Methods and Apparatus for Incontinence Mitigation

Abstract

Particular embodiments of the inventive technology may provide an incontinence pad that includes projection, such as a raised ridge, or a short length projection, that extends from a pad base of and effects application of a force against the urethra of a user (the force, typically upward, that may result from sitting by the user and/or tight fitting shorts and/or pulling a cord attached to the projection); the projection may act to transfer a force from the projection to the urethra. This force may partially or entirely obstruct flow of urine through, or out of the urethra, that might occur otherwise (i.e., without the projection). Another example of the many independent aspects of the inventive technology relates to the provision, as part of an incontinence pad, of a cord that is attached to part of the pad, such as (in only certain embodiments) the aforementioned upward projection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An incontinence pad comprising:
 a compressible support area absorbent portion having an outer surface capable of being established against clothing of a user when said incontinence pad is worn by said user and an inner surface capable of being established against a skin surface of said user when said incontinence pad is worn by said user;   an overflow absorbent portion established adjacent said compressible support area absorbent portion;   a fluidic communicator fluidically connecting said compressible support area absorbent portion and said overflow absorbent portion; and   a connection element connecting said compressible support area absorbent portion and said overflow absorbent portion.   
     
     
         2 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said overflow absorbent portion comprises an intergluteal cleft area absorbent portion. 
     
     
         3 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said overflow absorbent portion comprises a perineum area absorbent portion. 
     
     
         4 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said fluidic communicator is fluid permeable. 
     
     
         5 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 4 , wherein said fluidic communicator is absorbent. 
     
     
         6 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said compressible support area absorbent portion is compressed when a user of said pad sits on a surface. 
     
     
         7 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said fluidic communicator is configured to allow passage of at least some fluid absorbed in said compressible support area absorbent portion from said compressible support area absorbent portion to said overflow absorbent portion. 
     
     
         8 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 7 , wherein fluid so passed is overflow of said compressible support area absorbent portion. 
     
     
         9 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 7 , wherein said fluidic communicator allows for two-way fluid passage. 
     
     
         10 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said connection element connects said compressible support area absorbent portion and said overflow absorbent portion at only a portion of said overflow absorbent portion. 
     
     
         11 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said overflow absorbent portion comprises a raised ridge. 
     
     
         12 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said overflow absorbent portion comprises an upward projection. 
     
     
         13 . An incontinence pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein said compressible support area absorbent portion and said overflow absorbent portion are both fluid retentive. 
     
     
         14 . A method to mitigate fluid leakage from an incontinence pad, said pad defining an enclosed space between said pad and skin of a wearer of said pad, said method comprising the steps of:
 retaining fluid within a compressible support area absorbent portion positioned at a genital area of a user;   establishing an overflow absorbent portion adjacent said compressible support area absorbent portion; and   mitigating through action of said overflow absorbent portion, a tendency of said compressible support area absorbent portion to expel some of said retained fluid from said enclosed space upon compression of said compressible support area absorbent portion.   
     
     
         15 . A method as described in  claim 14 , wherein said step of mitigating comprises the step of conveying said some of said retained fluid from said compressible support area absorbent portion to said overflow absorbent portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method as described in  claim 15 , wherein said step of conveying occurs when external pressure is applied to said compressible support area absorbent portion. 
     
     
         17 . A method as described in  claim 16 , wherein said external pressure is applied when said wearer of said pad sits down. 
     
     
         18 . A method as described in  claim 15 , wherein said step of conveying comprises the step of conveying said some of said retained fluid during overflow from said compressible support area absorbent portion. 
     
     
         19 . A method as described in  claim 15 , wherein said step of conveying comprises the step of conveying said some of said retained fluid through a fluidic communicator fluidically connecting said compressible support area absorbent portion and said overflow absorbent portion. 
     
     
         20 . A method as described in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of retaining said expelled fluid in said overflow absorbent portion.