JP7607731B2 - Toilet training indicators and their uses, and absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to toilet training indicators and their uses, as well as absorbent articles equipped with toilet training indicators.

Conventionally, absorbent articles capable of detecting urinary excretion and changes in the wearer's health condition are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an absorbent article that receives and stores excreta and is equipped with a sensor that detects the health condition of an infant and a window through which the sensor can be viewed.

Special Publication No. 2009-543652

Toilet training is the excretion training given to infants between the age of one and the start of elementary school until they go from constantly wearing diapers to being able to use a regular toilet of their own volition. It is usually carried out at the discretion of the guardian depending on the infant's walking ability, ability to talk, urination intervals, etc. However, the age at which toilet training should begin varies from infant to infant, and it can be difficult for guardians to keep track of an infant's urination intervals when the infant is constantly wearing diapers.

Here, the sensor provided in the absorbent article of Patent Document 1 does not respond differently to urine depending on the developmental state of a healthy infant, and therefore cannot be used to determine the approximate time to start toilet training.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a toilet training indicator that allows a user to know when to start toilet training, and in particular, a toilet training indicator that allows a user to know when to start toilet training based on the developmental state of an infant.

In view of the above problems, the inventors of the present invention provide a toilet training indicator for absorbent articles that indicates the time to start toilet training, based on differences in the infant's response to urine depending on the infant's developmental stage.

The present invention provides a toilet training indicator that allows a user to know when to start toilet training, and in particular, allows a user to know when to start toilet training based on the developmental state of a child.

1 is a plan view of a toilet training indicator material 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes aspects of the present invention.

[Aspect 1]
(composition)
A toilet training indicator for absorbent articles, which indicates the time to start toilet training based on the different responses to urine depending on the developmental stage of an infant.

(effect)
To start toilet training, it is necessary for an infant's mental and physical development, such as brain function and urinary function, to reach a certain level, but since there are individual differences in the level of mental and physical development, it is difficult to grasp this level. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toilet training indicator for absorbent articles responds to urine, and the response of the toilet training indicator to urine differs depending on the infant's developmental state, so that when this toilet training indicator is used in, for example, an absorbent article, it is possible to grasp an estimate of the time to start toilet training for the infant.

[Aspect 2]
(composition)
The toilet training indicator according to the first aspect, wherein the response to the urine is a color reaction.

(effect)
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to visually grasp an indication of when to start toilet training.

[Aspect 3]
A toilet training indicator according to the first or second aspect, which shows different responses depending on the value of urine specific gravity.

(effect)
In the process of the physical and mental development of an infant, the bladder function and kidney function develop, and thus the urine specific gravity changes with the change in urine concentrating function. Therefore, by using the toilet training indicator according to the third aspect of the present invention in, for example, an absorbent article, it is possible to grasp the approximate time for starting toilet training for an infant.

[Aspect 4]
(composition)
4. The toilet training indicator according to claim 3, comprising a combination of a pH buffer, a pH indicator, and a surfactant.

(effect)
According to the toilet training indicator of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the urine specific gravity can be measured with relatively high sensitivity by a color reaction. Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the time to start toilet training can be grasped relatively simply, with relatively high sensitivity, and visually.

[Aspect 5]
(composition)
4. The toilet training indicator according to claim 3, comprising a combination of a polyelectrolyte and a pH indicator.

(effect)
According to the toilet training indicator of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the urine specific gravity can be measured relatively easily by a color reaction. Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to visually grasp the approximate time to start toilet training.

[Aspect 6]
(composition)
A material constituting an absorbent article;
The toilet training indicator according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, applied to the material;
Toilet training indicator materials, including:

(effect)
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the toilet training indicator is applied to materials constituting an absorbent article. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the toilet training indicator materials can be easily stored and transported, and the step of applying the toilet training indicator can be omitted in the manufacturing process of the absorbent article, further simplifying the manufacturing process of the absorbent article.

[Aspect 7]
A material constituting an absorbent article;
A toilet training indicator material comprising: a carrier containing the toilet training indicator according to any one of the first to fifth aspects applied to the material.

(effect)
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the toilet training indicator is applied to materials constituting an absorbent article in a form in which the indicator is contained in a carrier containing the indicator. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, application of the toilet training indicator to materials can be performed more simply and accurately.

