Patent ID: 7250547

Claim:
A method of detecting wetness on an individual, said method of detecting wetness comprising the steps of: providing a sensor formed by an absorbent material and spaced conductors, said conductors being spaced to produce an amount of resistance between said conductors, said absorbent material extending between said conductors and being adapted to absorb an amount of wetness, said amount of resistance between said conductors decreasing as said amount of wetness absorbed by said absorbent material increases, said sensor having an actual wetness value indicative of said amount of wetness absorbed by said absorbent material between said conductors, a data collector having a data compiling processor, electric circuit, communication device and power source, said circuit including said spaced conductors, and a control station having a receiver, control processor and associated memory containing a predetermined wetness value; placing said sensor against the individual; periodically obtaining wetness measurement data from said sensor at spaced intervals of time via said data collector, each of said wetness measurement data having a value indicative of said amount of wetness absorbed by said absorbent material at its corresponding interval of time; periodically generating and transmitting said wetness measurement data from said data collector via said communication device to said control station via said receiver; comparing each of said wetness measurement data with said predetermined wetness value; determining that a wetness event has occurred when a predetermined number of said wetness measurement data exceed said predetermined wetness value; and, communicating that said wetness event has occurred via a communication device of said control station.