Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/56—Supporting or fastening means
  • A61F13/64—Straps, belts, ties or endless bands

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for facilitating application of an absorbent article on a user, and to a related article and application aid.
• the method relates primarily to application of an absorbent article on a user who is in a recumbent position.
• leakage barriers on diapers have helped give some of these individuals a more tolerable existence.
• the leakage barriers provide extra protection against leakage of urine and excrement via the leg openings, which can happen when the user is walking, turns in bed, or performs some other manoeuvre which can make the diaper change position.
• Minimized moisture content of an absorbent article means that the skin is drier because moisture in the article dries out more quickly. Dry skin is less likely to be damaged by external action such as chafing or growth of bacterial flora.
• a number of elastic threads in the waist region of diaper pants constitutes another invention which gives a better fit and improved comfort for the user.
• the transverse elastic threads hold the diaper in the right place during use and prevent the diaper from sliding out of position.
• the caretakers may have to move several users in order to change the absorbent article on them. They sometimes have to roll a user into the right position before the absorbent article can be applied.
• the problems of moving a heavy weight are sometimes exacerbated even further when, for example, the caretaker is a woman of short build and she is expected to move a large man.
• the caretakers often perform tasks which place a heavy strain on their backs and arms. In the long term, the heavy strain can cause injuries to the back, shoulders and joints. Moving heavy weights, in combination with a stressful working environment, means that caretakers may also experience psychological frustration at not being able to cope.
• Belt diapers are one way of providing caretakers and users with advantageously configured products.
• Belt diapers are described in detail in WO 03/017903 and WO 02/22065.
• the caretaker still has to roll the patients over in order to be able to place the belt diaper under the patient's body.
• Such a manoeuvre often results in the caretaker having to stand leaning forward over the patient. This position, with the caretaker leaning forward, often places a weight on the back muscles, which can be tiring and can even strain the muscles.
• the present invention has made available a method of the type mentioned in the introduction, which method substantially avoids or alleviates the aforementioned problems.
• the present invention also includes a related article and an application aid.
• the method according to the invention for applying an absorbent article on a user in a recumbent position comprises a number of steps which will be described in detail below.
• an application aid is attached to the absorbent article in such a way that it cooperates with that part of the absorbent article which is to be guided under the user, and in such a way that a part of the absorbent article and the application aid are guided under the user.
• the method concerned has a number of advantages compared to previously known methods for application of belt diapers.
• the method according to the invention reduces the number of stressed movements of a caretaker who is to change the diaper on a patient. This means that the work situation is improved and, consequently, the number of days off sick can probably also be reduced.
• the method further involves the application aid being removed from the absorbent article so that the cooperation between the application aid and the absorbent article ceases.
• the absorbent article can then be joined together so that it surrounds the user.
• the application aid can preferably be arranged so that it cooperates with the belt, and preferably with a fastening device arranged on the belt, for example a pocket-like receiving part. This means that the application aid does not lose contact with the belt part when it is pushed in under the patient. Nor does the application aid chafe the patient's skin or catch in the bedclothes or the patient's clothes when the application aid lies enclosed in the receiving part.
• the application aid has a fastening device for cooperating with the absorbent article and preferably the belt on the absorbent article.
• both the application aid and the absorbent article can have fastening devices so that the absorbent article and the application aid cooperate upon movement of the absorbent article or the application aid.
• the invention also comprises an absorbent article which can be used in conjunction with the method or independently.
• the absorbent article expediently comprises a substantially liquid-impermeable backing material, a liquid-permeable cover sheet, and enclosed between these an absorption body.
• the article has a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion placed between these, and also two longitudinal sides and two transverse sides.
• the article also has at least one belt part.
• the belt part has a first end secured to the absorbent article, and a second end.
• the belt part also has means for arranging an application aid so that the belt and the application aid cooperate upon movement of the absorbent article or the application aid.
• the absorbent article has a first belt part and a second belt part.
• at least one of the first and second belt parts has means for arranging an application aid.
• the means can, for example, consist of a pocket-like receiving part for insertion of the application aid.
• the pocket-like receiving part can thus be formed by the belt part.
• the receiving part can be produced in-line or separately and then attached to the absorbent article as ready-made belt parts.
• the belt parts can at least partially consist of the same layers of material as the rear portion of the absorbent article.
• the second end of the belt part is preferably folded over the belt part towards the first end of the belt part so that the longitudinal sides of the belt part run substantially parallel to one another.
• the sides of the pocket can be welded by ultrasound or glued or otherwise joined so that the pocket-like receiving part is formed.
• the join which creates the pocket-like receiving part does not need to be permanent and instead can consist of a temporary attachment which after use can be unfolded so that the belt returns to its full length.
