WO2014148957A1

WO2014148957A1 - Reusable electronics enclosure

Info

Publication number: WO2014148957A1
Application number: PCT/SE2013/050302
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carolyn Berland; Sofia Hermansson
Original assignee: Sca Hygiene Products Ab
Priority date: 2013-03-19
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2014-09-25

Abstract

The invention relates to a reusable electronics enclosure adapted to be associated with an absorbent article and to be in contact with a sensor indicative of state of said absorbent article and comprising means for collecting data indicative of said state of said absorbent article,said electronics enclosure comprising a housing for enclosing electronic components, wherein said housing comprises at least a first and a second portion attached to each other for forming a water tight enclosure; and wherein at least an outer layer of the housing is essentially made of solvent resistant material. The invention relates also to a system for monitoring a state of an absorbent article comprising an absorbent article and a reusable electronics enclosure according to the first aspect of the invention.

Description

REUSABLE ELECTRONICS ENCLOSURE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a reusable electronics enclosure, and in particular an electronics enclosure for providing an absorbent article, such as a diaper, a sanitary towel, an incontinence garment, a medical dressings and the like, with sensing and/or data collecting capabilities. Especially, the electronics enclosure is suitable to be provided, or may be provided, comprising sensing and/or data collecting electronics for attachment and connection to an absorbent article having sensors. Technical background

Generally, control units configured to measure an electrical property of an absorbent article are known in the art. For instance, US 7 250 547 Bl discloses a data collector designed to be reused thousands of times with minimal or no servicing. The housing of the data collector hermetically seals the electronic components inside its compartment so that they are not exposed to humidity or moisture. The compartment cannot be opened without breaking the housing, which ensures that the components remain in a sterile moister free environment throughout the life of the data collector. Further, the housing 102 includes a shell 104 that forms the front wall 105 and sidewalls 106-109 of the housing, and a lid 110 that forms the back wall 112 of the housing. The corners and edges of the shell 104 are rounded for comfort. The shell 104 and lid 110 are made of a rigid, shatter-proof material such as a polycarbonate plastic. The shell 104 and lid 110 are joined together to form a water tight, interior chamber or enclosure 115 that contains and protects various electrical components inside. However, a drawback of the control unit disclosed in US 7 250 547 Bl is that it is difficult to clean and disinfect. US 6 246 330 Bl discloses a reusable, miniature monitor/indicator unit. The monitor/alarm unit 500 includes a protective case 510 having an upper portion 512 and a lower portion 514. The upper and lower portions of case 510 are preferably joined to form a permanently- waterproof sealed case, which is designed to require no opening for repair or battery replacement during its intended useful life. The front case portion can be physically bonded to the back portion by the same process that seals and protects the case, or it can be separately attached by another process step such as ultrasonic welding. The upper portion 512 provides a top, relatively smooth surface for the location of a faceplate overlay 517, which optionally includes design graphics 518 such as a "balloon" or other design. However, a drawback of the control unit disclosed in US 6 246 330 Bl is that it is difficult to clean and disinfect.

EP 2 014 267 Al discloses a wet garment detector for detecting a wetness condition of garment comprising a housing 103 for containing electronic components. The housing 103 is made out of a fluid-tight material, and ideally can be washed for reuse without risk for intake of water that can damage the electronics inside. However, there is still a need of improved control units or electronics enclosures that at least alleviates the problems of prior art control units and allows easy, thoroughly and reliable cleaning and especially disinfection, without risk of leakage into the housing or chemical damage of the housing, for ensuring that the risk of spreading infections is as low as possible when a single control unit or electronics enclosure is used for a plurality of different persons. Further, there is a need to provide a control unit that allows low risk of spreading of infections as well as distinguishability of control units, so that the risk of mixing up two or more loggers with each other is eliminated.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to obviate or at least alleviate the above mentioned problem. According to one aspect of the invention, these objects are achieved by a reusable electronics enclosure having the features as defined in the appended claims. Preferred embodiments of the method are set out in the appended dependent claims.

The reusable electronics enclosure is adapted to be associated with an absorbent article and to be in contact with a sensor indicative of state of said absorbent article. The reusable electronics enclosure comprises means for collecting data indicative of said state of said absorbent article, and a housing for enclosing electronic components. The housing comprises at least a first and a second portion attached to each other for forming a water tight enclosure and at least an outer layer of the housing is essentially made of solvent resistant material. Herein, absorbent article refers to an adult incontinence product, such as diapers with tape fasteners, pant diapers and belted products, baby or toddler diapers, sanitary towels, liners or other known absorbent articles. A sensor can be any suitable sensor which is responsive to an arbitrary desired property of the absorbent core, such as a wetness sensor, a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a glucose sensor, a gas sensor, an odour sensor, etc.

Further, a wetness sensor is intended to mean a sensor that is adapted to react/be responsive to and/or measure a change of degree of wetness. The sensor can be integrated into said absorbent article or be separate from said absorbent article and arranged in the absorbent article with suitable fastening means such that it is capable of being responsive to said affected temperature change. In all cases the electronics enclosure is adapted to be in contact with the sensor either in direct physical or electrical contact or in contact by wireless means. Thus, in contact with is herein intended to mean any type of contact which will result in the reusable electronics enclosure being capable of being in some type of contact with the sensor. An electronics enclosure adapted to be associated with an absorbent article can be attached to and detached from the absorbent article, or attached to and detached from a receptacle arranged on an absorbent article, or associated with an absorbent article in any other suitable way. That is, in case of an electronics enclosure which is attachable to and detachable from an absorbent article or and therefore can be detached from a used absorbent article, and reused with another absorbent article. An electronics enclosure which is associated in any other suitable way can be un-associated from a used or soiled absorbent article and re-associated to an unused absorbent article.

