Tampon Saturation Monitoring System

Abstract

A tampon that has a sensor and a signal line that peripherally connects the sensor with a peripheral signal processor. The sensor provides an optic blood wetting signal in response to a progressing blood saturation boundary in the tampon. The simple sensor has two proximal signal terminals separated by a fluid responsive medium in wetting communication with the tampon's body. The tampon may be removed by use of the signal line. From signal timing and/or signal gradient the processor may predict when the tampon needs to be changed.

1 . A sensing tampon comprising:
 a. a fluid absorption body including a fluid access end and a peripheral end opposite to said fluid access end;   b. a sensor positioned in between said fluid access end and said peripheral end, said sensor including at least two proximal signal terminals having a signal potential across a fluid responsive medium that is separating said at least two proximal signal terminals, said fluid responsive medium being in a wetting communication with said fluid absorption body, said sensor generating an optical wetting response signal in conjunction with an axially progressing saturation boundary of said body fluid absorption element.   
     
     
         2 . The sensing tampon of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal cable extending at the peripheral end of said sensing tampon and peripherally connecting said sensor across said peripheral end. 
     
     
         3 . The sensing tampon of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said at least two proximal signal terminals is integral part of a optical fiber of said cable. 
     
     
         4 . The sensing tampon of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid responsive medium is integral part of said fluid absorption body. 
     
     
         5 . A tampon saturation monitoring system comprising:
 a. a tampon including:
 i. a fluid absorption body including a fluid access end and a peripheral end opposite to said fluid access end; 
 ii. a saturation sensor extending in between said fluid access end and said peripheral end, said saturation sensor including at least two proximal signal terminals having a signal potential across a fluid responsive medium that is separating said at least two proximal signal terminals, said fluid responsive medium being in a wetting communication with said fluid absorption body, said fluid saturation sensor generating an optical wetting response signal in conjunction with an axially progressing saturation boundary of said body fluid absorption element; 
   b. a signal processor in a first communication with said saturation sensor, said signal processor monitoring said tampon based on said optical wetting response signal; and   c. a notifier in communication with said signal processor, said notifier providing notification in response to a signal from said signal processor.