentioned patent
application WO 2016/090492.
[0027] The flexible sensing panel may be elongate along the
longitudinal direction, i.e. having an extension that is larger
along in the longitudinal direction than along the transverse
direction. The ratio of the longitudinal length to the transversal
width of the flexible sensing panel may be 5:1 or higher, such as
from 5:1, 8:1 or 10:1 to 100:1, 50:1 to 25:1. This would for
instance be suitable for a sensing panel intended to be secured on
a garment facing surface of an absorbent hygiene article, such as a
diaper, with the longitudinal extension of the sensing panel
aligned along the front-to-back direction of the absorbent hygiene
article, meeting a requirement of covering a certain proportion of
the front-to-back distance while simultaneously fit the gap between
the wearers thighs.
[0028] A data logger unit or a connector for removable attachment
of data logger unit may be disposed on a portion of the first major
surface of the flexible sensing panel, and the data logger
unit/connector for removable attachment of the data logger unit may
be electrically connected to the at least one sensing.
[0029] The flexible sensing panel may be adapted for being secured,
preferably removably secured, to a garment facing surface of an
absorbent hygiene article by means of the fastening means
layer.
[0030] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a
hygiene monitoring device, comprising a flexible sensing panel as
described above, and a data logger unit removably attachable to the
sensing panel and electrically connectible to the sensing adapted
for detecting the presence of and/or quantifying the amount of body
fluids absorbed by an absorbent hygiene article to which the
hygiene monitoring device is associated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a sensing panel
[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sensing
panel in FIG. 1, along the line A-A
[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sensing
panel in FIG. 1, along the line B-B
[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a hygiene monitoring
device secured to an absorbent article
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] Different aspects of the present disclosure will now be
described more fully hereinafter with reference to the enclosed
drawings. The embodiments disclosed herein can, however, be
realized in many different forms and should not be construed as
being limited to the aspects set forth herein.
[0036] It is to be understood that the drawings are schematic and
that individual components are not necessarily drawn to scale.
[0037] An exemplary flexible sensing panel 1 for use in a hygiene
monitoring device is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
[0038] A hygiene monitoring device 20, comprising a data logger
unit 21 connected to a flexible sensing panel 1, and attached to a
garment facing surface 31 of an absorbent hygiene article 30 is
schematically shown in FIG. 4.
[0039] The flexible sensing panel 1 comprises a flexible substrate
2 that extends in a longitudinal direction X and a transversal
direction Y and presents two mutually opposite, transversally
separated and longitudinally extending side edges 5, 6, and two
mutually opposite, longitudinally separated edges 7, 8.
[0040] As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the flexible sensing panel may
have two generally straight, parallel longitudinally extending side
edges 5, 6. The longitudinally separated edges 7, 8 may be straight
and parallel, giving the sensing panel 1 an essentially rectangular
appearance, possibly with rounded corners. Alternatively the
longitudinally separated edges 7, 8 may be rounded.
[0041] The flexible substrate 2 is an essentially two-dimensional
material, i.e. its thickness in the direction orthogonal to the
plane of the longitudinal direction X and the transversal direction
Y may be essentially negligible in comparison to longitudinal
length and its transversal width, respectively, so as to define a
first and second, mutually opposite major surfaces 3, 4 of the
flexible substrate in the plane of the longitudinal direction X and
the transversal direction Y.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the flexible sensing panel 2 may
be adapted to be secured on the absorbent hygiene article 30 on the
garment facing surface 31 thereof, i.e. the surface of the
absorbent hygiene article 30 intended to face away from the wearer
when in use, and that is opposite of the body facing surface 32 of
the absorbent hygiene article 30. The flexible sensing panel 2 may
be adapted to be secured with its longitudinal direction aligned to
the front-back direction of the absorbent hygiene article, i.e.
with one of the longitudinally separated edges 7 i.e. the front
edge, towards the front waist edge 33 of the absorbent hygiene
article 30 and the other one of the longitudinally separated edges
8, i.e. the rear edge, towards the rear waist edge 34 of the
absorbent article 31, and the transversally separated,
longitudinally extending side edges 5,6 aligned along the
front-back direction of the absorbent hygiene article 30.