Herein, a state of an absorbent article can be any state which is obtainable by a sensor attached to or arranged in the absorbent article and indicative of a state of the absorbent article that might be interesting for care taking of patients such as a degree of wetness, a temperature of the core, a degree of faeces, an indication of gases, etc. or alternatively any other interesting state. In contact is intended to mean any form of contact that allows for data collection, such as physical, electrical, or wireless contact. Preferably, the contact is in form of electrical contact. An outer layer is intended to mean the surface of the housing facing away from the water tight enclosure. The at least first and second portions of the housing can be injection moulded and comprise essentially solvent resistant material or only an outer layer of the portions can be made of solvent, or especially ethanol, resistant material. More preferably, the first and second portions are formed substantially of solvent resistant material. Especially, the solvent resistant material can be ethanol resistant material. Such a solvent resistant outer layer is advantageous since it allows for disinfection using solvents.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, at least an outer layer of the housing is essentially made of ethanol resistant material.

An ethanol resistant material is advantageous since ethanol is generally used as a disinfectant within residential homes and/or medical facilities.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the solvent resistant material is a non-polar polymer.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the solvent resistant material comprises polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (abs), polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene (pom), polyphenylene oxide (ppo), polyphenylene sulfide (pps), polyvinylidene fluoride, Phenol formaldehyde resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester (UPR) or combinations thereof.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the solvent resistant material comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene (pom), polyphenylene sulfide (pps), polyvinylidene fluoride. Phenol formaldehyde resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester (UPR) or combinations thereof.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the outer surface of said housing is smooth, and preferably has a surface roughness defined as the arithmetical mean deviation of the profile, R_a, about 1,6 μιτι. Such a smooth outer surface is preferable since it does not comprise any minor depressions which cannot be properly cleaned and into which therefore bacteria, viruses, or dirt in general can be accumulated. According to at least an exemplary embodiment, an average valley to peak height of said outer surface of said housing is substantially equal to or less than 1 mm.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of the housing comprises no deep and/or narrow depressions. Herein, exterior is intended to mean the side of the housing facing away from the water tight enclosure when the at least two portions are attached to each other. In other words, the exterior is the outside of the housing. Further, a depression can have any suitable form, such as hemi-spherical, oblong, groove formed, elliptical, quadratic etc. Deep and narrow is intended to mean having dimensions which do not allow wiping by a sheet of material or sheet-like material, such as a paper towel, such that the disinfectant applied on sheet can come into direct contact with the entire outer surface of the housing for a sufficient contact time. The sheet of material or the sheet like material can be a sheet of tissue or nonwoven, such as a paper towel. Typically, such a sheet of material has a basis weight of 10-50 g/m². A direct contact and sufficient contact time is required for ensuring that disinfection is achieved. Therefore, an enclosure having no deep and/or narrow depressions is

advantageous since it allows a direct contact with a disinfectant applied on a sheet of material and therefore ensures that sufficient disinfection is achieved and no special tools are required.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of the housing comprises only shallow and/or broad depressions.

Herein, shallow and broad is intended to mean sufficiently shallow and broad i.e. having dimensions which allow the recess to be wiped using a sheet of material. That is, a depth of the recess in relation to the minimum width is preferably at least one. Herein, width is intended to mean a distance in a direction one direction extending in a plane substantially parallel with the outer surface of the housing from one first side to an opposite side of the depression. In other words, the dimensions of each depression on/in the exterior of said housing is such that the depression or recess can be wiped by a sheet of material or a sheetlike material, such as a paper towel, such that the sheet can substantially come into contact with the entire outer surface of the housing such that substantially all bacteria and dirt can be removed by the sheet of material and the disinfectant on the sheet of material. Thus, the outer surface of the housing can be cleaned using a disinfectant on the sheet of material. In still other words, the exterior of the housing has no deep and/or narrow depressions having dimensions which do not allow the recesses to be wiped using a sheet of material. The sheet of material or the sheet like material can be a sheet of tissue or nonwoven, such as a paper towel. Typically, such a sheet of material has a basis weight of 10-50 g/m².

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of the housing comprises only depressions having a maximum depth being approximately equal to or smaller than a minimum width of said depression.

Herein, width is intended to mean a distance in a direction one direction extending in a plane substantially parallel with the outer surface of the housing from one first side to an opposite side of the depression. If the depression has one or several open ends, the sides can be the open ends of the depression. Such a depression having a maximum depth being equal to or smaller than a minimum width of the depression is advantageous, since it allows for easy cleaning and disinfection using a sheet of material such that the disinfectant can come into contact with all surfaces of the depression. Thus, no special tool or tools for disinfection are required.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of the housing only comprises depressions having a width of at least approximately 2 mm at least in one direction extending in a plane substantially parallel with the outer surface of the housing from a first side to an opposite side of the depression, and preferably of at least approximately 4 mm.