[Aspect 8]
(composition)
A toilet training indicator material as described in the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the material constituting the absorbent article is a sheet-like substrate, and the sheet-like substrate has a visible light transmittance of 30% or more and 80% or less in the visible spectral range.

(effect)
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the material constituting the absorbent article is a sheet-like substrate, and this sheet-like substrate has a visible light transmittance of 30% or more and 80% or less in the visible spectral range. Therefore, it is possible to configure the sheet-like substrate so that a change in an indicator applied to the sheet-like substrate can be detected through the sheet-like substrate, while feces and urine cannot be visually detected through the sheet-like substrate.

[Aspect 9]
(composition)
At least an absorbent body is provided,
An absorbent article comprising the toilet training indicator according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, or the toilet training indicator material according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects.

(effect)
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the absorbent article is provided with the toilet training indicator or the toilet training indicator material, so that by using this absorbent article, it is possible to know when it is time to start toilet training.

[Aspect 10]
(composition)
The response to the urine is a color reaction,
The absorbent article of claim 9, further comprising a color swatch indicating that the wearer is in a developmental state suitable for toilet training, and/or a color swatch indicating that the wearer is not in a developmental state suitable for toilet training.

(effect)
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the absorbent article is provided with a color sample that responds to urine in a color reaction and that indicates that the wearer is in a developmental state suitable for toilet training, and/or a color sample that indicates that the wearer is not in a developmental state suitable for toilet training, thereby enabling a caregiver to quickly determine when to start toilet training.

[Aspect 11]
(composition)
A plurality of absorbent articles according to the ninth or tenth aspect are stored in the storage container,
A package displaying a color swatch indicating that the wearer is in a developmental state suitable for toilet training and/or a color swatch indicating that the wearer is not in a developmental state suitable for toilet training.

(effect)
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of absorbent articles each equipped with a toilet training indicator are provided, thereby enabling a more accurate indication of when to start toilet training regardless of daily fluctuations, and since the packaging body is equipped with a color sample indicating that the wearer is in a developmental state suitable for toilet training and/or a color sample indicating that the wearer is not in a developmental state suitable for toilet training, the caregiver can quickly determine when to start toilet training.

[Aspect 12]
(composition)
Use of the toilet training indicator according to any one of the first to fifth aspects or the toilet training indicator material according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects in an absorbent article.

(effect)
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the above toilet training indicator or the above toilet training indicator material is used in the manufacture of an absorbent article, so that an absorbent article capable of indicating an indication of when to start toilet training can be provided.

[Aspect 13]
(composition)
Use of the toilet training indicator according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, or the toilet training indicator material according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, to determine an indication of when to start toilet training.

(effect)
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the toilet training indicator or the toilet training indicator material is used to determine an approximate time to start toilet training, so that the absorbent article can be used to determine an approximate time to start toilet training.

Toilet training indicator
The toilet training indicator of the present invention is a toilet training indicator for absorbent articles, which indicates the time to start toilet training based on the different responses to urine depending on the developmental stage of an infant.

Color reaction
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the toilet training indicator shows different color reactions to urine depending on the developmental state of the infant. In this aspect, for example, a carrier containing the toilet training indicator is applied to a material constituting an absorbent article, and the indicator contained in the carrier shows different colors depending on the developmental state of the infant. The degree of coloration may be judged with the naked eye, or may be optically measured by reflectance. When judging the degree of coloration with the naked eye, for example, the degree of coloration may be judged with the naked eye by comparing with the color of a standard color table (color sample) or the like created in advance. Alternatively, when measuring the degree of coloration, the degree of coloration of the indicator may be judged by processing an image of the indicator taken by a smartphone or the like with an image processing program installed on the smartphone or the like.

〈Urine specific gravity〉

The toilet training indicator according to one embodiment of the present invention is an indicator that shows different responses depending on the value of urine specific gravity.

Urine specific gravity may be measured using a reagent (a detection compound or detection composition) that exhibits a different color reaction depending on the value of urine specific gravity (e.g., a test strip method), by measuring the refractive index of urine using a refractometer, or by a method that utilizes osmotic pressure.

