Absorbent articles comprising sensors

Abstract

A sensor system for detecting a property of or within an absorbent article may comprise an absorbent article and a sensor. The absorbent article may comprise a garment-facing layer and an absorbent assembly. The sensor may be disposed in and/or on the absorbent article. The sensor may be separable from the absorbent article. The sensor may be configured to sense a change in condition within the absorbent article.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for detecting a property associated with an absorbent article, the system comprising:
 a. an absorbent article comprising a garment-facing layer comprising a combination of a film and nonwoven material, wherein the absorbent article comprises a nonwoven strip joined to an exterior surface of the garment-facing layer to form a pocket, and wherein the pocket comprises hooks for closing; and   b. a multi-use sensor for detecting a property associated with the absorbent article and being configured for placement in and removal from the pocket;   c. wherein the multi-use sensor comprises a bending stiffness of less than 1000 N/m.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-use sensor has a bending stiffness of less than 600 N/m. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-use sensor has a bending stiffness of less than 400 N/m. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-use sensor comprises an optical sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the absorbent article comprises color change material that reacts with urine or feces to change color and be detectable by the optical sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-use sensor comprises an inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic, optical, moisture, humidity, chemical, temperature, or electromagnetic sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein non-open edges of the nonwoven strip are permanently joined to the absorbent article. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an open edge of the nonwoven strip is adjacent to an edge of a waist opening of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a graphic for indicating a proper location for the sensor on the absorbent article. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the graphic comprises a color that is different than an area surrounding the graphic. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is deeper than the sensor is long. 
     
     
         12 . A system for detecting a property associated with an absorbent article, the system comprising:
 a. an absorbent article comprising a garment-facing layer comprising a combination of a film and nonwoven material, wherein the absorbent article comprises a nonwoven strip joined to an exterior surface of the garment-facing layer to form a pocket, and wherein the pocket comprises hooks for closing; and   b. a multi-use sensor for detecting a property associated with the absorbent article and being configured for placement in and removal from the pocket;   c. wherein the multi-use sensor comprises a bending modulus of less than 1.0E+08 N/m 2 .   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the multi-use sensor has a bending modulus of less than 1.0E+06 N/m 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the multi-use sensor comprises an optical sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the absorbent article comprises color change material that reacts with urine or feces to change color and be detectable by the optical sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the multi-use sensor comprises an inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic, optical, moisture, humidity, chemical, temperature, or electromagnetic sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein non-open edges of the nonwoven strip are permanently joined to the absorbent article. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein an open edge of the nonwoven strip is adjacent to an edge of a waist opening of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , comprising a graphic for indicating a proper location for the sensor on the absorbent article. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the pocket is deeper than the sensor is long.