MXPA01002012A - Absorbent article which maintains or improves skin health - Google Patents

Abstract

An absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet;and an absorbent body located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the backsheet and a surge management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result, the article maintains the temperature and exhibits substantially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin whenin use which renders the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. The absorbent article may further include lotion formulations and/or treatment compositions thereon for maintaining or improving skin health.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE WHICH MAINTAINS OR IMPROVES SKIN HEALTH Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an absorbent article for absorbing body fluids and exudates, such as urine. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent garments, such as disposable adult incontinence garments, which are configured to absorb body exudates while maintaining or improving the health of the wearer's skin.

Description of Related Art Many configurations of known absorbent articles employ absorbent materials located between a liquid permeable top sheet and a liquid impervious sheet. Such lower sheets are very suitable to avoid the migration of liquid waste from absorbent materials to a user's outer garments. Unfortunately, the use of such articles and, in particular, such articles which include a lower sheet impervious to vapor and liquid can result in a high degree of wetness within the diaper when in use which can increase the skin temperature. of the user and may result in relatively superior skin hydration levels. Such conditions may lead to a reduction in the health of the user's skin. For example, the occlusive moist environment within the absorbent articles incorporating such lower sheets may promote the viability of microorganisms, including, Candida albicans, which may undesirably lead to The beginning of dermatitis, which is commonly called diaper rash.

In addition, the liquid permeable upper sheets on such articles have typically been constructed of non-woven materials such as polyolefin materials bonded together. Unfortunately, such materials do not always provide a non-abrasive and soft contact with the skin. In particular, during the continuous use of absorbent articles containing such top sheets, the wearer's skin can become very irritated and particularly red in the presence of urine and feces. The abrasion that results from such upper leaves and the presence of urine and feces can also undesirably lead to the onset of dermatitis.

Diaper rash can afflict almost every infant at some point during the years of diaper use. The most severe form of this condition is usually caused by a secondary infection with the fungus Candida albicans. Even when other factors influence the pathogenesis of these fungi, a critical factor is the relative humidity within the diaper which is directly related to the occlusion or semi-occlusion of the diaper area.

In order to reduce the level of moisture within the diapers, breathable polymer films have been used as the outer covers for absorbent garments, such as disposable diapers. Breathable films are typically constructed with micropores to provide desired levels of liquid impermeability and air permeability. Other disposable diaper designs have been arranged to provide breathable regions in the form of breathable panels or perforated regions in otherwise vapor impermeable sheets to help ventilate the garment.

Furthermore, in order to prevent body exudates from making contact with the wearer's skin, the caregiver often applies skin protective products directly to the wearer's skin before placing the article on the wearer. Such products have included petrolatum, mineral oil, talcum, corn starch, or various other commercially available lotions or anti-rash creams. This procedure typically involves the caregiver applying the products with his or her hand and then transferring the products to the user's skin.

To eliminate that the caregiver makes contact with the products and to reduce the abrasion of the skin and improve the health of the skin, some conventional absorbent articles have included lotion formulas applied to the top sheet so that in use, the formulas are transferred to the skin provide lubricity, therefore reducing the friction between the upper sheet and the skin. However, conventional lotion formulas have been unstable and tend to migrate out of the surface of the top sheet and up to the top sheet and the absorbent core of the absorbent articles leaving less on the surface to transfer to the skin providing the abrasion reduced. This problem of migration is particularly evident at higher temperatures, such as those at the surface of the skin in use or those typical storage conditions in warm climates.

Conventional absorbent articles, such as those described above, have not been completely satisfactory. For example, articles which employ perforated films or breathable panels may exhibit excessive drainage or filtration of liquids from the article and may excessively soil the user's outer garments in the regions of the perforations or panels. In addition, when the absorbent material of the article is loaded with the liquid, the wet absorbent can block the escape of moisture from the wearer's skin. Tale absorbent garment designs have not been able to maintain a high level of ability to breathe when moistened to sufficiently reduce the hydration of the wearer's skin.

In addition, the lotions which have been incorporated into the upper sheets of such articles have migrated so that a less effective amount has been applied to the user's skin or has been located between the skin and the top sheet in use. Therefore, large quantities of such lotions have required being added to the top sheet to deliver the benefit to the skin. As a result of this, user skin has remained susceptible to rashes, abrasion and irritation. Therefore, there is still a need for absorbent articles which maintain or improve skin salutation.

Synthesis of the Invention In response to the difficulties and problems discussed above, new absorbent disposable articles have been discovered which maintain or improve the health of the user's foot. Such absorbent articles can have high air exchange rates when wetted, maintain skin temperature when wet, have reduced skin hydration levels, include a formula or lotion composition or treatment composition which provides a benefit to the skin. health to the skin and / or have reduced the viability of microorganisms.

When used in the present description, the terms "comprises", "comprising" and other derivatives of the term "comprise" are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of any declared characteristics, of elements, integers, component steps , but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one more of other characteristics, elements, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

As used herein, the reference to "air exchange" refers to the transfer of air and, in particular, to the moist air from the interior of an absorbent article when in use on a user, to the exterior of the absorbent article (atmosphere environmental) which allows the drier environmental air to move inside the absorbent article.

As used herein, a material essentially impermeable to liquid is constructed to provide a hydro head of at least about 60 cm (centimeters), desirably of at least about 80 centimeters, and more desirably of at least about 100 centimeters A suitable technique to determine the hydro head value of the Hydrostatic Pressure Test, which is described in detail in detail below.

As used herein, an essential vapor permeable material is constructed to provide a Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of at least about 100 grams per square meter per 24 hours, desirably at least about 100%. 250 grams per square meter for 2 hours, and more desirably of at least about 50 grams per square meter per 24 hours. A suitable technique for determining the Value of the Steam Transmission Rate of Water is the Water Vapor Transmission Rate Test which is described in more detail below.

As used herein, the term "viscosity" refers to the viscosity in centipoises determined in accordance with ASTM D3236, entitled "Standard Test Method for Apparent Viscosity of Hot Melt Adhesives Coating Materials".

As used herein, the phrase "melting point" refers to the temperature at which most of the melt occurs, recognizing that the melt actually occurs over a wide temperature range.

As used herein, the phrase "melt point viscosity" refers to the viscosity of the formula at the temperature at which most of the melt occurs, recognizing that the melt currently occurs over a range of temperatures.

As used herein, the phrase "penetration hardness" refers to needle penetration in millimeters in accordance with ASTM D 1321, "Oil Wax Needle Penetration." The low needle penetration hardness values correspond to harder materials.

As used herein, the term "migration loss in the z-direction" refers to the value obtained when an absorbent article having a lotion formula on the surface facing the body thereof is submitted to the Lotion Migration Test. in the Z-Direction established here below.

As used herein, the term "loss of migration in the transverse direction to the machine" refers to the value obtained when an absorbent article having a lotion formula is subjected to the Migration Test on the surface facing the body thereof. of Lotion in the Transversal Direction to the Machine as established below.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article which comprises an absorbent, a front waist section, a waist section, an intermediate section which interconnects the front and rear waist sections. The absorbent article defines a T of Humid Air Exchange of at least about cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to the Gas Tracker Pru set here. In a particular embodiment the article defines a Wet Amph Exchange Rate of at least about 200, desirably at least about 225 and more desirably at least about 250 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to the Gas Tracker test. The absorbent article can also define a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to the Gas Tracker Test and / or a Skin Hydration Va of less than about 18 grams square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test as established here.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article which comprises absorbent, a front waist section, a back waist section and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and back waist sections. The absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test established aq. In a particular embodiment, the absorbent article may define a Hydration Value of the Skin less than about 15, desirably less than about 12, and more desirably less than about 10 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test. The absorbent article may also define a Hum Air Exchange Taste of at least about 19 cubic centimeters per minute and / or a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated in accordance to the Gas Tracking Test established here.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article which defines a front waist section, a rear waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and back waist sections. The absorbent article includes a) a lower vapor permeable sheet which defines a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1000 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to a Water Vapor Transmission Test as established here; b) a liquid-permeable upper sheet which is placed in a front relation with the lower sheet; and c) a localized absorbent body, between the lower sheet and the upper sheet which can define multiple upper air permeability zones for improved air exchange. In a particular embodiment, the high air permeability zones in the absorbent body define a Frazier Porosity which is at least about 10 percent or greater than a Frazier Porosity of absorbent body parts adjacent to the high permeability zones. in the air. The absorbent article may further include a ventilation layer located between the lower sheet and the absorbent body.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article which defines a front waist section, a rear waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and rear waist sections. The absorbent article includes a) a lower sheet impervious to liquid and vapor permeable which defines a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1000 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to a Transmission Test of Water Steam as established here; b) a liquid-permeable upper sheet which is placed in a front relation with the lower sheet; c) an absorbent body located between the lower sheet and the upper sheet; d) a ventilation layer located between the lower sheet and the absorbent body; and e) an emergence management layer located between the top sheet and the absorbent body. In a particular embodiment, the absorbent body of the absorbent article includes a plurality of areas of high air permeability for an improved air exchange which defines a Frazie Porosity which is at least about 10 percent or greater than a Porosity Frazier body parts absorbent adjacent to the zones.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article which includes an absorbent, a front waist section, a rear waist section and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and back waist sections. The absorbent article defines a Candida albicans viability which is less than about 85 percent of the viability of Candida albicans from a control calculated according to the Candida albicans Viability Test established herein. In a particular embodiment, the viability of Candida albicans is less than about 80 percent, and desirably less than about 60 percent of the viability of Candida albicans from the control calculated according to the Feasibility Test of Candida albicans. The absorbent article may further define a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 190 cubic centimeters per minute and / or a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated in accordance to the Gas Tracker. The test as set forth herein and / or the Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test set forth herein.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article which comprises or absorbent, a front waist section, a back waist section and an intermediate section which interconnect the front and back waist sections. The absorbent article defines a Dry Foot Temperature / Wet Skin Temperature ratio of no more than about d 1010 calculated according to the Foot Temperature Test as set forth herein. In particular embodiments, the absorbent article defines a Dry Foot Temperature / Wet Skin Temperature ratio of no more than about 1.005, desirably no more than more than about 1,000, more desirably no more than about 0.995. , and even more desirably of no more than about 0.990 calculated according to the Skin Temperature Test. The absorbent article may further define a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 190 cubic centimeters per minute and / or a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minut calculated in accordance to the Gas Tracker Test as set forth herein and / or the Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour, calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test set forth herein.

In yet another aspect, the present invention resides in an absorbent article having a topsheet which includes a lotion formula or treatment composition on the surface facing the outer body thereof. In a particular embodiment, the topsheet includes a lotion formula comprising from about 5 to about 9 percent by weight of an emollient, from about 5 about 95 percent by weight of a wax, and optionally, from from about 0.1 to about 25 percent by weight of a viscosity improver. The lotion formula can be applied by methods known in the art such as by spraying, slotting or printing the top sheet at a temperature of no more than about 10 ° C above a melting point of the formula of lotion to reduce the migration of the lotion formula on the top sheet.

In some embodiments, the emollient is selected from the group consisting of oils, esters, glycerol esters, ethers, alkoxylated carboxylic acids, alkoxylated alcohols, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof. In addition, in some embodiments, the wax is selected from the group consisting of animal-based waxes, vegetable-based waxes, mineral-based waxes, silicone-based waxes and mixtures thereof, all of which may be natural or synthetic.

In a particular aspect, the lotion formula includes from about 5 to about 95 percent petrolatum, from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of a wax selected from the group consisting of animal-based wax, waxes plant-based, mineral-based waxes silicone-based waxes and mixtures thereof all of which may be natural or synthetic and from about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent of a polyolefin resin, all based on weight Total of the formula d lotion.

In another aspect, the present invention resides in an absorbent article having a topsheet which includes a treatment composition on the surface facing the outer body thereof. The treatment composition includes a surfactant and a skin health benefit agent, preferably as an emulsion, such as an oil-in-water emulsion. The skin health benefit agent may include the zinc compositions. The treatment composition may also include a protein such as a silk protein such as sericin.

The various aspects of the present invention advantageously provide an absorbent article which maintains or improves the health of the wearer's skin. For example, such improved absorbent articles can exhibit essentially reduced levels of user skin hydration when in use compared to conventional absorbent articles. The reduced level of hydration of the skin promotes a more comfortable and drier skin and makes the skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. Therefore, the user-absorbent articles made according to the present invention have a reduced foot hydration and a more constant skin temperature in use which can lead to a reduction in the skin. incidence of irritation and skin rash.

Furthermore, in particular incorporations, the treated or lotioned upper leaf provides a smoother and smoother contact with the wearer's skin and reduces the levels of skin irritation. In addition, because the locio formulas applied to the top sheet are more stable and have a viscosity higher than that of conventional lozenge formulas, particularly at higher temperatures, a higher percentage of the added lotion remains on the surface of the sheet. superior where you can easily make contact and transfer to the user's skin to provide the benefit. In addition, if desired, the lower amount of the lotion formula can be added to the top sheet to provide the same benefit at a lower cost due to the location of the lotion on the surface of the top sheet. As a result of this, the skin of the users of the absorbent articles of the present invention may be less susceptible to rashes, abrasion and irritation.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more fully understood and the additional advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention and to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 representatively shows a top plane view partly in section of an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 representatively shows a section view of the absorbent article of Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2; Figure 3 representatively shows a top plane view, partially in section, of an absorbent body for an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 representatively shows a sectional view of the absorbent body of Figure 3 taken along line 4-4; Figure 5 representatively shows a view in the upper plane and partially in section of an absorbent body for an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 representatively shows a sectional view of the absorbent body of Figure 5 taken along line 6-6; Figure 7 representatively shows a graph of the data of Example 15 and Comparative Example 6; Figure 8 representatively shows the test apparatus for the Lotion Migration Test set here; Y Figures 9-13 representatively show the results of Examples 17-21.

Detailed description of the invention The following detailed description will be made in the context of a disposable diaper article which is adapted for use by infants around the lower torso. It is readily apparent, however, that the absorbent article of the present invention should also be suitable for use as other types of absorbent articles such as women's care pads, incontinence garments, training underpants and the like.

The absorbent articles of the present invention advantageously maintain or improve the health of the wearer's skin. For example, the absorbent articles may exhibit an essentially reduced level of hydration of the wearer's skin in use when they are pulled into conventional absorbent articles. The absorbent articles of the present invention can also maintain a more constant temperature of the wearer's skin when wetted compared to conventional absorbent articles. Therefore, the user's absorbent articles of the different aspects of the present invention have a reduced skin hydration which makes the skin less susceptible to the viability of the microorganisms which can lead to a reduction in the incidence of irritation and the skin rash. The absorbent articles of the present invention can also deliver a lotion or other skin health benefit agent to the wearer's skin to provide improved skin health in use compared to conventional absorbent articles.

It has been found that the ability of the absorbent articles of the present invention to exhibit a low level of hydration on the user's skin during use will depend, at least in part, on the ability of the absorbent article to achieve a high exchange rate. d air inside the article. Furthermore, it has been further discovered that the achievement of such low levels of skin hydration also depends on the ability of the article to maintain the high rate of air exchange and a more constant temperature of the skin even when wet.

The capacity of an absorbent article to achieve high rates of air exchange both when it is dry and when it is wet, for the purposes of this application, has been qualified as the Dry Air Exchange Rate, l Wet Air Exchange Rate and the ratio of Rate of Dry Air Exchange / Humid Air Exchange Rate was determined according to the Gas Tracker Test set forth below. Briefly, the Gas Ter Test involves injecting a tr gas at a constant rate into the absorbent article on one side of the user's skin while the item is being used. Simultaneously, the concentration of the tr gas in the air space between the article and the user is measured by removing a sample at the same constant rate as that of the injection. The exchange of air is then determined based on the mass balances of the tr gas and the air within the space in question.

To achieve the desired low levels of hydration of the skin, the absorbent articles of the different aspects of the present invention can be constructed to define a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 190 cubic centimeters per minute, generally for at least about 200 cubic centimeters per minute, desirably from at least about 225 cubic centimeters per minute, more desirably from at least about 250 cubic centimeters per minute and more desirably from at least about 300 cubic centimeters per minute. For example, absorbent articles can define a Wet Air Exchange Rate of from about 175 to about 1500 cubic centimeters per minute and desirably from about 225 to about 1500 cubic centimeters per minute. Absorbent articles which exhibit Humid Air Exchange Rates less than those mentioned above do not allow a sufficient amount of air exchange and thus undesirably result in increased levels of skin hydration. Such increased levels of skin hydration can make the skin more susceptible to the viability of microorganisms which can desirably lead to an increase in the incidence of skin irritation and skin rash.

The absorbent articles of the different aspects of the present invention can also be constructed to define a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute, generally at least about 575 cubic centimeters per minute. , desirably of at least about 62 cubic centimeters per minute, more desirably of at least about 675 cubic centimeters per minute, and even more desirably of at least about 750 cubic centimeters per minute for improved performance . For example, absorbent articles can define a Dry Air Exchange Rate of from about 525 to about 250 cubic centimeters per minute and desirably from about 575 to about 2500 cubic centimeters per minute. The absorbent articles which exhibit the Dry Air Exchange Rates less than those indicated above do not allow a sufficient amount of air exchange to result undesirably resulting in increased levels of skin hydration. Such increased levels of skin hydration can make the skin more susceptible to the growth of microorganisms which can undesirably lead to an increased incidence of skin irritation and skin rash.

The absorbent articles of the various aspects of the present invention can further be constructed to define a ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 0.20, generally of at least about 0.23, desirably of at least about 0.27, and more desirably of at least about 0.30 for improved performance. For example, absorbent articles may define a Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate ratio of from about 0.20 to about 1, and desirably from about 0.23, to about 1 for improved performance .

The ability of an absorbent article to maintain a more constant skin temperature when wet is quantified, for the purposes of this application, such as the Wet Skin Temperature / Dry Skin Temperature ratio as determined in accordance to the Skin Temperature Test stated below. Briefly, the Skin Temperature Test involves placing the item to be tested around the forearms of the test participants and measuring the temperature of the skin under the article before and after the item is moistened with a known amount of salt water solution. The Dry Skin Temperature is recorded after the dry item has been used for 5 minutes. The article is then moistened and the Wet Skin Temperature is recorded after the moistened item has been used for 120 minutes.

The absorbent articles of the different aspects of the present invention can be constructed to define the ratio of Wet Skin Temperature / Dry Skin Temperature of no more than about 1010, generally d not more than 1005, desirably no more than about 1,000, more desirably from no more than about 0.995 and even more desirably from no more than about 0.990 for improved performance. For example, absorbent articles can define a Wet Foot Temperature / Dry Skin Temperature ratio of from about 0.950 about 1.010 and desirably from about 0.970 about 1.005 for improved performance. Absorbent articles which exhibit a proportions d Wet Skin Temperature / Dry Skin Temperature greater than those indicated above do not maintain skin temperature when wetted which can make the skin more susceptible to the viability of microorganisms which can undesirably lead to an increased incidence of skin irritation and rash.

The ability of the absorbent articles of the present invention to exhibit a more constant skin temperature and higher levels of air exchange rate both when wet and when dry has led to reduced levels of skin hydration. The ability of the absorbent article to achieve a low level of hydration of the skin has been qualified, for the purposes of this application, as the Skin Hydration Value. As used herein, the term "Skin Hydration Value" refers to the value determined according to the Skin Hydration Test set forth below. In general, the Skin Hydration Value is determined by measuring the loss of evaporative water on the skin of the test subjects after use of the moistened absorbent article for a set period of time.

In some embodiments, the absorbent articles of the various aspects of the present invention can be constructed to define a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour, generally less than about 15 grams per meter. square per hour, desirably less than about 12 grams per square meter per hour, more desirably less than about 10 grams per square meter per hour, still more desirably less than about 8 grams per square meter per hour and yet more desirably less than about 5 grams per square meter per hour for improved performance. For example, the absorbent articles of the present invention can define a Skin Hydration Value of from about 0.1 to about 18 grams per square meter per hour and desirably from about 0.1 to about 12 grams per square meter per hour. Absorbent articles which exhibit skin hydration values greater than those indicated above may make the skin more susceptible to the growth of microorganisms, which may undesirably lead to an increase in the incidence of skin irritation and skin rash.

