Patent ID: 11969322
Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An absorbent article comprising:
a) a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction;
b) a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline;
c) an anterior region, a posterior region, and a central region positioned between the anterior region and the posterior region;
d) an anterior region transverse direction end edge, a posterior region transverse direction end edge, and a pair of longitudinal direction side edges extending between and connecting the anterior region transverse direction end edge and the posterior region transverse direction end edge;
e) a topsheet layer defining a body facing surface of the absorbent article, a liquid impermeable layer defining a garment facing surface of the absorbent article, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer; and
f) an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer; the exudate management layer comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein at least one of the first opening or the second opening is further connected to a barrier component via a barrier component fold, the barrier component extending from the barrier component fold in the longitudinal direction towards the posterior region of the absorbent article,
wherein the exudate management layer comprises a first component at least partially defining the first opening and the second opening.