Patent ID: 8182455

Claim:
A method of capturing bodily fluid, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a fluid management device comprising: i) a fluid storage element having a longitudinal axis; and ii) at least one fluid transport element attached to and in fluid communication with the fluid storage element, the at least one fluid transport element bendable about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fluid storage element, the fluid transport element comprising: A) a first plate having an outwardly oriented surface and an inwardly oriented surface; and B) a second plate having a first surface disposed in facing relationship with the inwardly oriented surface of the first plate, and an opposite surface, and sufficiently spaced apart from the first plate to provide inter-plate capillary action between the first plate and the second plate; and b) positioning the fluid management device within a mammalian vaginal canal such that the outwardly oriented surface of the first plate and the opposite surface of the second plate contact a vaginal surface within the vaginal canal of the mammalian, whereby bodily fluid is exposed to the at least one fluid transport element and is transported between the first plate and the second plate by inter-plate capillary action to the fluid storage element where the fluid is stored, and wherein the at least one fluid transport element comprises materials selected from the group consisting of coated fibrous webs, coated calendered meltblown, and combinations thereof.