In order to grasp the time to start toilet training using a toilet training indicator that responds differently depending on the urine specific gravity value, it is preferable to set a specific urine specific gravity value as a threshold value. For example, the time to start toilet training can be determined when the urine specific gravity value is equal to or greater than the threshold value. When the detection range of the urine specific gravity value is, for example, 1.0000 to 1.0400, the time to start toilet training can be determined when the urine specific gravity value is 1.0250 or more, 1.0260 or more, 1.0270 or more, 1.0280 or more, 1.0290 or more, 1.0300 or more, 1.0310 or more, 1.0320 or more, 1.0330 or more, 1.0340 or more, or 1.0350 or more. The urine specific gravity value may vary depending on factors such as the infant's health condition, water intake, dietary restrictions, exercise load, sweating, and season. Therefore, it is preferable to set the threshold value taking into account such fluctuations in urine specific gravity, and in particular, it is preferable to set multiple threshold values depending on the case, taking into account fluctuations in urine specific gravity, and/or to correct the threshold value according to fluctuations in urine specific gravity. The same applies to indicators that use principles other than urine specific gravity.

<Detection composition composed of a combination of a buffer, a pH indicator, and a surfactant>
In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the indicator that shows a different response depending on the value of urine specific gravity contains a detection composition consisting of a combination of a pH buffer, a pH indicator, and a surfactant. For the detection composition containing a combination of a pH buffer, a pH indicator, and a surfactant, the description in JP-A-05-196616 can be referred to.

Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that in indicators containing such detection compositions, the surfactant not only exhibits a solubilizing and wetting effect, but also acts to inhibit the dissociation of the pH indicator, which is normally promoted by the addition of salt, and as a result, the change in absorbance (OD) of the pH indicator increases as the pH of the buffer changes due to the addition of salt.

The detection composition consisting of a combination of a buffer, a pH indicator, and a surfactant may be used, for example, by dissolving the buffer, the pH indicator, and the surfactant in a solvent such as distilled water to prepare a solution, and applying this solution to the material that constitutes the absorbent article.

(pH Buffer)
The pH buffer is usually used in the range of pH 3.0 to 10.0, preferably pH 4.0 to 9.0, and may be one whose pH varies with the addition of a strong electrolyte such as a chloride such as sodium chloride or potassium chloride or a sulfate, etc. Examples of pH buffers include phosphate buffers, borate buffers, citrate buffers, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-maleic acid buffers [tris-maleic acid buffers], and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)iminotris(hydroxymethyl)methane buffers [bis-tris buffers].

In addition, it is preferable to use a pH buffer containing a weak acid such as boric acid or citric acid or a salt thereof in combination with a phosphate or bis-tris buffer as the pH buffer of the present invention, since this prevents the formation of salts such as NaCl during pH adjustment.

As the pH buffer, MES (2-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid), ADA (N-2(acetamido)iminodiacetic acid), PIPES (piperazine-1,4-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid)), ACES (N-(2-acetamido)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), BES (N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), TES (N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), HEPES (2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]-ethanesulfonic acid), cholamine hydrochloride, acetamidoglycine, tricine, glycineamide, or bicine, or a mixture thereof, can also be used. Of these, TES, BES, and ACES are more preferred as pH buffers.

(pH indicator)
The pH indicator is not particularly limited as long as the color change range is within the pH fluctuation range of the pH buffer used.Specific examples of the pH indicator include gentian violet, malachite green, thymol blue, methyl yellow, bromophenol blue, Congo red, methyl orange, bromocresol green, methyl red, litmus, bromocresol purple, bromothymol blue, phenol red, neutral red, naphtholphthalein, cresol red, cresolphthalein, phenolphthalein, thymolphthalein, and alizarin yellow R.

Preferred pH indicators include bromothymol blue, bromcresol purple, thymol blue, phenol red, chlorophenol red, bromcresol green, etc. These pH indicators are preferred because dissociation is promoted by increasing the ionic strength. Another preferred pH indicator is methyl red. These indicators may be used alone or in combination. For example, when bromothymol blue is used in combination with another pH indicator, the color tone change can be increased and the color change range can be expanded, making it more practical and more preferred. Other pH indicators that can be used in combination with bromothymol blue include, for example, thymol blue, phenol red, methyl red, etc.

(Surfactant)
The surfactant to be used may be one that has the effect of suppressing the dissociation of the pH indicator, which is promoted by an increase in ionic strength, and examples of such surfactants include anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and nonionic surfactants.

Examples of anionic surfactants include higher alcohol sulfate esters such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), lithium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), sodium 1-dodecanesulfonate, sodium diisooctyl sulfosuccinate (SDOSS), and sodium octyl sulfate. These anionic surfactants are preferably used together with a neutral to alkaline (pH 6 to 10) pH buffer.

