Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
W0 93/16~ 2130~ ; PCT/SE93/~133
.... ~ r ..
Incontinence Guard
The present invention relates to an incontinence guard
or protector. Incontinence is the voluntary loss of
bladder or bowel content, and it is a condition which
- affects approximately 4 ~ of the population in the de-
veloping countries. This means that between 10-12 mil-
lion North American persons and approximately the same
number of Europeans are affected by incontinence at some
time in their life. Incontinence may be partial or com-
plete, and it may be a temporary or a condition of long-
er-term duration. In any event, it is a symptom of a
problem, not the problem itself.
The most frequent types of incontinence are: 1) stress
incontinence, which relates to the passage only of a
small amount of urine caused by coughing, sneezing,
straining or lifting; 2) urge incontinence, generally
relates to the inability of the person to reach the
toilet in time to pass the urine, at which time the
entire bladder contents are emptied; 3~ overflow in-
continence describes the spilling of a small amount of
urine, even while the bladder is still full; and 4)
reflex incontinence describes a loss of urine when the
person is unaware of the need to urinate.
Because the general problem is very seldom discussed,
- statistics are still being gathered on the total scope
- of the problem, but generally more females than males
are incontinent.
:, .
A large group of men suffering from light incontinence
are those who also suffer a prostate affliction. Male
incontinents normally suffer from droplet incontinence,
even after having undergone prostate surgery.
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W093/1~ ? PCI`/SE93/00133
2 ~ ;
Althoug~ the problem is generally dealt with, with both
disposable absorbent products, as well as reusable de-
vices, in any caae it is a problem, which can result in
mental suffering if the problem cannot be dealt with in
a non-embarrassing method.
One-time (disposable) guards or protectors for incon-
tinent men are known from the Swedish Patent Specifi-
cation No. 426206. This known incontinence guard com-
lo prises two side walls which are mutually joined along
their respective edges, such as to leave an opening
along one side edge. The guard has a pointed corner and
an obtuse corner. The penis of the wearer is placed in
the opening so that the obtuse corner, which is located
opposite the opening, is pressed against the wearer's
body, wherewith the edges defining the opening are fold-
ed out towards the sides. That part of the guard which
is located beneath the obtuse corner and around the
pointed corner forms a funnel-shaped receptacle which is
intended to receive the penis of the wearer. Since when
wearing this incontinence guard the scrotum and the
penis of the we~rer are fully enclosed, the guard is li-
able to become excessively warm and too tight around the
male organs, and therewith uncomfortable to wear. The
incontinence guard comprises a plastic foil, an inner
liquid-absorbent layer, and an outer layer made of non-
woven material or like material which faces towards the
male organs. This incontinence-guard cannot be flushed
appropriately down a toilet, and the task of ridding
oneself of the soiled incontinence guard may prove em-
barrassing.
Another incontinence guard or protector for male urine
incontinents is described and illustrated in the Swedish
Patent Specification No. 416264. This incontinence
guard consists of a fine-mesh seamless textile product
W093/16666 :r,~ PCI/SE93/00133
which is impregnated with a liquid-repelling substance.
Small bags containing an absorbent material are placed
in the container. The incontinence guard has the form
of a stocking or sock which is fitted onto the penis,
which may be difficult in the case of a male whose penis
is retarded, a feature which is not uncommon with older
men suffering from urine incontinence. Neither can this
incontinence guard be conveniently flushed down the
toilet.
An insert guard or protector designed particularly for
female incontinence is shown in a series of U.S. pa-
tents, such as Korpman U.S. Patent 4,685,914. Although
the structure disclosed in this patent is a disposable
product (intended for one-time use), it cannot be flush-
ed down the toilet because it includes a vacuum-formed
shell made of a polymer plastic with a non-woven cover
of bicomponent polymer fibers secured around the
periphery thereof and with a complex multiply,pleated
an'd folded urine-retaining structure inside the shell
and beneath the coverstock.
The backing of this product is claimed in U.S. Patent
' 4,554,191, where the invention resides in a new adhesive
attachment means positioned on the bottom surface of
said backing for adhering the backing to the crotch
portion of a nether garment. This backing is adapted to
. . .
have placed therein an absorbent superstructure and is
'' not intended for use as such. The backing is made of an
ethylene containing polymer shell and does not have an
inner layer as the guard according to the present inven-
~ tion.
