JP2002172098A - Method for evaluating and selecting absorptive article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for evaluating and selecting an absorptive article, which matches physical and psychological demands of a wearer oneself to use an absorptive article such as a paper diaper, sanitary napkin, etc. SOLUTION: An absorptive article is evaluated and selected based on pulse variation of a wearer as an index.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating and selecting absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for evaluating and selecting an absorbent article that meets the physiological and psychological requirements of the wearer, using the heart rate variability of the wearer wearing the absorbent article as an index.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, in the market, absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, vagina liners, breast milk pads, etc., have different sizes (length, thickness, etc.), shapes, absorption amounts, prices, and the like. Classified and sold. Therefore, the purchaser selects and purchases an absorbent article based on the size, shape, and other external shapes, absorption amount, price, and the like.
In addition, since there is usually no specialized sales person at the sales floor, the purchaser selects and purchases the articles placed on the product shelf based on the size, shape, absorption amount, etc. displayed on the product package. That is the fact.

[0003] For example, in diapers for babies and infants, depending on the size according to weight (for newborns, S, M, L, etc.) and the classification based on whether or not the user can stand up (assembled with tape, pants type), adult paper diapers are used. Is purchased and selected by the purchaser according to waist size (S, M, L, etc.) and shape. However, in the case of infant diapers and adult paper diapers, the purchaser and the user (wearer) are usually different from each other. Usually, a product is selected. In particular, the tendency is strong in infants with poor language and motor skills or in elderly people with dementia symptoms.

[0004] For this reason, products that meet the physiological and psychological requirements of the wearer themselves are not selected, and as a result, the wearer's feeling of wearing (feeling, tightening, and ease of movement) is inferior. Diaper rash (contact dermatitis) on the outside of the human body as a result of the risk of selecting a product
Etc., or cause stress on the wearer.

In the case of sanitary napkins, the absorption amount, length (large days, small days), and shape (presence or absence of blades)
For example, a product is selected and purchased. In the case of sanitary napkins, since the purchaser and the user (wearer) usually match, use products that match the user's physical condition and taste (feel, shape, absorption amount, etc.). Can be purchased from the user's experience, but the physiological and psychological requirements that the user perceives from the experience are not always correct, and may cause stress. May be. Furthermore, young users have little experience in using napkins, so it is difficult to select a product that meets true physiological and psychological requirements, and the selection criteria tend to be inclined toward palatability.

[0006] In the field of product development and manufacturing of absorbent articles such as diapers and sanitary napkins, such market conditions have led to the pursuit of purchasers' preferences and simplicity. May deviate from the true physiological and psychological requirements of the individual. However, a method for correcting such a situation has not been developed so far, and an appropriate index (measure) for evaluating and selecting an absorbent article that matches the comfort and wearing feeling of the wearer has been developed. There is no actual situation.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of evaluating and selecting an absorbent article that matches the physiological and psychological requirements of a wearer who uses an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper or a sanitary napkin.
More specifically, in producers who develop and manufacture absorbent articles such as diapers and sanitary napkins, select articles that are closer to physiological and psychological requirements such as the wearer's own comfort,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method that can be evaluated, and a method that enables a purchaser of an absorbent article such as a diaper or a sanitary napkin to select an article that matches the physiological and psychological requirements of the wearer.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have conducted intensive studies in order to solve the above problems, and as a result, have grasped the internal (autonomic nervous system) situation of the wearer who wears the absorbent article. The present inventors have found that an absorbent article can be evaluated and selected by using a possible heart rate variability as an index (measure), and the present invention has been accomplished. In detail, the present inventors have studied various indices that can objectively infer the physiological and psychological conditions of the wearer, focused on heart rate variability, measured the heart rate variability of the wearer, Have a relationship with the comfort of the sexual article. In other words, the present inventors have found that the wearer wears the absorbent article, and the heart rate variability of the wearer changes when the user feels comfortable and when the user feels uncomfortable.

That is, the present invention provides (1) a method of evaluating the quality of an absorbent article using a wearer's heart rate variability as an index,
(2) a method of selecting an absorbent article that matches the wearer using the wearer's heart rate variability as an index, and (3) the index performs frequency analysis of an interval (R-R interval) between R waves of the electrocardiogram. The method according to the above (1) or (2), which is a high frequency component (HF component) obtained by performing the above operation, (4) the index indicates the frequency (RR interval) between R waves of the electrocardiogram as the frequency. The present invention relates to the method according to the above (1) or (2), which is a ratio (LF / HF) of a low frequency component (LF component) and a high frequency component (HF component) obtained by analysis.