Examples of cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts having one or more alkyl groups with 7 or more carbon atoms, specifically myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (MTAB), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, and lauryltrimethylammonium chloride. Examples of cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts having a phenyl group, such as benzalkonium chloride, tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, lauryldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, and quaternary ammonium salts having a pyridyl group, such as laurylpyridinium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, and stearylamidomethylpyridinium chloride. These quaternary ammonium salts can be used in a relatively wide range of pH ranges.

Examples of amphoteric surfactants include alkyl betaines such as lauryl dimethyl betaine and stearyl betaine, and 2-lauryl-N-carboxylmethyl-N-hydroxylethyl imidazolinium betaine, which are preferably used together with a pH buffer in the neutral range (pH 6 to 8).

Examples of nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene (8) octylphenyl ether and polyoxyethylene (10) octylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters such as polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, and sorbitan monolaurate. These nonionic surfactants are preferably used together with a pH buffer in the neutral range (pH 6 to 8).

The amount and concentration of each component contained in the detection composition according to the present disclosure are not particularly limited, but can be set appropriately taking into consideration the visibility of the color reaction. For the amount and concentration of each component contained in the detection composition, the description in JP-A-05-196616 can be referenced, for example.

When the detection composition of the present invention is applied to materials or the like in the form of a solution, the concentration of the pH indicator in the solution may be, for example, 0.01 w/v% to 5.0 w/v% or 0.01 w/v% to 2.5 w/v%, 0.05 w/v% to 2.0 w/v%, or 0.1 w/v% to 1.0 w/v%. When the concentration of the pH indicator is within this range, good visibility of the indicator response in the absorbent article can be ensured.

Furthermore, for example, when bromothymol blue is used as the pH indicator, the amount of pH indicator applied in the toilet training indicator can be 5.0 μg or more per ^cm2 . By applying a pH indicator in an amount of 5.0 μg or more, the visibility of the response of the toilet training indicator may be further improved.

When the detection composition of the present invention is applied to materials in the form of a solution, the concentration of the pH buffer in the solution may be, for example, 1 to 900 mM, and preferably 5 to 300 mM.

When the detection composition of the present invention is applied to materials or the like in the form of a solution, the concentration of the surfactant in the solution may be, for example, 0.01 w/v% to 5.0 w/v% or 0.01 w/v% to 2.5 w/v%, 0.05 w/v% to 2.0 w/v%, or 0.1 w/v% to 1.0 w/v%.

<Detection composition composed of a combination of a polyelectrolyte and a pH indicator>
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an indicator that shows a different color reaction depending on the value of urine specific gravity includes a detection composition including a combination of a polyelectrolyte and a pH indicator. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that when the detection composition is used as an indicator, cations contained in urine are exchanged for protons by the polyelectrolyte, and the protons cause the pH indicator to change color. Since the concentration of cations contained in urine is believed to be proportional to urine specific gravity, urine specific gravity can be measured by the color reaction obtained by the combination of the polyelectrolyte and the pH indicator.

(Polymer electrolyte)
As the polymer electrolyte, it is preferable to use a water-soluble polymer compound having an acid group, and examples thereof include methoxyethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polystyrene sulfonic acid, and polyvinyl sulfate.

(pH indicator)
For the pH indicator, see the above description.

<Cation>
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, cations in urine can be detected. In infants, the concentration of cations in urine changes with the development of renal function, so by detecting cations, it is possible to know when to start toilet training. In addition, by using a color reaction as the response of the toilet training indicator to the detection target substance, it is possible to visually know when to start toilet training.

Here, the cations detected by the toilet training indicator of this embodiment are mainly monovalent cations such as sodium ions and potassium ions. The method for measuring the concentration of cations in urine is not particularly limited, but may be a method of measuring by a color reaction using a reagent composition containing the above-mentioned combination of polymer electrolyte and pH indicator.

In the toilet training indicator of the embodiment of the present invention, the type and amount of detection compound or detection composition are preferably adjusted so as to respond to a urinary substance at or above a predetermined concentration.