- Although the above descriptions relate on the one hand
to male products and the other hand to female products,
a great numer of disposable one-time use absorbent pads
WO93/1~b ~4 PCT/SE93/~133
I are designed for use by either male or female inconti-
I nence persons.
There are four general classifications of the goods~
the diaper-style, very similar to a disposable one-piece
baby diaper which fits around the entire torso of the
patient and fastened with elastic strands and plastic
fastening tape tabs; 2) a "loin-cloth" type structure,
which is generally rectangular pad which fits between
the legs of the wearer and extends forwardly up to the
front of the waist and reawardly up toward the-back of
the waist and is held in place by a pair of elastic
srands fitting the ends around the waist of the wearer;
3) a 2-piece system, which includes a non-disposable
lS (i.e. reusable) pant-like structure, which receives
therein a disposable absorbent pad, generally rectan-
gular in shape, and smaller than the loin cloth pad; and
4) the insert-type pad, which is a sma}l Ushield'', simi-
lar to a large sanitary napkin, which is held in place
against the crotch portion of the wearer by a specially
designed reusable pant, or by the wearer's own under-
garments.
In accordance with the present invention there is now
provided a incontinence guard or protector comprised of
a casing which comprises an outer sheet of soft-rigid
liguid impermeable material, preferably expanded poly-
ethylene,-and an inner sheet of non-woven material and
; also optionally~a liguid-absorbent insert. The guard may
be used by a male or a female.
: .
- ~ The present invention especially provides a male incon-
tinence guard or protector with which an airy space is
advantageously left aroùnd the scrotum and penis of the
wearer and which can be conveniently flushed down a
W093il6#~ ~ ~ PCT/SEg3iool33
toilet and thereby enabling the wearer to rid himself of
the guard without embarrassment.
In case of use by a female the casing preferably has a
rectangular shape with rounded corners. It may have a
diminisbed width in a region approximately midway along
its length to better fit a female.
Tha casing may include a recess or hollow which may be
fully or partly filled with the insert. For use by a
female the hollow preferably has a depth of 0,3-4 cm,
preferably 3,5-l,S cm.
In the case of use by a male the cupped casing is in-
tended to surround at least the penis of the wearer, and
preferably both his penis and his scrotum. The casing
will preferably hrve a round, ovall e}liptical or pear-
like cupped shape, and particularly a pear-like shape.
The casing may be produced in severaI sizes, so that
respective casings are able to fit men with mutually
different sized male organs. The casing has a depth of
10 cm, preferably 3-6 cm. It may be suitable to pro-
duce the casing in three different sizes, havinq depths
of 7, 5 and 3 cm respectively.
The protector can be used by men who suffer very slight
urine incontinence. If the incontinence suffered by the
~wèarer is manifested in only a~few urinal droplets over
the c se of a~single day, the casing can be used with-
out the liquid-absorbing insert.
.
The cupped casing consists of a backing sheet of soft-
rlgid liquid impermeable material. By soft-rigid ma-
terial is meant a material which when deformed by the
application of a deforming force will return to its ori-
ginal shape when said force is removed, without being
WO93/1~U~ q i~'~ PCT/SE93/~133
damaged or cracked. Preferably the material is previous
to gases i.e. moisture or water vapour. The material
preferably passes 300-8000, especially 1500 g water
vapour/m2, 24 h, 38C. The material may be plastic ma-
terials including rubber and other polymers, especial-
ly cellular plastic materials including expanded eiasto-
mers such as natural or synthetic rubber. Thus the ma-
terial may be an ethylene-containing polymer foam such
as polyethylene homopolymers and ethylene-containing
copolymers, preferably containing a major amount by
weight of ethylene. The polymer may be cross-linked.
Comonomers may be vinyl acetate, acrylic and methacrylic
acids and esters or blends thereof. Preferred materials
include poIyethylene, polyurethane, PVC, polystyrene
with closed or open cells preferably close;~ or partially
open cells so as to breathe i.e. previous to water
vapour.