That is, each depression on the exterior of the housing has at least a width of 2 mm and preferably at least 4 mm in one direction for allowing disinfection using a sheet like material. Especially, oblong depressions in form of grooves can have a relatively small minimum width of 2 mm, since such depressions having a largest width in one direction of at least 4 mm still allows the depression to be easily wetted or cleaned with a corner of a sheet of material such as a paper towel.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of the housing only comprises depressions having a maximum depth of 4 mm. According to at least an exemplary embodiment, each depression, in the exterior of said housing, having an outer circumference substantially surrounded by a portion of said outer surface substantially in a single plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression, has a minimum width of at least 4 mm. Herein outer is intended to mean in a direction towards the outer surface of the housing. Thus, outermost means the plane substantially parallel with the major outer surface of the housing. Further, inner is intended to mean in a plane closer to the interior of the housing relative to the major outer surface. Substantially surrounded is intended to mean surrounded by essentially 360 degrees. Thus, the housing comprises only depressions surrounded by a portion of said outer surface having a minimum width of approximately 4 mm.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, each level of each depression having at least two levels has a minimum width of at least 4 mm.

A depression can have several levels, i.e. there can be a depression having its opening or outer circumference at a first plane substantially parallel to the outer surface of the housing, which first depression further comprises a second depression having its opening or outer circumference at a substantially planar portion of said first depression at particular depth.

Here, outer circumference is the circumference of the second depression nearest the major outer surface of the housing. In case of a depression having two levels, the total depth of the first and second, depression is equal to or smaller than the width of the opening of the first depression at the plane substantially parallel to the outer surface of the housing. The similar applies also for a depression having a larger number of levels.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, each depression, in said exterior of said housing, having an outer circumference partially surrounded by a portion of said outer surface substantially in one plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression, has a minimum width of at least 2 mm.

Thus, the housing comprises only depressions being partially surrounded by a portion of said outer surface having a minimum width of at least 2 mm. According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the outer surface in one single plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression surrounds at most a portion corresponding to 270 degrees of said outer circumference of said depression.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of said housing comprises only smooth edges.

Herein, edges mean either inner our outer edges and/or corners. Thus, the exterior of the housing comprises only depressions or elevations having smooth edges.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of said housing comprises only curvatures having a radius of curvature of at least approximately 1 mm, and preferably at least approximately 2 mm.

Thus, the exterior of the housing comprises only depressions or elevations having a radius of curvature of at least approximately 1 mm, and preferably at least approximately 2 mm. This means that overall of the exterior of the housing the curvatures are smooth, that is, both inner and/or outer edges and/or corners. Also, if there are depressions or elevations at several levels or depressions having elevations or protrusions, such depressions or elevations comprises only smooth inner and/or outer edges or corners, having a radius of curvature of at least approximately 1 mm, and preferably at least approximately 2 mm. Such depressions or elevations are advantageous since the absence of sharp inner and/or outer edges and/or corners allows easy cleaning and disinfection without accumulation of dirt and bacteria in portions of the exterior of the housing having especially having sharp inner edges and/or corners.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the exterior of said housing comprises only depressions having curvatures having a minimum radius of curvature of at least

approximately 1 mm and preferably at least approximately 2 mm. Especially, the curvature of a bottom of each depression has at least a curvature having a radius of curvature of at least approximately 1 mm, and preferably at least approximately 2 mm. Also, if there are depressions or elevations at several levels or depressions having elevations or protrusions, such depressions or elevations comprises only smooth inner and/or outer edges or corners, having a radius of curvature of at least approximately 1 mm, and preferably at least approximately 2 mm. Such depressions or elevations are

advantageous since the absence of sharp inner and/or outer edges and/or corners allows easy cleaning and disinfection without accumulation of dirt and bacteria in portions of the exterior of the housing having especially having sharp inner edges and/or corners. According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the at least first and second portions are welded together to form said water tight enclosure.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the at least first and second portions are fastened together by a solvent resistant adhesive, preferably comprising epoxy or a cyanoacrylate. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the colour of the outer surface is light. Such a light colour facilitates visual appearance of dirt, and therefore allows for easier cleaning.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the electronics enclosure is adapted to be attached to and detached from an absorbent article, or a receptacle arranged on an absorbent article, and wherein means for attaching the enclosure to the absorbent article comprises only depressions or elevations as defined above.

According to at least an exemplary embodiment, the sensor is a sensor indicative of a degree of wetness of said absorbent article and said state of said absorbent article is a wetness state and wherein the electronics enclosure comprises means for collecting data indicative of a degree of wetness of said absorbent article.

Herein, a degree of wetness means anything between a dry absorbent article and a wet absorbent article that should be changed, and a dry article is considered to have zero degree of wetness. Further, an outer layer of the housing is intended to mean a layer of the outer side of the housing when the portions are attached to each other, that is, the outside of the housing facing away from said water tight enclosure.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a system for monitoring a state of an absorbent article comprising an absorbent article comprising a sensor and a reusable electronics enclosure according to the first aspect of the invention, which is adapted to be associated with the absorbent article and adapted to be in contact with the sensor. Such a system is advantageous since it allows for disinfection of the reusable electronics enclosure and without risk of leakage into the housing or chemical damage of the housing. Thus the system allows for ensuring that the risk of spreading infections is as low as possible when a single electronics enclosure is used for a plurality of different persons and a plurality of absorbent articles. Further, the system provides a reusable electronics enclosure that allows low risk of spreading of infections as well as distinguishability of control units, so that the risk of mixing up two or more loggers with each other is eliminated.