According to the present invention, an absorbent article that meets physiological and psychological requirements such as the comfort of the wearer is evaluated objectively and simply by evaluating the absorbent article using the heart rate variability in the body fluid as an index. The effect that selection and evaluation can be performed can be achieved.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The absorbent article according to the present invention includes a paper diaper, a sanitary napkin,
Mention may be made of sanitary tampons, interlabial absorbent pads, vaginal liners and breast milk pads, but the invention is also applicable to incontinence shorts and the like.

During the heart beat, a characteristic series of potentials is generated in the myocardium, and the curve recording the potential difference is an electrocardiogram. Electrocardiogram is from 0.5Hz to 100-200Hz
And is divided into several constituent signals such as P wave, R wave, and T wave. Although the heart beat seems to occur regularly with a certain period,
Time interval for each beat, for example, the interval between R waves (RR interval,
RRI) is not always constant, it is 10-30%
It can be seen that there is a degree of fluctuation (fluctuation). This variation is heart rate variation. Heart rate variability has recently attracted attention in assessing autonomic nervous function and in assessing stress resulting from maladaptation of autonomic nervous function. That is, it has become possible to evaluate the human autonomic nervous system from the degree of the heart rate variability.

Many methods have been proposed for analyzing and evaluating heart rate variability. It is known that heart rate variability has a plurality of components having different frequencies, and each of these components reflects a different action of the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, it is effective to apply a frequency analysis technique to the analysis of heart rate variability. When the heart rate variability is subjected to frequency analysis by fast Fourier transform (FFT), the power spectrum has two fluctuating components: a low frequency component (LF component) of 0.05 to 0.15 Hz and a low frequency component (LF component) of 0.2 to 0.4 Hz. High frequency component (HF
Component) appears. H extracted from the heart rate variability spectrum
It is known that the F component is an index of parasympathetic nerve. Attempts have also been made to evaluate the balance between the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve from the ratio between the LF component and the HF component extracted from the heart rate variability spectrum.

[0014] The present inventors, from such heart rate variability,
I thought that it would be possible to evaluate or select an absorbent article, and when I experimented, I found that the wearer's own heart rate variability and the comfort of the absorbent article had a correlation, and the present invention It has been reached. Although the relationship between heart rate variability and the autonomic nervous system, or the sympathetic or parasympathetic nerves has been known, it has been found that heart rate variability can be used for evaluating or selecting absorbent articles. People are the first.

The present invention will be described more specifically. When the heart rate variability is subjected to frequency analysis by fast Fourier transform, the low frequency (LF) component of the power spectrum (0.05-0.
15Hz) and high frequency (HF) component (0.2-0.4H
z) appears. By numerically integrating the LF component and the HF component to evaluate whether the sympathetic nerve is dominant or relaxed and the parasympathetic nerve is dominant, the comfort of the absorbent article is evaluated, To choose. The LF component is an index of the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve.
The F component is an index of parasympathetic nerve, and LF / HF is an index of balance between sympathetic nerve and parasympathetic nerve.

The outline of the method of measuring the heart rate variability and the method of analyzing the measured data will be described below ("Human Science Measurement Handbook" edited by the Measurement and Research Subcommittee of the Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology, Gihodo Publishing Co., Ltd. 26).
Pages 3-268 and 387-399, edited by Shojiro Kato, "How to Measure Biological Functions for Beginners", Japan Publishing Service 87-
See page 99).

[Measurement method of heart rate variability] 1) Measuring equipment In order to measure a heart rate and an electrocardiogram, a normal heart rate monitor and an electrocardiograph can be used. For example, Acurex Plus (made by POLAR) or MAC Heart Rate Memory (V
Portable heart rate meter such as ine) and Polygraph RM-6000
Polygraphs such as Nihon Kohden and Polygraph 360 (manufactured by NEC Medical Systems) and electrocardiographs are used. 2) Electrode A silver-silver chloride dish electrode is used as a lead electrode. 3) Measuring method (i) The skin surface on which the electrode is to be attached is wiped with alcohol cotton, and the electrode with the electrode paste is attached. (Ii) The potential on the skin surface corresponding to the heart activity of the human body is taken out, and the voltage difference between the electrodes is amplified by an AC amplifier. (Iii) The output signal is sent to an A / D converter, converted into a digital signal, and the data is stored in a medium such as DAT or MO.

[Data analysis method] The peak position of the R wave is detected from the digital waveform obtained by the heart rate variability measurement method.
RR interval data for each beat is obtained. The obtained heart rate variability is subjected to frequency analysis by fast Fourier transform. Low frequency (LF) component of power spectrum (0.05 to 0.15H
z) and a high frequency (HF) component (0.2 to 0.4 Hz) are integrated to give a numerical value, and the HF component (power), H
The F component (power) and LF / FH are obtained.