The thickness and the density of the material are chosen
to get the soft rigid characteristics. Most preferred is
expanded polyethylene, preferably having a weight by
unit of volume (volumetric weight) of 15-50 kg/m , in
- particular 20-25 kg/m , and a thickness of 0,2-5 mm,
preferably 0,5-2 mm, especially 1,5 mm.
The inner layer of th~ casing is made of a non-woven ma-
terial, preferably elastic so that it can be drawn into
the backing sheet of the casing by suction when the ca-
sing is prepared. Preferably the inner layer is elastic
in several directions especially in the machine di-
rection and the cross direction. The casing is easier to
produce when the non-woven has a biaxial elasticity of 2
-~ to 50 %. The material of the inner layer in the casing
is permeable to liquids.
WO93i16~ Z~30084 PCT/SEg3/00l33
7 ~ ~
As illustrated in Figures 1-3 of the accompanying draw-
ings, the cupped casing may have an outwardly turned
edge. The edge lies against the wearer's body, there-
with increasing wear comfort and reIiability. This edge
may have a width of 2 to 30 mm, preferably 3 to 8 mm.
The inner layer may cover the whole inner area of the
cupped casing (i.e. the area exposed to the groin of a
female or the penis and scrotum of a male). It may also
only cover those parts thereof, that come into contact
with the wearers skin. On a male product the inner layer
should cover at least the areas of the backinq sheet
that come into contact with the mans skin. These areas
are the edges of the backing sheet and that part of the
¢upped casing which comes into contact with the penis
and scrotum. These areas are a peripherical area from
the edge of the periphery and about 3 to 30 mm inwards
and a central area covering the whole bottom of the
cupped casing starting about 30 mm from the peripherial
edge. Preferably the peripherial area is from the edge
and~5-10 mm inwards and the central area begins 30-50 mm
from the edge and covers the rest of the cupped casing.
,.~
When used by a female the area of the cupped casing that
comes into contact with the skin is the peripherical
area from the edge of the peripheri to about 3 to 30 mm
inwards. -
The non-woven material of the inner layer~may be poly-
propylene, polyester, polyethylene or a bicomponent
fiber containing an inner core of polypropylene and an
ou`ter`cover of polyethylene. The non-woven material may
be gluèd to the backing sheet. Preferably the materials
of the backing sheet and the non-woven inner layer are
chosed so as to stick to each other when heated. The
rheology of the materials should preferably allow the
WO93/1~ 'Y.~,.t~ PCT/SE93/~133
z~300~* 8
two materials ~o be deepdrawn into the cupped form and
stick to each other. The inner layer is preferably made
of polypropylene having a melting point of about 170C.
The non-woven material preferably has a weight of 15-
50 g/m2 especially 20 g/m2.
One advantage afforded by the cupped casing is that it
can be used over several days without needing to be
changed or can be disposed of after having been used
only once. Thus, the casing can be washed after being
used several times, allowed to dry and then used again.
It can also be used together with a liquid-absorbent
insert which is changed and discarded often. In this
way, several days may pass before the cupped casing
needs to be washed. It should be possible to use the
cupped casing for more than thirty occasions of in-
continence, with an exchange of the liquid-absorbent
insert on each occasion. The cupped casing can normally
be washed up to ten times and reused, before needing to
be replaced.
~:
The liquid-absorbing insert may be produced from any
appropriate absorbent material, and preferably from a
material which can be flushed down a toilet. For exam-
ple, the insert may consist of toilet paper, a servietteor some other soft, absorbent paper. The insert prefer-
ably consists of two layers of non-woven material and a
layer of absorbent material placed therebetween.
The absorbent material ~ay be highly-absorbent cellular
~; wadding, such as dry-formed cellulose, fluffed cellulose
- thermobonded with polyethy}ene, cellulose fibres or su-
~; perabsorbent fibres or polymeric materials, such as
Favor~ Sab 90l (salt of cross-linked polyacrylic acid),
- 35 etc. Non-woven polypropylene fabric, preferably having
a melting point of about 170C, is one example of
,.
2130084
WO93/l~K~ PCT/SE93/00133
liquid-permeable material from which the outer layer of
the liquid-absorbent insert can be made, although it
will be understood that other liquid-permeable materials
may also be used.