Other advantages with such a system are similar to the advantages of the first aspect of the invention described above. The sensor can be integrated into the absorbent article, that is, the sensor cannot be removed without breaking the absorbent article and is therefore discarded together with the soiled absorbent article. Alternatively, the sensor can be reusable and attachable to or arrangeable in the absorbent article such that the sensor is capable of being responsive to the desired physical property of the absorbent article. Suitably, such a reusable sensor is detachable from said absorbent article after use.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the element, device, component, means, step, etc" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiment(s) of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example monitoring system for absorbent articles; Fig. 2 is a top view of an enclosure being an example of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is a front three-quarter view of an enclosure being an example of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 is a side view of an enclosure being an example of the present disclosure;

Fig. 5 is a front view of an enclosure being an example of the present disclosure; and Fig. 6 is a top view of an enclosure and a receptacle each being an example of the present disclosure.

All the figures are highly schematic, not necessarily to scale, and they show only parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested. Detailed description of the drawings

The invention will now, by way of example, be described in more detail by means of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Herein words as outer, inner, outside, inside, etc. are intended to have their ordinary meaning in relation to the housing of the electronics enclosure in assembled form. Thus, outer is in a direction towards the outer surface of the housing and outermost is the plane substantially parallel with the major outer surface of the housing. Further, inner is intended to mean in a plane closer to the interior of the housing relative to the major outer surface. Outside is the side of the housing facing away from the enclosure formed by the housing, which is the side of the housing which can be seen. Consequently, inside is the inner portion forming the electronics enclosure. Exterior is intended to mean the side of the housing facing away from the water tight enclosure when the at least two portions are attached to each other. In other words, the exterior is the outside of the housing. Further, a depression can have any suitable form, which has no sharp edges, such as oblong, circular, elliptical, quadratic with round corners, etc. One exemplary system for monitoring absorbent articles is shown in Figure 1, in which an absorbent article 400, exemplified here as a diaper and having a waistband 410 and an absorbent core 420, is provided with a reusable data collector or logger unit 300 attached to the waistband 410 and having sense wires 430 extending from the logger unit 300 running through the absorbent core 420. The reusable data collector or logger unit 300 is an example of an electronics enclosure according to the claims. The sense wires 430 may be used to detect moisture, for example by detecting changes in the conductivity between the wires. The sense wires may be only partly exposed to the absorbent area, for example by providing insulation, to localise the region of sensing. The particular wiring pattern depicted is wholly exemplary, and will be selected according to the sensing requirements. In figure 1 the absorbent article is shown in form of an adult incontinence product, i.e. a diaper 400. The principles of the present invention are, however, applicable to other absorbent articles such as baby or toddler diapers, sanitary towels or other known absorbent articles.

In an alternative embodiment, instead of being attached to the absorbent article or diaper 400, the data collector or logger unit 300 can be associated with the article in any other suitable way, such as by a wireless connection.

The logger unit 300, comprising data-collecting or logging electronics such as a power source, processor, memory, instruction store, data store, communications bus, and data link interface, which cooperate to store, process, and/or forward the data derived from sense wires, is connected by data link 500 to a data receiver 600. In the example of figure 1, data link 500 is a wireless data link, and data receiver 600 is a wireless data receiver. However, it is also possible that a docking functionality can be provided between the logger unit 300 and a docking station functioning as data receiver 600 to transfer data recorded in the logger 300 when the logger 300 is placed into the docking station. In a further alternative, data link 500 can be provided over the cellular telephone network, in which case data receiver 600 may be implemented as a cellular base station.

The data received at data receiver 600 is then transmitted by a further data link 700 to data processing equipment 800, exemplified as computer terminal 810 and output device 820 mutually connected by data link 830. Here, the computer terminal 810, which is an example of a general purpose data processing device, conducts processing on the sensor data received from the logger unit 300 via data links 500 and 700 and data receiver 600 and takes action based on the same, for example by outputting alerts, predictions, or statistics via output device 820. Here, the output device is shown as a line printer, but could, for example, be another form of hard copy printer, a visual display unit, a visual alarm panel, or an audio output device, without limitation. The absorbent article 400 is a conventional disposable absorbent article for reasons of hygiene and convenience. Further, in the arrangement of figure 1, the data collector or logger unit 300 is attachable and detachable to the absorbent article 400 and therefore, when the absorbent article 400 is to be discarded after a use, the logger unit 300 can be detached form the absorbent article 400 and attached to a new unsoiled absorbent article. This is advantageous, since the data collector or logger unit 300 is generally far more costly than the absorbent article 400 to manufacture. Therefore, the system of figure 1 is less expensive to operate, especially for an extended period of time, compared to systems with non-reusable data collector or logger units. Further, the system of figure 1 has the advantage of being more environmentally sound, since less electronic waste is disposed.

An exemplary enclosure 100 for use with the receptacle 200 is shown in figures 2 to 5.

