KR100918543B1 - Absorbent article with fluid treatment agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a personal care absorbent article such as a sanitary pad or sanitary napkin, wound dressing or the like having one or more layers of absorbent material treated with a red blood cell soluble and gel forming agent. A solubilizer that dilutes menstrual fluid or other blood-containing body fluids is combined with a gel former that concentrates menstrual fluid or other blood-containing body fluids to promote aggregation and increase the viscosity of the blood-containing body fluids in contact with the treated material .

Erythrocyte solubilizers, gel formers, menstrual fluid imitations, absorbent substances, personal care products, menstrual supplies

Description

Absorbent article containing fluid treatment {ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH FLUID TREATMENT AGENT}

The present invention is directed to treating agents for absorbing substances that enhance the ability of the substance to absorb various blood-containing body fluids.

A wide variety of disposable absorbent articles for collecting body fluids are known in the art. Commercial absorbent articles include diapers, sanitary napkins, training pants and incontinent sanitary pads, wound dressings and the like. Disposable products of this type include several functional elements for receiving, absorbing and retaining fluids. Typically, such absorbent articles include cellulose fibers (eg, wood pulp fluff), polymer fibers (eg, polypropylene or polyethylene), particles of superabsorbent material (eg, superabsorbents), and cellulose fibers. , Absorbent cores comprising a mixture of superabsorbent and / or polymer fibers. Such articles typically include a fluid-permeable cover sheet or liner in contact with the user's body, an absorbent core or retention layer, and a fluid-impermeable back sheet.

Cover sheet materials are used for bodily fluid transfer to the absorbent core of personal care absorbent articles, and therefore the materials used in the cover sheet field must be able to handle significantly different body secretions depending on the use and product type. Some products must be able to handle liquids such as urine, while others must be able to handle proteinaceous and viscoelastic fluids such as menstrual discharges and feces. Treatment of viscoelastic menstrual discharge by feminine hygiene products such as sanitary pads and sanitary napkins is exacerbated by differences in composition and fluidity over a wide range of elasticities. In the field of feminine hygiene, fluid treatment requires control of the absorption of body fluids, control of fluid retention in the cover, control of the magnitude and intensity of contamination, control of rewetting of the fluid to the surface, and control of fluid release to the absorbent core.

Fibrous, including the shape of the pore structure in the fabric, the properties of the solid surface (surface energy, surface charge, etc.), the shape of the solid surface (surface roughness, grooves, etc.), the chemical / physical treatment of the solid surface, and the chemical properties of the fluid There are a number of factors that govern liquid flow in the structure. One problem associated with absorbent articles intended to be used to handle fluids that contain blood components, such as feminine hygiene products and wound dressings, is that red blood cells block the pores of materials used for fluid absorption in such products. will be. Representative examples of such porous materials are nonwoven or fibrous web materials. Blocking the pores of the nonwoven or fibrous web material by red blood cells results in a decrease in fluid intake and wicking ability of such products. In addition, for feminine hygiene products such as sanitary pads and sanitary napkins, the blocking by red blood cells of the pores of the nonwoven material used herein causes an increase in contamination. For feminine hygiene products that include superabsorbents, the attachment of red blood cells to superabsorbents results in blocking of the superabsorbents and a significant reduction in fluid uptake.

For feminine hygiene products such as sanitary pads and sanitary napkins, women expect high levels of performance in terms of comfort and fit, fluid retention and minimal contamination. Most importantly, fluid leakage from the pads to the underwear is considered entirely unacceptable.

Improving the performance of feminine hygiene products has had a number of improvements in both their materials and structures, but it still remains a challenge. However, solutions to problems caused by the presence of red blood cells in the blood or menstrual fluid have not been satisfactorily performed in feminine hygiene products as well as other absorbent substances for handling blood-containing fluids. It is evident that a system that effectively handles red blood cells in a manner that solves the problems presented above can not only improve the distribution by the absorbent material of the incoming fluid, but can also reduce the tendency for early failure of these absorbent articles.