• the pocket-like receiving part can comprise a material separate from the belt part, for example a fastening device such as a hook or loop material. Other fastening devices can also be used depending on what material the belt is to be fastened to.
• the invention also concerns an application aid which is expediently made of a flexible material, for example a plastic material, metal material or wood material.
• a flexible material for example a plastic material, metal material or wood material.
• the flexibility of the application aid makes it easy to guide under the user's body without catching on or chafing the user.
• the application aid can be designed with a rectangular shape, for example similar to a batten, a ruler, or an arrangement like a shoehorn. Suitable dimensions are 15-100 cm in length and 2-14 cm in width. The thickness can be adapted to the material used. It is expedient for the invention that a flexible arrangement is obtained. However, too much flexibility is not desirable because this can lead to difficulties in guiding the application aid under the patient.
• An advantageous embodiment of the application aid is where it comprises a fastening device to which the belt can be secured.
• the fastening device consists preferably of a hook or loop material, a clip arrangement, press- studs or the like.
• Hook material can be used when the belt material consists of a nonwoven laminate which can itself be used as loop material.
• Loop material on the application aid could be used when the belt part has a hook surface.
• the fastening device of the application aid has both hook material and loop material.
• Fig. 1 shows a belt diaper in a view looking towards the liquid- permeable cover sheet
• Fig. 2 shows one end of a belt part and the pocket-like receiving part
• Figs 3-5 show a caretaker using the invention to change a diaper on a patient
• Figs 6-7 show different embodiments of the application aid.
• Figure 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of an absorbent article in the form of a belt diaper 1 comprising a substantially liquid-impermeable backing material 2, a liquid-permeable cover sheet 3, and an absorption body 4 enclosed between these.
• the liquid-permeable cover sheet 3 can comprise nonwoven material, for example spunbond material of continuous filaments, meltblown material, bonded carded fibre material, perforated plastic film, or combinations of these.
• the liquid-impermeable backing material 2 can include material such as a plastic film, nonwoven material which has been coated with a liquid-blocking material or hydrophobic nonwoven material which resists liquid penetration.
• the backing material 2 is preferably breathable.
• a breathable material means a material which can let water vapour pass through.
• the backing material 2 and the cover sheet 3 have a slightly greater planar extent than the absorption body 4 and extend beyond the edges of the latter.
• the sheets 2 and 3 are connected to one another inside the protruding portions, for example by gluing or welding with heat or ultrasound.
• the absorption body 4 can be of any conventional type.
• conventional absorption materials are cellulose fluff pulp, tissue layers, superabsorbent polymers (called superabsorbents or SAPs), absorbent foam material, absorbent nonwoven material and the like. It is customary to combine cellulose fluff pulp with superabsorbents in an absorption body. It is also customary to have absorption bodies built up from sheets of different materials with different properties as regards liquid uptake, spreading capacity and storing capacity. This is known to the skilled person in this field and therefore does not need to be described here.
• the thin absorption cores which are customary in, for example, baby diapers and incontinence guards often consist of a compressed mixed or layered structure of cellulose fluff pulp and superabsorbents.
• the belt diaper is intended to enclose the lower part of the user's trunk like a pair of absorbent briefs. It has a front portion 5 intended to be directed forwards on the user during use, a rear portion 6 intended to be directed rearwards on the user during use. Arranged between the front portion and rear portion there is a narrower crotch portion 7 which is intended to be arranged at the user's crotch between his/her legs.
• the front portion 5 has a pair of front fastening devices 8 of the hook and loop type. Adhesive fastening means can also be used.
• First and second belt parts 9a, 9b have first ends 12a, 12b secured, for example glued or welded by ultrasound along a line 11 , to the rear portion 6 of the diaper.
• the belt parts can consist of the same sheets as the rear portion 6.
• the second ends 13a, 13b of the first and second belt parts 9a, 9b are intended to be fastened together with a belt-fastening device 24.
• the belt-fastening device 24 can consist of hook and loop material, for example Velcro ® , or of an adhesive fastening means.
• the front fastening devices 8 of the front portion 5 are intended to be fastened to the outsides of the belt parts 9a, 9b in order to fasten the belt diaper together to give the desired briefs shape.
• the first and second belt parts 9a, 9b are fastened to the front portion 5 of the diapers and are thus intended to be joined together across the wearer's back.
• the fastening devices 8 are then arranged on the rear portion 6 of the diaper as a rear fastening device.
• the width of the belt parts 9a, 9b should be between 5 and 20 cm, preferably between 7 and 15 cm.
• the belt parts 9a, 9b expediently consist of a laminate of a carrier material, which forms the outside of the belt, and a soft nonwoven which forms the inside of the belt, intended to bear directly on the user's skin.