The absorbent articles of the present invention may also exhibit reduced viability rates of microorganisms which may lead to a reduction in skin irritation. There is a theory that the reduced microorganism viability is a direct result of the increased ability to breathe and exchange of air within the articles of the present invention. The ability of the absorbent article to achieve a low viability rate in microorganisms has been qualified, for the purposes of this application, as the viability value of Candida albicans since there is a theory that the presence of Candida albicans is directly related to the incidence of irritation and, in particular, of the rash. As used here, the term "viability of Candida albicans" refers to the value determined according to the Candida albicans Viability Test set forth below. The Feasibility Test of Candida albicans, in general, is a comparison of the viability of Candida albicans under a patch of absorbent test article to the viability of Candida albicans under a control patch from a conventional absorbent article having an outer cover. without ability to breathe, for example, an outdoor cube that has a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of less than 100 grams per square meter per 24 hours.

In particular embodiments, the absorbent articles of the various aspects of the present invention can be constructed to define the viability of Candid albicans of less than about 85 percent, generally less than about 80 percent, desirably less than about 60 percent. , more desirably less than about 40 percent, and even more desirably less than about 20 percent of the viability of Candida albicans from the control for improved performance. For example, the absorbent articles of the present invention can define a viability of Candida albicans of less than about 2.5, desirably less than about 2.0 and more desirably less than about 1.75 log of colony forming units of Candida albicans when are inoculated with a suspension of about 5-7 log of colony forming units of Candida albicans according to the Feasibility Test of Candida albicans. Absorbent articles that exhibit higher viability values of Candida albicans than those mentioned above can undesirably lead to an increase in the incidence of skin irritation and skin rash. Desirably, the viability values of Candida albicans are obtained without the incorporation of antimicrobial agents and absorbent articles which can be perceived by consumers in a negative way.

It has been found that maintenance or better health of the wearer's skin can be achieved by selecting the absorbent article constructions having a combination of one or more of the properties described above. For example, a given level of acceptable improved performance can be achieved by employing an absorbent article which exhibits a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute and a Wet Air Exchange Rate of about 525 cubic centimeters per minute. at least about 175 cubic centimeters per minute, and desirably a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 675 cubic centimeters per minute and a Humid Air Exchange Rate of at least about 200 centimeters cubic per minute. Alternatively, the improved performance will be achieved by employing an absorbent article which exhibits a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 175 cubic centimeters per minute and a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams. per square meter per hour, and desirably a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 200 cubic centimeters per minute and a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 12 grams per square meter per hour.

Still further, it has been found that improved performance can be achieved by employing absorbent articles having an Air Dry Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute and a Wet Air Exchange Rate ratio. Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 0.2 and desirably a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 625 cubic centimeters per minute, and a Wet Air Exchange Rate / Exchange Rate of Dry Air of at least about 0.23.

Examples of suitable constructions of the absorbent articles for use in the present invention are described below and are representatively illustrated in Figures 1-6. Figure 1 is a representative plan view of an integral absorbent garment article, such as disposable diaper 10, of the present invention in its non-contracted, flat state (eg, with the elastic induced by withdrawal and contraction removed). The parts of the structure are partially cut to show more clearly the interior construction of the diaper 10, and the surface of the honeycomb that contacts the user faces the observer. Fig. 2 representatively shows a sectional view of the absorbent article of Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2. With reference to figures 1 and 2, the disposable diaper 10 generally defines a front waist section 12, a rear waist section 14, and an intermediate section 16 which interconnects the rear front waist sections. The front and back waist sections include the general parts of the article which are constructed to extend essentially over the user's frontal and posterior abdominal regions, respectively, during use. The middle section of the article includes the general article part which is constructed to extend through the user's crotch region between the legs of the user.

The absorbent article includes a lower vapor permeable sheet 20, a liquid permeable upper sheet 22 positioned in a front relation with the lower sheet 20, and an absorbent body 24, such as an absorbent pad, which is located between the lower sheet 20 and the upper sheet 22. The lower sheet 20 defines a length and a width which, in the illustrated embodiment, coincide with the length and width of the diaper 10. The absorbent body 24 generally defines a length and a width which are less than the length and width of the lower sheet 20, respectively. Thus, the marginal portions of the diaper 10, such as the marginal sections of the lower sheet 20, can extend beyond the end edges of the absorbent body 24. In the illustrated embodiments, for example, the lower sheet 20 extends outwardly. beyond the terminal marginal edges of the absorbent body 24 to form the lateral margins and the end margins of the diaper 10. The upper sheet 22 is generally coextensive with the lower sheet 20 but may optionally cover an area which is more larger than the area of the lower sheet 20 as desired. The lower blade 20 and the upper blade 22 are intended to face the garment and the wearer's body, respectively, while in use.

The permeability of the lower sheet is configured to increase the breathability of the absorbent article to reduce the hydration of the wearer's skin during use without allowing excessive condensation of the vapor, such as urine, on the surface facing the garment of the lower sheet 20 which can undesirably wet the user's clothes.

To provide an improved notch and help reduce runoff of diaper body exudates 10, said diaper side margins and end margins may be elastified with suitable elastic members, such as single or multiple strands of elastic. The elastic threads may be composed of natural or synthetic rubber and may optionally be heat shrinkable or heat-elasticizable. For example, as representatively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the diaper 10 may include the leg elastics 26 which are constructed to operably gather and gather the side margins of the diaper 10 to provide the elasticized leg bands which may be notched. tightly around the user's legs to reduce runoff and can provide an improved comfort appearance. Similarly, the waist elastics 2 can be used to elasticize the diaper end margins 10 to provide the elasticized waists. The waist elastics are configured to fold operablement and shrink the waist sections to provide a comfortably close and elastic entall around the user's waist. In the illustrated embodiments, the elastic members are illustrated in their stretched condition and do not contract for the purpose of clarity.

The fastening means, such as the hook and loop fastener 30, are employed to secure the diaper to a wearer. Alternatively, other fastening means, such as buttons, pins, automatic fasteners, adhesive tape fasteners, cohesives, mushroom and curl fasteners, or the like, may be employed.

The diaper 10 may further include other layers between the absorbent body 24 and the topsheet 22 or the bottom sheet 20. For example, as representatively illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the diaper 10 may include a ventilation layer 32 located between the absorbent body 24 and the lower sheet 20 for insulating the lower sheet 20 of the absorbent body 24 to improve air circulation and effectively reduce wetting of the face surface to the garment of the lower sheet 20. The ventilation layer 32 can also help to distribute the fluid exudates to absorbent body parts 24 which do not directly receive the discharge. The diaper 10 may also include an emergence delivery layer 34 located between the topsheet 22 and the absorbent body 24 to prevent stagnation of the fluid exudates and further improve the exchange and air distribution of the fluid exudates within the diaper. 10 The diaper 10 can be in various suitable shapes. For example, the diaper can have a general rectangular shape, a T-shape or an approximately hourglass shape. In the embodiment shown, the diaper 10 has a generally I-shape. The diaper 10 further defines a longitudinal direction 36 and a lateral direction 38. Other suitable diaper components which may be incorporated in the absorbent articles of the present invention include the containment fins, the waist flaps, the elastomeric side panels and the like. which are generally known to those skilled in the art.

Examples of diaper configurations suitable for use in connection with the present application which may include other diaper components suitable for use on diapers are described in United States of America Patent No. 4,798,603 issued on January 17, 1989 to Meyer and others; in the patent of the United States of America No. 5,176,668 granted on January 5, 1993 to Bernardin; in U.S. Patent No. 5,176,672 issued January 5, 1993 to Bruemmer et al .; in U.S. Patent No. 5,192,606 issued March 9, 1993 to Proxmire et al., and in U.S. Patent No. 5,509,915 issued April 23, 1996 to Hanson et al. Descriptions are incorporated herein by reference.

The various components of the diaper 10 are integrally assembled together using various types of suitable attachment means, such as adhesive, sonic joints, thermal bonds or combinations thereof. In the embodiment shown, for example, the upper sheet 22 and the lower sheet 20 are assembled together and to the absorbent body 24 with lines of adhesive, such as a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive. Similarly, the other diaper components, such as the elastic members 26 and 28, the fastening members 30, and the ventilation and emergence layers 32 and 34 can be assembled into the diaper article by employing the above-identified fastening mechanisms.

The lower sheet 20 of the diaper 10, as illustrated representatively in FIGS. 1 and 2, is composed essentially of a vapor permeable material. The lower sheet 20 is generally constructed to be permeable to at least the water vapor and has a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1000 grams per square meter per 24 hours, desirably of at least about 1500 grams per square meter per 24 hours, more desirably from at least about 2000 grams per square meter per 24 hours, and even more desirably from at least about 3000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. For example, the lower sheet 20 can define a water vapor transmission rate of from about 1000 to about 6000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. Materials which have a water vapor transmission rate of less than those mentioned above do not allow a sufficient amount of air exchange and undesirably result in increased levels of skin hydration.

The lower sheet 20 is also desirably and essentially impermeable to liquid. For example, the bottom sheet can be constructed to provide a head water value of at least about 60 centimeters, desirably of at least about 80 centimeters, and more desirably of at least about 100 centimeters when underwent the hydrostatic pressure test. The materials which have lower hydroheat values than those indicated above undesirably result in the transfer of liquids, such as from urine during use. The transfer of fluid may undesirably result in a sticky and wet feeling on the lower sheet 20 during use.

The lower sheet 20 can be composed of any suitable materials which either directly provide the desired levels of liquid impermeability mentioned above and the permeability to the air or, in the alternative materials which can be modified or can be treated in some way. to provide such levels. In one embodiment, the bottom sheet may be a fibrous non-woven fabric constructed to provide the required level of liquid impermeability. For example, a non-woven fabric composed of polymer fibers spunbond or meltblown can be selectively treated with a water repellent coating or laminated with a vapor permeable polymer film impervious to the liquid to provide the bottom sheet. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the lower sheet 20 may comprise a non-woven fabric composed of a plurality of randomly deposited thermoplastic and hydrophobic meltblown fibers which are sufficiently bonded or otherwise connected to each other to provide a tissue essentially vapor permeable and essentially impermeable to liquid. The lower sheet 20 may also be composed of a vapor permeable nonwoven layer which has been partially coated or otherwise configured to provide liquid impermeability in selected areas.

Examples of suitable materials for the bottom sheet 20 are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,482,762 issued January 9, 1996 in the name of Bradley et al. And entitled "NON-WOVEN FABRIC LAMINATE WITH INCREASED BARRIER PROPERTIES. "; US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 622,903 filed March 29, 1996 in the name of Odorzynski et al. entitled "ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH A GRADIENT OF CAPACITY TO BREATHE"; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 668,418 filed June 21, 1996, in the name of Good et al., and entitled "ABSORBENT ARTICLE WHICH HAS A LOWER SHEET WITH COMPOUND BREATHING CAPACITY"; and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 882,712 filed June 25, 1997, in the name of McCormack et al., entitled "LOW CALIBER FILMS AND FILM LAMINATES / NON-WOVEN", whose descriptions they are incorporated here by reference.

In a particular embodiment, the lower sheet 20 is provided by a non-woven / microporous film laminate comprising a non-woven material bonded with laminated yarn to a microporous film. The yarn-bound fabric comprises filaments of about 1.8 denier extruded from an ethylene copolymer with about 3.5 percent by weight of propylene and which define a basis weight d from about 17 to about 25 grams per square meter. The film comprises a set co-extruded film having calcium carbonate particles there and which defines a basis weight of about 58 grams per square meter before stretching. The film is preheated, stretched tempered to form the micropores and then laminated to the yarn bonded fabric. The resulting nonwoven laminate d base / microporous film base material has a basis weight d from about 30 grams per square meter to about 6 grams per square meter and a Water Steam Transmission Rate of from about 3,000 to about from 6,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. Examples of such nonwoven / film laminates are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 882,712 filed June 25, 1997 in the name of McCormack et al. Entitled " LOW CALIBER FILMS AND FILM / NON-WOVEN LAMINATES, whose description is incorporated herein by reference.

The topsheet 22, as representatively illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, suitably presents a face surface to the body which is docile, soft-feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. In addition, the topsheet 22 may be less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 24, to present a relatively dry surface to the wearer, and may be sufficiently porous to be permeable to the liquid, allowing the liquid to easily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable top sheet 22 can be manufactured from a wide selection of woven materials, such as porous foams, cross-linked foams, perforated plastic films, natural fibers (e.g. cotton or wood fibers), fibers synthetic (for example, polyester or polypropylene fibers) or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. The topsheet 22 is suitably employed to help isolate the user's skin from liquids maintained in the absorbent body 24.

Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used for the topsheet 22. For example, the topsheet can be composed of a meltblown web or bonded with polyolefin fiber yarn. The top sheet may also be a bonded and carded fabric composed of natural and / or synthetic fibers. The topsheet may be composed of an essentially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material may, optionally, be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the topsheet 22 comprises a non-woven, spin-linked, polypropylene fabric composed of fibers of about 2.8-3.2 deniers formed into a fabric having a basis weight of about 22 grams per square meter and a density of about 0.06 grams per cubic centimeter.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the topsheet 22 can be surface treated with about 0.3 percent by weight of a surfactant mixture which contains a mixture of the surfactant AHCOVEL Base N-62 and GLUCOPON 220UP in about one percent. 3: 1 ratio based on a total weight of the surfactant mixture. The AHCOVEL Base N-62 is purchased from Hodgson Textile Chemicals Inc., a business that has offices in Mount Holly, North Carolina, and includes a blend of ethoxylated and hydrogenated castor oil and sorbitan monooleate in a proportion by weight of 55:45. GLUCOPON 220UP is purchased from Henkel Corporation and includes an alkyl polyglycoside. The surfactant may also include additional ingredients such as aloe. The surfactant can be applied by any conventional means such as spraying, printing, brush coating, foam or the like. The surfactant can be applied to the entire upper sheet 22 or can be applied selectively to particular sections of the upper sheet 22, such as the mid section along the longitudinal center line of the diaper, to provide greater wettability to such sections.

The topsheet 22 of the absorbent article of the present invention can further include a lotion formula on the surface facing the outer body thereof. The lotion formula can generally include an emollient, a wax and, optionally, a viscosity improver. For example, the lotion formula can include from about 5 about 95 percent by weight of an emollient from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of a wax, and from about 1 to about 25 percent. by weight d a viscosity improver based on the total weight of the lotion formula. The formula of the lotion may include other ingredients as well.

The emollients act as lubricants to reduce the abrasiveness of the upper sheet to the skin and, when transferred to the skin, help to maintain the smooth, smooth and docile appearance of the skin. Suitable emollients which can be incorporated into the lotion formula include oils such as petroleum-based oils, vegetable-based oils, mineral oils, natural or synthetic oils, silicone oils, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, kaolin and kaolin derivatives and similar mixtures thereof; esters such as cetyl palmitate, stearyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate and the like mixtures thereof; the glycerol esters; ethers such as eucalyptol cetearyl glucoside, dimethyl isosorbicide polyglyceryl-3-cetyl ether, polyglyceryl-3-decyltetradecanol, propylene glycol myristyl ether and the like and mixtures thereof; the alkoxylated carboxylic acids; the alkoxylated alcohols; fatty alcohols such as octyldodecanol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, and behenyl alcohol and the like and mixtures thereof; and the like and mixtures of these. For example, a particularly suitable emollient is petrolatum. Other conventional emollients can also be added in a manner which maintains the desired properties of the lotion formulas set forth herein.

To provide improved stability and its transfer to the wearer's skin, the lotion formula can include from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight, desirably from about 20 to about 75 percent by weight, and more desirably from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight of the emollient. Lotion formulas which include an amount of emollient greater than the recited amounts tend to have lower viscosities which undesirably lead to the migration of the lotion. While, lotion formulas which include a minor amount of emollient less than the recited amounts tend to provide less transfer to the user's skin.

The wax in the lotion formulas of the present invention function primarily as an immobilizing agent for the emollient and any active ingredient. In addition to immobilizing the emollient and reducing its tendency to migrate, the wax in the lotion formula provides a tack to the lotion formula which improves the transfer to the user's skin. The presence of the wax also modifies the transfer mode in which the lotion tends to fracture or de-scale rather than actually rubbing on the user's skin which can lead to an improved transfer to the skin. The wax may also function as an emollient, an occlusive agent, a humidifier, a barrier improver and combinations thereof.

Suitable waxes which may be incorporated in the lotion formula include animal, vegetable, mineral, or silicone waxes which may be natural or synthetic such as, for example, laurel berry wax, beeswax, C30 alkyl dimethicone, candelilla wax, carnauba, ceresin, cetil esteres, esparto, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated jojoba oil, hydrogenated jojoba wax, hydrogenated rice bran wax, japan wax, jojoba butter, jojoba esters , jojoba wax, lanolin wax, microcrystalline wax, mink wax, acid motan wax, motan wax, ouricury wax, ozokerite, paraffin, wax d bees PEG-6, beeswax PEG-8, wax prayer, wax bran d rice, lacquer wax, spent grain wax, spar maceti wax, stearyl dimethicone, synthetic beeswax, synthetic candelill wax, synthetic carnauba wax, synthetic japan wax, synthetic jojoba wax, synthetic wax, and the like and mix of them. For example, a particularly suitable wax includes about 70 percent by weight of cereals wax, about 10 percent by weight of microcrystalline cer, about 10 percent by weight of paraffin wax, and about 10 percent by weight of cetyl stere. (synthetic spermaceti wax).

To provide improved transfer to the user's skin, the lotion formula can include from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight, desirably from about 25 to about 65 percent by weight, and more desirably from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight of the wax. Lotion formulas which include a lesser amount of wax than the recited amounts tend to have lower viscosities which undesirably leads to the migration of the lotion. While, lotion formulas which include a greater amount of wax than the recited amounts tend to provide less transfer to the user's skin.

A viscosity improver can be added to the lotion formula to increase the viscosity to help stabilize the formula on the face surface of the upper sheet 22 and thereby reduce the migration and improve the transfer to the skin. Desirably, the viscosity improver increases the viscosity of the lotion formula by at least about 50 percent, more desirably by at least about 100 percent., still more desirably at least about 500 percent, still more desirably at least about 1,000 percent, and even more desirably at least about 5,000 percent. Suitable viscosity improvers which can be incorporated into the lotion formula include polyolefin resins, lipophilic / oil thickeners, ethylene / vinylacetate copolymers, polyethylene, silica, talc, colloidal silicon dioxide, zinc stearate, cetyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, and other modified celluloses and the like and mixtures d thereof. For example, a particularly suitable viscosity improver is an ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer commercially available from E. I. DuPont de Ne Mour under the trade designation ELVAX.

To provide improved transfer to the wearer's skin, the lotion formula can include from about 0.1 to about 25 percent by weight, desirably from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight, and more desirably from about 10 about 15 percent by weight of the viscosity improver for reduced migration and improved transfer to the wearer's skin.

If it is desired that the lotion formula treat the skin, it may also include an active ingredient such as a skin protector to the diaper rash. The skin protectors are a drug product which protects the surface of mucous membrane or skin exposed or damaged by harmful or annoying stimuli. Suitable active ingredients, in addition to those mentioned above as suitable emollients, which can be incorporated in the formula of lotion include, but are not limited to, allantoin and its derivatives, to aluminum hydroxide gel, to calamine, to butter of cocoa, dimethicone, bacalao liver oil, glycerin, kaolin and its derivatives, lanolin and its derivatives, mineral oil, shark liver oil, talc, topical starch, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, and zinc oxide and the like mixtures thereof. The lotion formula can include d from about 0.10 to about 95 percent by weight of active ingredient depending on the skin protector and the desired amount that will be transferred to the skin.