The liquid-absorbent insert may have any shape whatso-
ever, such as an oval, rectangular, round and elliptical
shape. The insert may also be provided optionally with
one or more slots which enable the insert to be fitted
to the cupped casing more easily. These slots may have
different depths and the depths of said slots may equal
5-45% of the total length of the insert in the slot di-
rection. It will be understood that the insert may have
the same shape as the outer casing and fit the wearer
exactly, in which case no slots are formed.
The insert may be formed into the samé form as the
casing. It may contain one or more odour inhibitors.
Another advantage afforded by the novel incontinence
guard is that it only takes up a sma}l amount of space
and can be used with or without an absorbent insert, or
may be used with several absorbent inserts, in accor-
dance with the needs of the wearer. The m~ale inconti-
nence guard is more open than the earlier known guardsor urinal pads. As a result, the inventive guard is
more comfortable to wear, more airy and sits more snugly
` than thè èarlier known incontinence guards, particularly
- ` when tihé inventive casing has a pear-like shape, this
shape being better suited to the anatomical configura-
tion of the wearer than the known incon~inence guards,
~- which fit tightly around the male organs. Although the
-~ cùpped casing is made from a soft-rigid material, it is
flexible when worn and will cause the wearer no em-
barrassment, since the casing is able to deform as the
wearer moves, without breaking or rupturing. Since the
` WO93/1~6 PCT/SE93/00133
, ~
Z~,300a*
absorbent insert can be replaced and is manufactured
from a material which can be conveniently flushed down a
lavatory, the use of the inventive incontinence guard is
less embarrassing than the earlier known guards. The
wearer may carry on his person spare inserts for use in
replacing a soiled insert, this soiled insert being con-
veniently disposed of down the lavatory. This avoids
the necessity of needing to rid oneself of a soiled
guard in an embarrassing fashion.
The outer casing of soft-rigid material may be produced
in accordance with known techniques used in the manu-
facture of blisters or bubble packs. Such techniques
involve passing expanded plastic material and non-woven
material over a frame structure having the desired shape
of the outer casing, with the aid of rolls. The materi-
al is heated to softening temperature, whereafter a
vacuum is applied on the inside of the mould frame so as
to shape the material around said frame. The cupped
shape of the casing may also be obtained by introducing
the material into a matrix and shaping the casing in a
heated atmosphere between the male and female parts of
the matrix.
The insert is produced suitably with the aid of tech-
niques known in the manufacture of dry-formed paper.
Such techniques involve mixing 5-10% polyethylene fibres
- with cellulose fibres and supe~absorbents in a mill,
whereafter the resultant pulp is discharged onto a wire
and compacted to form a web, by vacuum suction beneath
the surface of the wire. The absorbent fibre web is
then fed in between two webs of non-woven material and
the resultant composite is introduced into an oven and
there heated to a temperature of 90C-150C, causing the
polyethylene to melt and the fibre fluff to bond to-
gether.
2130084
WOg3/1~6 p r~ PCT/SE93/~133
11 ;;',"'1 .
With the above and other objects in view, more inform-
ation and a better understanding of the present in-
vention may be achieved by reference to the following
detailed description.
.
Detailed descriPtion
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
shown in the accompanying drawings a form thereof which
is at present preferred, although it is to be understood
that the several instrumentalitites of which tXe inven-
tion consists can be variously arranged and organized
and that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities
as herein shown and described.
Figure 1 is a side view of a cupped casing having the
shape of one-half of a pear;
Figure 2 is a view from above of the casing illustrated
in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line I-I in
Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side view of a round cupped casing;
Figure 5 is a front view of the casing illustrated in
Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a side view of a rectangular cupped casing
with rounded corners;
Figure 7 is a front view of the casing illustrated in
Figure 6;
W093~ 3 0 084 PCT/SE93/00133
12
Figure 8 shows an inventive insert from above;
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II in
Figure 8; and
Figure 10 shows a round insert.
Figure 11 is an insert with the same form as the casing
of figure 5.
Figure 12 is a casing partially covered with an inner
layer.
Figure 13 shows a female casing.
Figure 14 is a female insert.
Figure 15 is a schematical representation of the pro-
duction of a casing according to the example.