Methods for separating or removing erythrocytes from blood-containing fluids generally involve two types, rupturing the membranes of aggregation and erythrocytes, which allow the erythrocytes to aggregate and more easily separate from the remaining fluid components, for example by filtration. So that it breaks or breaks down red blood cells. Aggregation is known to occur, for example, in the presence of certain antibodies. The ability of gel formers to increase the viscoelasticity of biological menstrual fluid replicas has already been demonstrated. In addition, the ability of erythrocyte solubles to destroy erythrocytes in biological menstrual fluid replicas is known. However, any absorbent treatment agent that combines erythrocyte solubles and gel formers is not known.

There is a need or desire for an absorption system that can effectively handle red blood cells.

Summary of the Invention

In response to the discussed difficulties and problems encountered in the prior art, new treatments for absorbent materials have been developed that allow the absorbent material to effectively handle red blood cells.

The present invention relates to a composition for treating an absorbent material so that the absorbent material can effectively handle red blood cells, thereby improving the ability of the material to absorb blood-containing fluids. The composition includes a gel former, such as a menstrual gel former, and an erythrocyte soluble agent. Gel formers aggregate red blood cells in the blood-containing fluid, allowing the physical separation of red blood cells from the blood-containing fluid and allowing the fluid to be more readily absorbed and less strongly colored. Conversely, solubilizers destroy the structure of red blood cells. When used together, the erythrocyte solubilizer enhances the gel forming effect of the gel former, which results in a higher viscosity when mixed with the menstrual fluid replica, so that the gel former is better when combined with the solubilizer than the gel former alone. There is a synergistic effect that works more effectively. However, for maximum performance, the gel formers and solubilizers are added separately and do not integrate with each other in the ingredients.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a gel former and an erythrocyte soluble agent are added to the absorbent material. Gel formers and solubilizers may be added to separate product components, or may be added to the same component. For example, gel formers and solubilizers can be added to different material layers in a single laminate. In addition, the gel former may be added to the periphery of the same or different layers, while the solubilizer is added to the center or insulator site of one layer.

In another embodiment, gel formers and erythrocyte solubles are added to components in absorbent articles, such as menstrual articles. More specifically, the gel former may be added to a retention layer, such as an absorbent core, while the solvent is applied to the liner or suction layer adjacent to the liner.

One advantage of the present invention is that when the red blood cells of the blood-containing fluid come into contact with the gel former and solubilizer, it can no longer block the flow of fluid to any superabsorbent that may be present in the absorbent material.

In view of the above, it is a specific embodiment of the present invention to provide an absorbent material and an absorbent article capable of effectively handling red blood cells.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an absorbent article.

2 is a cross-sectional view along line 2-2 of the absorbent article of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a graph as a function of time of viscosity of a complex viscosity for the fluids tested in the Examples herein.

4 is a graph as a function of time of the elastic portion of the composite viscosity for the fluids tested in the Examples herein.

As used herein, the term "nonwoven web" or "fibrous web" stabilizes the structure to provide some degree of mechanical cohesion and provides at least some small pores between adjacent fiber-like components over its length and width. By any material comprising a generally random array of fibrous or fiber-like components connected by a bond point to form. The term also encompasses individual filaments and braided yarns, spun yarns or tethers, as well as foams and films that have been fibrillated, opened or otherwise treated to impart fiber-like properties. "Nonwoven webs" or "fibrous webs" are formed by a variety of methods, such as spunbonding, meltblowing, dry laid, airformed, wet laid, coformed and bonded carded methods.

As used herein, the term “spunbonding” is used to extrude molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine, generally circular capillaries of spinneret, for example, where the diameter of the extruded filaments is rapidly reduced, U.S. Patent 4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Patent No.3,338,992, Kinney U.S.A. To form small diameter fibers such as those described in US Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, US Pat. No. 3,502,538 to Levy, and US Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al. Means the way. Spunbond fibers are non-tacky when quenched and generally deposited on a collecting surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and often have an average diameter of greater than 7 μm and more specifically about 10-20 μm.