In order to further improve the benefits for the user, the additional ingredients may be included in the lotion formulas of the present invention. For example, the kinds of ingredients that can be used and their corresponding benefits include, without limitation: antifoam agents (reduce the tendency of foaming during processing); the antimicrobial assets; the antifungal assets; the antiseptic additives; the antioxidant (product integrity); astringent-cosmetics (induce a tightening or tingling sensation on the skin) astringent-drug (a drug product that verifies bleeding, discharge or filtering when applied to the skin to the mucous membrane and works by a protein coagulant) biological additives (improve the performance or consumer attraction for the product); dyes (impart color to product); deodorants (reduce or eliminate unpleasant odor and protect against the formation of bad odor on body surfaces); Other emollients (help maintain the appearance, smooth, smooth and docile skin by its ability to remain on the surface of the skin or stratum corneo to act as lubricants, to reduce and flaking, and to improve the appearance of the skin); external analgesics (a topically applied drug that has a topical analgesic, anesthetic or an antipruritic effect mediating the depressive of the cutaneous sensory receptors, of what has a counter-irritant effect by stimulating the cutaneous sensory receptors); the film formers (to maintain the active ingredients on the skin by producing a continuous film on the skin with drying); the fragrances (attraction of the consumer), the silicones / organomodified silicones (protection, resistance to the water of the tissue, lubricity, softness of the tissue) oils (mineral, vegetable animal); natural moisturizing agents (NMF) and other skin moisturizing ingredients known in the art; the opacifiers (reduce the clarity of the transparent appearance of the product); the powders (improve the lubricity, the absorption of the oil, provide protection to the skin, astringency, opacity, etc.); the skin conditioning agents; solvents (liquids used to dissolve the components found useful in cosmetics or drugs, and surfactants (as cleaning agents, emulsifying agents, solubilizing agents, and suspending agents).

An important property of the lotion formulas of the different aspects of the present invention is their ability to remain on the top sheet surface and its resistance to migration within the article so that they can be easily transferred to the user's skin. . In this aspect, articles having the lotion formulas of the present invention applied to the topsheet define a loss of z-direction migration of no more than about 55 percent, desirably no more than about 50 percent, more desirably of no more than about 4 percent, still more desirably of no more than about 4 percent and even more desirably no more than about 3 percent when subjected to the loci migration test in the z-direction stated below. In articles which have a greater z-direction migration loss, the lotion formula undesirably migrates in from the interior along the surface of the top sheet and at times through the top sheet to the article absorbent body. which results in a lower reduction in abrasion and less transfer to the user's skin.

Another important measurement of the loci formulas of the different aspects of the present invention is its ability to resist migration laterally along the surface of the top sheet. In this aspect, the items having the lotion formulas of the present invention applied to the topsheet define a loss d emigration in the transverse direction of no more than about 40 percent, desirably no more than about 35 percent, more desirably of no more than about 30 percent, still more desirably no more than about 25 percent and even more desirably no more than about 20 percent when subjected to the lotion migration test in the transverse direction set forth hereinbelow. In the articles which have a greater transverse direction loss of migration, the lotion formula undesirably migrates along the surface of the upper sheet and sometimes through the upper leaf to the absorbent body of the article which results in a lower reduction in abrasion and less transfer to the user's skin.

In addition, to provide improved transfer stability to the user's skin, the lotion formula of the present invention can define a melting point of from about 30 ° C to about 100 ° C, desirably from about 35 ° C. at about 80 ° C, and more desirably from about 40 ° C to about 75 ° C. The lotion formulas which have the lowest melting points exhibit an emigration of the lotion during use and at elevated storage temperatures which may undesirably result in a reduced transfer to the skin. While lotion formulas which have higher melting points may require that the lotion be at a temperature above the scintillation point of the top sheet material which can undesirably lead to fire.

The formula of the lotion of the present invention can further define a melting point viscosity of from about 50 to about 1,000,000 centipoise, desirably from about 50,000 to about 800,000 centipoise, and more desirably from around 100,000 to around 500,000 centipoises to reduce emigration improve the user's skin transfer. Lotion formulas which have lower melting point viscosities exhibit the migration of the lotion through the upper blade and into the absorbent body of the article which may undesirably result in a reduced transfer to the skin. Lotion which has higher melting point viscosities may be so solid as to exhibit reduced transfer to the skin.

In addition, to provide improved transfer stability to the user's skin, the formula of the present invention can also define a viscosity of from about 50 to about 10.00 centipoise, desirably from about 100 to about 500. centipoise, and more desirably from about 15 to about 250 centipoise at a temperature of 60 ° C. The lotion formulas which may have lower viscosities at 60 ° C exhibit the migration of the lotion through the upper sheet to the absorbent body of the article which may undesirably result in a reduced transfer to the skin. While lotion formulas which have viscosities above 60 ° C can be so solid as to exhibit a reduced transfer to the skin.

The penetration hardness of the loci formulas of this invention can be from about 5 to about 360 millimeters, more desirably from about 10 about 200 millimeters, more desirably from about 20 to about 150 millimeters, and even more desirably from about 40 about 100 millimeters. (Lotion formula that has a needle penetration hardness greater than 360 millimeters can not be measured using the ASTM 1321 method). The hardness of the lotion formulas of this invention and important for two reasons. First, the gentler the formula, the more mobile the formulation will be, making the formulation more feasible to migrate to the tissue inner layers, which is not desirable. Second, softer formulas tend to be more greasy / oily to the touch, which is also undesirable. In general, formulas that have a needle penetration hardness of from about 200 to about 360 millimeters feel creamy to slightly greasy with less softness (depending on the additives). Formulas that have needle penetration hardness values of from about 5 to about 200 millimeters feel silky to creamy and very soft (depending on the additives).

The lotion formula can be applied to the face-to-face surface of the upper sheet 22 or can be applied selectively to particular sections of the face-to-body surface, such as the mid-section along the longitudinal center line of the diaper , to provide greater lubricity to such sections and to transfer such lotion to the wearer's skin. Alternatively the face facing surface of the upper sheet 22 can include the multiple strips of the lotion formula applied thereto. For example, the face facing surface of the upper sheet 22 may include from 1 to 10 lotion formula strips extending along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 20. The strips may also extend the full length of the sheet. upper sheet 22 or only a part of it. The strips can also define a width of desd around 0.2 to about 1 centimeter.

The lotion formula should cover a sufficient amount of the surface area of the top sheet 22 to ensure adequate transfer to the skin and a reduced abrasion between the top sheet 22 and the user's skin. Desirably, the lotion formula is applied to it is about 5 percent and more desirably at least about 25 percent of the face surface of the top sheet 22.

The lotion formula can be applied to the upper sheet at any added level which provides the desired transfer benefit. For example, the total aggregate level of the lotion formula can be from about 0.05 to about 100 milligrams / square centimeter, desirably from about 1 to about 50 milligrams / square centimeter and more desirably from about 10. to around 40 milligrams / square centimeter for improved performance. The amount added will depend on the desired effect of the lotion on the attributes of the product and the specific lotion formula. As discussed above, the improved stability and reduced tendency to emigration of the lotion formulas of the present invention allows a smaller amount of lotion to be applied to the topsheet 22 to achieve the same benefits when compared to the formulas of conventional lotion.

The lotion formula can be applied to the top sheet 22 in any of many known ways. A preferred method for uniformly applying the lotion formula to the surface of the top sheet 22 is by spraying or slot coating, because this is a more accurate process and offers maximum control of the distribution of the formula and the transfer rate. However, other methods, such as rotogravure or flexographic printing, can be used.

For example, the lotion formula can be applied to the upper sheet 22 by means of (a) heating the lotion formula to a temperature above the melting point of the formula, causing the formula to melt; (b) by uniformly applying the molten formula to the body surface of the upper sheet; and (c) by resolidifying the molten formula deposits. Desirably, the resolidification of the deposits occurs almost instantaneously, without the need for external cooling means such as the cooling rollers. This can occur if the formula is heated to a temperature only slightly above or at the melting point of the formula. However, external means such as chill rolls, either before or after the application of the melt, can be used if desired to accelerate the resolidification.

The increased viscosity of the lotion at the process temperature and instantaneous resolidification tends to prevent the penetration of the formula into the absorbent body and the top sheet of the article and retain it on the face facing surface of the upper sheet 22, which it is advantageous For example, the temperature of the molten formula may advantageously be less than about 10 ° C, more desirably less than about 5 ° C, and even more desirably less than about 2 ° C above the melting point of the formula before applying it to the upper sheet for reduced emigration. As the temperature of the molten formula nears the melting point of the formula, the viscosity of the molten formula generally increases, which further increases the tendency of the molten formula to be retained on the surface.

The upper sheet 22 of the absorbent article of the present invention can further include a composition for treating the skin on the surface facing the outer body thereof to preserve and restore the natural integrin of the skin. This is achieved by depositing or skin health benefit agent from the top sheet 2 which can control the release of the agent to the surface of the skin. The skin health benefit agent can act as a protector that is able to maintain the pH of the skin, inhibiting the activity of irritants to the skin, maintaining hydration and lubrication of the skin. Suitable skin treatment compositions are described in commonly-assigned United States patent application dAmerica series number 60 / 141,788 filed on June 30, 1999 in the name of Tyrrell et al. (Subject of Attorney No. 13,949) which is incorporated herein by reference.

Pancreatic digestive enzymes expelled by the body with feces have been implicated in inducing inflammation of the skin (Anderson, PH Bucher, AP, Saees, II, Lee, PC Davis, JA, and Maibach, HI, Fecal Enzymes : skin irritation in vivo Contact of Dermatitis 1994; 30, 152-158). When feces, including this enzyme, make contact with the skin, the skin becomes irritated. In some cases, these enzymes, as well as others found in feces and urine, can split the stratum corneum proteins, thus breaking the skin's natural protective barrier. The skin becomes susceptible to irritation directly by these enzymes or indirectly by other "irritants" in the feces and urine that are now accessible to viable tissue. The lotion formulas and treatment compositions of the present invention can be designed to form an essentially continuous, thin and thin film on the skin to inhibit or at least minimize the effect of such irritants.

The treatment composition of the present invention includes a surfactant and a skin health benefit agent. Prefer, the treatment composition is prepared as an emulsion of the surfactant and the health benefit agent of the skin, usually as an oil-in-water (o / w) emulsion.

Examples of emulsions include aqueous emulsions of the skin health benefit agent, for example, zinc sulfate heptahydrate, and a surfactant such as AHCOVEL Base N-62. It has been found that when emulsions containing about 75 percent by weight of surfactant and up to about 25 percent by weight of skin health benefit agent to about 0.1 to 4 percent by weight of total solids are used, Sufficient amounts of the skin health benefit agent are transferred to the skin. Prefer, the emulsions will contain between about 5 to 30 percent by weight d solids. These emulsions can be either applied on a high solids bath substrate (up to 40 percent by weight) or diluted baths ranging from 0.1 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight. Prefer, the emulsion will be diluted to about 0.5 percent by weight at about 15 percent by weight.

The surfactants useful in the treatment compositions of the present invention are selected to provide superior fluid handling performance, skin protection and softness to human skin. Useful examples of suit surfactants include hydrogenated and ethoxylated fatty oils, monosaccharides, monosaccharide derivatives, polysaccharides, p-sacisaccharide derivatives, and combinations thereof.

Non-ionic surfactants miscible in water are preferred and such surfactants are commercially avail. Examples of such surfactants include AHCOVEL and GLUCOPON 220UP, which is an alkyl polyglycoside having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, and may also be used as a part of the surfactant. Other known ionic surfactants are the primary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, the secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, the ethoxylates alkyl phenols and the ethylene oxide propylene oxide condensates over primary alkanols, such as PLURAFACS and PLURONICS (avail from BASF, Inc. ) and condensate of ethylene oxide with sorbitan fatty acid esters such as TWEEN (also avail from Uniqema). N-ionic surfactants are generally the condensation products of an organic alkyl or aliphatic aromatic hydrophobic compound and a hydrophilic ethylene oxide group. Practically, any hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido or amino group with a free hydrogen bound to the nitrogen can be condemned with the ethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol, to form a surfactant non-ionic miscible in water. Other suit surfactants include the polyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, the polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, the polyoxyethylene sorbitol trioleate, the polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate, and the bovine lipid extract surfactant (Survanta, Ross Laboratories), a drug used to treat acute respiratory syndrome and cystic fibrosis, and enzymes such as papain or pepsin which unfold protein structures.

More specifically, the nonionic surfactant may include the condensation products of a higher alcohol (for example an alkanol containing about 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration) condensed with about 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples include: lauryl or myristyl alcohol condensed with about 16 moles of ethylene oxide (EO); tridecanol condensed with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide; myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of myristyl alcohol; the condensation product of ethylene oxide with a coconut fatty alcohol cut containing a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying from 10, to 11, 12, 13 or 14 carbon atoms in length and wherein the The condensate contains either about 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of total alcohol or about 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; and the tallow alcohol ethoxylates contain 6 moles of ethylene oxide to about 11 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. The condensates of 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with mono sorbitan- and 3C10-C20 alkanoic acid esters having a hydrophilic / lipophilic balance of about 4 to 20, preferably about 8 to 15, can also be employed as the non-ionic surfactant.

Another class of surfactant compounds include alkyl polysaccharides. Alkyl polysaccharides are alkyl polyglycosides having the formula SUGAR-O-R e where R is a hydrophobic group.

Foot health benefit agents suitable for use in the treatment compositions of the present invention include zinc compositions to reduce or prevent skin irritation and / or acute inflammatory skin reactions. Examples of such agents include the zinc salt, the zinc sulfate, the monohydrate, the like. Advantageously, the zinc salt will be present in the composition as an aqueous emulsion. These agents are useful as agents and as enzyme inhibitors, and more particularly they are useful in the inhibition of both faecal and urine proteases. Zinc may interact with the catalytic site of the protease, in particular, the class of proteases known as serine proteases, to inhibit proteolytic activity. By inhibiting proteolytic activity, the attempt is to keep the skin from becoming irritated, rather than treating the skin once it has become irritated.

An additional advantage of the skin health benefit agent of the present invention relates to lowering the pH. Serine proteases, for example trypsin and pancreatic elastase, which are present in, for example, faeces and urine are optimally catalytic at a basic p of about 8.0 and 8.5, respectively. The skin health benefit agent of the present invention has been found to unexpectedly lower pH, decreasing both the catalytic efficiency of these proteases.

The skin health benefit agent is present in the treatment compositions of the present invention in the range of from about 0.01 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the treatment composition. Preferably, the agent will be present in the amount of about 0.25 percent to about percent by weight of the treatment composition.

The treatment compositions of the present invention may also include a protein that can be administered topically in a controlled manner. One such protein is sericin. Sericin is one of the two proteins that are part of the twin fibroin silk thread spun by Bo byx Mori, a domestic insect. Sericin acts as an overprotector around the fibroin yarn as it is spun, which is like spinning fibers with soluble sizing agents to help form good quality fibers. Sericin can be easily separated from silk protein by hydrolysis. The spiculated sericin subsequently, with its unique properties is known because it has a high affinity to a number of proteins. When refined to a high molecular weight substance it is docile to bending to the queritin of the foot and hair, forming a resistant, moisturizing protective film on the skin and hair, imparting good barrier properties.

Sericin is a silk protein obtained by the controlled hydrolysis of low molecular weight silk having a specific gravity of at least about 1. A commercially available silk protein is available from Croda, Inc., of Parsippany, New Jersey, and sells under the trade name CROSILK LIQUID (amino acids d silk), CROSILK 10,000 (hydrolyzed silk), CROSILK POWDER (silk and powder), and CROSILKQUAT (amino acid of hydroxypropyl cocodimonium silk). Another example of a commercially available thirst protein is SERICIN, available from Pentapharm, Limited, a division of Kordia, bv, from the Netherlands. Additional details of such protein mixtures can be found in the United States of America Patent No. 4,906,460 issued to Kim et al. And assigned to Sorenco, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The silk protein derivatives can be chosen from one or several potential compositions, including silk fibers and silk fibers hydrolyzate. The silk fibers can be used in the powder form to prepare the emulsion or as a powder of a product obtained by washing and treating the silk fibers with an acid. Preferably, the silk fibers are used as a product obtained by hydrolysis with an acid, an alkali or an enzyme, as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,839.16 issued to Abe and others.; in U.S. Patent No. 5,009,813 issued to Watanube et al .; and in the United States of America patent number 5,069.89 granted to Goldberg, each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Another silk derivative that can be employed in the composition of the present invention is the protein obtained from the unprocessed silk degomancer, as described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,839.16 issued to Hoppe et al. others, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The main protein obtained from silk if processed is sericin, which has the empirical formula of C15H25? 3N5 and a molecular weight of about 323.5.

A preferred silk derivative is a mixture of two or more individual amino acids, which occur naturally in silk. The main silk amino acids are glycine, alanine, serine and tyrosine.

Another example of a silk derivative to be used in the emulsion composition of the present invention is a fine powder of silk fibroin in a non-fibrous or particulate form, as described in the United States Patent of America No. 4,233,212 issued to Otoi and others, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The fine powder is produced by dissolving a de-gelled silk material in at least one solvent selected from, for example, an aqueous cupriethylene diamine solution, an aqueous ammonium solution of cupric hydroxide, an aqueous alkaline solution of cupric hydroxide glycerol, a solution of aqueous lithium bromide, an aqueous solution of calcium chloride, nitrate or thiocyanate, magnesium zinc and an aqueous sodium thiocyanate solution. The resulting fibroin solution is then dialyzed. The dialyzed aqueous silk fibroin solution having a silk fibroin concentration of from about 3 to 20 percent by weight is subjected to at least one treatment by the coagulation and precipitation of the silk fibroin, such as, for example. , by the addition of the coagulating salt, by aeration, by coagulation at the isoelectric point, by exposure to the ultrasonic waves, by agitation at a high cut rate and the like. The resulting product is a silk fibroin gel which can be incorporated directly into a treatment composition or it can be dehydrated and dried in a powder and then dissolved in the treatment composition.

The silk material used to form the silk fibroin includes cocoons, unprocessed silk, dusky cocoons, unprocessed silk waste, silk cloth waste and the like. The silk material is degraded released from sericin by a conventional method such as, for example, by washing in warm water containing an active surfactant agent or an enzyme and then drying. The degraded material is dissolved in the solvent and preheated to a temperature of from about 60 to 95 ° C, preferably from about 70 to 85 ° C. Additional details of the process for obtaining silk fibroin are discussed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 4,233,212.

In addition to the silk protein in the treatment compositions of the present invention, an additional protein may be present in the amount of from about 0.1 to about 4.0 percent by weight. This additional protein can be selected from the group consisting of hydrolyzed animal collagen protein obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis, lexene protein, vegetable protein and hydrolyzed wheat protein and mixtures thereof.

The treatment compositions of the present invention can be in the form of an oil-water-emulsion (o / w) or after dilution with water, with the essential ingredients being water, surfactant and / or cosurfactant.

Because the composition as prepared is an aqueous liquid formula and since no particular mixing is required to form the oil-in-water emulsion, the composition is easily prepared simply by combining all the ingredients in a container or container suitable. The mixing order of the ingredients is not particularly important and generally the various ingredients can be added in sequence or all at once or in the form of aqueous emulsions of each or all of the primary surfactants and cosurfactants can be prepared and combined One with another. It is important to note that the emulsions, for example, organic acid emulsions will not be acceptable for use in the present invention, since such emulsions will be a strong irritant to the skin and counterproductive to the intended use of the present invention. The protein, when present, can be added as an aqueous emulsion thereof or it can be added directly. It is not necessary to use the elevated temperatures in the formation step and the ambient temperature is sufficient. However, higher temperatures of up to about 82.2 ° C, preferably from 43.3 ° C to 60 ° C can also be used.