<SAP>
As a method for grasping the approximate time to start toilet training, in addition to the above-mentioned detection composition, an indicator utilizing the breakdown of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) used in the absorbent may be used. For example, by utilizing the fact that SAP is easily broken down by ascorbic acid or iron, and that ascorbic acid and iron increase with the age (months) of the infant, the approximate time to start toilet training can be grasped by using SAP, which breaks down when the ascorbic acid or iron in the urine is higher than a predetermined value, as an indicator reagent.

Such indicators include, for example, certain SAPs, such as sodium polyacrylate, which destabilize their gel-like structure and become at least partially liquefied when exposed to the urine of a developmentally advanced infant. Thus, the use of sodium polyacrylate as a toilet training indicator can provide an indication of when to begin toilet training.

In addition, because SAP can be used as an absorbent article in infant diapers, using SAP as a toilet training indicator is particularly advantageous from the standpoint that it does not require a separate dedicated indicator.

Without intending to be limited by theory, the mechanism by which the above-mentioned SAP reacts differently to urine depending on the developmental state of the infant is thought to be related to changes in the amount of ascorbic acid and iron in the urine. That is, in young infants (infants), the iron content in breast milk is low and hematopoiesis is active, so iron excretion is suppressed, while in older infants, iron excretion increases with changes in the quality and quantity of food intake. Similarly, it is thought that the excretion of ascorbic acid, which is involved in the absorption of non-heme iron, is low in young infants and high in older infants. Therefore, the structure of the above-mentioned SAP hardly changes when it comes into contact with the urine of young infants, but the gel structure is destabilized by the relatively large amounts of ascorbic acid and iron contained in the urine of older infants.

Toilet training indicator containing a detection reactive substance that reacts with other detection target substances
The toilet training indicator of the present invention may be a detection reagent (detection compound or detection composition) other than those described above. Examples of such detection reagents include pH indicators (responding to hydrogen ions or proteins in urine), sulfanilamide (responding to nitrite in urine), sodium nitroruside hydrate (responding to ketone bodies in urine), a combination of glucose oxidase, peroxidase and a reducing chromogen (responding to glucose in urine), and diazonium salts (responding to bilirubin in urine). Toilet training indicators containing such detection reagents are also included within the scope of the present invention.

<Toilet training indicator materials>
The present disclosure also relates to a toilet training indicator material, the toilet training indicator material including a material constituting an absorbent article and a toilet training indicator applied to the material.

When a toilet training indicator is applied to the materials that make up an absorbent article, the toilet training indicator materials are easy to store and transport, and the process of applying the toilet training indicator can be omitted when manufacturing the absorbent article, further simplifying the manufacturing process of the absorbent article.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a toilet training indicator material 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the toilet training indicator material 1 includes a back sheet 3 and a toilet training indicator 2 applied to the back sheet 3. The toilet training indicator 2 is, for example, coated with a solution of a detection composition, and is preferably maintained in a dried/solidified state. In another embodiment of the present invention, the toilet training indicator material 1 may include a back sheet 3 and a carrier 2' containing a toilet training indicator applied to the back sheet 3.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sheet-like substrate typified by the back sheet 3 has a light transmittance of 30% or more and 80% or less in the visible spectrum range. When the sheet-like substrate has the above light transmittance, the color reaction of the toilet training indicator applied to the sheet-like substrate can be easily seen even through the sheet-like substrate, and the color of feces or urine can be difficult to see from the opposite side. The light transmittance in the visible spectrum range can be measured by a transmittance meter.

Because it is relatively easy to handle and easy to apply to materials that constitute absorbent articles, for example, the toilet training indicator is preferably applied to the materials as an indicator-containing carrier obtained by soaking a nonwoven fabric in the solution-like detection composition according to the present disclosure and drying it.

(Materials)
Examples of materials constituting the absorbent article include sheet-like materials constituting the liquid-permeable top sheet (e.g., nonwoven fabric, film, etc.), sheet-like materials constituting the liquid-impermeable back sheet (e.g., nonwoven fabric, film, etc.), materials constituting the absorbent layer (pulp fiber, highly absorbent polymer, core wrap sheet, etc.), second sheets, carrier sheets, intermediate sheets, exterior sheets, etc., and combinations thereof. The top sheet is a material that is located closer to the skin than the back sheet when the absorbent article is worn. As the back sheet, a liquid-impermeable sheet-like substrate having at least a portion of its surface rendered hydrophilic may be used.