The electronics enclosure in form of a data collector unit or logger unit 100 has six surfaces which together define a housing for electronics to be enclosed therein. The first and second surfaces 101a and 101b, respectively, are front and rear surfaces in an engagement direction of enclosure 100 with receptacle 200. Third and fourth surfaces 101c, lOld are respectively left and right surfaces looking in an engagement direction of the enclosure 100 with the receptacle 200, with a horizon of view being defined as the engagement plane. Fifth and sixth surfaces are then top and bottom surfaces lOle, lOlf, separated from one another in a direction perpendicular to the engagement plane. Left and right surfaces 101c, lOld are separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the engagement direction but lying within the engagement plane.

I n the present embodiment, enclosure 100 has top and bottom surfaces lOle, lOlf, which are generally in the shape of isosceles trapezoids, at least in terms of their substantial perimeter. The front and rear surfaces 101a, 101b, are respectively bowed outward in a direction respectively toward and opposed to the engagement direction. Further, the parallel sides of the isosceles trapezoid defining the perimeter of top and bottom surfaces lOle, lOlf are not strictly parallel, but rather are also slightly bowed outwardly in a corresponding fashion. I n the present enclosure 100, bottom surface lOlf is planar and flat, to easily translate across, in a sliding fashion, base surface 220 of receptacle 200. In contrast, top surface lOle is not, as such, planar, but is slightly bowed outward in a direction perpendicular to the engagement plane. The planes defined by each of the perimeters of top surface lOle and bottom surface lOle are here parallel, but could be inclined such that they tend to converge in a given direction, such as the engagement direction, disengagement direction, or a direction perpendicular to the engagement direction. Alternatively, the housing can have any other suitable form and corresponding number of surfaces, such as a substantially circular or elliptical form and therefore three surfaces, a substantially hemi circular form and therefore four surfaces, a substantially triangular form and therefore five surfaces, etc. herein form implies the essential form of the front and rear surfaces 101a and 101b, respectively, which also is essentially the cross section of the enclosure in a plane substantially parallel with the front and rear surfaces 101a and 101b, respectively.

At least an outer surface of the enclosure or at least an outer layer of the housing is essentially made of solvent resistant material. I n embodiments, the at least first and second portions of the housing are injection moulded and comprise essentially solvent resistant material. Alternatively, the first and second portions are formed substantially of solvent resistant material. Especially, the solvent resistant material can be ethanol resistant. This is advantageous since ethanol is generally used as a disinfectant within residential homes and/or medical facilities. In exemplary embodiments, the material is a non-polar polymer and/or comprises materials from a first group of polyethylene, polypropylene,

polyoxymethylene (pom), polyphenylene sulfide (pps), polyvinylidene fluoride, Phenol formaldehyde resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester (UPR), or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the solvent resistant material may comprise materials from a second group of polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (abs), polyamide, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide (ppo), or combinations thereof and/or materials from the first group. However, the materials of the second group are not as advantageous as the materials of the first group, since they are not as solvent resistance as the materials in the first group.

Alternatively, the first and second portions of the housing can be made of several material layers. I n such a case at least the outer layer comprises, or is preferably substantially of, solvent resistant material and preferably of ethanol resistant material. If only the outer layer is resistant the minimum thickness of the outer layer is x=dt2; where x is the thickness, d is a diffusion constant specific for the diffusion of alcohol in the chosen polymer, which can be found in reference literature or by performing tests, and t is the exposure time. The value t equals approximately 10-60 minutes, more preferably t equals approximately 10-15 minutes, and most preferably t equals approximately 10 minutes. Generally because 10 minutes exposure to alcohol is enough to inactivate most bacteria and virus, however, clinically important pathogens such as mycobacteria may require exposure times of 15-60 minutes.

If it is desired to form depressions in the exterior of the housing after the injection moulding process, for instance by milling or cutting, the thickness of the layer is such that the surface of the depression comprises solvent resistant material. I n other words, in such a case the thickness of the layer is slightly larger than the depth of the desired depressions to be formed in cured housing portions.

I n figures 2-6, the outer surface (that is the entire outer surfaces formed of the all six surfaces together) of said housing of the electronics enclosure 100 is smooth, and preferably has a surface roughness of R_a 1.6 μιτι. R_a is defined as the arithmetical mean deviation of the profile and is the mean value of the absolute value of a profile departure y within a reference length I. R_a 1.6 μιη equals to No. 24 on Charmille scale. Further, an average valley to peak height of said outer surface of said housing is substantially equal to or less than 1 mm.

For certain reasons, such as for differentiating enclosures from each other, the surfaces can be provided with distinct textures or relief patterns, or other such asymmetric features, having a the peak to valley 1 mm and cover at most 5% of the surface, have at least 1-3 mm between each distinct mark or texture and are surrounded by a substantially flat area to allow disinfection. Such distinct textures can alternatively be in form of printed patterns or symbols, such as numbers or characters in a colour that is solvent resistant. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the colour of the outer surface is light.

Bottom surface lOlf is provided with a contact zone (not shown) having electrical contacts. These contacts are positioned so as to be in electrical contact with the corresponding contacts in the receptacle, when the enclosure 100 is engaged with the receptacle. The surface of the electrical contacts is substantially aligned with the bottom surface lOlf. The narrow openings between the housing and the electrical contacts can be sealed using a solvent resistant adhesive, such as an adhesive comprising epoxy or a cyanoacrylate.