For administration to the skin of a human other mammal, the treatment compositions will often be sterilized or formulated to contain one or more preservatives for incorporation into pharmaceutical, cosmetic or veterinary formulations. These treatment compositions can be sterilized by well known and conventional stabilization techniques, for example by boiling or pasteurization, without substantially adversely affecting the biological activity of the composition. The compositions may contain pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances as required to approximate the physiological conditions and as is necessary to prepare the compositions for a convenient administration such as that described above in relation to the description of the lotion formula, such as buffering agents and pH adjustment, condoms and delivery vehicles, Current preparations for preparing the pharmaceutically administrable compounds will be known or apparent to those skilled in the art and are described in detail, for example, in Rewmington's Cienci Pharmaceutical indicated above.

The perfumes, dyes and pigments can also be incorporated into the treatment compositions of the invention. For semi-solid compositions, as well as suitable for pastes and creams tried for topical administration, the copper-peptone complexes can be provided separately or can be combined with conventional non-toxic carriers such as, for example, aloe vera gel, escualene, glycerol stearate, polyethylene glycol, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, polypropylene glycol and others. Such compositions may contain about 5 100 percent active ingredients, more preferably about 5-25 percent.

The treatment compositions may be administered to a user of the article with a compromised skin or in situations where a subject is already suffering from damaged skin (eg peeling) due to ultraviolet or other irradiation or oxidative skin damage. The treatment compositions are incorporated in the topsheet 22 so that they are administered in a sufficient amount to allow the inhibition of further damage by topically administering the irritant substances other known irritant substances and are more effective than the untreated host. . The amounts adequate to achieve these effects are defined as a "therapeutically effective dose" and will vary according to the application.

In prophylactic and cosmetic applications, the treatment compositions are employed to protect the skin from damage. Thus, skin health benefit agents and / or silk proteins are administered to a host under conditions which protect the integrity of the skin, maintain physiological pH, hydration of the foot and lubrication. In these uses, the precise new quantities depend on the amount of protection desired and the extent and conditions under which the skin is exposed to potentially harmful conditions, such as those caused by faecal proteases and urine, or other irritating substances. These can vary generally from about 0.1 milligrams to about 10 milligrams per day per square centimeter of skin. Multiple single administrations of the compositions can be carried out daily over a prolonged period of time.

The skin proteins of the invention can be administered to the skin in relatively large amounts if serious side effects, even when indiscriminate use can cause skin irritation. In cases where the compositions are administered prophylactically to inhibit oxidative or biochemical damage to the skin or to those suffering from only mild skin damage, irritation or inflammation of the skin, the dose can be adjusted to lower the maintenance levels.

The treatment compositions that provide skin protection and an improved repair of the present invention including the pharmaceutical compositions can be incorporated in the topsheet 22 of the articles of the present invention and administered alone or as a prophylaxis or adjunctive therapy. For example, the treatment compositions may be used in combination with other skin protective factors or those found to improve other aspects of the protein or healing such as the lotion formulas described above. In this way, a synergistic effect can be achieved that gives clinical efficacy in May than that performed by any single factor.

Furthermore, even when the treatment compositions described herein stimulate a spectrum of skin protection process, the skin can vary considerably in its properties, leading one to use a combination of a composition described herein and another compound or factor.

Factors with reported cure properties which may be included with the silk protein composition for use in the protective / curative formula and methods of the present invention include, for example, epidermal growth factor, and growth factor of fibroblast, nerve growth factor, transforming growth factors, angiogenic growth factors, heparin, fibronectin, fibrin, growth factor derived from platelets, enzymatic superoxide dismutase l, blood extracts factors of the blood and other similar factors.

The treatment compositions can be added to the topsheet 22 by conventional means such as spraying, coating, embedding, and the like when the use of high solid sprays is advantageous where drying and / or drying is desired. compression to be minimized. The amount of treatment composition used will depend on the particular end use as well as the ta factors such as the base weight and the porosity of the substrate.

A unique and surprising aspect of the treatment compositions of the present invention include the ability to be transferred from the topsheet to the skin. It has been found that when a liquid is introduced into the top sheet, the treatment composition will dissolve in the liquid, and then liquid transfer of the treatment composition to the skin occurs. In other words, the treatment composition including the skin health benefit agent dissolves away from the substrate in the liquid, which then deposits the thin, tenacious and essentially continuous film of the skin health benefit agent on said skin. skin. Urine is an example of a liquid that can transfer the treatment composition of the top sheet 22 to the skin. As another example, the fluid generated by the body after abrasion or injury to the skin can provide a transfer by means of sufficient liquid of the treatment composition from the top sheet. In general, when wetting increases, the treatment composition will be transferred from the top sheet to the foot to form a protective barrier.

The absorbent body 24 of the diaper 10, as representatively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, can suitably comprise a matrix of hydrophilic fibers, such as a cellulose fluff, mixed with particles of a high-absorbency material commonly known as superabsorbent material. . In a particular embodiment, the absorbent body 24 comprises a cellulosic fluff matrix, such as the wood pulp fluff and the superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles. The wood pulp fluff can be exchanged with synthetic, polymer and co-melt blowing fibers or with a combination of melt blown fibers and natural fibers. The superabsorbent particles can be essentially mixed homogeneously with the hydrophilic fibers or they can be mixed non-uniformly. Alternatively, the absorbent body 24 may comprise laminate of fibrous fabrics and superabsorbent material other suitable means for maintaining a superabsorbent material in a localized area.

The absorbent body 24 may have any of a number of shapes. For example, the absorbent core may be rectangular, I-shaped or T-shaped. It is generally preferred for the absorbent body 24 to be narrower in the middle section than in the rear front waist sections of the diaper 10. The absorbent body 24 may be provided by a single layer, or in the alternative may be provided by multiple layers, all of which does not require extending to the full length and width of the absorbent body 24. In a particular aspect of the invention, the absorbent body 24 may be generally T-shaped with the transverse bar extending laterally from the "T" generally corresponding to the front waist section 12 of the absorbent article for improved performance, especially for male infants. In the illustrated embodiments, for example, the absorbent body 24 through the front waist section 12 of the article has a width in the transverse direction of about 18 centimeters, the narrowest part of the intermediate section 16 having a width of about of 7.5 centimeters and in the posterior waist section 14 it has a width of about 11.4 centimeters.

The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 24 must be compatible with the size of the intended user and the liquid load imparted by the intended use of the absorbent article. In addition, the size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 24 can be varied to accommodate users ranging from infants to adults. Furthermore, it has been found that with the present invention, the densities and / or base weights of the absorbent body 24 can be varied. In a particular aspect of the invention, the absorbent body 24 has an absorbent capacity of at least about 30 grams of synthetic urine.

In embodiments where the absorbent body 24 includes the combination of the hydrophilic fibers and the high-absorbency particles, the hydrophilic fibers and the high-absorbency particles can form an average weight for the absorbent body 24 which is within the range of around 400-900 grams per square meter. In certain aspects of the invention, the average composite basis weight of such an absorbent body 24 is within the range of about 500-800 grams per square meter, and preferably is within the range of about 550-750 grams per square meter to provide the desired operation.

In order to provide the desired thinness dimension to the various configurations of the absorbent article of the invention, the absorbent body 24 can be configured with a volume thickness which is not more than about 0.6 centimeters. Preferably, the volume thickness is not more than about 0.53 centimeters, and more preferably is not 16 more than about 0.5 centimeters to provide the improved benefits. The volume thickness is determined under a restriction pressure of 0.2 pounds per square inch (1.38 kPa).

The high-absorbency material can be selected from natural, synthetic and modified natural materials and polymers. The high-absorbency materials may be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such as crosslinked polymers. The term "crosslinked" refers to any means for effectively making the materials normally water-soluble essentially insoluble but swellable in water. Such means may include, for example, physical entanglement, crystalline domains, covalent bonds, complexes and ionic associations, hydrophilic associations such as hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic associations or Van der Waals forces.

Examples of high-absorbency, polymeric and synthetic materials include the alkali metal and ammonium salts of poly (acrylic acid) and poly (methacrylic acid), poly (acrylamides), poly (vinyl ethers), maleic anhydride copolymers with vinyl ethers and alpha olefins, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly (vinyl morpholinone), poly (vinyl alcohol), and mixtures and copolymers thereof.

Additional polymers suitable for use in the absorbent core include the natural and modified natural polymers, such as hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, natural gums, such as alginates, xanthan gum, locust bean gum and the like. Mixtures of natural and fully or partially synthetic absorbent polymers may also be useful in the present invention.

The high-absorbency material can be in any of a wide variety of geometric shapes. With a general rule, it is preferred that the alt absorbency material be in the form of discrete particles. However, the high-absorbency material may also be in the form of fibers, flakes, rods, spheres, similar needles. In general, the high-absorbency material is present in the absorbent body in an amount from about 5 percent by weight to about 90 percent by weight, desirably in an amount of at least about 30 percent by weight, and even more desirably in a quantity of at least about 50 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the absorbent body 24. For example, in a particular embodiment, the absorbent body 24 may comprise a laminate which includes at least about 50 percent by weight and desirably at least about 70 percent by weight of the high-absorbency material overwrapped by a fibrous fabric or other suitable means for keeping the high-absorbency material in a localized area.

An example of a high-absorbency material suitable for use in the present invention is the SANWET IM 3900 polymer available from Hoechst Celanese, a business having offices in Portsmouth, Virginia. Other suitable superabsorbents may include the FAVOR SXM 880 polymer obtained from Stockhausen, a business that has offices in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Optionally, an essentially hydrophilic tissue wrapping sheet (not shown) can be used to help maintain the integrity of the structure of the absorbent body 24. The tissue wrapping sheet is typically positioned around the absorbent body over at least two main face surfaces thereof and is composed of an absorbent cellulosic material, such as creped wadding or a tissue of high resistance to wetting. In one aspect of the invention, the tissue wrap may be configured to provide a transmission layer which helps to rapidly distribute the liquid over the mass of absorbent fibers comprising the absorbent body.

The absorbent body 24 of the various aspects of the present invention can further include a plurality of high air permeability zones which allow air and vapors to pass rapidly through the absorbent body 24 and through the lower vapor permeable sheet 20 out of diaper 10 to ambient air. For example, as representatively illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the absorbent body 24 may include a plurality of air passages 40 which provide the absorbent body 24 with the areas or regions of high air permeability 42. In the illustrated embodiment , the parts of the absorbent body 24 adjacent to the air ducts 40 provide high absorption areas or regions 44. The high air permeability zones 42 are designed to provide maximum air exchange from the absorbent body 24 while the areas of High absorption 44 are designed to receive and retain most body exudates. The absorbent body 24 can define any number of high air permeability zones 42 which provide the improved air exchange. Desirably, the absorbent body 24 defines at least three and more desirably at least five different zones of high air permeability 42 for improved operation.

Areas of high air permeability 42, such as air ducts 40 as representatively illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, are configured to improve the breathability of the article to reduce hydration of the user's skin during use without it allowed excessive condensation of the vapor, such as urine, on the surface facing the garment of the lower sheet 20. The condensation of steam on the outer surface of the diaper 1 can undesirably wet the wearer's clothes. The high air permeability zones 42 are generally located in the area of the diaper over which air and vapor can be transferred from the topsheet 22, through the absorbent body 24 and any other intervening layer or layers of material, and Outwardly of the vapor permeable lower sheet 20. For example, areas of high air permeability 42 can be located throughout the entire absorbent body 24 or can be selectively located in those regions of the absorbent body 24 which provide and exchange maximum air, such as the intermediate diaper section 16. In a particular embodiment, the air permeability zones 42 are located in the front and intermediate section 12 and 16, respectively, of the diaper 10 for an improved air exchange.

The high absorption zones 44, on the other hand, are designed to transfer a high level of air and vapor from the interior of the diaper. Thus, the exchange of air from the upper sheet 22 of the diaper 10 to the lower sheet 20 of the diaper and to the ambient atmosphere (outside of the diaper) generally occurs through the absorbent body 24 in the areas of high air permeability 42. Some exchange of air through the absorbent body 24 can also occur in the high absorption zones 44 to a limited degree.

Areas of high air permeability may have any desired configuration including rectangular, circular, hourglass, oval and the like, and may also include the selected longitudinal or lateral strips or the multiple regions which may be located intermittently For example, in Figures 1 and 2, the high air permeability zones 42 are provided by a plurality of air passages 40 or openings through the absorbent body 24 which generally have a circular configuration. In such a configuration, the high absorption zones 44 comprise the non-perforated portions of the absorbent body 24 between the air conduits 40.

The high air permeability zones 42 can have any desired dimensions which effectively provide an improved air exchange while preventing excessive condensation of the vapor from the absorbent body 24 through and to the garment facing surface of the bottom sheet 20. Desirably, the high air permeability zones 42 can define a total area of from about 5 to about 75 percent, more desirably from at least about 10 percent, still more desirably from about 10 to about of 70 percent, and even more desirably from about 10 to about 6 percent of the total surface area of the absorbent body 2 of the diaper 10. For example, in the diaper intended for use on a medium-sized infant, the areas of alt air permeability 42 can define a total area of desd around 6 to about 90 square centimeters.

When the total area of the air permeability zone 42 is larger than the above-mentioned amounts, the diaper 10 may exhibit an undesirable amount of vapor condensation on the exposed face of the lower sheet 20 undesirably resulting in a sticky feeling on the outer surface of the diaper. While, when the total area of the air permeability zones 42 is less than the above-mentioned amounts, the diaper 10 may exhibit a low level of air exchange resulting in high levels of skin hydration which may lead to undesirably irritation and skin rash.

The high air permeability zones 42 of the absorbent body 24 of the diaper 10, as representatively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, are constructed to be essentially permeable to at least the air preferably permeable to water vapor. For example, the high air permeability zones 42 of the absorbent body 2 define a Frazier Porosity value which is at least about 10 percent, more desirably at least about 20 percent and still more desirably at least about 50 percent greater than the value Frazier porosity of the high absorption zones 44 of the absorbent body 24. As used herein, the term "Frazier porosity refers to the value determined according to the Frazier Porosity Test. established here below When the high air permeability zones exhibit lower Frazie Porosity values than those indicated above, the diaper 10 may exhibit a low level of air exchange resulting in higher levels of skin hydration which may undesirably carry to an irritation and skin rash.

Areas of high air permeability can be provided in a variety of ways. The high air permeability zones 42 can be integral parts of the absorbent body 24 of the absorbent article or can be provided by openings, holes, or open spaces in the absorbent body 24. For example, the parts of the absorbent body 24 can be discontinuous or they can be discontinuous. be removed to provide the zones 42. Alternatively, the high air permeability zones 42 can be provided by parts of the absorbent body 24 which are constructed to absorb less fluid exudates thereby resulting in an improved air flow through such areas. parts in use. For example, the parts of the absorbent body 24 may be hollow or may contain substantially less high-absorbency material than other parts of the absorbent body 24 to provide such improved air flow. The parts of the absorbent body 24 may otherwise be treated or coated with a solution which makes them hydrophobic to provide the high air permeability zones 42 in selected areas. In other alternate configurations, areas of high air permeability 42 can be provided by creating voids or holes in the absorbent body 24 and by placing other materials having an air permeability higher than that of the absorbent body 24, such as materials described below as being suitable for the emergence management layer 34, in the holes or recesses.

Examples of the various configurations of the absorbent body 24 according to the different aspects of the present invention are representatively illustrated in Figures 1-6. For example, Figures 1 and 2, the high air permeability zones 42 in the absorbent body 24 are provided by a plurality of air passages 40 or perforations through the absorbent body 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the air passages 40 are intermittently placed along the full length and width of the absorbent body 24. The illustrated air passages 4 are circular and define a diameter of about 1.2 centimeters and a total aperture area of about 1 percent of an area of total body surface absorbent 24.

In Figures 3 and 4, the absorbent body 24 is in the form of discrete segments 46 which are spaced apart and spaced along the longitudinal direction 36 of the cloth 10. In such a configuration, the high air permeability zones 42 are provided by the spaces between the discrete segments 46 of the absorbent body 24. The absorbent body 2 may include any number of segments 46 that have a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the absorbent body 24 includes four different segments 46 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction 36 of the diaper 10. The segments illustrated 46 are generally rectangular in shape and define a width which is less than or equal to the width of the diaphragm. Absorbent body 24 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is defined by the width of the emergence management layer 34 and of the ventilation layer 32 as described below. Alternatively, the segments 46 can define a width which is essentially equal to a width of the absorbent body 24. To help maintain the segments 46 in a spaced-apart relationship, the segments 46 can be contained between two sheets of material such as a Sheath sheet (not shown) or emergence management layer 34 Ventilation layer 32. In the illustrated embodiment, segments 46 include a laminate of high absorbency material between two sheets or layers of material and areas of high permeability to the air 42 provided by the spaces between the segments 46 defining an open area of about 4 percent of a total surface area of the absorbent body 24.

In Figures 5 and 6, the air permeability zones 42 in the absorbent body 24 are provided by a plurality of air passages 40 openings through the absorbent body 24 or similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. However, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, air ducts 40 are located in the absorbent body 24 in the front waist section 12 and in the intermediate section 16 of diaper 10 and not in the rear waist section 14. Further, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the absorbent body 24 includes an upper layer 48 and a lower layer 50 with the upper layer 48 extending only along a part of the length of the absorbent body 24. In such a configuration, the majority of the absorbent body 24 can be located in the front and intermediate waist sections 12 and 16 of the diaper 10 for improved absorption and reduced cost.

The illustrated air ducts 40 are circular and define a diameter of about 1.27 centimeters and a total open area of about 12 percent of the total surface area of the absorbent body 24.

Due to the thinness of the absorbent body 24 and the high absorbency material within the absorbent body 24, the liquid absorption rates of the absorbent body 24, by itself, may be very low, or may not be adequately sustained over multiple discharges of liquid inside the absorbent body 24. To improve liquid intake and air exchange, the diaper of the various aspects of the present invention may further include a liquid permeable and porous layer of an emergence handling material 34, as illustrated representatively in Figures 1 and 2. The emergence management layer 34 is typically less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 24 and has an operable level of density and a basis weight to quickly collect and temporarily retain liquid surges, to transport the liquid from its initial entry point and to essentially complete the release of the liquid to other parts of the body absorbed 24. This configuration can help prevent the liquid from stagnating and collecting in the part of the absorbent garment placed against the wearer's skin, thus reducing the user's wet feeling. The structure of the emergence management layer 34 also generally increases the exchange of air within the diaper 10.

Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used to construct the emergence management layer 34. For example, the emergence management layer 34 can be a composite layer of a meltblown fabric or bonded with synthetic fiber yarn, such as the polyolefin fibers. The emergence management layer 34 may also be a carded and bonded fabric or an air-laid fabric composed of natural and synthetic fibers. The carded and bonded fabric, for example, can be a thermally bonded fabric which is bonded using low melt binder fibers, powder or adhesive. The fabrics may optionally include a mixture of different fibers. The emergence management layer 34 may be composed of an essentially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material may be optionally treated with a surfactant or may be processed in another manner to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. In a particular embodiment, the emergence management layer 34 includes a hydrophobic nonwoven material having a basis weight of from about 30 grams to about 120 grams per square meter. For example, in a particular embodiment, the emergence management layer 34 may comprise a carded and bonded fabric, a non-woven fabric which includes bicomponent fibers and which defines a global basis weight of about 83 grams per square meter. The emergence management layer 34 in the configuration can be a homogeneous blend composed of about 60 percent by weight of bicomponent d pod / polyethylene / polyester (PE / PET) core, which has a fiber denier of around of 3 deniers and about 4 percent by weight of single component polyester fibers which have a fiber denier of about 6 deniers and which have fiber lengths of from about 3.8 about 5.08 centimeters.

In the illustrated embodiments, the emergence management layer 34 is arranged in a direct contact liquid communication with the absorbent body 24. The emergence management cap 34 can be operably connected to the top sheet 22 by means of a conventional pattern of adhesive, such as a swirl adhesive pattern. In addition, the emergence management layer 34 can be operably connected to the absorbent body 24 with a conventional pattern of adhesive. The amount of adhesive added should be sufficient to provide the desired levels of bonding, but should be sufficiently low to avoid excessively restricting the movement of liquid from the topsheet 22, through the emergence management layer 34 and up to the body absorbent 24.