Figure 1 illustrates a cupped casing ~ which has the
shape of one-half of a pear. The casing is comprised of
an outer layer 2 of a soft-rigid expanded polyethylene,
which is provided with an inner sheet 3 of non-woven
material. ~he inner sheet covers the whole area of the
casing that is turned inwards. Figure 2 shows the same
embodiment from above, while Figure 3 iæ a section view
taken on the line I-I in Figure 2, so that the outer
backing sheet 2 and the inner sheet 3 can be clearly
seen. It will also be seen that this embodiment has an
outwardly turned edge 5 which is generally parallel with
the tangent 6 of the highest point of the cupped casing
1. Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment in which the
cupped casing 1' is completely round and has the form of
a hollow hemisphere. There is no peripheral edge. Figure
4 shows the cupped casing in side view and Figure S is a
008~
WO 93/16666 . . . ~ ~ PCI`/SE93/00133
13
front view of the same embodiment. Figure 6 is a side
view of another embodiment of the cupped casing 1'',
which in this case has a rectangular shape with rounded
corners. The casing of this embodiment includes an ad-
hesive part-surface 7, for instance a double-sided ad-
hesive tape or a self-gripping tape (Velcro~ tape)
functioning to secure the casing to the clothes of the
wearer. Figure 7 is a front view of the casing shown in
Figure 6.
Figure 8 illustrates an exemplifying embodiment of an
inventive insert 4. The Figure shows the insert from
above and it will be seen from said Figure that the
insert has a rectangular shape with rounded corners to
fit the casing of figure 6. The insert has six slots 8,
which enable the insert to be readily fitted into the
cas~ng 1''. This insert also fits into the casing 1 of
figure 1. Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line
II-II in Figure 8. This Figure shows the outer layers g
of~non-woven material and the intermediate layer 10 of
absorbent material. The insert illustrated in Figures 8
and 9 can be inserted into casings having the pear-like
shape and oval shape illustrated respectively in Figures
1-3 and Figures 6 and 7. Figure 10 illustrates a round
inæert 4' having 2 slots 8'. Part of the Figure shows
that the insert may be given a diamond-shaped embossed
pattern.
Figure 11 shows an insert 4'' with outer layers 9'' of
non-woven material and an intermediate layer 10'' of ab-
sorbent material. This insert is formed to fit casing 1'
of 4 and figure S.
Figure 12 is a casing 1''' partially covered with an in-
ner layer. There is a peripherical area 3a and a central
area 3b respectively of inner layer. These areas of in-
~ r~
WO93/1~ PCr/SE93/00133
Z~3008~C r~
14
ner layers are arranged to cover those areas of the cas-
ing 1''' that will come into contact with the wearers
skin.
Figure 13 is a female casing 1'''' with an inner layer
3c round the edges. The inner layer 3c covers the edges
that come into contact with the skin when used. The
inner layer may also cover the whole inner cupped bottom
of the casing. The casing has a diminished width midway
lo along its length. The casing may also have an outwardly
turned edge as is shown in figure 3 at reference number
5.
Figure 14 is an insert 4''' to be used with the female
casing 1'''' of figure 13. The insert has 8 slots 8'~.
Exam~le 1
A casing is prepared by moving a web 11 of expanded
polyethylene with a thickness of 1 mm a weight of 20-
25 kg/m3 and a softening temperature of 110-130C from
one roll 12 and another web 13 of non-woven from another
roll 14 under infra heating lamps 15 (see figure 16).
The non-woven consists of fibrers having an inner core
of poIypropy}ene and an outer covering layer of polyeth-
ylene with a softening temperature of 110-130C. Web 11
is lying over web 13. m e two webs are heated to 120C
so as to get soft and stick to each other.
A movable mould plate 16 with several moulds 17 and
holes 18 is moved against a fixed frame l9 over the
polyethylene web 11 in the direction of the arrows in
figure 16. The two superimposed webs 11 and 13 are
~- pressed against each other between the fixed frame 19
and the movable plate 16. At the same time vacuum is
applied in the vacuum chamber 20 through the holes 18
wo 93/l6666 2130084 PCI`/SE93/00133
~J
and line 21 so as to form the webs round the moulds. The
moulded casing which have not yet been cut or punched
out is shown at 22.
.
'
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