When a nonwoven fabric is used as the top sheet and/or back sheet, the fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric include natural fibers, chemical fibers, etc., and more specifically, cellulose fibers such as ground pulp and cotton; regenerated cellulose such as rayon and fibril rayon; semi-synthetic cellulose such as acetate and triacetate; thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers; and thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers that have been subjected to hydrophilic treatment. Examples of thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers include monofilaments made of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc., and fibers made of graft polymers of PE and PP.

Examples of nonwoven fabrics include air-through nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, point-bond nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, needle-punched nonwoven fabrics, melt-blown nonwoven fabrics, and combinations thereof (e.g., SMS, etc.).

The nonwoven fabric may be hydrophilized. There are no particular limitations on the method of hydrophilization, but examples include a method of coating the surface of the nonwoven fabric with a hydrophilizing agent, a method of coating the surface of the fibers that make up the nonwoven fabric with a hydrophilizing agent, and a method of incorporating a hydrophilizing agent into the synthetic resin that is the raw material for the fibers that make up the nonwoven fabric.

The absorbent that can be used in the absorbent layer is not particularly limited as long as it can absorb and retain excreted liquids such as urine, and any known absorbent can be used. Examples of absorbent bodies include an absorbent core made of an absorbent material covered with a core wrap sheet such as a hydrophilic tissue. Examples of absorbent materials that make up the absorbent core include hydrophilic fibers and superabsorbent polymers, and more specifically, cellulose-based fibers such as ground pulp, cotton, rayon, and acetate, superabsorbent polymers such as sodium acrylate copolymers, and mixtures of these.

Examples of liquid-impermeable backsheets include films containing PE, PP, etc., breathable resin films, laminates in which breathable resin films are bonded to nonwoven fabrics such as spunbond or spunlace, and multilayer nonwoven fabrics such as SMS.

<Carrier containing a toilet training indicator>
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the toilet training indicator is applied to the toilet training material in the form of being contained in a carrier, i.e., the toilet training indicator material includes a material constituting an absorbent article and a carrier containing the toilet training indicator (indicator-containing carrier) applied to the material.

When the toilet training indicator is contained in a carrier, application of the toilet training indicator to materials can be performed more easily and accurately.

In a preferred embodiment of the toilet training indicator material, the above-mentioned indicator-containing carrier is applied to the back sheet.

(Carrier containing a toilet training indicator)
The carrier containing the toilet training indicator according to the present disclosure may be a coating, film, mixture, dispersion, or laminate obtained by coating, printing, immersing, kneading, injecting, dispersing, sprinkling, or laminating the above-mentioned detection compound or detection composition on a carrier such as an absorbent carrier. The carrier containing the toilet training indicator according to the present disclosure may be prepared by applying a solution, dispersion, adhesive composition, hot melt adhesive, etc. containing the above-mentioned detection compound or detection composition to a carrier such as an absorbent carrier or support film and drying/solidifying it.

For example, the detection compound or detection composition according to the present invention and a binder may be dissolved in a solvent to prepare a reagent solution, and this reagent solution may be impregnated into an absorbent carrier once or several times, or coated or applied to a support film once or several times, and then dried to prepare a test piece, which may be used as an indicator-containing carrier. Examples of binders include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, gum arabic, gelatin, and ethyl cellulose. Examples of the above-mentioned solvents include water, organic solvents, and mixed solvents thereof.

Among the carriers that contain the indicator, examples of absorbent carriers include porous carriers such as cellulose fiber filter paper, cloth, nonwoven fabric, paper, and synthetic fiber filter paper. Examples of carrier films include synthetic paper and aluminum laminate film.

There are no particular restrictions on the size, dimensions, etc. of the absorbent carrier and the support film.

(Application of indicator-containing carriers to materials)
The method of applying the indicator-containing carrier to the material is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of an indicator-containing carrier in which a detection composition or the like is applied to an absorbent carrier or a support film, the indicator-containing carrier may be attached to the material by an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

The toilet training indicator may be directly applied to the toilet training indicator material. Such toilet training materials can be manufactured, for example, by applying a solution of the detection composition dissolved in a solvent such as distilled water to the material. Alternatively, the above-mentioned detection compound or detection composition may be applied to the toilet training material by coating, printing, immersion, kneading, injection, dispersion, scattering, or lamination. In this case, the nature of the toilet training indicator may be a solution or dispersion of the detection compound or detection composition, a liquid adhesive composition obtained by mixing the detection compound or detection composition with a liquid adhesive component, or a mixture of the detection compound or detection composition with a thermoplastic resin (such as a hot melt adhesive) that is in a solid state at room temperature (e.g., kneaded or dispersed as a powder/granule/pellet).