The absorbent body 24 is placed in liquid communication with the emergence management layer 3 to receive the liquids released from the emergence management layer, and to retain and store the liquid. In the embodiments shown, the emergence management layer 3 comprises a separate layer which is placed on another separate cap comprising the absorbent body 24, thereby forming a dual layer array. The surge management layer 34 serves to quickly collect and temporarily retain the discharged liquids, to transport such liquids from the initial point of contact and to spread the liquid to other parts of the emergence management layer 34 and then to release in a essentially complete such liquids inside the layer or layers comprising the absorbent body 24.

The emergence management layer 34 can be of any desired shape. Suitable shapes include, for example, the circular, the rectangular, the triangular, the trapezoidal, the oblong, the dog bone, the hourglass shape, or the oval. In certain embodiments, for example, the emergence management layer may be generally rectangular in shape. In the illustrated embodiments, the emergence management layer 34 is coextensive with the absorbent body 24. Alternatively, the emergence management layer 34 may extend over only part of the absorbent body 24. Where the emergence management layer 34 is extends only partially along the length of the absorbent body 24, the emergence management layer 34 can be selectively placed on either side along the absorbent body 24. For example, the emergence management layer 34 can function more efficiently when it is offset outwardly from the front waist section 12 of the garment. The emergence management layer 34 can also be centered approximately around the longitudinal center line of the absorbent body 24.

Additional suitable materials for the emergence management layer 34 are set forth in U.S. Patent No. 5,486,166 issued January 23, 1996 in the name of C. Ellis et al. And entitled "NO FABRIC EMERGEMENT COAT. FIBROUS TISSUE FOR ABSORBENT ARTICLES FOR PERSONAL CARE AND SIMILAR "; U.S. Patent No. 5,490,846 issued February 13, 1996 in the name of Ellis et al. entitled "FIBROUS FABRICS OF IMPROVED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR ABSORBENT PERSONAL CARE AND SIMILAR ITEMS"; and U.S. Patent No. 5,364,382 issued November 15, 1994 in the name of Latimer et al. entitled "ABSORBENT STRUCTURE THAT HAS AN IMPROVED HANDLING OF IMPROVED FLUID AND PRODUCTS INCORPORATING THEM" whose descriptions are incorporated here for reference.

As representatively illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the diaper 10 may also include a ventilation layer 32, located between the lower sheet 20 and the absorbent body 24. The ventilation layer 32 serves to facilitate the movement of air within and through of the diaper 10 and to prevent the lower blade 20 from being in a surface-to-surface contact with at least a portion of the absorbent body 24. Specifically, the ventilation layer 32 serves as a conduct through which the air and the vapor of water can be moved from the absorbent body 24 through the lower vapor permeable sheet 20.

The ventilation layer 32 can be formed of the materials described above as being suitable for the emergence management layer 34 such as non-woven fabrics, (eg spunbond, meltblown or carded), woven or fibrous fabrics of Composite point of natural fibers and / or synthetic polymer fibers. Suitable fibers include, for example, acrylic fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyester fibers, or mixtures thereof. The ventilation layer 32 can also be formed of a porous foam material such as an open cell polyolefin foam, a cross-linked polyurethane foam, and the like. The ventilation layer 32 may include a single layer of material or a composite of two or more layers of material. In a particular embodiment, the ventilation layer 32 includes a hydrophobic nonwoven material having a thickness d of at least about 0.10 centimeters determined at a restriction pressure of 0.05 pounds per square inch (0.34 kPa) and a basis weight of from around 20 grams per square meter to around 120 grams per square meter. For example, the ventilation layer 32 may comprise a carded and bonded tel, a non-woven fabric, which includes bicomponent fibers and which defines a global basis weight of about 83 grams per square meter. The ventilation layer 32 in the configuration can be a homogeneous blend composed of about 60 percent by weight bicomponent d pod / polyethylene / polyester (PE / PET) core fibers which have a fiber denier of about 3 d. about 4 percent by weight of single component polyester fibers which have a fiber denier of about 6 denier and which have fiber lengths of from about 3.8 about 5.08 centimeters.

The ventilation layer 32 may be of any desired shape. Suitable shapes include, for example, the circular, the rectangular, the triangular, the trapezoidal, the oblong, the dog bone, the sand-shaped, or the oval. The ventilation layer 32 can extend beyond, completely over or partially over the absorbent body 24. For example, the ventilation layer 32 can be suitably located on the intermediate section 16 of the cloth 10 and can be essentially centered side by side with respect to the longitudinal centerline 36 of the diaper 10. It is generally desired that the complete absorbent body 24 be covered with the ventilation layer 32 to avoid essentially any surface to surface contact between the bottom sheet 20 and the absorbent body 24. In the illustrated embodiments, the ventilation layer 32 is coextensive with the absorbent body 24. This allows a maximum degree of air exchange with a minimum moisture of the facing surface of the lower sheet 20.

In the illustrated embodiments, the ventilation layer 32 is arranged in a direct liquid contacting communication with the absorbent body 24. The ventilation layer 32 can be operably connected to the lower sheet 20 with a conventional adhesive pattern, such as an adhesive. Swirl sticker pattern. In addition, the ventilation layer 32 can be operably connected to the absorbent body 24 with a conventional pattern of adhesive. The amount of adhesive added should be sufficient to provide the desired levels of bonding, but should be sufficiently low to avoid excessively restricting the movement of air and vapor from the absorbent body 24 and through the lower sheet 20.

The ventilation layer 32 can also serve to quickly collect and temporarily retain the discharged liquids, which pass through the absorbent body 2 and, in particular, through the high air permeability zones 42 within the absorbent body 24. The vent layer 32 can then transport such liquids from the initial contact point and spread the liquid to other parts of the ventilation layer 32, and then essentially complete the release of such liquids into the layer or layers comprising the absorbent body 24. .

The various article embodiments of the present invention, as representatively illustrated in Figures 1-6, advantageously provide improved absorbent articles which exhibit essentially reduced levels of hydration of the wearer's skin when in use and compared to conventional absorbent articles. . In particular, the reduced levels of foot hydration promote drier and more comfortable skin and make skin less susceptible to the viability of microorganisms. Therefore, the user of the absorbent articles made according to the present invention has a reduced skin hydration which can lead to a reduction in the incidence of skin irritation and skin rash.

In addition, the combination of the high breathability articles of the present invention with the lotion formulas and / or the treatment compositions of the present invention can provide a synergistic reduction in the incidence of skin irritation and skin rash. In particular, lotion formulations and treatment compositions can provide a skin barrier and an anti-inflammatory function. Therefore, the absorbent articles made according to the present invention can maintain or improve the health of the wearer's skin.

PROOF PROCEDURES Hydrostatic Pressure Test The Hydrostatic Pressure Test is a measure of the liquid barrier properties of a material. In general, the Hydrostatic Pressure Test determines the height of water (in centimeters) in a column that the material will support before a predetermined amount of water passes through it. A material with a higher hydro-head value indicates that this is a greater barrier to liquid penetration than a material having a lower hydro-head value. The Hydrostatic Pressure Test is carried out according to Method 5514- Standard Test Methods Method Number 191A.

Porosity test Frazier The Frazier Porosity Values mentioned in the present description can be determined using a Frazier air permeability tester (from the Frazier Precisió Instrument Company, of Gaithersburg, Maryland) and the 5450 method, standard federal test methods number 191A. For the purposes of the present invention, the test was carried out with a sample which measured 8 inches by 8 inches.

Water Vapor Transmission Test A suitable technique for determining the value of WVTR (Water Vapor Transmission Rate) of a material is as follows. For the purposes of the present invention, 3-inch diameter (76 millimeters) circular samples of the test material and a Celgard® 2500 control material (from Hoeschst Celanese Corporation) were cut. Two or three samples for each material were prepared. The test cups used for the test are made of set, flanged aluminum, 2 inches deep and come with a mechanical seal and a neoprene gasket. The cups are distributed by Thwing-Albert Instrument Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under the designation Vapometer cup # 681. One hundred milliliters of distilled water are poured into each Vapometer cup, and each of the individual samples of test materials and control material are placed through the open top area of an individual cup. The bolted flanges are tightened to form a seal along the edges of the cups leaving the associated test material or control material exposed to the ambient atmosphere over a circular area of 62 millimeters in diameter (an exposed and open area of around 30 square centimeters). The cups are then weighed, placed on a tray, and placed in a forced air oven set at 100 degrees F (38 degrees Celsius). The oven is a constant temperature oven with the external air circulating through it to prevent the accumulation of water vapor inside. A suitable forced air furnace is, for example, a Blue M Power-O-Matic 60 furnace distributed by Blue M Electric Company of Blue Island, Illinois. After 24 hours, the cups are removed from the oven and are heavy. The preliminary value of the Water Vapor Transmission Rate Test is calculated as follows: Water Vapor Transmission Rate Test = T (grams weight loss over 24 hours) x 75711 (g / m2 / 24 hours) 24 The relative humidity inside the oven is not specifically controlled. Under predetermined conditions of 100 degrees F and relative humidity, the Water Vapor Transmission Rate for the Celgard 2500 has been determined to be 5,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. Therefore, a Celgard 250 material is run as a control sample with each test. The Celgar 2500 is a film of 0.0025 centimeters thick composed of a microporous polypropylene.

Skin Hydration Test The Skin Hydration Values are determined by measuring the total evaporative water (EL) loss and can be determined by using the following test procedure.

The test is carried out with infants who have partially learned the use of the toilet who do not have lotions or ointments on the skin and who have not bathed within two hours prior to the test. Each infant tests a diaper during each test assignment. The test diapers include a test code and a control code. The test diapers (test code and control code) are random.

Each test diaper is weighed before and after use to verify the volume of fluid added to the diaper. A felt-tip pen is used to mark an "X" in the target area within the diaper, with the "X" positioned 6.5 inches below the upper front edge of the diaper and centered side by side. The EL measurements are taken with an evaporimeter, such as an Evaporimeter EP1 instrument distributed by Servomed AB, of Stockholm, Sweden. Each test measurement is taken over a period of two minutes with the EL values taken once per second (a total of 120 EWL values). The digital output from the Evaporimeter EP1 instrument gives the rate of evaporative water loss (EWL) in grams per square meter per hour. The Skin Hydration Values (SHV) are in units of the total amount of water loss per unit area measured during the two-minute sampling period and are calculated as follows: 120 \ SHV (g / pr / hour) = / (EWL) n n = l 120 A measurement of the hydration value of the preliminary skin is taken after a "drying" period of 15 minutes when the infant wears only a shirt or long dress and is in the supine position. The measurement is taken on the infant's lower abdomen, in a region corresponding to the target area of the diaper, using the evaporimeter for the purpose of establishing the Initial Skin Hydration Value of the infant's skin in the target area. of the diaper. If the Preliminary Skin Hydration Value is less than 10 grams per square meter per hour, a diaper is then placed over the infant. If the Hydration Value of the preliminary Foot is greater than 10 grams per square meter per hour, the drying period is extended until a reading below 10 grams per square meter per hour is obtained. Before securing the diaper over the infant, a tube is placed to direct a flow of liquid to stick in the pre-marked target area. Once the diaper is insured, 210 milliliters of 0.9 percent adjusted aqueous water are added and three 70-milliliter discharges each at a rate of 15 milliliters per second with a 45-second delay between discharges.

The infant wears the diaper for 60 minutes after which the diaper is removed and a skin hydration test measurement is taken on the lower abdomen corresponding to the target zone mark of the diaper. The measurement is taken over a period of 2 minutes. The used diaper is then weighed. Relative humidity and temperature measurements can be taken inside the diaper before the hydration measurements of the skin are taken. The test procedure is then repeated the next day for each infant using the type of diaper (test or control) which the infant has not already used. The control diaper provides a standardized basis for comparing the diaper configuration being tested and evaluated. The control diapers used in the test carried out in connection with the examples were the commercially available HUGGIES® Supreme diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

The data is discarded for any infant who has added to the load of saltwater solution. The value reported by the average Net Skin Hydration Value (grams per square meter in one hour) is the arithmetic medium for all infants of the Skin Hydration Value after use, taken in the lower abdomen (zone mark) of objective), less the Skin Hydration Value measured in the lower abdomen before placing the diaper on the infant (after the "drying" period). A separate average net Skin Hydration Value is determined for the test code diapers and for the control code diapers.

The Net Skin Hydration Value is determined as follows: Hydration Value of the Net Skin, = Y-Z Where : Y = hydration value of the skin measured in the target zone mark of an individual infant.

Z = hydration value of the baseline skin measured on the lower abdomen after the "drying" period before placing the diaper on the infant.

Skin Hydration Value1 = Skin Hydration Value for the individual infant.

So, N \ Hydration Value of the Net Skin Medium = / Net SHV¡. = 1 N Where: N = number of infants in the study.

The percentage of reduction in skin hydration is determined as follows: \% of Reduction = / [((C-D) / C) x 100] i = 1 N Where : C = Net Skin Hydration Value, pair control diaper code.

D = Net Skin Hydration Value, for the test diaper code.

N = number of infants in the study.

Gas Tracker Test The Gas Tracker Test is a measure of the Air Exchange Rate in garments such as absorbent articles and is a stable state / stable flow test generally described in the TAPPI Journal, volume 80, No. 9, September 1997. In general, the values of the Air Exchange Rate are calculated from the exchange of mass measured within the garment. The test involves injecting a tracer gas at a constant rate into the article near the outer surface of a manikin's torso while the article is secured around the manikin. Simultaneously, the concentration of the tracer gas in the air space between the article and the manikin is measured by removing a sample at the same constant rate as that of the injection. The Air Exchange Rate is then determined based on the mass balances of the tracer gas and air within the space in question. The Gas Tracker Test is contemplated as follows: Equipment 1. A Manikin - The test is carried out with the size diapers Step 3 or Step 4 designed for infants who weigh from about 16 to about 28 pounds and from about 22 to about 37 pounds respectively. The diapers are placed on the mannequins which has the following dimensions: Step 3 height (waist to knees) 26 cm circumference at the waist 42 cm circumference at the hips 44 cm circumference of the thigh 22 cm Step 4 height (waist to knees) 28 cm circumference at the waist 48 cm circumference at the hips 51 cm circumference of the thigh 27 cm 2. A test area which is environmentally controlled at 20 ° C and at 50% relative humidity. 3. A C02 analyzer - An infrared C0 analyzer such as the Model 17515A commercially available from Vacu-Med Vacumetrics, 4483 McGrath Street # 102, Ventura, California. 4. Rotameters - Rotameters to maintain gas flow rates such as the commercially available Matheson Model TS-35 rotameter, available from Specialty Gases Southeast Inc., 3496 Peachtree Parkway, Suwanee, Georgia.

. Gas Cylinders - Two gas cylinders of medical grade calibrated at a pressure of 4 kPa from Specialt Gases Southeast Inc., 3496 Peachtree Parkway, Suwanee, Georgia. The tracer gas includes 5% C02 and air and the calibration gas is 100% air.

Process 1. Turn on the C02 analyzer. After the analyzer has been on for 30 minutes, calibrate the analyzer with the calibration gas and adjust the flow control to achieve a flow rate of 150 cubic centimeters per minute through the analyzer.

Place the diaper to be tested on the manikin 3. Turn on the flow of tracer gas from C02 The flow rate of the tracer gas injected into the space between the diaper and the manikin must be equal to the flow rate of the sample through of the C02 analyzer (150 cubic centimeters per minute). 4. Measure and record the concentration (C) of the gauge tracker (CO,) in the air space between the diaper and the manikin every 10 seconds for 20 minutes. The data for the last 10 minutes are averaged and are used to calculate the Air Exchange Rate as follows: Air Exchange Rate = 150 cc / min * [(Ct-C) / (C-C0)] where, Ct = concentration of the tracer gas (5%).

C = concentration of the tracer gas in the space that is being measured.

C0 = concentration of the tracer gas in the chamber environment (.04%).

The Dry Air Exchange Rate is the air exchange rate as determined according to the procedure mentioned above before the diaper is subjected to any insults or discharges. The Humid Air Exchange Rate is the air exchange rate determined according to the procedure indicated above except that once the diaper is secured to the manikin, 180 milliliters (Step 3) or 210 milliliters (Step 4) of a solution of Aqueous salt water of 0.9 percent by weight was added in three discharges of 60 or 70 milliliters each at a rate of 15 milliliters per second with a delay of 45 seconds between discharges. The ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate is determined by dividing the Wet Air Exchange Rate by the Dry Air Exchange Rate for the same sample.

Viability test of Candida albicans The Feasibility Test of Candida albicans is a measure of the effect of absorbent garments, such as disposable diapers, on the viability of pathogenic microorganisms and, in particular, Candida albicans. In general, the Feasibility Test of Candida albicans involves inoculating the delineated sites of each volar forearm of the test subjects with a suspension of Candida albicans cells that covers the sites with a full thickness patch of the absorbent garment, and determines the viability after a period of 24 hours.

A full-thickness test sample patch that has a length of about 5 centimeters and a width of about 5 centimeters was cut off from the target area of each product that is to be tested. The target zone is generally that part of the product that is intended to receive urine discharge from the user and typically includes the parts of the intermediate and front waist sections of the product somewhat forward of the lateral centerline of the product. In a typical diaper configuration, the full thickness of the test sample patch includes the topsheet, the absorbent body, the bottom sheet and any intervening layers. Approximately 15 milliliters of 0.9 percent by weight salt water solution was added to the test sample patch and allowed to soak for 2 minutes before the samples were placed on the forearms of the test subjects. A test site area of about 6.15 square centimeters is marked on each of the volar forearms of the test subjects. Approximately 0.01 milliliters of a 0.9 percent by weight salt water solution containing a known suspension of Candida albicans cells is delivered to the test site with the micropipettes and the suspension is then sprayed evenly through the test site. After drying with air, the test site is covered with the test sample patch which is secured in position using the adhesive tape completely surrounding the sample.

After 24 hours, the test sample patches are removed and a quantitative culture of the test site is obtained using the detergent scouring method established in "A New Method for Quantitative Research of Cutaneous Bacteria" by P. Williamson and AM Klingman , Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 45: 498-503, 1965, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, a sterile gas cylinder spanning an area of 6.15 square centimeters is centered over the test site and held firmly in the skin. One milliliter of 0.1 percent by weight of Triton-x-100 in a 0.075M phosphate buffer having a pH of 7.9 is pipetted into the gas cylinder and the area is squeezed for one minute using a sterile Teflon rod. The fluid is aspirated with a sterile pipette and a second milliliter of 0.1% by weight of Triton-x-100 in 0.075M of phosphate buffer having a pH of 7.9 is added to the glass cylinder. The scrubbing step is repeated and two washings are stalled. Each stagnant sample is diluted in ten-fold steps with 0.05% by weight of Triton-x-100 in 0.0375M phosphate buffer having a pH of 7.9. An aliquot of 0.01 milliliter of each dilution is inoculated with Sabourands agar containing antibiotics. Duplicate cultures are prepared and incubated at room temperature for 48 hours.

After incubation, the number of colony forming units are counted using normal microbiological methods. The viability of Candida albicans under a patch of the test sample can then be compared to the viability of Candida albicans under a control patch from a conventional absorbent article having an outer cover without breathing capacity, for example, an outer covering having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 100 grams per square meter per 24 hours, such as the diaper described below in relation to Comparative Example 4.

Skin Temperature Test The temperature values of the skin can be determined by using the following test procedure. The test is carried out on the naked forearm of an adult human who does not have lotions, powders or ointments on the skin and who do not have skin disorders. The subjects also did not bathe, have swum, smoked, exercised, or consumed caffeine within the previous two hours of the test and during it. Each subject tests two items such as diapers during each test session. The test diapers may include a test code and a control code such as the code identified in Comparative Example 6. The test diapers (test code and control code) are placed at random and are diapers in size Step 3 conventional, for example for infants weighing 16 to 28 pounds.