[0043] The thickness of the flexible substrate may be 2 mm or less,
such as from 0.05, 0.075 or 0.1 to 2, 1 or 0.5 mm.
[0044] The flexible substrate 2 may be elongate along the
longitudinal direction, i.e. d it may longer in the longitudinal
direction than it is wide in the transversal direction. The ratio
of the longitudinal length to the transversal width of the flexible
sensing panel may suitably be 5:1 or higher, such as from 5:1, 8:1
or 10:1 to 100:1, 50:1 to 25:1.
[0045] The longitudinal length of the flexible substrate 2 may be
from 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 to 100, such as 80, 60 or 40 cm.
[0046] The transversal width of the flexible substrate 2 may be
from 1, such as from 1.5 or 2, to 5, 4 or 3 cm.
[0047] The flexible substrate 2 has four sensing elements 11, 11',
11'', 11''' in the form of conductive plates disposed thereon and
in electrical contact with a connector 17 disposed on the first
major surface 3 by means of conductive leads disposed on the
flexible substrate (not shown). While in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sensing
elements 11, 11', 11'', 11''' are illustrated as being disposed on
the surface of the flexible substrate 2, the sensing elements may
also, within the scope of this disclosure, be integrated in the
flexible substrate 2. The function of the sensing elements 11, 11',
11'', 11''' and the connector 17 will be further described
below.
[0048] The substrate 2 can be of any flexible material suitable for
having sensing elements disposed thereon. The flexible substrate 3
may for example comprise a polymeric substrate, such as such
materials commonly known to those skilled in the art as being
suitable substrates for flexible printed circuit board (flex-PCBs),
such as, but not limited to PI (polyimide) film, PET (polyester)
film, PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) film, PTFE
(polytetrafluoroethylene) film and Aram id film.
[0049] The flexible substrate 2 is at least partly disposed between
a protective layer 9, and a fastening means layer 10. In order for
the resulting sensing panel 1 to be flexible, the respective
materials for the protective layer 9 and the fastening means layer
are themselves flexible, i.e. readily bendable along at least one
direction.
[0050] The protective layer 9 is disposed on and secured to at
least part the first major surface 3 of the flexible substrate, and
the fastening means layer 10 is disposed on and secured to the
second major surface 4 of the flexible material 2.
[0051] The protective material 9 is, in addition to being disposed
on and secured to the first major surface 3, folded over the
longitudinal edges 5, 6 of the flexible substrate 2 and the folded
over portions 14, 15 of the protective material 9 is secured to the
second major surface 4 of the flexible material 2. In that way, the
side edges 5, 6 of the flexible substrates are positioned within
the folds 12, 13 formed by the folding over of the protective layer
9.
[0052] For instance, a piece of protective layer material 9 having
a transversal width larger than the transversal width of the
flexible substrate 2 may be attached to at least part of the first
major surface 3 of the flexible substrate 2 with free edge portions
of the protective layer material 9 extending transversally beyond
the side edges 5, 6 of the flexible substrate 2. Thereafter, the
free edge portions may be folded over the side edges 5, 6 of the
flexible substrate 2 and secured to the second major surface 4 of
the flexible substrate 2. The free edge portions that are folded
over the side edges 5, 6 represent, after folding, the folded-over
portions 14, 15.
[0053] The free edge portions of the protective material layer 9
may (before being folded over the edge of the substrate) extend
from 1, 2, 3 or 4 to 10, 8 or 6 mm beyond that side edge of the
flexible substrate, over which side edge the protective material
layer the flexible substrate is to be folded.
[0054] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the protective layer 9 may
also, likewise, be folded over one of the first and second
longitudinally separated ends 7, 8 and the folded-over portion of
the protective layer material 16 be secured to the second major
surface 4 of the flexible substrate 2. Although not shown in the
figures, the protective layer material 9 may also, likewise, be
folded over both the first and the second longitudinally separated
ends 7, 8 and the folded-over portions of the protective layer
material be secured to the second major surface 4 of the flexible
substrate 2.