As used herein, the term "meltblowing" refers to a filament of molten thermoplastic material to reduce the diameter of the thermoplastic material melted through a plurality of fine, generally circular die capillaries to reduce the diameter to be a microfiber diameter. Generally means a method of extruding as molten yarn or filament into a heated, convergent high velocity gas (eg air) to form a fiber. The meltblown fibers are then carried by the high velocity gas stream and, while often still sticky, are deposited on the collector surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a method is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin. Meltblown fibers are microfibers that may be continuous or discontinuous and generally have an average diameter of less than 10 μm.

The terms "bonded carded" or "bonded carded web" as used herein are known to those skilled in the art and further described in US Pat. No. 4,488,928 to Alikhan and Schmidt. By non-woven web formed by the same carding method as is. Typically, the carding method generally comprises starting with a blend of staple fibers and binding fibers or other binding components, for example, in bulk batts that have been combusted or otherwise treated to provide a uniform basis weight. do. This web may be heated or otherwise treated to activate the adhesive component, resulting in an integrated, generally lofty nonwoven material.

As used herein, the term "monocomponent" fiber refers to fibers formed from one or more extruders using only one type of polymer. This does not mean excluding fibers formed from one type of polymer to which small amounts of additives are added for coloring, antistatic, lubricity, hydrophilicity, and the like. These additives are generally present in amounts of about 5% by weight, and more typically less than about 2% by weight.

As used herein, the term "composite fiber" refers to a fiber formed from two or more polymers extruded from separate extruders but spun together to form one fiber. In addition, composite fibers are often referred to as multicomponent or bicomponent fibers. Composite fibers may be monocomponent fibers, but the polymers are generally different from one another. The polymers are arranged in separate zones located substantially constant across the cross section of the composite fibers and extend continuously along the length of the composite fibers. The shape of such composite fibers may be, for example, a sheath / core arrangement in which one type of polymer is surrounded by another, or in a parallel arrangement, or “islands-in-the-sea”. It can be an array. Composite fibers are taught, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,108,820 to Kaneko et al., US Pat. No. 5,336,552 to Strack et al. And US Pat. No. 5,382,400 to Pike et al. For bicomponent fibers, the polymer may be present at 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 or any other desired ratio.

As used herein, the term “bicomponent fiber” means a fiber formed from two or more polymers extruded into a blend from the same extruder. Bicomponent fibers do not have various polymer components arranged in discrete zones that are relatively uniform across the cross section of the fiber, and the various polymers are generally not continuous along the entire length of the fiber, but instead generally start randomly Form terminating fibrils or protofibrils. Bicomponent fibers are often referred to as multicomponent fibers. This general type of fiber is reviewed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,108,827 to Gesner.

As used herein, the term “polymer” generally includes homopolymers, copolymers such as blocks, grafts, random and cross copolymers, terpolymers, and the like, and blends and modifiers thereof. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, unless specifically limited otherwise, the term "polymer" includes all possible geometries of the material. Shapes include, but are not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic and random symmetry.

As used herein, the term "absorbent material" means any material that has fluid absorbing properties.

As used herein, the term "personal hygiene absorbent article" refers to diapers, training pants, absorbent underwear, adult incontinence products, wound dressings, sanitary wipes, and feminine hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, pads, and tampons. it means.

As used herein, the term "suction" refers to the ability of an absorbent article to absorb a fluid. Inhalation times are used to assess the extent of absorption, with low inhalation times indicating the rapid absorption of the material and high inhalation times indicating the poor absorption of the material.

As used herein, the term "contamination" refers to wet or dry fluid present on or over the top surface of, or on the bottom surface of, the cover material or liner of a personal care absorbent article.

As used herein, the term "porosity gradient" refers to a porous system in which the average pore size in the system decreases (or increases) from one side of the system to the opposite side of the system. For personal care absorbent articles using the porosity gradient nonwoven web material according to the invention, the average pore size decreases from the side of the nonwoven web material disposed towards the liner or cover of the absorbent article toward the liquid impermeable back sheet.

