Patent ID: 6372952
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An absorbent article useful for absorbing discharged aqueous body fluids, the absorbent article comprising:A) a fluid pervious topsheet; B) a backsheet; C) an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core comprising: (1) two upper fluid storage components capable of expanding in the z-direction when contacted with aqueous body fluids to form a fluid acquisition zone, said two upper fluid storage components being in direct fluid communication with the topsheet, said two upper fluid storage components are strips that run longitudinally in the absorbent core, wherein the components are laterally spaced apart so as to form the fluid acquisition zone upon contact with aqueous body fluids and each of the laterally spaced apart upper fluid storage components of the absorbent core is c-folded longitudinally to form a two-layer component and wherein both laterally spaced apart upper fluid storage components comprise: a) a fluid stable macrostructure comprising interconnected, hydrogel-forming absorbent polymer particles; and b) a substrate to which the interconnected, hydrogel-forming absorbent polymer particles are bonded; (2) a fluid acquisition zone capable of receiving aqueous body fluids, said fluid acquisition zone being at least partially surrounded by said two upper fluid storage component and positioned at least partially beneath a fluid discharge region of the absorbent core; (3) a fluid acquisition/distribution component capable of acquiring and transporting aqueous body fluids, at least a portion of this fluid acquisition/distribution component being positioned underneath and in fluid communication with said two upper fluid storage component, and at least a portion of the fluid acquisition/distribution component being positioned underneath the fluid acquisition zone; and (4) at least one lower fluid storage component positioned underneath the fluid acquisition/distribution component, the at least one lower fluid storage component being wider than the fluid acquisition zone formed by the laterally spaced apart upper fluid storage components.