Alternatively, the narrow openings can be sealed by welding the electrical contacts to the housing during injections moulding of the housing or by melting the portions of the housing adjacent to the electrical contacts such that those portions fix to the electrical contacts. Alternatively, the contacts could be formed on front surface 101a for engagement with corresponding contacts formed, for example, on front wall 260 of enclosure 200.

Left and right surfaces 101c, lOld are respectively provided with guide grooves 140a, 140b, extending from the front surface 101a at least partially rearwardly along left and right surfaces 101c, lOld, in the engagement plane. It is preferred that the guide grooves 140a, 140b open at the front surface 101a, although this is not strictly necessary if left and right surfaces 101c, lOld are sufficiently inclined as to permit corresponding guide rails 240a, 240b provided to receptacle 200 to engage with the guide grooves 140a, 140b at an initial engagement position rearward of front surface 101a. In the present embodiment of the enclosure 100, locking depressions 150a, 150b are provided in and at a rear end of guide grooves 140a, 140b, respectively, for engagement with locking protrusions 250a, 250b of the receptacle.

However, other configurations and locations of locking protrusions are contemplated, and indeed the locking protrusions could be provided to the enclosure, either on left and right surfaces 101c, lOld, or on, for example, top and bottom surfaces lOle, lOlf, or the protrusions could be provided to the enclosure and the depressions could be provided to the receptacle. Alternatively, the protrusions can be located on the enclosure and depressions can be located on the receptacle. However, forming the protrusions on the enclosure may have an advantage that the protrusions are easier to clean in a hygienic setting than depressions. Notably, the protrusions and depressions are preferably hemispherical or dome-shaped, to enable smooth engagement one with the other, although pyramidal, triangular prismatic, and other shapes of protrusion may be used, without limitation. The guide and engagement means of the enclosure 100 has dimensions which allow the surface of the enclosure to be wiped using a sheet or sheet like material. That is, all depressions or elevations of the guide and engagement means are shallow and/or sufficiently broad for allowing wiping with a sheet of material. Further, the guide and engagement means have a maximum depth of at most 4 mm, and a width of at least 4 mm.

As is clear from figures 2-5, the exterior of the housing comprises no deep and/or narrow depressions. Deep and/or narrow is intended to mean having dimensions which do not allow wiping by a sheet material or sheet-like material such that the sheet can come into contact with the entire outer surface of the housing. In other words, the exterior of the housing comprises only minor or shallow and/or broad depressions. That is, depressions are sufficiently shallow and sufficiently broad i.e. have dimensions which allow the recess to be wiped using a sheet of material. That is, a depth of the recess in relation to the minimum width is at least one. Herein, width is intended to mean a distance in a direction one direction extending in a plane substantially parallel with the outer surface of the housing from one first side to an opposite side of the depression.

In other words, the dimensions of each depression on/in the exterior of said housing is such that the sheet of material can come substantially into contact with the entire outer surface of the housing, even in the depressions or recesses, such that substantially all bacteria and dirt can be removed by the sheet of material and the disinfectant on the sheet of material. Thus, the outer surface of the housing can be cleaned using a disinfectant on the sheet of material. In still other words, the exterior of the housing has no deep and/or narrow depressions having dimensions which do not allow the recesses to be wiped using a sheet of material. The sheet of material or sheet like material can be a sheet of tissue or non-woven, such as a paper towel, having typically a basis weight of 10-50 g/m².

In embodiments, all depressions on the housing have a maximum depth of at most 4 mm, a minimum width of at least 2 mm, and a width at least in one direction of 4 mm. In other words, each depression on the housing has a maximum depth being approximately equal to or smaller than a width of said depression.

In the exterior of the housing, each/all depression(s) having an outer circumference substantially surrounded by a portion of said outer surface substantially in a single plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression, has a width of at least 4 mm. An example of such a depression is for instance the locking depressions 150a, 150b in figure 4. Substantially surrounded is intended to mean surrounded by substantially 360 degrees. A depression in the exterior of said housing can be/have in several levels, i.e. there can be a depression having its opening or outer circumference at a first plane substantially parallel to the outer surface of the housing, which first depression further comprises a second depression having its opening or outer circumference at a substantially planar portion of said first depression at particular depth. Here, outer circumference is the circumference of the second depression nearest the major outer surface of the housing. An example of a depression having two levels is the guide groove 140a, 140b together with the locking depression 150a, 150b in figure 4, for which the first depression is the guide groove and the second depression the locking depression. The total depth of the first and second depression for such a depression having at least two levels, is equal to or smaller than the width of the opening of the first depression at the plane substantially parallel to the outer surface of the housing. The similar applies also for a depression having a larger number of levels. The reusable electronics enclosure according to anyone of preceding claims, wherein each level of each depression having several levels has a width of at least 4 mm. In the exterior of said housing, each/all depression(s) having an outer circumference partially surrounded by a portion of said outer surface substantially in one single plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression, has a width of at least 2 mm. Partially surrounded means that the outer surface in one single plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression surrounds at most a portion corresponding to 270 degrees of said outer circumference of said depression. An example of a depression being partially surrounded is the guide groove 140a, 140b in figure 4.