"Artificial low viscoelastic fluid" or "menstrual fluid replica" is another substance that mimics the viscoelastic and other properties of menstrual fluid. To prepare the fluid, blood, such as defibrinated pig blood, was separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 30 minutes, but other methods or speeds and times can be used if effective. Plasma is separated, stored separately, white blood cell layer removed and discarded, and red blood cells in the pack are also stored separately. Separate eggs, such as large chicken eggs, discard egg yolks and strings, and retain egg whites. The egg whites are filtered through a 1000 μm nylon mesh for about 3 minutes to separate the egg whites into thick and thin portions and discard the thin portions. If more than the required viscosity is provided, other mesh sizes can be used and the time or method can be modified. The rich portion of egg white retained on the mesh is collected and 80 ml is mixed with 60 ml of pig plasma. The material is then sheared by any suitable method to obtain a homogeneous solution with a viscosity of about 7 to 15 cps at 1 sec ⁻¹ at 22 ° C. After centrifugation, 80 ml of rich homogenized egg whites containing ovomucin are added to a 300 cc FENWAL Transfer Pack using a syringe. 60 cc pig plasma is then added to the delivery pack. The delivery pack is fixed, all air bubbles are removed and placed in a Stomacher lab blender which is mixed at an average (or normal) speed for about 2 minutes. The delivery pack is then removed from the blender, 60 cc of porcine erythrocytes are added and the contents mixed into hand dough for about 2 minutes or until the contents are homogeneous. The final mixture has a red blood cell content of about 30% by volume and is generally in the range of 28 to 32% by volume for at least artificial menstrual fluid. The amount of egg white is about 40% by weight.

Menstrual discharge consists of endometrial tissue, also called blood, vaginal or cervical secretions and clots. Vaginal discharge consists mainly of mucus. The proportion of various components of menstrual fluid varies from woman to woman and over time. The proportion of these components also depends on the age of the woman, the activity of the woman and the method of contraception of the woman. As a result, the fluid composition can vary with 30-70% blood, 10-50% cervical secretions and 0-30% endometrial tissue.

Fibrous, including the shape of the pore structure in the fabric, the properties of the solid surface (surface energy, surface charge, etc.), the shape of the solid surface (surface roughness, grooves, etc.), the chemical / physical treatment of the solid surface, and the chemical properties of the fluid There are a number of factors that govern liquid flow in the structure.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides treatments for absorbent materials suitable for use in personal care absorbent articles such as sanitary pads, sanitary napkins and tampons, wound dressings, etc., intended to absorb and store blood-containing fluids. . The absorbent material of the present invention reduces the effect of red blood cells on fluid intake, wicking ability, contamination and overall fluid retention, in particular the function of the superabsorbent particles.

The treating agent is a composition comprising an erythrocyte soluble agent and a gel former. Suitably, the gel former is present at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 1.0%, or about 0.2% to about 0.9%, or about 0.3% to about 0.8% of the associated liquid weight, and when applied to the support, At a concentration of about 1% to about 15%, or about 2% to about 10%, or about 3% to about 8%. The solubilizer is present at a concentration of about 0.2% to about 4.0%, or about 0.6% to about 3.5%, or about 0.8% to about 3.0% of the associated liquid weight and from about 2% to about 40 of the support weight when added to the support %, Or from about 6% to about 35%, or from about 8% to about 30%. The solubilizer and the gel former together serve to increase the viscosity of the blood-containing fluid in contact with them, as demonstrated in the examples below. More specifically, when combined with a biological menstrual fluid replica, for example in a ratio of about 1: 200, the composition and menstrual fluid replica are at least 4.0 P within 15 minutes of adding the composition to the menstrual fluid replica, or The viscosity is 4.2 P or more, or 4.4 P or more.

The time delay between exposure of the menstrual fluid replica to the solubilizer and the exposure of the menstrual fluid to the gel former results in a higher viscosity than when the menstrual fluid replica was simultaneously exposed to both the solubilizer and the gel former. For example, when the menstrual fluid replica and the composition were first combined with the solubilizer in a ratio of about 1: 200 and the gel former after 30 minutes, the composition and the menstrual fluid replica were produced by the menstrual fluid replica. The viscosity is at least 4.8 P, or at least 5.0 P, or at least 5.2 P within 45 minutes of combining with the solubilizer.