• a suitable nonwoven material can consist of a spunbond material, for example of polypropylene or polyethylene fibres. Bi-component fibres can also be used.
• Another suitable nonwoven material consists of a carded heat-bonded material, for example polypropylene, polyester or bi-component fibres.
• carrier material it is possible to use a plastic film or other suitable material, for example the aforementioned nonwoven materials.
• the carrier material can be adapted to function as a receiving surface for the front fastening devices 8.
• these consist of adhesive tapes
• a plastic film is suitable.
• other types of fastening devices are used instead of adhesive tapes, for example hook and loop materials
• another type of carrier material is needed which can function as a receiving surface for the fastening device in question.
• Elastic laminates are also suitable for use as material in the belt parts 9a, 9b.
• the belt parts 9a, 9b are preferably breathable so as not to occlude the skin of the user wearing them.
• Figure 2a shows the second end 13b of the second belt part 9b in the extended state.
• the second end 13b of the second belt part 9b has a receiving part 20 for temporary attachment of a fastening aid 50.
• the receiving part 20 can be designed in a number of different ways.
• the pocket-like receiving part shown in Figure 2a will be described first.
• the pocket-like receiving part 20 is formed by the second end 13b of the second belt part 9b having been folded a distance A along a line 21 over the second belt part 9b towards the first end 12b of the second belt part 9b, so that the longitudinal sides 14, 15 of the second belt part 9b run substantially parallel to one another.
• the sides of the pocket-like receiving part 20 are connected by connections 22, 23 to the second belt part 9b so that a pocket is formed for insertion of the application aid 50.
• the connections 22, 23 are formed by glue, ultrasound or any other connection technique known in this field.
• the distance A must be sufficiently long for part of the application aid to be inserted into the pocket temporarily without risk of its falling out upon application of the absorbent article.
• the pocket-like receiving part is big enough for a fully grown man's hand to be inserted into the pocket. It has been found that suitable measurements for the distance A are ca. 2-20 cm, preferably 4-10 cm.
• connections 22, 23 can consist of two individual bonds 22a, 23a, or a plurality of bonds which run in successive rows (not shown). The important point is that a pocket-like receiving part is obtained.
• the pocket-like receiving part 20 can be produced separately and then be secured in-line to a belt part 9. It can alternatively be secured on a belt part 9 before said belt part 9 is secured to the backing material 2. It is possible within the scope of the invention that the first belt part 9a has a pocket-like receiving part. Alternatively, both the first and the second belt parts 9a, 9b can have pocketlike receiving parts. The invention is of course also applicable to diaper pants which have only one belt part.
• the second end 13 of the belt part 9 can also have fastening devices 24 to which corresponding belt parts 9 are to be attached.
• Figure 2b shows an embodiment of the invention in which the pocket-like receiving part consists of the fastening device 24 which is preferably made of a hook or loop material.
• the fastening device 24 is of rectangular shape, placed so that its longitudinal sides 16', 16" run substantially parallel to the transverse edge 9' of the belt part 9.
• the fastening device 24 is secured to the belt part 9 so that a pocket-like receiving part 20 is obtained. In Figure 2b, this is done by only three of the four sides of the fastening device being secured to the belt part 9.
• the attachment points in Figure 2b are indicated as 16a, 16b and 16c.
• Figure 3 shows how a caretaker 30 secures an incontinence diaper 1 on a user 32 who is standing.
• the caretaker 30 has inserted his/her hands into the pocket-like receiving part 20 and can easily and simply secure the diaper 1 by reaching round the user 32 from the rear and bringing the belt parts 9 together.
• Figure 4 shows how the caretaker 30 reaches round the user 32 from the rear and can in this way easily and simply fasten the belt parts 9 of the diaper.
• a further advantage of the invention is that the caretaker can feel with his/her own hands that the belt is really fastened.
• Figure 5 shows another method of fastening a belt diaper.
• the caretaker 30 here uses a fastening aid 50 in the form of a thin, flexible and flat application aid which makes it easy for the caretaker 30 to guide one end of the belt 9 under the user's body and fasten the belt parts 9 and the diaper 1, without having to adopt an ergonomically disadvantageous position.
• a further advantage is that the caretaker 30 does not have to lift or roll the user 32 to get the belt part 9 under the user 32.
• the diaper 1 is fastened on a recumbent user by attaching the application aid 50 to the receiving part 20 so that it cooperates with the belt part.
• the application aid can for example be inserted into a pocket-like receiving part on the belt part 9, as has been described earlier.
• the application aid can be secured on the belt directly with a fastening device such as a hook material, a clip or similar.
• the application aid 50 and the belt part 9 are then guided from one side of the user under the user's waist, back or stomach so that they stick out and can be easily reached from the user's other side.
