Tampon pledget for increased by-pass leakage protection

Abstract

The present invention provides a tampon pledget with one or more of the following properties: increased absorbency rate; high absorbent capacity and fluid retention; rapid expansion potential; and ease of ejection of the pledget from the applicator. Surprisingly, the one or more properties are achieved by using a modified dual cross-pad, folded, compressed tampon pledget design.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 930,547, filed May 17, 2007.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is related generally to tampon pledgets. More particularly, the present invention is related to tampon pledgets that exhibit increased bypass leakage protection.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Both in-vivo and in-vitro testing has shown that current tampon pledgets do not protect well against bypass leakage. In-vivo testing shows that the typical woman places the tampon too deep into the vaginal canal and is not optimally placed to absorb fluid. In-vitro testing confirms that pledget expansion is not optimal. With both of these insights it is known that there is a propensity for the tampons to leak prematurely, i.e., bypass leakage.[0006]There have been many attempts in the prior art to address bypass leakage. Examples include provi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The novel tampon pledget according to the present invention includes one or more of the following properties: increased absorbency rate; high absorbent capacity and fluid retention; rapid expansion potential; and ease of ejection of the pledget from the applicator.

[0010]In one aspect of the invention, the cross pads are nearly identical in area prior to forming. It has been found that this feature provides the correct tampon length in body and the proper diameter for insertion into a woman's vagina. Additionally, it provides a more uniform fiber weight distribution across the entire length of the formed pledget, which unexpectedly results in improved absorption and reduced pledget ejection forces.

[0012]Without being constrained by theory, these features together unexpectedly result in an increase in both the rate of absorbency and the absorbent capacity. The fluid intake rate is faster through the lighter, one or more top pads, while fluid is more efficiently stored in the thicker, one or more bottom pads, which form the absorbent core of the formed tampon pledget. Thus, relative to conventional prior art tampon pledgets, the tampon pledgets of the present invention not only absorb liquid faster and provide more rapid expansion, they also allow for lower pledget weights overall in order to achieve the required syngyna absorbency specifications, as regulated by the FDA Federal Register 821.430.

Problems solved by technology

Both in-vivo and in-vitro testing has shown that current tampon pledgets do not protect well against bypass leakage.

In-vivo testing shows that the typical woman places the tampon too deep into the vaginal canal and is not optimally placed to absorb fluid.

In-vitro testing confirms that pledget expansion is not optimal.

One particular drawback with the pledget having a pre-expanded shape is that it may be difficult to house the pre-shaped pledget in a typical cylindrical applicator tube due to its shape.

Also, once housed in the applicator, the pledget having the pre-expanded shape may exert additional forces on the walls of the barrel due to its shape, which in turn could cause excess friction during expulsion, requiring additional force to expel the pledget from the applicator.

The additional required force could make using the applicator difficult and in some cases actually cause deformation of the applicator, making its use extremely difficult.

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