[0055] In the sensing panel 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the
sensing elements 11, 11', 11'', 11''' are all disposed on flexible
substrate 2 at a distance from the transversally separated
longitudinal side edges 5, 6 and the longitudinally separated edges
7,8, i.e. they are arranged distinctly inboard of the perimeter of
the flexible substrate 2.
[0056] In the sensing panel 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the
protective layer 9 is arranged such that its folded-over portions
14, 15, 16 are not superimposed on the sensing elements 11, 11',
11'', 11'''. i.e. no part of the folded-over portions 14, 15, 16 of
the flexible protective layer 9 covers any part of the sensing
elements 11, 11', 11'', 11'''.
[0057] The nearest distance from the longitudinally extending side
edges 5, 6 of the flexible substrate 2 to the transversally
outermost edge of the sensing elements nearest to that side edge
may be from 1, 2, 3 or 4 to 10, 8 or 6 mm.
[0058] Materials suitable for the protective layer 9 are able to be
folded over an edge of the flexible substrate, and are
self-supporting materials, typically in the form of a web, a tape
or a film.
[0059] The protective layer 9 may be secured to the flexible
substrate by any means suitable. For instance, the protective layer
material may in itself be a self-adhering adhesive tape or it may
be a non-adhering layer adhered to the flexible substrate by means
of an adhesive.
[0060] Materials suitable for the flexible protective layer 9 are
such materials that when attached to the flexible substrate 2 they
protect the flexible substrate 2 and the sensing elements 11, 11',
11'', 11''' disposed thereon from damage, such as providing
protection against water, and dirt. For that purpose, suitable
materials may be substantially liquid impermeable permeable. They
may also provide a mechanical resistance e.g. against scratching to
the surface of the substrate.
[0061] Further, materials suitable for the protective layer 9 may
provide a soft, rounded edge to the sensing panel 1 when folded
over edges of the flexible substrate 2. For that purpose, suitable
materials may have a thickness of at least 0.1 mm, such as from
0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 to 1, 0.8 or 0.5 mm. The protective layer material
9 may have a basis weight of from 50, such as from 100, to 300,
such as to 200 g/m.sup.2.
[0062] Further, materials suitable for the protective layer 9 may
provide a soft, skin friendly appearance to the sensing panel 1.
For that purpose, suitable materials may be of a slightly
compressible nature, such a foam material.
[0063] One example of a suitable material for the protective layer
9 is Dermabak.RTM. F110 from Rogers Corporation, being a poly
urethane-based foam membrane with a thickness of about 0.4 mm and a
basis weight of about 200 g/m.sup.2, which can be secured to the
flexible substrate 2 by means of e.g. a pressure sensitive
adhesive.
[0064] The protective layer 9 need not cover the complete first
major surface 3 of the flexible substrate 2, as there may be areas
that does not benefit from and/or are not compatible with the
protective layer 9, such as for instance areas of the sensing panel
that constitute a logger unit attachment area. However, it may be
beneficial that at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% of the first major
surface 3 is covered by the flexible protective layer. 100%
coverage is also within the scope of the present disclosure
[0065] Likewise, the protective layer 9 does not need to be folded
over the full length of the longitudinally extending side edges of
5, 6 of the flexible substrate, as there may be portions of these
that does not benefit and/or are not compatible with the presence
of the folded-over portions 14, 15. However, it may be beneficial
that from 50, 60, 70 or 80, to 100, 95 or 90% of each one of
longitudinally extending side edges 5, 6 are positioned with the
respective folds 12, 13 of the protective layer 9.
[0066] The fastening means layer 10 is disposed on and secured to
the second major surface 4 of the flexible substrate 2. The
fastening means layer 10 is, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, intended
to enable the sensing panel 1 to be attached on an exterior
surface, in this case, the exterior, garment facing surface 31 of a
hygiene absorbent article 30 with the second major surface 4 of the
flexible substrate facing towards the garment facing surface of 31
of the hygiene absorbent article. The fastening material layer may
attach to the intended surface by means of mechanical fastening
elements, such as hook or loops of a hook and loop combination, or
by means of and adhesive. The fastening means layer 10 also serves
to protect the second major surface 4 of the flexible substrate 2,
the sensing elements 11, 11', 11'', 11''' and optionally other
components and may, for that purpose, be liquid impermeable.