Specifically, the wearer wears an absorbent article having a controlled absorption amount and touch, controls the temperature and humidity at the interface between the skin and the absorbent article, and measures the heart rate variability of the wearer. The absorbent article was evaluated and selected using the measured heart rate variability as an index.

The relationship between heart rate variability and the feeling of wearing the absorbent article was tested using a diaper as follows. For the test, two types of pants-type diapers having the following performance were prepared.

[Table 1] Note) Absorption rate: The time until 200 ml of physiological saline is injected into the diaper surface and the entire amount of physiological saline is absorbed from the top sheet. Re-wet amount: 200 ml of physiological saline was added, and after 5 minutes, a filter paper was placed on the top sheet surface under a load of 35 g / cm ² , and the amount of physiological saline absorbed by the filter paper. Absorbed amount: The whole diaper was immersed in physiological saline for 30 minutes, pulled up, and the weight before water absorption was subtracted from the weight of water drained under a load of 35 g / cm ² for 20 minutes. (G / p represents the weight absorbed per diaper.) Water retention: The weight before absorption was subtracted from the weight centrifuged at 150 G for 90 seconds after the measurement of the absorption. Here, the diaper I is a sample representing a diaper having a high functionality with a high absorption rate, a rewet amount, a water absorption amount, and a water holding amount, and the diaper I has a low absorption speed, a rewet amount, a water absorption amount, and a water holding amount. This is a sample that represents a diaper with poor functionality.

[Wearing Test] A wearing test was carried out by seven adult panelists. Room temperature 28 ° C, Humidity 60RH%
In the room, the diapers I and diapers II
After 25 minutes, 37 ° C. simulated urine was poured into the diaper crotch using a silicone tube, and was continuously worn for 25 minutes. For each panelist, the heart rate variability immediately after urinating the simulated urine was measured by the above method, and the frequency analysis was performed by the above method to obtain the HF component and LF / HF.

Table 2 shows the average values of the seven panelists.

[Table 2]

According to the results shown in Table 2, the diaper has good functionality.
In I, the average of the HF component immediately after urination is 3.40 in the average of seven panelists, whereas in the diaper II with poor function,
2.51. FIG. 1 illustrates the HF components in Table 2. FIG. 1 is a graph showing the average HF component of diaper I and diaper II immediately after urination. Also, LF /
FIG. 2 illustrates HF. Figure 2 shows the diaper I
The average LF / HF immediately after urination for diaper II and diaper II was graphically represented. Comparing diaper I and diaper II by a significant difference test (p <0.05), it was confirmed that the HF component immediately after urination was significantly higher in diaper I than in diaper I.
It was confirmed that diaper I was significantly lower in LF / HF. Diaper I is in a relaxed state with parasympathetic dominance, and diaper II is in a nervous state with sympathetic dominance.

From these results, it can be seen that in a diaper having good functionality, the HF component increases and the LF / HF decreases, and conversely, the HF component or LF / HF.
It was found that the quality of the diaper could be evaluated and determined by measuring the diaper. This result indicates that at the diaper development site or production site, the HF component or LF / HF, which is an index representing heart rate variability, is not only an evaluation index of the quality of the diaper, but also the feeling of wearing by infants and the elderly. It can be used as an index for selecting a diaper that a wearer who cannot express in a language himself feels comfortable and wears well.

By applying this result, it is possible to provide an appropriate product to a user (wearer) by developing and producing a diaper having a high HF component and a low LF / HF of a try-on person. The effect can be obtained.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the relationship between the difference in the absorption performance of diapers and the heart rate variability, the same applies to other physical properties of the absorbent article, such as feel, tightening, and ease of movement. By measuring the heart rate variability by the technique, it is possible to select an absorbent article having a function appropriate for the wearer. In addition, although the relationship with heart rate variability was tested using diapers as an example, similar results are expected for absorbent articles other than diapers.

[0027]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Embodiment 1 Embodiment 1 shows an embodiment of a diaper. Using the following three types of diapers I to III, a wearing test for elderly people who actually needed nursing care was performed. Table 3 shows the absorption characteristics of the three diapers I to III.

[Table 3] Here, the measurement of the absorption rate, rewetting, absorption amount, and water retention amount is the same as in Table 1.

1) Heart rate variability and comfort Table 4 shows the HF component and LF / HF immediately after urination measured by seven adult panelists according to the [wearing test].
Shown in In addition, the comfort level after urination by each panelist was evaluated in three stages. 3: Little change compared to the feeling of wearing before urination 2: Slightly uncomfortable compared to the feeling of wearing before urination 1: Discomfort compared to the feeling of wearing before urination Are shown in Table 4.