Each test diaper is weighed before and after to check the volume of fluid added into the diaper.

A pen is used to mark a square of 1 inch x 1 inch in the target area on the inside and outside of the diaper, with the center of the square being placed 6.0 inches below the upper front edge of the diaper and centered side to side. The temperature and humidity measurements are taken with a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple probe with the disc sensor gold-plated with 10-carat gold and vinyl insulator distributed by Cole-Parmer, a business that has offices located in Vernon Hills, Illinois under the trade designation P-08506-80 which is linked to the Digi Moisture / Temperature Meteror -Sense distributed by Cole-Palmer, a business that has an office located in Vernon Hills, Illinois under the designation of Trade Model # 91090-00.

The thermocouple probe is calibrated to a precalibrated probe construction (3700-52) built into the data meter.

The measurement of the temperature of the skin is taken continuously once per minute.

Upon arrival, each test subject is subjected to an acclimatization period of 15 minutes in a controlled environment at 40% relative humidity and at 71 ° F. A temperature sensor is attached to each forearm, approximately halfway between the wrist and the shoulder. The sensor conductor is placed towards the elbow and the sensor is secured in place with a piece of tape such as a commercially available Steri-Strip (0.25 inch x 1.5 inch) suture tape from 3M on the upper part of the sensor and another piece of tape to hold the sensor driver in place. The base line skin temperatures are recorded for a period of 5 minutes (total test time of 5 minutes) without a diaper attachment to the forearm.

The sample diapers are then secured to the respective forearms of each test subject so that the 1 inch x 1 inch target zones on the diaper are located on the temperature sensor. Before securing the diapers on the forearm of the subject, a fluid-dispensing nozzle, acclimated at room temperature, is placed, in each diaper above the temperature sensor, to direct a flow of liquid so that it sticks in the pre-marked target area. Each diaper does not overlap in the target area and is secured in place by the masking tape which holds the upper and lower parts of the diaper together without contacting the wearer's skin. A size 3 elastic stocking retainer available from Glenwood, Inc., is placed over the entire diaper and forearm. Once the diapers are secured, the temperature of the dry diaper skin is recorded for 5 minutes.

The diapers are then loaded with 18 milliliters of aqueous salt water adjusted to 0.9% by weight at body temperature and added in three discharges of 6 milliliters each at a rate of 15 milliliters / second with a delay of 45 seconds between discharges . The fluid dispenser nozzle is removed from each diaper. The subject uses each diaper for an additional 120 minutes while the skin temperature readings are recorded every minute. The diapers are then removed and weighed.

The reported value for skin temperatures is the arithmetic mean for all subjects at the specific time during the test period for each sample. The ratio of moist skin temperature / temperature of dry skin is then determined by dividing the skin temperature value d after 120 minutes of use of the wet sample (total test time 130 minutes) by the temperature value of the skin after 5 minutes of use of the dry sample (total test time 10 minutes).

Migration Test of Lotion in Z-Direction This test determines the amount of lotion remaining on the target area of the surface facing the body of an absorbent article after a given period of time at a given temperature. Specifically, the purpose of the test is to compare the amount of the lotion present in the target zone on the articles stored at a lower temperature with that present on the items stored at a higher temperature. The test simulates storage at elevated temperature conditions which can occur for such items. For example, such items may be stored in the trunk of a vehicle or in a warehouse in a warm climate such as in a warehouse in Arizona in July or August. The loss of migration in the z-direction e measurement of the lotion migration after storage 130 ° F when compared to the migration of the lotion to 73 ° after a fixed period of time. Therefore, the test predicts the amount of lotion which will be available on the surface facing the body of the article to be transferred to the skin when the article is used as well as how quickly it will migrate undesirably out of or along the surface of the article. face to the body of the article in use.

Specifically, the test is carried out as follows 1. Ten (10) products are obtained which have a lotion formula applied to the body side liner or upper leaf. 2. Five (5) products are placed in a controlled environment at a temperature of 73 ° F and a relative humidity of 50% for a fixed period of time such as, for example, 28 days. The other five (5) products are placed in a controlled environment at a temperature of 130 ° F and an ambient humidity for the same period of time. 3. The products are removed from the controlled ambient and a sample from the top sheet that has a width of 3.75 inches and a length of 13 inches is removed from the center of each product. 4. The samples are then subjected to a Soxhlet Extraction with a Gravimetric Analysis (SEGA) as follows. A SEGA test apparatus such as the one illustrated representative in Figure 8 is used. The test apparatus 160 includes a reboiler 162, a chloroform vapor duct 164, a cold water condenser, 166, a holding tank 168 e where the samples are placed and a chloroform 170 recycling duct. The components of the apparatus of test are conventional glass well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the reboiler may include a 250 milliliter round bottom bottle and the steam line may include a 85 milliliter Soxhlet. A sample is placed in the holding tank 168 and subjected to the chloroform wash cycles for 2.5 hours. 125 milliliters of liquid chloroform are placed in the reboiler. The chloroform vaporizes and rises through the steam duct 164 to the condenser 166 having water from the tap there, which in turn causes the chloroform to liquefy to fall into the holding tank 168 with the sample. Chloroform dissolves the lotion in the linear sample. When the liquid chloroform reaches a sufficiently high level, the recycling duct returns the chloroform / lotion mixture to the reboiler. The temperature in the reboiler is controlled so that it is above the boiling point of the chloroform but below that of the lotion, so that only the chloroform vaporizes to start the process again. A complete wash cycle takes approximately 15 minutes with about 75 milliliters of chloroform circulating through the liner sample in each cycle. Upon completion, the chloroform in the evaporator is evaporated using a conventional vacuum evaporator such as a rotovap, commercially available under model number Buchi 011 RE 121 for a period of 4 minutes followed by placement of the lotion on an aluminum tray and heating on a hot plate with forced air circulation for an additional 30 minutes.

. The residual (lotion) that remains for each sample is then weighed. The amount of lotion recovered from the products stored at 73 ° F is then compared to the amount of lotion recovered from the products stored at 130 ° F to determine the stability of the lotion formula at the temperature.

The loss of migration in the z direction of the absorbent article is then determined as follows: loss of migration in the Z-direction (%) = [(L73 ñ L130) / L73] x 10 where, L73 = average weight (g) of lotion recovered per sample stored at 73 ° F J? 3o = average weight (g) of lotion recovered per sample stored at 130 ° F.

Lotion Migration Test in the Transverse Direction to the Machine This test determines the amount of lotion that remains on a specific place where it is applied on the face-to-body surface of an absorbent article after a given period of time at a given temperature Specifically, the purpose of the test is to compare The amount of lotion present in the place applied on the upper sheet or the lining on the side to the body with that present on the remaining parts of the upper sheet of the articles after having been stored at an elevated temperature. The test simulates storage at the elevated temperature conditions that can occur to such items. For exampleSuch items can be stored in the trunk of a vehicle or in a warehouse in a hot climate such as a warehouse in Arizona in July or August. The loss of migration in the transverse direction to the machine is a measure of the migration of lateral loci along the surface facing the article body after storage at 130 ° F after a fixed period of time. Therefore, this test predicts the amount of lotion that will be available at the desired location on the surface facing the body of the article to be transferred to the skin when the article is used as well as how quickly it will migrate undesirably outward or along the body. surface from the side to the body of the article in use.

Specifically, the test is carried out as follows: 1. Five (5) products are obtained that have a lotion formula applied to the top sheet in a specific pattern. 2. The products are placed in a controlled ambient at a temperature of 130 ° F and ambient humidity for a fixed period of time such as, for example, 28 days 3. The products are removed from the controlled environment and the top sheet of each product is removed to remove the part of the upper sheet to which the lotion was actually applied. For example, if the lotion was applied as 4 continuous lines that have a width of 0.2 inches with spaces of 0.75 inches in between, the 4 strips of the upper sheet will be removed. 4. The samples which include the parts of the upper sheet to which the lotion was applied are then grouped together and subjected to Soxhlet Extraction with Gravimetric Analysis (SEGA) as described above. The remaining parts of the top sheet are also grouped together and subjected to a separate SEGA extraction.

. The remainder (lotion) remaining for each group is then weighed. The amount of lotion recovered from the parts of the upper sheet to which the lotion was applied is then compared to the amount of lotion recovered from the remaining portions of the upper sheet to determine the stability of the lotion formula at a higher temperature.

The loss of migration in the transverse direction to the machine of the absorbent article is then determined as follows: loss of migration in the cross-machine direction (%) = [Lsp / Lsp)] x 100 where , is = average weight (g) of lotion recovered from the parts of the upper sheet to which the lotion was not applied by diaper.

The = average weight (g) of lotion recovered from the parts of the upper sheet to which the lotion was not applied by diaper.

The following examples are presented to provide a more detailed understanding of the invention. The specific materials and parameters are exemplary and are not intended to specifically limit the scope of the invention Examples Example 1 Disposable diapers having the same general construction as the HUGGIES Supreme Step 3 diapers described in relation to Comparative Example 2 below were made by hand and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the Supreme diapers, except that the lower sheet, the absorbent core, the emergence layer and the elasticized leg bands of the diapers were replaced or modified and a ventilation layer was added between the lower sheet and the absorbent core.

In the tested diapers the bottom sheet included a nonwoven laminate / microporous film comprising a nonwoven material bonded with laminate yarn to a microporous film. The nonwoven bonded with yarn composed of about 1.8 denier filaments extruded from an ethylene copolymer with about 3.5 percent by weight of propylene and defined a basis weight of from about 20 grams per square meter. The film comprises a set coextruded film having calcium carbonate particles there and which defines a basis weight of about 58 grams per square meter before stretching. The film was preheated, stretched and tempered to form the micropores and then laminated to the non-woven material bonded with spinning. The resulting nonwoven laminate / microporous film base material had a basis weight of 45 grams per square meter and a water vapor transmission rate of about 4000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. Examples of such non-woven laminates / films are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 882,712 filed June 25, 1997 under the name of McCormack et al. Entitled "SIZE FILMS". UNDER FILM / NON-WOVEN LAMINATES, whose description has been incorporated herein by reference.

The absorbent core in the diapers tested was a dual layer absorbent having the configuration set forth in Figures 5 and 6 except that there was no orifice or apertures through any layer of the absorbent. The absorbent core included an upper layer and a lower layer with the upper layer extending from the front edge of the absorbent core to a location about 2/3 of the total length of the absorbent core. The absorbent core included d from about 10 to about 11 grams of wood pulp fibers and from about 10 to about 11 grams of superabsorbent material and, therefore, included about 5 percent by weight pulp fibers. of wood and about 5 percent by weight of superabsorbent material. The bottom layer had a basis weight of about 230 grams per square meter and the top layer had a basis weight of about 560 grams per square meter to provide a total basis weight of about 790 grams per square meter in the front section of the core and a base sediment of around 230 grams per square meter in the posterior section of the nucleus. The absorbent core also defined a width in the crotch section of around 6.35 centimeters.

The emergence layer was located between the absorbent core and the top sheet and was from the same material as the emergence layer in the Supreme diapers described in Comparative Example 2 except that it was modified to coextensive with the absorbent core. The diapers also included a ventilation layer between the absorbent core and the lower diaper sheet. The ventilation layer was made of the same material as that of the emergence layer and was also coextensive with the absorbent core. The diapers also included a set of elasticized leg band along about 2/3 of the length of each longitudinal sidewall of the diaper. The assembly had six (6) threads of elastomeric material laminated to a non-woven fabric layer with the ability to breathe. The elastic yarns are made of LYCRA elastomer lined along the longitudinal extension of the diaper to stretch and fold the diaper leg bands.

Four samples of the diapers were submitted to the Gas Tracker Test stated above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below.

Example 2 Disposable diapers having the same general construction as the diapers described in connection with Example 1 were made by hand and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 1 except that the absorbent body was modified to include a plurality of holes therethrough in the region e where the top layer lies on the bottom layer as illustrated in FIGS. and 6. The holes have a diameter of 1.27 centimeters to provide an open area of about 12 percent based on the total surface area of the absorbent body. Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the Gas Tracker Test established above. The results are set forth in Table 1, below.

Example 3 Disposable diapers having the same general construction as the diapers described in connection with Example 2 were made by hand and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 2 except that the ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the bottom sheet were removed. Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the Gas Tracker Test established above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below Example 4 Disposable diapers having the general construction of the diapers described in relation to Example 2 were made by hand and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of the Example except that the holes in the absorbent body had a diameter of 2.54 centimeters which also defined an open area of about 12% of the total area of the absorbent body. Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the Tracer Gas Test established above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below.

Example 5 Disposable diapers having the same general construction as that of the diapers described in relation to Example 2 were made by hand and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of the Example except that the layered absorbent body was replaced with an absorbent body without a layer which included about 62 by weight of wood pulp fibers and about 38% by weight of superabsorbent and He defined a base weight in the front section from around 750 to around 850 grams per square meter and a base weight in the back section of around 375 around 425 grams per square meter. Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the Rastread Gas Test established above. The results are established in the Table given below. 6 The disposable diapers having the same general construction as the diapers described in relation in Example 2 were made and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 2 except that the dual layer absorbent core was replaced with the same one. a laminate which included about 80 percent by weight commercially available superabsorbent material from Stockhause under the trade designation FAVOR SXM 880 overwrapped with a tissue layer of cellulosic fibers having a basis weight of about 26 grams per square meter. The absorbent body also included openings therethrough which have a diameter of 1.27 centimeters to provide an open area about 12 percent of the total surface area of the absorbent body. Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the tracer gas test established above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below.

Example 7 The disposable diapers having the same general construction as the diapers described in relation in Example 2 were made by hand and disposable diapers were tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 2 except that the absorbent body was replaced with a laminate. which included about 80 percent by weight d commercially available superabsorbent material from Stockhause under the trade designation FAVOR SXM 880 overwrapped by a tissue layer of cellulosic fibers having a basis weight of about 26 grams per square meter. The laminate was provided in four segments as representatively illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 which resulted in an open area for the absorbent body of about 40 percent of the total surface area of the absorbent body. Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the Gas Tracker Test established above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below.

Example 8 Disposable diapers having the same general construction as that of the diapers described in relation in Example 2 were made by hand and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 2 except that the backsheet was modified to define a water vapor transmission rate of about 1870 grams per square meter per 24 hours. Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the Gas Tracker Test as stated above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below Comparative Example 1 Disposable diapers that have the same general construction as that of the Supreme Step 3 diapers as described in relation to Example 2 were made by hand and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 2 except that the bottom sheet was replaced with a thousandth of an inch thick polyethylene film material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 100 grams per square meter. by hour Four samples of the diapers were subjected to the Gas Tracker Test established above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below.

Comparative Example 2 Disposable diapers that have the same general construction as that of those diapers commercially available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trade designation HUGGIES Supreme Step 3 were tested.

In essence, Supreme diapers comprised an absorbent core consisting of a mixture of wood pulp fibers and superabsorbent material surrounded by a 2-piece cellulose wrap sheet having a basis weight of about 16-21 grams per square meter. The absorbent number included from about 12.5 to about 13. grams of wood pulp fibers placed by air and from about 7.0 to about 8.5 grams of superabsorbent material. The superabsorbent material was purchased Stockhausen under the trade designation FAVOR SXM 880. superabsorbent material was blended homogeneously with the pulp fibers to form a unitary layer having a density within the range of 0.25 to 0.35 grams per cubic centimeter. The homogenous mixture of the superabsorbent material and the wood pulp fibers were zoned along the machine direction to provide a base weight of about 600 to about 700 grams per square meter the front section of the absorbent core and the basis weight from about 300 to about 350 grams per square meter in the back section of the absorbent core.

The Supreme diapers also included a composite bottom sheet comprising a vapor permeable barrier layer adhesively laminated to a laminated laminate co-spun / meltblown / spunbonded (hereinafter "SMS"). The spunbonded / co-melt / spin-bonded spinning material has a basis weight of about 2 grams per square meter. The vap-permeable barrier layer consisted of a polyolefin film which had a thickness of about 0.7 mils and a basis weight of about 19.5 grams per square meter. The polyolefin film material was commercially available from Exxo Chemical Patents Incorporated, under the trademark EXXAIRE. The vapor permeable barrier layer was adhered to the laminate bonded with spinning / meltblowing / spin-bonding and placed between the absorbent core and the laminated material bonded with spinning / blowing with fusion / bonding with spinning of the lower leaf. The lower sheet had a water vapor transmission rate of about 1500 grams per square meter for 2 hours. The absorbent core was placed in the form of a sandwich between the lower sheet and an upper sheet composed of a woven bonded with polypropylene fiber yarn having a basis weight of about 17 grams per square meter. An emergence management layer composed of a carded and unid fabric was located between the top sheet and the absorbent core. The emergence layer included the bicomponent fibers defined an overall basis weight of about 83 grams per square meter. The emergence layer was a homogeneous mixture composed of about 60 percent by weight of bicomponent sheath / polyethylene / polyester core fibers (PE / PET which had a fiber denier of about 3 denies and about 40 percent by weight). weight of single component polyester fibers which had a fiber denier around 6 denier and which had fib lengths of from about 3.8 to about 5.08 centimeters.The emergence layer also defined a width of about 10 centimeters and a length of about 16.5 centimeters, the front edge of the emergence layer was located 5 centimeters from the front edge of the absorbent core.

The Supreme diapers also included a single component elasticated waistband and a waist flap assembly at each longitudinal end of the diaper. The set your multiple strands of elastomeric material placed in sandwich form and laminated between a layer of film of polymer a layer of non-woven fabric. The polymer film was a 0.0075-inch thick film composed of a blend of linear low density polyethylene and ultra low density polyethylene. The non-woven fabric layer was composed of 20 grams per square meter of fabric bonded with polypropylene yarn. The elastic yarns were composed of about 8-16 LYCRA elastomer yarns aligned along the transverse direction of the diaper to stretch and fold the diaper cuffs and the inner waist flaps. The diaper Supreme also included the longitudinally felt restraining flaps which extend to the full length of the diaper and of the elasticized leg bands along the longitudinal lateral edge of the diaper. Elastic threads in the leg band and in the containment fins < _ > Composite of the LYCRA elastomer aligned along the longitudinal extension of the diaper to stretch and pick up the diaper leg bands and the containment flaps.

Four samples of the diapers were submitted to the Gas Tracker Test established above. The results are set forth in Table 1 given below.

Table 1 Rate of Exchange Rate Provided Humid Humid Air Exchange / Sec Dry Air Medium Medium (cm3 / min.) (CmVmin.) Example 1 822 224 0.27 Example 2 794 310 0.39 Example 3 679 220 0.32 Example 4 1050 360 0.34 Example 5 758 190 0.25 Example 6 724 240 0.33 Example 7 677 153 0.23 Example 8 495 316 0.63 Ex. Comparative 1 51 110 2.16 Ex. Comparative 2 513 171 0.33 The test results of Examples 1-8 and d Comparative Examples 1-2 indicate that the diapers made according to the present invention generally have the improved levels of air exchange both when they are dry and when they are wet when compared to the conventional diapers.

Example 9 Four diaper samples having the same general construction as that of the diapers described in relation in Example 2 were made by hand and tested according to the Skin Hydration Test set forth above. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 2 except that the diapers were similar in size to the commercially available size Step 4 diapers, the absorbent body was a single layer having the same thickness, and the openings had a diameter of 2.54 centimeters. The diapers defined an average Skin Hydration Value of 8.1 grams per square meter per hour. The results are set out in Table 2 given below.

Example 10 Four diaper samples were made by hand that have the same general construction as that of the diapers described in relation to Example 2 and were tested according to the Skin Hydration Test set forth above. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 6 except that the diapers were similar in size to the commercially available Step 4 diapers, the absorbent body defined a basis weight of about 560 grams per square meter and the openings had a 2.54 centimeters diameter. The diapers defined an average Skin Hydration Value of 2.8 grams per square meter per hour. The results are also set forth in Table 2 given below.

