Patent ID: 8827975

Claim:
An intravaginal tampon for feminine hygiene comprising: a) a generally cylindrical absorbent pledget having a length, a longitudinal axis, an insertion end, and a withdrawal end and comprising i) a mass of fibers compressed into a self sustaining shape and ii) a sheet-like fluid-permeable cover substantially enclosing the mass of fibers; b) a withdrawal element operatively connected to the generally cylindrical pledget proximate to the withdrawal end thereof; wherein (1) the absorbent pledget comprises a plurality of detached groove forms, (2) at least two of said detached groove forms (i) each has a length, measured along the groove, that is at least 150% of the length of the pledget; (ii) each has a major axis having a generally longitudinal orientation; and (iii) each has a turn proximate to at least one of the insertion end and the withdrawal end.