• the second belt part 9b can then be laid across the user 32 so that the belt parts 9 enclose the user 32. Thereafter, the belt parts 9 are secured to one another by the respective fastening device.
• the front part 5 of the diaper 1 is then folded up between the user's legs and secured to the belt parts 9 so that the diaper 1 is given a briefs shape.
• the application aid 50 can consist of a flat arrangement not entirely unlike a batten, a ruler or a shoehorn. An arrangement with a circular cross section can also be used. The length is preferably 15-100 cm long and 2-14 cm wide in the case of a flat arrangement.
• the thickness of the flat arrangement varies so that suitable flexibility is achieved for the chosen material. Suitable measurements for the thickness can be 1-5 mm when using a plastic material, but even thinner when using steel material, for example 0.3-3 mm.
• a thin, flat fastening aid makes it easy to guide the belt under the user when fastening the diaper, without the application aid catching on clothes, the user or other bedclothes.
• the application aid 50 is also advantageously designed with a handpiece so that the caretaker can grip it in an ergonomic manner. It is also advantageously made of a material which slides with as little as possible friction against the skin and bedclothes.
• the application aid comprises an arrangement of circular cross section, the length is preferably 15-100 cm and the diameter 0.3-1.5 cm.
• the application aid is preferably made of a flexible material.
• the application aid can be made of a plastic material, for example cellulose plastic, such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, or of other plastics such as polystyrene, polyacrylates, e.g. polymethacrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• cellulose plastic such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate
• other plastics such as polystyrene, polyacrylates, e.g. polymethacrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• PVC polyvinyl chloride
• the application aid can be made of a transparent material or of colored material.
• FIGS. 6 - 7 show several embodiments of the application aid.
• Figure 6a shows a simple embodiment of a flexible batten-shaped or ruler- shaped application aid 60 with a length L.
• the length L is ca. 50 cm, but in other embodiments it can vary from ca. 15 to 100 cm.
• the width B is ca. 3.5 cm, but it too can vary within the scope of the invention.
• the thickness T is 3 mm, but this can also vary in other embodiments.
• the application aid 60 in Figure 6a is made of transparent polystyrene.
• the application aid in Figure 6a has a substantially rectangular shape with two longitudinal sides 61 , 62 and two transverse sides 63, 64. It also has rounded comers 65a, 65b, 65c, 65d so as not to scratch the user when the belt is guided under the user.
• Figure 6b shows a cross section through the application aid 60 in the longitudinal direction. In Figure 6b, the application aid 60 also has a rounding of the transverse edges 63, 64 in the direction of thickness in order to further simplify the insertion under the patient.
• the application aid in Figures 6a-6b is completely symmetrical in shape. This means that it is easy and inexpensive to produce. In other embodiments, the shapes may vary.
• Figures 6c-6d show an asymmetrical application aid 60.
• the two longitudinal sides 61 , 62 narrow slightly so that the width B decreases in the direction from one transverse edge 63 towards the other transverse edge 64.
• the width at one transverse edge 63 is ca. 4.5 cm in this embodiment, while the second transverse side 64 has a width of ca. 2.5 cm.
• Figure 6d shows a cross section of the application aid 60 in the longitudinal direction.
• the thickness T also varies in the longitudinal direction, as is seen in Figure 6d. At one transverse side 63, the thickness is ca. 2.5 mm, while the thickness T is ca. 4.5 mm at the other transverse side 64.
• Figure 7a shows an application aid 70 with two transverse sides 71 , 72 and with a fastening device 78 placed near one transverse side 72.
• the fastening device 78 can be glued into place.
• Figure 7b shows an application aid 70 of substantially rectangular shape in a cross section in the longitudinal direction.
• the fastening device 78 consists of a hook material for fastening on the belt part 9, which will then function as a loop material for the application aid 70.
• the belt part 9 can have a separate loop material for the application aid 70.
• the fastening device 78 is designed as a clip, a glued surface or similar arrangement secured to the belt part 9. The advantage of an application aid of this kind is that the belt part 9 does not have to have a specific receiving part and instead can itself function as a receiving part for the application aid.
• the entire belt part 9 consists of a pocket-like receiving part.
• the distance A shown in Fig. 2a is largely the same length as the belt part 9.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

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Citations (3)

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• 2003
  • 2003-12-19 SE SE0303434A patent/SE0303434D0/xx unknown
• 2004
  • 2004-12-16 EP EP04809065A patent/EP1696854A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-12-16 BR BRPI0417774-6A patent/BRPI0417774A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-12-16 CN CNB2004800378058A patent/CN100525736C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-12-16 WO PCT/SE2004/001891 patent/WO2005058221A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2004-12-16 RU RU2006121439/14A patent/RU2362533C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

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