Patent ID: 7060057

Claim:
A tampon for insertion in a vagina comprising: an elongated absorptive member having an outside surface and a central axis; at least one expandable member within said absorptive member, said expandable member having a hollow cavity, said hollow cavity containing a canister, said canister capable of storing and releasing a medium into said hollow cavity; at least one non-absorptive member arranged in a spaced relationship about the outside surface of said elongated absorptive member, said at least one non-absorptive member protruding outwardly from said surface of the absorptive member; wherein upon release of a medium from said canister into said cavity, the expandable member expands, thereby urging the absorptive member and the non-absorptive member generally outwardly from the central axis and into a closer engagement with a wall of the vagina, and wherein the outside surface of the absorptive member is prevented from direct contact with the wall of the vagina by said at least one non-absorptive member.