The present invention also encompasses absorbent materials treated with erythrocyte solubles and gel formers. The invention further includes a personal care absorbent article in which one or more components made of an absorbent material have been treated with a red blood cell soluble and gel former.

A wide variety of disposable personal care absorbent articles are known in the art, including nonwoven web materials, typically for collecting body fluids. Commercial absorbent articles include disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, training pants and incontinent sanitary pads, wound dressings and the like. Disposable products of this type include several functional elements for receiving, absorbing and retaining fluids. Typically, such absorbent articles are absorbent cores or retention layers comprising cellulose fibers (eg, wood pulp fluff), particles of superabsorbent material (eg, superabsorbents), and mixtures of cellulose fibers and superabsorbents. Has

An example of a personal care absorbent article 20 comprising an absorbent material treated in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The cross section of the absorbent article 20 is shown in FIG. 2, which represents the various layers of absorbent material that make up the absorbent article 20. More specifically, the absorbent article 20 is a fluid-permeable liner 22 facing the user's body, and a fluid impermeable baffle 24 on the opposite surface of the absorbent article facing away from the wearer in use of the article. It may include. The absorbent material in the article 20 can include a liner 22 as well as a retention layer 26 positioned between the liner 22 and the fluid impermeable baffle 24. Additional absorbent material, i.e., suction layer 28, may be positioned between liner 22 and retention layer 26 to provide additional suction capability to the article.

Liner materials are used for bodily fluid delivery to the retention layer of personal care absorbent articles, and therefore the materials used in the liner art must be able to handle significantly different body fluid secretions that vary depending on the application and product type. Some products must be able to handle liquids such as urine, while others must be able to handle proteinaceous and viscoelastic fluids such as menstrual discharges and feces. Treatment of viscoelastic menstrual discharge by feminine hygiene products such as sanitary pads and sanitary napkins is exacerbated by differences in composition and fluidity over a wide range of elasticities. In the field of feminine hygiene, fluid treatment requires control of the absorption of body fluids, control of fluid retention in the cover, control of the magnitude and intensity of contamination, control of rewetting of the fluid to the surface, and control of fluid release to the retention layer.

One or more layers in the absorbent material or in the absorbent article are treated with a red blood cell soluble agent and one or more layers in the absorbent material or in the absorbent article are treated with a gel former. Suitably, the blood-containing fluid is first contacted with the dissolving agent before contacting the gel former. Therefore, it is preferable that the layer with the dissolving agent is closer to the wearer than the layer with the gel former. In one embodiment, the liner is treated with erythrocyte solubles and the retention layer is treated with a gel former. In another embodiment, the inhalation layer is treated with erythrocyte solubles and the retention layer is treated with a gel former.

By adding a solubilizer at the center of the absorbent material layer and a gel former at the periphery of the same or different absorbent material layers, a target area is created at the center where the blood-containing fluid first contacts, after which the gel former agglomerates the fluid and It is possible to further spread the dissolved fluid mostly outward toward the periphery, which can prevent any further diffusion of the fluid, further optimizing the location of the dissolving agent and gel former in the absorbent material or in the absorbent article. As used herein, the term "peripheral" refers to an area along the perimeter of the layer, suitably within about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) of the layer edge, preferably within about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) of the layer edge. it means. As used herein, the term "center" refers to the area of the layer surrounded by the perimeter.

The absorbent material of the present invention can be a porous nonwoven material that can be prepared by any method of making a nonwoven web material known to those skilled in the art. The absorbent material can be, for example, airformed, dry laid, or bonded carded web. The liner material may in particular comprise a fluid permeable polymer film.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the average pore size of the pores of the nonwoven web material is in the range of about 10 μm to about 200 μm, such that individual red blood cells can pass therein from the outermost pores of the nonwoven web material. While ensuring that the aggregated red blood cells cannot pass through the pores and come into contact with the superabsorbent, which may be present.

In one embodiment of the invention, the absorbent material of the present invention is a multilayer laminate in which layers of absorbent materials having different average pore sizes are laminated on top of other layers to produce absorbent laminates having a porosity gradient described herein above. .

