Catamenial device

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/US93/04525 Sec. 371 Date May 11, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 16, 1995 PCT Filed Mar. 16, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO93/22998 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 25, 1993A catamenial device comprises a fluid permeable, body facing, topsheet (25), a liquid impermeable barrier layer and an absorbent body (34) disposed between the topsheet (25) and the barrier layer, the absorbent body (34) incorporating a water insoluble particular hydrogel material at a loading of at least 40 g/m2 of the plan area of the absorbent body, the water insoluble particulate hydrogel material having a gel strength of at least 0.38 kPa after 5 minutes exposure to synthetic urine solution in the modified AGE P test, a device incorporating insoluble particulate hydrogel material absorbing at least 40 g sheep's blood in the Total Capacity Storage Test.

I claim: 
     
       1. A catamenial device comprising a liquid permeable layer having a first body-facing surface and a second opposed surface, an absorbent body disposed adjacent the opposed surface, said absorbent body comprising a water insoluble particulate hydrogel material at a weight concentration of at least 5 g/m 2  of the plan area of the absorbent body, said particulate hydrogel material being disposed between two layers of nonwoven fabric, a liquid impermeable barrier layer disposed on the surface of said absorbent body remote from said liquid permeable layer, and adhesive attachment means for securing said device to a garment, said attachment means being disposed on the surface of said device opposed to said first body facing surface of said liquid permeable layer, wherein the water insoluble particulate hydrogel material exerts a pressure of at least 0.38 kPa after 5 minutes and not less than 0.38 kPa after 30 minutes exposure to 56 times its weight of synthetic urine solution, and in that said device incorporating 0.8 g water insoluble particulate hydrogel material retains at least 40 g of sheeps blood after said body-facing surface is exposed to a supply of said sheeps blood for 20 minutes, a pressure of 17 g/cm 2  being applied to said surface for 2 minutes following said exposure.