As is clear from figures 2-6, the exterior of said housing comprises only smooth edges, preferably, the exterior of said housing comprises only curvatures having a radius of curvature of at least 1 mm and preferably at least 2 mm. Herein, edges mean either inner our outer edges and/or corners. Thus, the exterior of the housing comprises only depressions or elevations having a radius of curvature of at least 1 mm and preferably at least 2 mm. This means that overall of the exterior of the housing the curvatures are smooth that is, both for inner and/or outer edges and/or corners. Also, if there are depressions or elevations at several levels or depressions having elevations or protrusions, such depressions or elevations comprises only smooth inner and/or outer edges or corners, having a radius of curvature of 1 mm and preferably at least 2 mm. Such depressions or elevations are advantageous since the absence of sharp inner and/or outer edges and/or corners allows easy cleaning and disinfection without accumulation of dirt and bacteria in portions of the exterior of the housing having especially having sharp inner edges and/or corners.

The at least first and second portions of the housing are attached together to form a water- tight enclosure such that no deep or narrow depression or recess or groove is formed along the attachment line. The portions can be fastened together by welding, by a sealing formed of a solvent resistant material, or by a solvent resistant adhesive, preferably comprising epoxy or a cyanoacrylate.

Enclosure 100 is also provided with a depression on rear surface 101b extending to the edge at which rear surface 101b joins bottom surface lOlf. This feature enables easy

disengagement of the enclosure 100 from the receptacle 200. However, the depression 120 is not essential, and protrusion 270 can be provided on its own, or vice versa, to provide a location where force can be applied to separate receptacle 200 from enclosure 100. Also this depression has width and deep within the claimed ranges. Figure 6 shows enclosure 100 and corresponding receptacle 200. Enclosure 100 houses the electronics for monitoring the sensors 430, while receptacle 200 provides a point of attachment for the enclosure 100 for releasably attaching the enclosure 100 to the absorbent article 400. The electronics, here, may include a power source, processor, memory, instruction store, data store, communications bus, and data link interface, which cooperate to store, process, and/or forward the data derived from sensor wires. To facilitate this, the sensors 430 are arranged to terminate in electrical contacts 211 at a termination zone 210 of receptacle 200, at which the sensor wires 430 are terminated at electrical contacts. Enclosure 100 is provided with corresponding contacts such that when enclosure 100 is engaged with receptacle 200, the contacts of receptacle 200 come into electrical contact with the contacts of enclosure 100. Thus, when engaged in the receptacle 200, electronics enclosure 100 are able to communicate with the sense wires 430. Termination zone 210 can provide a substrate to support the contacts, or can be an open region to allow predefined contacts formed in the fabric of the absorbent article to protrude into the receptacle. Receptacle 200 and enclosure 100 also provide a corresponding guide and engagement means, such that enclosure 100 may be easily introduced to and securely retained within receptacle 200. To achieve an engaged configuration of the enclosure and receptacle, the enclosure 100 is appropriately oriented and aligned with the receptacle 200 and is then translated in an engagement direction (shown in Figure 6 as direction D) towards the receptacle until engagement is achieved, resulting in the engaged configuration.

The system inventive system having a reusable electronics enclosure in form of a data collector or logger unit has several advantages. Particularly, the receptacle 200, which is relatively inexpensive and contains no electronics, may be provided as multiple instances to a series of diapers for use by one individual, while, in contrast to the system of figure 1, only one enclosure 100 is required, which is associated with a particular individual. During manufacture of each diaper 400, each receptacle 200 is attached at a convenient location and contacts of receptacle 200 are provided as terminations of sense wires 430.

Enclosure 100, on the other hand, encloses data-collecting electronics such as a power source, processor, memory, instruction store, data store, communications bus, and data link interface, which cooperate to store, process, and/or forward the data derived from sense wires 430 via data link 500, data receiver 600, data link 700, to data processing equipment 800. Where the data link 500 is a wireless data link, such transmission can be immediate and on-demand, or delayed and batch transmitted to save power or communication costs. Where data receiver is a docking station, the data collector or logger electronics will typically store data for a time period before downloading it through the docking station.

Initially, a user is fitted with absorbent article 400 to which receptacle 200 is provided, and enclosure 100 containing the data collector electronics is engaged with the receptacle. The contacts of receptacle and enclosure are thus brought into electrical connection, and the electronics in the enclosure are able to access the sense wires for data collecting purposes.

When it becomes apparent that the absorbent article should be replaced, the enclosure containing the data collecting electronics is easily detached by the carer or the user, the absorbent article is discarded, and a replacement absorbent article, with a replacement receptacle 200, is provided. The enclosure 100 containing the data collector electronics associated with a particular user or patient can be disinfected and then attached to a new absorbent article by engagement with the receptacle 200 on the new absorbent article, and is connected thereby to the sense wires 430 of the new absorbent article 400. In other words, the process of collecting data continues for the lifetime of use of the absorbent article 400. After the lifetime of the absorbent article, the enclosure 100 is detached from the contact area and the absorbent article 400 is disregarded. The enclosure can be disinfected and attached to another clean absorbent article. Therefore, data collecting or acquiring can continue with a single reusable data collector unit or electronics enclosure, while the relatively inexpensive absorbent articles are used and discarded. After an assessment period for a particular user or patient is finalised, the enclosure 100 is detached from the absorbent article and disinfected before being used during an assessment period for another user or patient. Since the electronics enclosure or data collector unit can be disinfected, it can be used on a plurality of users or patients without a risk of spreading infections.