Example 11 Four diaper samples were made by hand that have the same general construction as that of the diapers described in relation in Example 7 and were tested according to the Skin Hydration Test set forth above. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Example 7 except that the diapers were similar in size to commercially available Step 4 diapers. The diapers defined an average Skin Hydration Value of 1.6 grams per square meter per hour. The results are also set forth in Table 2 given below.

Comparative Example 3 Disposable diapers having the same general construction as those diapers commercially available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trade designation ® HUGGIES Supreme Step 4 were tested. In essence, the Supreme size diapers Step 4 were similar to the Supreme diapers of size Step 3 described above in relation to Comparative Example 2 except that the size of the materials was greater.

Four samples of the diapers were submitted to the skin hydration test as established above. The diapers defined an average Hydration Value of the Pi of 19.3 grams per square meter per hour. L results are also set forth in Table 2 given below.

Table 2 Skin Hydration Value (g / m2 / hour) Example 9 8.1 Example 10 2.8 Example 11 1.6 Comparative Example 3 19.3 The test results of Examples 9-11 of Comparative Example 3 indicate that diapers made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention exhibit significantly improved Skin Hydration when compared to conventional diapers. Specifically, the diapers made according to the present invention exhibited a reduction of 58 to 92% in the Skin Hydration Value. When some reduction of the Skin Hydration Value was anticipated due to the increased amount of air exchange within the diapers, the magnitude of the reduction was unexpected.

Example 12 The diaper samples having the same general construction as the diapers described in relation to Comparative Example 2 were crafted and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Comparative Example 2 except that the lower sheet was modified to define an Acid Vapor Transmission Rate of around 3000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. The diapers were subjected to the Candid albicans viability test established above. Samples of Example 12 and Comparative Example 4 (control) were tested on the forearms of each of the seven test subjects. Approximately 0.01 milliliters of a 0.9 percent by weight salad water solution containing a 5.71 suspension. The colony forming units of Candida albicans were delivered to the test site with micropipettes and the test was suspended. The sample diapers according to this example define an average Candida albicans viability of 1.96 log colony forming units of Candida albicans. Therefore, in comparison to the viability of Candida albicans average of the control (Comparative Example 4) the diapers of this example define a reduction in the viability value of Candida albicans of 2 percent.

Example 13 Samples of the diapers having the same general construction as the diapers described in connection with Example 2 except that the lower sheet defines a rate of water vapor transmission of about 5000 grams per square meter per 24 hours are made. The diapers are subjected to the viability test of Candida albican established above. The samples of Example 13 and Comparative Example 4 (control) are tested and the volar forearms of each of seven test subjects. Approximately 0.0 milliliters of a 0.9 percent po weight water solution containing a suspension of 5.71 log colony forming units of Candida albicans were delivered to the test site with micropipettes and the suspension is then uniformly spread through the test site. S anticipates that the sample diapers according to this example will define a feasibility of Candida albicans average of more than feasibly less than 1.75 and feasibly less than 1.5 log of colony forming units Candida albicans. Thus, in comparison to the viability of Candida albicans from the control (Comparative Example 4) it was anticipated that the diapers according to this example will define a reduction in the viability value of Candida albicans of more likely about 34 percent and possibly of around 43 percent.

Comparative Example 4 The diaper samples having the same general construction as the diapers described in relation to Comparative Example 2 were crafted and tested. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Comparative Example 2 except that the lower sheet was replaced with a polyethylene film material of 1_. thousandths of an inch thick that has a water vapor transmission rate of less than 100 grams per square meter for 2 hours. The diapers were subjected to the viability test Candida albicans established above on the forearms will fly from each of the seven test subjects. Approximately 0.01 milliliters of a saltwater solution of 0.9 porcent per weight containing a suspension of 5.71 log colony forming units of Candida albicans were delivered to test site with micropipettes and the suspension was then evenly spread through the test site . The sample diapers according to this example define a viability of Candida albicans average of 2.65 log of colony forming unit Candida albicans.

Example 14 Samples of the diapers having the same general construction as the diapers described in relation to Example 13 were made by hand and tested. In particular, the lower sheet of the diapers defined a water vapor transmission rate of about 5000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. The diapers were subjected to the Candida albicans viability test established above. The samples of Example 14 and Comparative Example 5 (control) were tested on the forearms of each of twenty test subjects. Approximately 0.01 milliliters of a salt solution of Q. 9 percent by weight containing a 4.92 log suspension of colony forming units of Candida albicans were delivered to the test site with micropipettes and the suspension was then evenly spread through the test site. The sample diapers according to this example defined a viability of Candida albicans average of 1.26 log of colony forming units Candida albicans. Therefore, compared to the viability of Candida albicans average of the control (Comparative Example 5) the diapers according to this example defined a reduction in the viability value of Candida albicans of 61 percent.

Comparative Example 5 Samples of diapers having the same general construction as the diapers described in relation to Comparative Example 4 were machined and tested. In particular, the bottom sheet of the diapers included a 1.0 mil polyethylene film material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 10 grams per square meter per 24 hours. The diapers were subjected to the viability test Candida albicans set up on the forearms each of twenty test subjects. Approximately, 0.01 milliliters of a 0.9 percent by weight solution of salad water containing a suspension of 4.92 units of colony forming units of Candida albicans was delivered to the test site with micropipettes and the suspension was then spread evenly through the test site. . The sample diapers according to this example defined a viability of Candida albicans average of 3.26 that of forming units of colony Candida albicans.

The test results of Examples 12 and 14 and the expected results of Example 13 show that diapers made according to the present invention exhibit reduced viability and a reduced incidence of microbial infection when compared to conventional absorbent diapers and the results Test of Comparative Examples 4 and 5. It is clear that such reduced microbe viability is achieved by reducing the occlusion of the foot by increasing the ability to breathe of the diaper when it is dry or when it is wet.

Example 15 Samples were made of diapers having the same general construction as that of the diapers described in relation to Example 2 except that the lower sheet defined a water vapor transmission rate of about 500 grams per square meter per 24 hours. The diapers were subjected to the skin temperature test established above. The samples were tested on one of the forearms of each of the eleven test subjects. The results of the test are shown in figure 7. The sample diapers according to this example defined a wet skin temperature / dry skin temperature ratio of 0.970.

Comparative Example 6 Samples were made of diapers having the same general construction as that of the diapers described in relation to Comparative Example 2. The diapers were essentially the same as the diapers of Comparative Example 2 except that the lower sheet was replaced with a film material. 1.0 mil polyethylene polyethylene having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 100 grams per square meter per 24 hours. The diapers were subjected to the skin temperature test established above. The samples were tested on one of the forearms of each of the eleven test subjects. The results of the test are shown in Figure 7. The sample diapers according to this example defined a Wet Skin Temperature / Dry Skin Temperature ratio of 1.014.

The test results of Example 15 as shown in Figure 7 indicate that the diapers made according to the present invention are capable of maintaining a more constant reduced skin temperature when wetted compared to conventional absorbent diapers and to the results of Comparative Example 6. There is a theory that a more constant reduced skin temperature is achieved by reducing the occlusion of the skin by increasing the skin temperature. ability to breathe of the diaper when it gets wet.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the diapers made in accordance with the present invention are capable of maintaining a skin temperature when wetted which is essentially the same as the skin temperature of the wearer without a diaper.

Such maintained skin temperature can result in improved comfort for the user.

Example 16 A lotion formula having the following composition was prepared.

Ingredient Percent by weight Petrolatum 55. 00 Ozokerita MP 145 / 155F 24. 80 Paraffin MP 130 / 135F 4. fifty Microcrystalline wax - 835 4. fifty Cetyl ethers (synthetic spermaceti wax 4.50 Elvax 410 6. 70 The lotion formula was prepared by heating the petrolatum to 75 ° C and adding the remaining ingredients while maintaining the temperature at 75 ° C and mixing until all the ingredients were melted and uniform. The lotion formula defined a melting point of volume d around 45 ° C and a viscosity of melting point of 60 ° C about 149 centipoise. The melt point viscosity at 45 ° C is beyond the measurement limits.

The lotion formula was applied to the top sheet of diapers essentially identical to the commercially available HUGGIES® Supreme diapers of Kimberly-Clar Corporation at an aggregate rate of about 0.2 grams per diaper. The lotion was applied to the upper sheet as a seri of four lines down the center of the diaper. Each lotion line had a width of 0.25 inches with a space that had a width of 0.75 inches between each line.

The diapers were subjected to the Lotion Migration Test in Direction Z so that five diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° F for 28 days and zinc diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 2 days. The diapers defined a migration loss in the z direction of 44.3%. The diapers were also subjected to the Lotion Migration Test in the Transverse Direction whereby five diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° for 28 days and five diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 28 days. The diapers defined a loss of migration in the transverse direction of 16.7%.

Comparative Example 7 Samples of commercially available PAMPERS® Premiu diapers from The Procter & Gamble Company were obtained. The diapers included a lotion formula on the top sheet which had the following composition: Ingredient Percent by weight Petrolatum 58.50 Stearyl Alcohol 41.50 Aloe hint The lotion formulas defined a melted point of volume of about 52 °, a melt point viscosity of 50 ° C of about 10 centipoise and a melt point viscosity of about 5 centipoise at a temperature of 60 ° C.

The diapers were subjected to the Lotion Migration Test in Direction Z so that five diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° F for 28 days and zinc diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 2 days. The diapers defined a migration loss in the Z direction of 62%.

Comparative Example 8 Samples of commercially available PAMPERS Rash Guard diapers from The Procter & Gambl Company. The diapers included a lotion formula on the upper sheet which had the following composition: Ingredient Percent by weight Petrolatum 58. 50 Stearyl alcohol 41. fifty The lotion formulas defined a melting point of volume of about 52 °, a melting point viscosity of 50 ° C of about 10 centipoise and a viscosity of melting point of about 5 centipoise at a temperature of 60 °. C.

The diapers were subjected to the Lotion Migration Test in Direction Z so that five diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° F for 28 days and zinc diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 2 days. The diapers defined a migration loss in the Z direction of 66%.

Comparative Example 9 A lotion formula having the following composition was prepared: Ingredient Percent by weight Petrolatum 80.00 Estearílico Alcohol 20.00 The lotion formula was prepared by heating the petrolatum to 75 ° C and adding the stearyl alcohol while maintaining the temperature at 75 ° C and mixing until all the ingredients were melted and uniform. The lotion formula defined a point of cast volume of around 52 ° C and a viscosity of melting point at 60 ° C around 5 centipoises.

The lotion formula was applied to the top sheet of diapers essentially identical to the commercially available HUGGIES® Supreme diapers of Kimberly-Clar Corporation at an aggregate rate of about 0.2 grams per diaper. The lotion was applied to the upper sheet as a seri of four lines down the center of the diaper. Each lotion line had a width of 0.25 inches with a space that had a width of 0.75 inches between each line.

The diapers were subjected to the Lotion Migration Test at Address Z so that five diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° F for 28 days and zinc diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 2 days. The diapers defined a loss of migration in the z direction of 91.7%. The diapers were also subjected to the Lotion Migration Test in the Transverse Direction whereby five diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° for 28 days and five diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 28 days. The diapers defined a loss of migration in the transverse direction of 48.9%.

Comparative Example 10 A lotion formula having the following composition was prepared: Ingredient Percent by weight Petrolatum 52.00 Polyphenylmethyl siloxane 20.00 Paraffin wax 15.00 Cetearyl alcohol 10.00 PEG 2000 3.00 The lotion formula was essentially identical to that described in Example 6 in the United States of America patent No. 5,643,588 issued July 1, 1997 Roe et al. The lotion formula was prepared by heating the petrolatum to 75 ° C, adding the remaining ingredients while maintaining the temperature at 75 ° C of mixing until all the ingredients were uniformly melted. The lotion formula defined a melting point d volume of about 54 ° C and a melting point viscosity at 60 ° C of about 54 centipoise.

The lotion formula was applied to the upper sheet of the diapers essentially identical to the diapers HUGGIES® Supreme commercially available from Kimberly-Clar Corporation at an aggregate rate of about 0.2 grams per diaper. The lotion was applied to the top sheet as a series of four lines down the center of the diaper. Each lotion line had a width of 0.25 inches with a space that had a width of 0.75 inches between each line.

The diapers were subjected to the Test d Lotion Migration in Z Direction so five diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° F for 28 days and zinc diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 2 days. The diapers defined a migration loss in the Z direction of 69.6%. The diapers were also subjected to the Lotion Migration Test in the Transverse Direction for which 5 diapers were stored at a temperature of 73 ° F for 28 days and five diapers were stored at a temperature of 130 ° F for 28 days. The diapers defined a loss of migration of the transversal direction of 50.0%.

As is representatively shown, the lotion formula of the absorbent articles of the different aspects of the present invention (Example 16) migrate significantly less than conventional lotion formulas such as that of Comparative Examples 7-10 at elevated temperatures. In particular, the articles of Example 16 exhibited about 50% less lotion migration in the z-direction and about 60% less lot migration in the transverse direction compared to the diapers in Comparative Examples 7-10. Such a reduced level of migration of elevated temperatures resulted in more of the lotion remaining on the face surface of the article which can lead to a higher percentage of lotion transfer to the user's skin to improve skin health and reduce friction .

Examples 17-19 The effect of the treatment compositions of the present invention to inhibit the hydrolysis of the model protein substrate by urine and faecal extract was furthermore determined by the ability of the treatment compositions to reduce the proinflammatory response induced by fecal extrac- tion in the EpiDerm ™. 3 was measured.The treatment composition applied to a material was placed on the EpiDermmar sample both before and after the application of the fecal irritant The release of a signaling molecule proinflamator Interleukin-1 alpha was compared to that of the control containing the composition of treatment.

Example 17 It was shown that the aqueous zinc salts inhibit a chemical reaction that contributes to the diaper rash. Proteolytic activity of the fecal extract was measured using casein labeled fluorescently. Zinc sulfate heptahydrate inhibitor emulsions in water were prepared varying from 0-1 mM.

A stool extract sample was prepared from stool obtained from an infant on antibiotic (Sulfatrim) who had a diaper rash. To prepare the extract, the stools were suspended in water and shaken vigorously. After agitation, the sample was kept on ice before centrifugation at 15,000 times the force of gravity for 20 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through 0.22 micron cellulose acetate filters and stored at minus 80 degrees centigrade until use. L trypsin (molecular weight = 23,500 daltons), a known protease because it contributes to the diaper rash was measured in the fecal extract at a concentration of 5.850 picomoles / milliliter. The pancreatic elastase (molecular weight = 25,000 daltons), or suspected contributor, was measured in the fecal extract at a concentration of 83.6 picomoles / milliliter. The fecal extract (7.1 mg / milliliter in water) was diluted in water at 2 μg / ml.

Emulsions (20 μL) of sulfat heptahydrate of. zinc (Aldrich Chemicals, Wl) having a molecular weight d 287.5 were added to the wells of a 96 white plate (Dynex Chantilly, Virginia) containing 100 μL of a fecal extract and allowed to incubate for 15 minutes at room temperature. The reaction was initiated with the addition of 80 μL of a 12.5 μg / ml solution of a casein substrate labeled with fluorescent tint (EnzChek Protease Assay Kit (E-6639) Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oregon) in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH d 8.0. The reaction of the faecal extract with the casein substrate unfolds the fluorescent dye of the substrate. Relative fluorescence units (RFUs) were collected using the Fluoroskan ascending system (Labsystems, Incorporated, Needham Heights, MA) with excitation and emission filters of 48 and 538 nm respectively. The data were collected every minute for 15 minutes and the rates (RFU / min) were calculated Using the non-inhibited wells as 100 percent protease activity, the percentage of fecal remaining proteolytic activity was determined for each concentration of zinc inhibitor ( inhibited rate / uninhibited rate * 100).

The data show that zinc effectively inhibited the hydrolysis of casein by means of the fecal extract in a dose-dependent manner. A schema of the data for the fecal extract sample is shown in Figure 9, which is a graph that shows how the proteolytic activity of the fecal extract was reduced when the concentration of zinc sulfate heptahydrate was increased. These data show that the aqueous zinc emulsion has the ability to neutralize proteases in faeces that have been implicated in the induction of skin inflammation in the paña environment (Anderson, PH Bucher, AP, Saees, I., Lee, PC Davis, JA, and Maibach, HI, Fecal Enzymes: Skin Irritation in Live Dermatitis Contact 1994; 30, 152-158).

Example 18 The aqueous zinc salts were shown to inhibit a chemical reaction that contributes to the diaper rash. The proteolytic activity of the infant's urine was measured using casein fluorescently labeled. The inhibiting emulsions of zinc sulfate heptahydrate in water were prepared by varying from 0-50 mM.

Two (2) infant urine samples (100 μL were added to wells of a 96-well plate (Dynex containing 80 μL of a 12.5 μg / ml solution of a fluorescent dye-labeled casein substrate (EnzChek protease assay kit) (E-6639), in 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 and allowed to incubate for 60 minutes at 37 degrees centigrade After the incubation time, 20 μL of zinc sulphate heptahydrate in water, varying from 0- 50 mM were added to the wells The reaction of the infant urine with the casein substrate split the fluorescent dye from the substrate Relative fluorescence units (RFUs) were collected using the ascertained Fluoroskan system with excitation filters of 485 emission and 538 nm respectively The data was collected every minute for 60 minutes at 37 degrees centigrade and the rates (RFU / min) of 30-50 minutes were calculated for each zinc concentration, using the uninhibited wells with 100 percent of Protease activity, the percentage of proteolytic activity of urine remaining was determined for each zinc inhibitor concentration (inhibited rate / n inhibited rate * 100).

The data showed that zinc effectively inhibited the hydrolysis of casein in the infant's urine in a dose-dependent manner. A schematic of the even data is shown in Figure 10, which is a graph showing how the proteolytic activity of the infant's urine was reduced by increasing the concentration of zinc heptahydrate d sulfate. These data show that the aqueous zin emulsion had the ability to neutralize the proteases in the infant's urine.

Example 19 Zinc sulfate heptahydrate also showed that it inhibited the reaction of faecal extract with synthetic skin. Synthetic skin, EpiDerm1 ™ "201 (from MatTek Corporation, of Ashland, MA) contains keratinocytes that release Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) when they are subjected to proteases in the fecal extract. released, it diffused from the skin to the fluid below the EpiDermark, samples of this fluid were taken and analyzed for the presence of IL-alpha.The higher levels of IL-1 alpha were indicative of a greater skin irritation.

Before application on the EpiDermmarca, the fecal extract (10.4 μL) was preincubated for 30 minutes at room temperature with 250 mM zinc sulfate heptahydrate in water (2.6 μL). The samples of only water and only fecal extract served as controls. After the application of the samples to the EpiDermmarca, 25 μL aliquots of the underlying medium were removed at 8, 12 and 24 hours for the test for the presence of IL-1 alpha. The aliquots were directly added to a 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube containing 225 μL of 20 mM Tris-HCl sterilized and filtered, pH 8.0, 1 percent BSA buffer and stored at -80 degrees Celsius. All samples were collected, alpha IL-1 levels were quantified using the R & D Systems Interleukin-1 alpha Quantikine kit (from R &D Systems, Minneapolis, MA).

A schematic of the data is shown in Figure 11, which is a graph showing the addition of zinc sulfate heptahydrate (FE + zinc) by reducing the amount of Interleukin-1 alpha released in the underlying medium in relation to the application of the substrate treated with the non-inhibited fecal extract (FE + water). A similar reduction was shown at 8, 12 and 24 hours. The asterisk on the error bars in Figure 11 represent a confidence interval of 95 percent student t-test.

When the same experiment was run again with varying concentrations of zinc sulfate heptahydrate (0, 25, 50, 125, and 250 mM) in the aliquot of 2.6 μL added to the 10.4 μL sample of the faecal extract, it showed that the Zinc sulfate heptahydrate effectively inhibits the proteolytic activity of the faecal extract in a manner that depends on the dose. A schema of the data, shown in Figure 12 shows that the proteolytic activity of the faecal extract was reduced with the concentration of zinc sulfate heptahydrate being increased.