[0067] The garment facing surface 31 of hygiene absorbent articles
30 are conventionally of a fibrous nonwoven material, and the
fastening material layer may in such cases utilize hooks as
fastening elements. Hook materials are readily available from
commercial sources such as 3M and Velcro.
[0068] Together with the folded-over portions 14, 15, 16 of the
protective layer material 9, the fastening means layer 10 may
substantially completely cover the full second major surface 4 of
the flexible substrate 3.
[0069] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fastening material
layer 10 may be arranged extending partly on top of and covering at
least part of the folded-over portions 14, 15, 16 of the protective
layer 9, i.e. such that the folded-over portions 14, 15, 16 are at
least partly disposed between the flexible substrate 2 and the
fastening means layer 10.
[0070] Such overlapping configuration provides a relatively secure
seal while also enabling a large fastening effective area of the
fastening layer material 10.
[0071] A flexible sensing panel 1 with the protective layer 9 and
the fastening means layer 10 arranged around the flexible substrate
as described herein provides a good resistance against the
formation of permanent creases and folds in the flexible sensing
panel. Such creases and folds may impair the function of the
sensing panel and render the sensing panel a worn-out visual
appearance, and a good resistance against this may increase the
life-time of the sensing panel and a reduces material
consumption.
[0072] The flexible sensing panel 1 according to the present
disclosure is intended to be used in a hygiene monitoring device,
which is able to monitor the hygiene status of absorbent hygiene
article, such as a diaper, an incontinence pad or a sanitary
napkin, for example by detecting the presence of and/or determining
the amount of body liquids, such as feces, urine, blood and/or
menstrual fluid, absorbed by the absorbent hygiene article.
[0073] The flexible sensing panel 1 may itself house necessary
electronic components, such as for example a power source for
operating the sensing elements 11, 11', 11'', 11''' and a
transmitter for transmitting the output from the sensing elements
to an intended receiver of such output.
[0074] Alternatively, and as illustrated in the FIGS. 1 to 4, the
sensing panel 1 is connectible to a data logger unit 21 by means of
a connector means 17 disposed on the first major surface of the
sensing panel 1, where the data logger unit 21 comprises the
necessary electronic components. When the data logger unit 21 is
operatively connected to the sensing panel 1, the data logger is
able to operate the sensing elements 11, 11', 11'', 11''' and to
transmit the output from these sensing elements to the intended
receiver of such output.
[0075] The connector means 17 is schematically illustrated in the
FIGS. 1 and 3 and may be a single connector enabling both physical
attachment and electrical contact between the data logger unit 21
and the flexible sensing panel, or may be a combination of means
for physical attachment and means for electrical connection. For
example, the means for electrical connection may be a male-female
connector combination, such as a mezzanine connector combination
with male connector on the data logger unit 21 and the female
connector on the flexible sensing panel 1, or vice versa. Such
mezzanine connector may also double as the means for physical
attachment, or alternatively the physical attachment may be
strengthened by an interlocking design of the data logger unit 21
and the sensing panel 1.
[0076] When the data logger unit 21 is removably attachable to the
sensing panel 1, this enables the data logger 21 to be removed from
the sensing panel 1 and placed on a different sensing panel as
appropriate, for example is the first sensing panel 1 is ultimately
worn out and needs to be discarded, or if the it needs to be
cleaned before further use.
[0077] In the illustrated sensing panel 1, four (4) sensing
elements 11, 11', 11'', 11''' in the form of conductive plates are
disposed on the flexible substrate, with conductive leads (not
shown) connecting the respective sensing element with the connector
means 17 and the data logger unit 21 is adapted to measure an
impedance value between two sensing elements at a time in order to
detect a change in the impedance value indicative of a change in
the amount of urine absorbed by the absorbent hygiene article. The
present disclosure is however not limited to this specific type of
sensing elements, and the at least one sensing element may, in
addition or alternatively, represent different types of sensors,
such as temperature sensors, VOC sensors or other sensors known to
those skilled in the art that may be useful for the purpose of
monitoring the hygiene status in a absorbent hygiene article while
being arranged on the exterior surface of the absorbent hygiene
article.
* * * * *