Therefore, a system of monitoring the status of an absorbent article associated with a user, and of monitoring the status even of several different absorbent articles associated with that user over time, becomes cost effective and convenient. Further, since the electronics enclosure allows to be disinfected using a disinfectant, same data collector unit can be used for multiple patients/users while a risk of spreading infections is minimised. Still further, since the electronics enclosures comprises a mark for distinguishing purposes, which allows disinfection, there is no risk for mixing up enclosures associated with different users.

Such a system may find application in residential homes, medical facilities, child care facilities, schools, corrective facilities, and other environments where the monitoring of the continence status of one individual or a plurality of individuals is required.

The scope of the invention according to the claims is not limited to the diaper 300 described above or the sensor described above. The principles of the present invention are, however, applicable to other absorbent articles such as baby or toddler diapers, sanitary towels or other known absorbent articles. Further, the principles of the present invention are applicable to other suitable sensors 400 as well. Thus, instead of sensing wires, the sensor can be of any other suitable type indicative of a desired state of the absorbent article. For instance, the sensor can be a temperature sensor, a gas detector, a pH sensor, a glucose sensor, an odour sensor or any other suitable sensor. Especially, for the invention relating to a sensor for measuring the degree of wetness of the absorbent article, any suitable sensor capable of measuring the degree of wetness on a continuous scale or on a digital scale or on a discrete scale can be used. Herein, a dry absorbent article or core has a wetness degree which is zero.

Even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. For example, additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A reusable electronics enclosure adapted to be associated with an absorbent article and to be in contact with a sensor indicative of state of said absorbent article and comprising means for collecting data indicative of said state of said absorbent article, said electronics enclosure comprising a housing for enclosing electronic components, wherein said housing comprises at least a first and a second portion attached to each other for forming a water tight enclosure; and

wherein at least an outer layer of the housing is essentially made of solvent resistant material.

2. The reusable electronics enclosure according to claim 1, wherein at least an outer layer of the housing is essentially formed of ethanol resistant material.

3. The reusable electronics enclosure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said solvent resistant material is a non-polar polymer.

4. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said solvent resistant material comprises polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (abs), polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene (pom), polyphenylene oxide (ppo), polyphenylene sulfide (pps), polyvinylidene fluoride, Phenol formaldehyde resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester (UPR) or combinations thereof.

5. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said solvent resistant material comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene (pom), polyphenylene sulfide (pps), polyvinylidene fluoride, Phenol formaldehyde resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester (UPR) or combinations thereof.

6. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the outer surface of said housing is smooth, and preferably has a surface roughness defined as the arithmetical mean deviation of the profile, R_a, about 1,6 μιη.

7. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein an average valley to peak height of said outer surface of said housing is substantially equal to or less than 1 mm.

8. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the exterior of the housing comprises no deep and/or narrow depressions.

9. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the exterior of the housing comprises only shallow and/or broad depressions.

10. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the exterior of the housing comprises only depressions having a maximum depth being approximately equal to or smaller than a minimum width of said depression.

11. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the exterior of the housing comprises only depressions having a width of

approximately at least 4 mm at least in one direction extending in a plane substantially parallel with the outer surface of the housing from a first side to an opposite side of the depression.

12. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the exterior of the housing only comprises depressions having a maximum depth of 4 mm.

13. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein each depression, in the exterior of said housing, having an outer circumference substantially surrounded by a portion of said outer surface substantially in a single plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression, has a minimum width of at least 4 mm.

14. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein each level of each depression having at least two levels has a minimum width of at least 4 mm.

15. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims,

wherein, each depression, in said exterior of said housing, having an outer circumference partially surrounded by a portion of said outer surface substantially in one plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression, has a minimum width of at least 2 mm.

16. The reusable electronics enclosure according to claim 14, wherein said outer surface in one single plane extending from the outer circumference of the depression surrounds at most a portion corresponding to 270 degrees of said outer

circumference of said depression.

17. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims,

wherein the exterior of said housing comprises only smooth edges.

18. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the exterior of said housing comprises only curvatures having a radius of curvature of at least approximately 1 mm, and preferably at least approximately 2 mm.

19. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the exterior of said housing comprises only depressions having curvatures having a minimum radius of curvature of at least approximately 1 mm, and preferably at least approximately 2 mm.

20. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the at least first and second portions are welded together to form said water tight enclosure.

21. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the at least first and second portions are fastened together by a solvent resistant adhesive, preferably comprising epoxy or a cyanoacrylate.

22. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein said electronics enclosure is adapted to be attached to and detached from an absorbent article and wherein means for attaching the enclosure to the absorbent article comprises only depressions or elevations according to any one of claims 8-19.

23. The reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of preceding claims, wherein said sensor is a sensor indicative of a degree of wetness of said absorbent article and said state of said absorbent article is a wetness state and wherein the electronics enclosure comprises means for collecting data indicative of a degree of wetness of said absorbent article.

24. A system for monitoring a state of an absorbent article comprising an absorbent article and a reusable electronics enclosure according to any one of claims 1-23.