Patent ID: 6580013
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A disposable diaper having an associated wetness monitoring system, said diaper having front and rear portions, a porous inner lining, non-porous outer lining and absorbent center layer disposed between said inner and outer linings, said wetness monitoring system comprising:a) a compliant long sensor positioned at said front portion and comprised of an inner conductive layer, a non-conductive porous middle layer impregnated with a water-soluble ionizable salt, and an outer conductive layer, said layers being non-conductively interconnected at discontinuous sites by a bonding agent, said sensor being elongated between a lower extremity and an upper extremity providing connection terminals, said sensor being disposable with said diaper, and b) an alarm pack releasably attachable to said connection terminals and containing: i) a battery which supplies low voltage direct current electricity, ii) electrically activatable means for producing an alarm signal, and iii) electrical circuitry interactive between said terminals, battery and electrically activatable means, whereby c) said middle layer, when contacted by urine, releases said salt to form a highly conductive volume of solution that produces an electrical short circuit between said inner and outer layers to produce said alarm signal.