Example 20 The skin treatment compositions of the present invention were formed by creating an emulsion (or microemulsion) of a skin and water health benefit agent as the liquid carrier. Aqueous emulsions of the zinc salt as the skin health benefit agent, AHCOVEL, as the surfactant system, and CROSILK as the silk protein, were prepared. Stable emulsions were diluted to about 5 percent by weight of emulsion and applied to the surface of a nonwoven polyolefin top sheet fabric through a saturated saturation and a squeezing process as follows: The materials bonded with untreated polypropylene yarn (basis weight of about 0.5 ounce per square yard) were used as a substrate for the treatment compositions. The compositions were applied to the substrates by a low solids loading treatment process. An example of 8 inches by 12 inches (20.32 x 30.48 centimeters) of the substrate was first embedded in an aqueous treatment bath of a known composition illustrated in Table 3 given below.

Table 3 - Treatment Bath Concentration The saturated examples were then embedded between two rubber rollers in a laboratory extruder, type LW-1, No. LW-83A (Atlas Electric Devices, Chicago Illinois), and subsequently dried in an oven at 60 degrees Celsius about of 20 minutes or until a constant weight was obtained. The clamping point pressure was adjusted to achieve a 100 percent wet pickup (% WPU). the percentage of wet collection is calculated from the following equation: % WPU = [(Ww-Wd) / Wd] xlOO, where : Ww = wet weight of the embedded fabric, Wd = dry weight of the treated fabric.

Knowing the concentration of the bath and the percentage of wet collection, the percentage of aggregate can be calculated from the following equation: % of addition = (% bath concentration) x (% WPU) - 100 Yes, as in this example, the percentage of wet collection = 100, then the percentage of aggregate will be equal to the percentage of bath concentration. However, other combinations of percent concentration of collection and percentage of bath concentration can be used to achieve similar results.

The treated yarn bonded materials were tested to evaluate their ability to inhibit the reaction of faecal extract with synthetic skin. The fecal extract was prepared from stool obtained from an infant on antibiotics (Sulfatrim) who had a diaper rash. To prepare the extract, the feces were suspended in water and shaken vigorously. After stirring, the samples were kept on ice before centrifugation at 15,000 times the force of gravity for 2 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through 0.22 micron cellulose acetate filters and stored at minus 7 degrees centigrade until use. Trypsin (molecular weight 23,500 daltons), a protease known to contribute to the diaper rash, was measured in the fecal extract at a concentration of 5.850 picomoles / milliliter. The pancreatic elastos (molecular weight = 25,000 daltons), a suspected contributor, was measured in the fecal extract at a concentration of 83.-6 picomoles / milliliter.

Synthetic skin, EpiDermark 201 (from MatTek Corporation, of Ashland, MA) contains keratinocytes that release Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) when subjected to proteases such as trypsin and pancreatic elastase. When alpha IL-1 is released, it diffuses from the skin to the fluid below the EpiDermark. Samples of this fluid are taken and analyzed for the presence of IL-1 alpha. Higher levels of IL-1 alpha are indicative of increased skin irritation.

To carry out the experiment, 10 μL of water were applied to the surface of the synthetic skin. The treated yarn bound materials were cut into disks of about 0.9 centimeters which were placed on top of the water on the EpiDermmarca. After about 2 hours of incubation at 37 degrees Celsius, the discs were removed and the EpiDermark was flushed with 15 μL of discharge fluid where each of the treated spinning disks had been treated. A second disc bound with treated yarn was then placed on top of the discharge fluid to simulate the diaper environment. After 11 hours at 37 degrees centigrade, an aliquot of the underlying fluid batting the E? IDermmarCE was removed and the amount of IL-1 alpha was quantified using the R & D Systems Interleukin-1 alpha kit Quantikine (from R & D Systems, Minneapolis, MA).

Four treatments were made using two examples from Table 1 and two discharge fluids (fecal extract and water) as shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Treatments of EpiDerm11 The results of the experiments in Table 4 are shown below in Table 5. The application of the materials treated with CROSILK and Zinc (codes C and D) to the EpiDermmark reduced the amount of Interleukin-1 alpha released in the underlying medium in relation to to the application of materials treated with only Ahcovel (codes A and B, respectively).

Table 5: IL-1 Alpha Released (picograms / milliliter) Example 21 Water-soluble silk protein (SERICIN, Pentapharm AG, Basel, Switzerland) and hydrolyzed silk (CROSILK 10,000 from Croda, Incorporated, Parsippany, New Jersey) were individually shown to inhibit proteolytic activity in the fecal extract It has been implicated that it contributes to the diaper rash. Serial dilutions of the pure protein and the hydrolyzate were carried out with 100 mM d Tris-HCl of pH 8.0 as the diluent. Silk protein concentrations were determined using a Macro BCA protein reagent assay kit (from Pierce, Rockford, Illinois).

The fecal extract was prepared as described above for examples of silk protein and zinc compositions. SERICIN and CROSILK (20 μL) were added to the wells of a white plate 96 (Dynex, Chantilly, Virginia) containing 80 μL of a solution of 12.5 μg / ml of a casein substrate labeled with fluorescent dye (test case d of protease EnzChek (E-6639), molecular probes, Eugene, Oregon). The reaction was initiated with the addition of 100 μL of the fecal extract of 2 μg / ml. The reaction of the fecal extract with the casein substrate unfolds the fluorescent dye from the substrate. Relative fluorescence units (RFUs) were collected using the Fluoroskan upstream system (from Labsystems, Incorporated, Needham Heights, MA) with excitation and emission filters of 485 and 538 nm respectively. The reaction was run for 30 minutes at room temperature and rates (RFU / min) of from 10-20 minutes were calculated. The percentage of remaining proteolytic activity was determined for each SERICIN and CROSILK inhibitor concentration (inhibited rate / uninhibited rate * 100).

A schema of the data is shown in Figure 13, which is a graph showing the reduction of proteolytic activity with increasing concentrations of both SERICIN and CROSILK. These data suggest that both molecules have the ability to neutralize proteases in stool that have been implicated to induce skin inflammation in the diaper environment (Fecal Enzymes: skin irritation in vivo, supra).

As representatively shown in the Examples 17-21, the various treatment compositions on the topsheet of the absorbent articles of the different aspects of the present invention effectively inhibit the proteolytic activity of the fecal extracts when transferred to the skin. Such a reduced level of proteolytic activity can result in improved skin health.

Having thus described the invention in considerable detail, it will be readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (100)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A disposable absorbent article comprising an absorbent, a front waist section, a rear waist section and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and back waist sections, said absorbent article comprises a lotion formula over at least a portion of a face-to-body surface of said absorbent article which includes: a) from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of an emollient; Y b) from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of a wax; wherein said absorbent article defines a wet air exchange rate of at least about 190 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to a tracer gas test established herein.

2. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said lotion formula further includes from about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent of a viscosity increaser selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins, polyolefin, polyethylene, oil / lipophilic thickeners and mixtures thereof based on the total weight of said lotion formula.

3. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said emollient is selected from the group consisting of oils, esters, glycerol esters, ethers, alkoxylated carboxylic acids, alkoxylated alcohols, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof.

4. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said emollient is a petroleum-based emollient.

5. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said wax is selected from the group consisting of animal-based waxes, vegetable-based waxes, mineral-based waxes, silicone-based waxes and mixtures thereof all of which can be natural or synthetic.

6. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that said viscosity enhancer increases a viscosity of a combination of said emollient and said wax by at least about 50 percent at a temperature of 60 degrees centigrade.

7. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a loss of emigration in the z direction of no more than about 55 percent.

8. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to the Gas Tracker Test.

9. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said Humid Air Exchange Rate is at least about 225 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to said Gas Tracker Test.

10. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 0.20 calculated according to said Test of Tracker

11. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that said ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate of said absorbent article is at least about 0.23 calculated according to said Tracker test.

12. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to a Skin Hydration Test established here.

13. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 15 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to a Skin Hydration Test established here.

14. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 12 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to a Skin Hydration Test established here.

15. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a wet skin temperature / dry skin temperature ratio of no more than about 1.010 calculated according to the temperature test of the skin established here.

16. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a wet skin temperature / dry skin temperature ratio of no more than about 1,000 calculated according to the temperature test of the skin. skin established here.

17. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 1, further characterized because it comprises: a) a lower vapor permeable sheet which defines a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to a Water Vapor Transmission Test as set forth herein; b) a liquid permeable upper sheet which is placed in a front relation with said lower sheet; and c) an absorbent body located between said lower sheet and said upper sheet.

18. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said Water Vapor Transmission Rate of said lower vapor permeable sheet is at least about 1500 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to to said Water Vapor Transmission Test.

19. An absorbent article which defines a front waist section, a back waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and back waist sections, said absorbent article comprising: a) a lower vapor permeable sheet which defines a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to a Water Vapor Transmission Test as set forth herein; b) a liquid permeable upper sheet which is placed in a front relation with said lower sheet; c) an absorbent body located between said lower sheet and said upper sheet; and d) a lotion formula on at least a part of a body facing surface of said absorbent article which includes from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of an emollient and from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of a wax.

20. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, further characterized in that it comprises a ventilation layer located between said lower sheet and said absorbent body.

21. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 20, characterized in that said ventilation layer comprises a hydrophobic nonwoven material having a thickness of at least about 0.10 centimeters and a basis weight of from about 20 to about of 120 grams per square meter.

22. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, further characterized in that it comprises an emergence management layer which is located between said top sheet and said absorbent wherein said emergence management layer comprises a nonwoven material having a basis weight of from about 30 to about 120 grams per square meter.

23. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said Water Vapor Transmission Rate of said lower vapor permeable sheet is at least about 1500 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to to said Water Vapor Transmission Test.

24. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said absorbent body includes areas of high air permeability which define a Frazier porosity which is at least about 10 percent greater than a Frazier porosity of parts of said absorbent body adjacent to said zones of high air permeability.

25. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that said high air permeability zones comprise from about 5 to about 75 percent of a total surface area of said absorbent body.

26. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that said absorbent body includes a plurality of air passages through which said areas of high air permeability are provided.

27. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said lotion formula further includes from about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent of a viscosity increaser selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins, polyolefin polymers, polyethylene, oil / lipophilic thickeners and mixtures thereof based on a total weight of said lotion formula.

28. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said emollient is selected from the group consisting of oils, esters, glycerol esters, ethers, alkoxylated carboxylic acids, alkoxylated alcohols, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof.

29. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said emollient is a petroleum-based emollient.

30. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said wax is selected from the group consisting of animal-based waxes, vegetable-based waxes, mineral-based waxes, silicone-based waxes and mixtures thereof all of which can be natural or synthetic.

31. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a loss of migration in the z-direction of no more than about 55 percent.

32. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 190 cubic centimeters per minute and a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least of around 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to said Gas Tracker Test.

33. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 0.20 calculated according to said Test of Tracker

34. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test established here.

35. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 15 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test established here.

36. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a ratio of wet skin temperature / dry skin temperature of no more than about d 1010 calculated according to a temperature test of the skin as established here.

37. A disposable absorbent article comprising an absorbent, a front waist section, a rear waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and back waist sections, said absorbent article comprises a treatment composition over at least a part of the surface facing the body of said absorbent article which includes: a) a surfactant; Y b) a skin health benefit agent; wherein said absorbent article defines a Hum Air Exchange Tas of at least about 19 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to a Gas Tracker Test established herein.

38. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said surfactant is selected from the group comprising hydrogenated and ethoxylated fatty oils, monosaccharides, monosaccharide derivatives, polysaccharides, derivatives of polysaccharide combinations thereof.

39. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent comprises an aqueous zinc salt or a zinc sulfate monohydrate.

40. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 39, characterized in that said surfactant and said zinc salt form said treatment composition and are present in a weight ratio of about 0.01-25 percent by weight of zinc salt to about 75-99.99 percent by weight of surfactant.

41. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent comprises a protein.

42. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 41, characterized in that said protein comprises a silk protein.

43. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 42, characterized in that said silk protein comprises sericin.

44. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 39, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent further comprises a protein.

45. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to said Gas Tracker Test.

46. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said Humid Air Exchange Rate is at least about 225 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to said Gas Tracker Test.

47. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 0.20 calculated according to said Test of Gas Tracker.

48. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test as established here.

49. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 15 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test as stated here.

50. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 12 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to a Skin Hydration Test established here.

51. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a skin temperature ratio of wet / dry skin temperature of no more than about 1.010 calculated according to a temperature test. of the skin established here.

52. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a wet skin temperature / dry skin temperature ratio of no more than about 1,000 calculated according to a temperature test of the skin as established here.

53. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 37, further characterized in that it comprises: a) a lower vapor permeable sheet which defines a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to an Agu Steam Transmission Test as set forth herein; b) a liquid permeable upper sheet which is placed in a front relation with said lower sheet; c) an absorbent body located between said lower sheet and said upper sheet.

54. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 53, characterized in that said Water Vapor Transmission Rate of said lower vapor permeable sheet is of at least about 1500 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to to said Water Vapor Transmission Test.

55. A disposable absorbent article which defines a front waist section, a back waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and back waist sections, said absorbent article comprising: a) a lower vapor permeable sheet which defines a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to a Water Vapor Transmission Test as set forth herein; b) a liquid permeable upper sheet which is placed in a front relation with said lower sheet; c) an absorbent body located between said lower sheet and said upper sheet; Y d) a treatment composition on at least a part of a body facing surface of said top sheet of said absorbent article which includes: i) a surfactant; Y ii) a skin health benefit agent

56. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, further characterized in that it comprises a ventilation layer located between said lower sheet of said absorbent body.

57. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 56, characterized in that said ventilation layer comprises a hydrophobic nonwoven material having a thickness of at least about 0.10 centimeters and a basis weight of from about 20 to about of 120 grams per square meter.

58. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, further characterized in that it comprises an emergence management layer which is located between said top sheet and said absorbent wherein said emergence management layer comprises a nonwoven material having a basis weight of from about 30 to about 120 grams per square meter.

59. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said Water Vapor Transmission Rate of said lower vapor permeable sheet is at least about 1500 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to to said Water Vapor Transmission Test.

60. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said absorbent body defines areas of high air permeability which define a Frazier porosity which is at least about 10 percent greater than a Frazier porosity of parts of said absorbent body adjacent to said zones of high air permeability.

61. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 60, characterized in that said high air permeability zone comprises from about a to about 75 percent of a total surface area d said absorbent body.

62. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 60, characterized in that said absorbent body includes a plurality of air passages therethrough to provide said areas of high air permeability.

63. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said surfactant is selected from the group comprising hydrogenated and ethoxylated fatty oils, monosaccharides, monosaccharide derivatives, polysaccharides, polysaccharide derivatives and combinations thereof.

64. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent comprises an aqueous zinc salt or a zinc sulfate monohydrate.

65. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 64, characterized in that said surfactant and the zinc salt form said treatment composition and are present in a weight ratio d about 0.01-25 percent by weight of zinc salt around of 75-99.99 percent by weight of surfactant.

66. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that the skin health benefit agent comprises a protein.

. 67. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 66, characterized in that said protein comprises a silk protein.

68. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that said silk protein comprises sericin.

69. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 64, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent further comprises a protein.

70. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said treatment composition is applied to said top sheet at a level of about 0.1-1.5 percent by weight in relation to a weight of said top sheet.

71. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 190 cubic centimeters per minute and a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least around 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to dich Gas Tracker Test.

72. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 0.20 calculated according to said Test of Tracker

73. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test as established here.

74. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 15 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to a Skin Hydration Test as established here.

75. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a wet skin temperature / dry skin temperature ratio of no more than about 1.010 calculated according to the temperature test of the skin established here.

76. A disposable absorbent article which defines a front waist section, a back waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and back waist sections, said absorbent article comprising: a) a lower vapor permeable sheet which defines a Water Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 1,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to a Water Vapor Transmission Test as set forth herein; b) a liquid permeable topsheet which is positioned in a front relation with said bottom sheet and which includes a treatment composition comprising a surfactant and a skin health benefit agent; c) an absorbent body located between said lower sheet and said upper sheet; Y d) a lotion formula on at least a part of a face surface of said top sheet of said absorbent article which includes from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of an emollient and d from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of a wax.

77. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, further characterized in that it comprises a ventilation layer located between said lower leaf and said absorbent body.

78. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 77, characterized in that said ventilation layer comprises a hydrophobic nonwoven material having a thickness of at least about 0.10 centimeters and its base weight of from about 20 to about 120 grams per square meter.

79. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, further characterized in that it comprises an emergence management layer which is located between said top sheet and said absorbent wherein said emergence management layer comprises a nonwoven material having a basis weight of from about 30 to about 120 grams per square meter.

80. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said Water Vapor Transmission Rate of said lower vapor permeable sheet is at least about 1500 grams per square meter per 24 hours calculated according to to said Water Vapor Transmission Test.

81. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said absorbent body defines areas of high air permeability which define a Frazier porosity which is at least about 10 percent greater than the Frazier porosity. of parts of said absorbent body adjacent to said zones of high air permeability.

82. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 81, characterized in that said high air permeability zones comprise from about 5 to about 75 percent of the total surface area of said absorbent body.

83. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 81, characterized in that said absorbent body includes a plurality of air passages therethrough to provide said areas of high air permeability.

84. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said surfactant is selected from the group comprising ethoxylated hydrogenated fatty oils, monosaccharides, monosaccharide derivatives, polysaccharides, polysaccharide derivatives and combinations thereof.

85. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent comprises an aqueous zinc salt or a zinc sulphite monohydrate.

86. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 85, characterized in that said surfactant and the zinc salt form said treatment composition and are present in a proportion by weight of about Q.01-25 percent by weight of salt of zinc at about 75-99.99 percent by weight of surfactant.

87. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent comprises a protein.

88. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 87, characterized in that said protein comprises a silk protein.

89. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 88, characterized in that said silk protein comprises sericin.

90. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 85, characterized in that said skin health benefit agent further comprises a protein.

91. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said treatment composition is applied to said top sheet at a level of about 0.1-1.5 percent by weight in relation to a weight of said top sheet.

92. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said lotion formula further includes from about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent of a viscosity increaser selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins, polyolefin polymers, polyethylene, oil / lipophilic thickeners and mixtures thereof based on the total weight of said lotion formula.

93. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said emollient is selected from the group consisting of oils, esters, glycerol esters, ethers, alkoxylated carboxylic acids, alkoxylated alcohols, fatty alcohols mixtures thereof.

94. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said emollient is a petroleum-based emollient.

95. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said wax is selected from the group consisting of animal-based waxes, vegetable-based waxes, mineral-based waxes, silicone-based waxes, and mixtures thereof. all of which may be natural or synthetic.

96. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Wet Air Exchange Rate of at least about 190 cubic centimeters per minute and a Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least of around 525 cubic centimeters per minute calculated according to said Gas Tracker Test.

97. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a ratio of Wet Air Exchange Rate / Dry Air Exchange Rate of at least about 0.20 calculated according to said Test of Gas Tracker.

98. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 18 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to the Skin Hydration Test established here.

99. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a Skin Hydration Value of less than about 15 grams per square meter per hour calculated according to a Skin Hydration Test established here.

100. The absorbent article, as claimed in clause 76, characterized in that said absorbent article defines a wet skin temperature / dry skin temperature ratio of no more than about 1.010 calculated according to a temperature test of the skin as established here. E U M N An absorbent article that includes a vapor permeable bottom sheet, a liquid permeable top sheet placed in a front relation with the bottom sheet; and an absorbent body located between the bottom sheet and the top sheet. The absorbent body may include multiple zones of high air permeability. The absorbent article may also include a ventilation layer between the absorbent body and the bottom sheet and an emergence management layer between the absorbent body and the topsheet. The article exhibits an improved air exchange within the article during use. As a result of this, the article maintains the temperature and exhibits essentially reduced levels of hydration of the user's skin when in use which makes the skin less susceptible to the viability of the microorganisms. The absorbent article may also include the lotion formulas and / or the treatment compositions thereon to maintain or improve the health of the skin.