Alternatively, the absorbent material may be a bonded carded web. Bonded carded webs are made from staple fibers, usually purchased in bales. The bale is placed in a picker that separates the fibers. The fibers are then sent through a combing or carding unit, which further separates the staple fibers and arranges them in the machine direction to form a fibrous nonwoven web generally oriented in the machine direction. Once the web is formed, it is joined in one or more of many known bonding methods. One such bonding method is powder bonding, where the powdered adhesive is dispensed through the web, which is then activated by heating the web and adhesive, typically with hot air or other heat source. Another suitable bonding method is pattern bonding, where the fibers are bonded together in a generally localized bonding pattern using heated calender rolls or ultrasonic bonding devices, although the web can be bonded over its entire surface if desired. Another suitable bonding method is aeration bonding, especially when using bicomponent staple fibers.

The absorbent material, in particular the absorbent material in the retention layer and / or the intake layer, may comprise a superabsorbent. Examples of commercially available superabsorbent polymers are Starhausen, Inc. FAVOR 880 (registered trademark), available from Stockhausen Inc. (27406, North Carolina, 2401 Doyle Street Greensboro).

Gel formers are protein crosslinkers that create a matrix of hydrated cationic polymer and protein to gel the fluid. It has been found that not all cationic polymers work equally well. Ionized crosslinking gel formers suitable for use in the personal care articles of the present invention include CELQUAT® (National Starch and Chemical Company), a polyquaternium cellulose polymer, U care ^TM (UCARE ^TM) polymer (armor call Division of Union carbide (Amercol division of Union carbide)), and, and these warehouse becomes include chitosan (banson (Vanson)) containing the cellulose in the propylene oxide group It is mixed with non-debonded pulp (NB416), available from Weyerhaeuser Corporation (Tacoma, WA). Air Products Polymers and Chemicals sells other suitable binder fibers under the name AIRFLEX®. Cellquart® polymers are believed to work best and are therefore preferred. These include L-200, H-100, SC-230 and SC-240, available from National Starch & Chemical Company. In each case, the polymer of glucose is linked by (14) linkages ((14) linkages appear to have very low efficacy). This means that relatively rigid polyglycan backbones increase efficacy. It is evident that other polyglycan structures that reduce rotation, and thus are rigid, may also be effective, or may be satisfied with any polymer that has reduced freedom of movement for this problem. In any case, the rigid backbone has positive charges up and down along the backbone. These positive charges come from ammonium ions for CellQuart®, Ucare ^™ , and chitosan salts, but can in principle also be generated from other substituents.

As a result of treating the absorbent material with a gel former, the red blood cells aggregate together and, for example, are collected in the pores of the nonwoven web material, resulting in "filtration" from menstrual fluid or blood.                 

Suitable solubilizers for use in the absorbent materials of the present invention are Glucophone 220, GLUCOPON 220, an octylpolyglycoside, available from Henkel Corporation (Ambler, Pennsylvania), PPG Industries Inc., Specialty Chemicals. MASIL® SF-19, Hettern Inc., an alkoxylated polysiloxane available from PPG Industries Inc., Specialty Chemicals Division (Gurney, Illinois). Nonionic surfactant Laures 7, an alkoxylated alcohol available from Heterene Inc. (Patterson, NJ), nonionic laurese, an alkoxylated alcohol available from Hetteren Inc. 4, both of which are alkoxylated alcohols available from Henkel Corporation, nonionic PPG 5-laures 5, alkyl-substituted amino acids available from Henkel / Cospha (Ambler, Pennsylvania). DERIPHAT 160S, an anionic surfactant lauryl sulfate, an alkyl sulfate available from Henkel, and an alkyl substituted amino acid available from McIntyre Group (University Park, Illinois). St. McCam 15-L, anionic mccanate LM-40 (MACKANATE LM-40), a sulfosuccinate, available from McKin Tire Group / An sarcosinate available from Hampshire Chemical (Lexington, Mass.) And an anion stodopol SH124-3, a sulfosuccinate available from Cospa. Anionic inclusion chamber L-30 (HAMPOSYL L-30).