2) Observation of Skin Condition Further, each diaper was replaced by an elderly subject who needed nursing care on an average of 7 sheets a day, and the skin condition was observed after 5 days of use.
Table 4 shows the results.

[Table 4]

From the results shown in Table 4, it was confirmed that the heart rate variability HF component or LF / HF was related to the comfort of the diaper, and was further related to the skin condition caused by continuous wearing of the diaper. That is, the wearer's HF
It was found that the higher the component, the better the comfort and the condition of the skin, and the lower the LF / HF of the wearer, the better the comfort and the condition of the skin.

[0031]

Example 2 In Example 2, an example of an absorbent article for women was shown. [Sample] Two types of sanitary napkins I and II (see Table 5) having different performances were prepared.

[Table 5] Note) Hardness of surface slippage: MIU value (average friction coefficient) measured using an automatic surface tester (KES FB-4S, manufactured by Kato Tech). The larger the value, the harder the surface slips. Surface roughness: automatic surface tester (Kato Tech K
MFD value (fluctuation in friction coefficient) measured using ES FB-4S). The higher the value, the greater the surface roughness. Surface roughness: Automatic surface tester (Kato Tech KES)
SMD value (fluctuation in surface thickness) measured using FB-4S). The higher the value, the rougher the surface. The MIU value, MMD value, and SMD value are indices that are often used to represent the surface characteristics of film-like samples such as cloth, paper, and nonwoven fabric (Kiyoshi Kawabata, Textile Engineering, Vol. 33, No.
2 (1980) pp136-142).

[Wearing test] Room temperature 26 ° C, humidity 60RH%
In the room, five panelists were fitted with napkins I and II. All panelists have a regular menstrual cycle2
A woman in her 0s, seven to ten days after she has started menstruation. After entering the room, the panelist rested in a sitting position for 20 minutes, then put on napkin I or II, and continued wearing it in a resting state.

[Heart rate variability]

The heart rate variability of the panel is measured by the method described in

The heart rate variability was analyzed by the analysis method described in (1). Heart rate variability was measured immediately after wearing napkin I or II (25 minutes after entering the room) and 45 minutes after entering the room, and the average value of the ratio of the LF component to the HF component of the five panelists and the average value of the increase rate Are shown in Table 6.

[Sensory Evaluation Method] At 50 minutes after entering the room,
The napkin I or II was subjected to a sensory evaluation of the rough feeling on the following five levels. 1: I feel very soft. 2: Feels soft. 3: Neither can be said. 4: Gogowawa. 5: Very rough. Table 6 shows the average values of the five panelists.

[0035]

[Table 6]

When the results of napkins I and II in Table 6 were compared, it was confirmed that napkin I, which does not have a rough feeling, had a smaller rate of increase in LF / HF component over time. In addition, since napkin II has a higher rate of increase in LF / HF component over time, it can be said that napkin II has a superior sympathetic nerve and is more likely to be nervous. In other words, the surface of the napkin is less slippery, the roughness is larger, and the greater the roughness, the more likely the sympathetic nerve becomes dominant while wearing the napkin,
It can be said that it is easy to get nervous. From the above, it was found that even for absorbent articles for women, it is possible to evaluate and select the difference in wearing feeling due to the difference in physical properties of the surface from the state of the autonomic nervous system on the human body surface. . This not only indicates that heart rate variability and its rate of change are the evaluation criteria for the quality of women's absorbent articles at the development or production sites of women's absorbent articles, but also that the wearer's own It also shows that the feeling can be evaluated objectively.

[0037]

According to the method of the present invention using the heart rate variability as an index, it is possible to objectively evaluate an absorbent article having an appropriate function, so that it is possible to develop and provide an absorbent article having an appropriate function. Can help. The wearer's H
By using the heart rate variability of the F component or LF / HF as an index, it is possible to select and purchase an absorbent article that matches the comfort of the wearer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the influence on the HF component by the type of diaper.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the influence on LF / HF by the type of diaper.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) A41B 13/02 Z F term (reference) 3B029 HB08 4C017 AA10 AA19 AB10 BC11 BC16 BC17 FF30 4C027 AA02 CC00 DD03 EE05 FF01 FF03 FF05 GG02 GG05 GG07 GG11 GG18 HH08 KK00 4C098 AA09 CD08 CD10

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for evaluating the quality of an absorbent article using a heart rate variability of a wearer as an index. 2. A method for selecting an absorptive article that matches a wearer, using the heart rate variability of the wearer as an index. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the index is a high-frequency component (HF component) obtained by frequency-analyzing an interval (R-R interval) between R waves of the electrocardiogram. . 4. An index is a ratio of a low-frequency component (LF component) to a high-frequency component (HF component) obtained by frequency analysis of an interval (R-R interval) between R waves of an electrocardiogram. LF / HF).