GB2165755A

GB2165755A - Male incontinence pad

Info

Publication number: GB2165755A
Application number: GB08426484A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr Edmund Carus; Professor John Tracey Scales
Original assignee: Vernon Carus Ltd; Institute of Orthopaedics
Current assignee: Vernon Carus Ltd; Institute of Orthopaedics
Priority date: 1984-10-19
Filing date: 1984-10-19
Publication date: 1986-04-23
Also published as: GB8426484D0; GB2165755B

Abstract

An incontinence pad composed of an outer layer of air/vapour permeable, water impermeable material and an inner layer of absorbent material is moulded to cooperate with the anatomy of a male user. The outer layer is preferably formed of a thermoplastic material, the absorbent may include a superabsorbent core and the pad preferably has a permeable hydrophobic cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Incontinence pads This invention relates to an incontinence pad particularly but not exclusively of the kind worn by persons having a minor degree of incontinence rather than persons prone to total voiding of the bladder.

According to the present invention an incontinence pad comprises a laminate comprising an outer layer an air vapour permeable, water impermeable material and a layer of absorbent material disposed within the outer layer, the laminate being moulded to cooperate with the anatomy of the male user.

The pad is preferably generally elongate and has two ends one end being moulded to form a recess.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are moulded so that the user's penis may be received into the recess but not gripped. Incontinence guards, which grip the penis have been disclosed for use by elderly patients with retractile penis conditions. Such guards are not suitable for general use.

The end of the pad remote from the recess may be generally flat or slightly curved in order to be comfortable to wear. The end remote from the recess serves to absorb urine collected at the recess, enhancing the absorptive capacity of the pad. The end remote from the recess is preferably generally open.

The laminate may incorporate a thermoplastic material to facilitate moulding. The absorbent material may incorporate polyester or polyalkene fibres which may be blended with absorbent fibres such as fluff pulp, or needlepunching.

The absorbent material may incorporate a core of super absorbent material such as Dow Tissue Laminate or Polymer 35~A~100 made by Grain Processing Corporation to facilitate distribution of liquid within the pad.

A hydrophobic permeable coverstock may be provided.

The invention is further described by means of example and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

The incontinence pad shown in Figure 1 is designed to cooperate with the anatomy of a male user. The elongate pad is constructed from a laminate comprising an outer layer 1 of an air permeable water impermeable material and an inner layer of absorbent material 2.

The inner layer2 may have a hydrophobic coverstock.

A preferred air permeable, water impermeable material is thermoplastic and capable of being moulded to the desired configuration. A preferred material is an open celled polyurethane film such as PERMAIR M157 manufactured by Porvair Medical Limited. Preferred materials have a permeability to water vapour of 100 gm-2hr-l but resist penetration by a water pressure of 250 cm.

The outer layer may have a thickness of less than 1 mm, preferably 0.5 mm.

The absorbent material may comprise a conventional nonwoven fabric preferably having a weight greater than 100 gm-2. The absorbent material preferably contains a proportion of thermoplastic fibres such as polyester or polyalkene fibres blended into the nonwoven fabric by needlepunching. A core of super absorbent material may be present. More preferably the absorbent material may comprise an open celled polyurethane, for example PERMAIR M235 manufactured by Porvair Medical Limited.

Both the inner and outer layers may have thermoplastic properties although embodiments in which only one layer is thermoplastic also fall within the scope of this invention.

The illustrated pad has at one end a recess 3 shaped to receive the penis of a user. The end of the pad 4 remote from the recess is generally flat or planar. Urine released onto the pad at 3 is distributed by capillary action to the end 4, preventing local saturation of the pad. The side portions 5, of the pad gradually diminish in size from the front end to the rear end 4.

The exterior of the pad may be provided with adhesive, for example in the form of adhesive tape, to secure the pad to a user's undergarments.

Claims

1. An incontinence pad comprising a laminate comprising an outer layer of an air vapour permeable water impermeable material and a layer of absorbent material disposed within the outer layer, the laminate being moulded to cooperate with the anatomy of a male user.

2. An incontinence pad as claimed in claim 1, being generally elongate and having two ends, one end being moulded to form a recess.

3. An incontinence pad as claimed in claim 2, moulded so that a user's penis may be received into the recess but not gripped.

4. An incontinence pad as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the end of the pad remote from the recess is generally flat or slightly curved.

5. An incontinence pad as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the laminate incorporates a thermoplastic material.

6. An incontinence pad as claimed in any preceding claim, incorporating a core of superabsorbent material.

7. An incontinence pad as claimed in any preceaing claim, including a permeable hydrophobic coverstock.

8. An incontinence pad substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect:~ (a) Claims 1, 2 & 4 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:~

1. An incontinence pad comprising a laminate comprising an outer layer of an air vapour permeable water impermeable material and a layer of absorbent material disposed within the outer layer, the laminate being moulded to cooperate with the anatomy of a male user, being elongate and having two ends, one end being moulded to form a recess with side portions, the other end being flat or slightly curved and wherein the side portions gradually diminish in size from the end having the recess to the other end.

(c) Claims 3, 5, 6, 7, & 8 above have been renumbered as 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 and their appendancies corrected.