In one embodiment of the invention, the erythrocyte soluble agent is saponin, a high molecular weight glycoside comprising a sugar moiety linked to a triterpene or steroid aglycone. Suitable saponins made from quillaja bark can be purchased from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Missouri).

Both the gel former and the solubilizer can be added to the absorbent material by any means known to those skilled in the art, including immersing the absorbent material in the agent solution or spraying the agent directly on the absorbent material.

Fluidity tests were used to demonstrate the performance of the compositions of the present invention. This test was performed using a Villastic III capillary flowmeter with a 1 mm diameter capillary, available from Villatic Scientific, Austin, Texas. The device was set up to make 30 time-lapse measurements of the viscoelasticity of the fluid at a constant increase over a 15 minute time frame. These measurements were taken at 0.5 Hz single frequency and 1 s ⁻¹ shear ratio.

0.5% U care ^TM gel-forming agent and a 0.6% glucoside phone 220. Having lived added to the biological menstrual fluid artificial water prepared according to the method described above a red cell agents, and immediately perform a time viscoelasticity measurement, both also gelation rate and gelling U Increased when Care ^™ was added alone.

A test was first performed on the addition of 0.5% U Care ^™ alone to the replica, which showed a viscosity of about 3.5 P after 15 minutes. A test was then performed on the addition of 0.5% U Care ^™ and 0.6% Glucophone 220 together to the replica, which showed a viscosity of about 4.5 P after 15 minutes. 0.6% glucophone was first added to the replica and 0.5% U Care ^™ was added after 30 minutes and found to have a viscosity of about 5.3 after 15 minutes or 45 minutes after the time when the glucophone and the replica combined. These test data are shown in the graphs of FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the increased slope of the curves, more than when U Care ^™ alone, shows the gelation rate.

While the foregoing specification of the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments of the invention, many of the details have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, the invention may exhibit additional embodiments and the specific details set forth herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the techniques can be varied significantly without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Claims (72)

delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete Absorber layer; Erythrocyte solubles applied to the center of the layer; And A gel former applied to the periphery of said layer, Wherein the erythrocyte solubles and gel formers are added separately and do not integrate with each other in the absorbent material component. 17. The absorbent material of claim 16, wherein said absorbent material layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of dry laid, airformed, wet laid, absorbent laminates, nonwovens, fluid permeable polymer films, and mixtures thereof. 18. The absorbent material of claim 17, wherein said layer of absorbent material further comprises a superabsorbent material. 17. The absorbent material of claim 16, wherein said gel former is selected from the group consisting of chitosan salts, polyquaternium cellulose polymers, and celluloses with propylene oxide groups. The method of claim 16 wherein the erythrocyte solubles are octylpolyglycosides, alkoxylated polysiloxanes, alkoxylated alcohols, alkyl-substituted amino acids, alkyl sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, saponins, and mixtures thereof. Absorbent material selected from the group consisting of. The absorbent material of claim 16 wherein said gel former is present at a concentration of 1% to 15% of the weight of the material. 17. The absorbent material of claim 16, wherein said gel former is present at a concentration of 2% to 10% of the weight of said material. The absorbent material of claim 16 wherein said gel former is present at a concentration of 3% to 8% of the weight of the material. 17. The absorbent material of claim 16, wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 2% to 40% of the weight of the material. 17. The absorbent material of claim 16, wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 6% to 35% of the weight of the material. 17. The absorbent material of claim 16, wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 8% to 30% of the weight of the material. The central portion of the first layer of absorbent material treated with erythrocyte solubles; And A perimeter of the second layer of absorbent material treated with the gel former, An absorbent laminate, wherein the central portion of the first layer is not treated with a gel former and the periphery of the second layer is not treated with an erythrocyte soluble agent. delete delete 28. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said first layer comprises a liner and said second layer comprises a retention layer. 28. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said first layer comprises a suction layer adjacent to said liner and said second layer comprises a retention layer adjacent to said suction layer. 28. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said first layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of dry laid, airformed, wet laid, absorbent laminates, nonwovens, fluid permeable polymer films, and mixtures thereof. 28. The absorbent laminate of claim 27, wherein said second layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of dry laid, air foamed, wet laid, absorbent laminates, nonwovens, and mixtures thereof. 34. The absorbent laminate of claim 33 wherein the second layer further comprises a superabsorbent material. 28. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said gel former is selected from the group consisting of chitosan salts, polyquaternium cellulose polymers, and celluloses with propylene oxide groups. The method of claim 27, wherein the erythrocyte solubles are octylpolyglycosides, alkoxylated polysiloxanes, alkoxylated alcohols, alkyl-substituted amino acids, alkyl sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, saponins, and mixtures thereof. An absorbent laminate selected from the group consisting of: The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said gel former is present at a concentration of 1% to 15% of the weight of the laminate. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said gel former is present at a concentration of 2% to 10% of the weight of the laminate. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said gel former is present at a concentration of 3% to 8% of the weight of the laminate. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 2% to 40% of the weight of the laminate. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 6% to 35% of the weight of the laminate. The absorbent laminate of claim 27 wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 8% to 30% of the weight of the laminate. Fluid impermeable baffles; Liner; And A retention layer positioned between the fluid impermeable baffle and the liner, A personal care absorbent article, wherein the central portion of the liner is treated with a red blood cell soluble agent and the periphery of the retention layer is treated with a gel former. delete delete 44. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the liner comprises a material selected from the group consisting of dry laid, air foamed, wet laid, absorbent laminates, nonwovens, fluid permeable polymer films, and mixtures thereof. 44. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the retention layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of dry laid, airformed, wet laid, absorbent laminates, nonwovens, and mixtures thereof. 48. The absorbent article of claim 47 wherein the retention layer further comprises a superabsorbent material. 44. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein said gel former is selected from the group consisting of chitosan salts and celluloses with propylene oxide groups. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the erythrocyte solubles are octylpolyglycosides, alkoxylated polysiloxanes, alkoxylated alcohols, alkyl-substituted amino acids, alkyl sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, saponins, and mixtures thereof. An absorbent article selected from the group consisting of: The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the gel former is present at a concentration of 1% to 15% of the weight of the retention layer. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the gel former is present at a concentration of 2% to 10% of the weight of the retention layer. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the gel former is present at a concentration of 3% to 8% of the weight of the retention layer. 44. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 2% to 40% of the liner weight. 44. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 6% to 35% of the liner weight. 44. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein said erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 8% to 30% of the liner weight. delete Fluid impermeable baffles; Liner; A retention layer positioned between the fluid impermeable baffle and the liner; And A suction layer positioned between the liner and the retention layer, Wherein the inhalation layer is treated with a red blood cell soluble agent and the retention layer is treated with a gel former, the erythrocyte soluble agent is applied to a central portion of the inhalation layer, and the gel former is applied to a periphery of the retention layer. delete delete 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the intake layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of dry laid, airformed, wet laid, absorbent laminates, nonwovens, fluid permeable polymer films, and mixtures thereof. 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the retention layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of dry laid, air foamed, wet laid, absorbent laminates, nonwovens, and mixtures thereof. 63. The absorbent article of claim 62 wherein the retention layer further comprises a superabsorbent material. 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the gel former is selected from the group consisting of chitosan salts and celluloses with propylene oxide groups. 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the erythrocyte solubles are octylpolyglycosides, alkoxylated polysiloxanes, alkoxylated alcohols, alkyl-substituted amino acids, alkyl sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, saponins, and mixtures thereof. An absorbent article selected from the group consisting of: 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the gel former is present at a concentration of 1% to 15% of the weight of the retention layer. 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the gel former is present at a concentration of 2% to 10% of the weight of the retention layer. 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the gel former is present at a concentration of 3% to 8% of the weight of the retention layer. 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 2% to 40% of the weight of the inhalation layer. 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 6% to 35% of the weight of the inhalation layer. 59. The absorbent article of claim 58 wherein the erythrocyte solubles are present at a concentration of 8% to 30% of the weight of the inhalation layer. A menstrual article comprising the absorbent article of claim 58.

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