Absorbent Articles
The absorbent article of the present invention comprises at least an absorbent body, and also comprises the toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material of the present invention. Because the absorbent article comprises the toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material, by using the absorbent article, it is possible to know an indication of when to start toilet training. In particular, the absorbent article of the present invention comprises at least an absorbent body, and also comprises the toilet training indicator material.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an absorbent article has a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body (absorbent layer) disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and the toilet training indicator of the present invention is applied to the back sheet.

Such absorbent articles can be manufactured, for example, by applying a toilet training indicator to one side of a continuous backsheet sheet, arranging an absorbent layer on this one side, arranging a continuous topsheet sheet on this absorbent layer to form a laminate, and then combining this laminate using an adhesive means such as a heat seal adhesive, and then cutting out and individualizing the absorbent articles from the combined continuous laminate.

In the present invention, the toilet training indicator is not limited to being applied to the back sheet, but may be applied to the absorbent body, for example. In this case, when the caregiver removes the absorbent article from the wearer, the color reaction of the toilet training indicator in the absorbent body can be visually confirmed through the top sheet.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the absorbent article further includes a color sample that indicates that the wearer is in a developmental state suitable for toilet training, and/or a color sample that indicates that the wearer is not in a developmental state suitable for toilet training. This allows the caregiver to quickly determine when to start toilet training.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, when bromothymol blue is used as a pH indicator, for example, a yellow swatch can be used as a color swatch that indicates a developmental state suitable for toilet training, and/or a blue or green swatch can be used as a color swatch that indicates a developmental state that is not suitable for toilet training.

<Packaging>
The present invention also relates to a package containing a plurality of absorbent articles. Since a plurality of absorbent articles each having a toilet training indicator are provided, it is possible to more accurately grasp the approximate time for starting toilet training, regardless of daily fluctuations.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent article does not include a color sample indicating that the developmental state is suitable for toilet training and a color sample indicating that the developmental state is not suitable for toilet training, and the package includes a color sample indicating that the developmental state is suitable for toilet training and/or a color sample indicating that the developmental state is not suitable for toilet training. According to such an embodiment, the guardian can quickly determine the timing of starting toilet training. As the color sample, for example, a yellow color sample can be used as a color sample indicating that the developmental state is suitable for toilet training, and/or a blue or green color sample can be used as a color sample indicating that the developmental state is not suitable for toilet training.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the packaging may include information indicating the frequency with which the color reaction produces a color that indicates that the baby is in a developmental state suitable for toilet training, as a guide for when to begin toilet training for the wearer.

<How to determine when to start toilet training using a toilet training indicator>
The present invention also relates to a method for determining when to start toilet training, using the toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material of the present invention.

The method of determining when to start toilet training according to the present disclosure includes a step of detecting a color reaction in a toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material in an absorbent article that has come into contact with urine, and determining an approximate time to start toilet training.

In the method of determining when to start toilet training according to the present disclosure, in an absorbent article equipped with a toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material, the toilet training indicator shows different responses to urine depending on the developmental state of the infant who is wearing the absorbent article, so that the caregiver (mother, family member, etc.) can determine an approximate time to start toilet training.

In the method for determining when to start toilet training using the toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material of the present invention, the toilet training indicator responds preferably within one minute after the wearer excretes urine, and the toilet training indicator's response to urine preferably continues for one hour or more, more preferably three hours or more, and even more preferably twelve hours or more. It is preferable for the caregiver to replace the absorbent article worn by the wearer while the toilet training indicator is responding to urine.

In the method for determining the approximate time to start toilet training using the toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material of the present invention, it is preferable that the response of the toilet training indicator to urine varies depending on the developmental state of the wearer, the infant, over the period during which the toilet training indicator continues to respond to urine. Therefore, in the method for determining the approximate time to start toilet training using the toilet training indicator or toilet training indicator material of the present invention, it is preferable that the response of the toilet training indicator to urine varies depending on the developmental state of the wearer, the infant, over a period of preferably 1 hour or more, more preferably 3 hours or more, and even more preferably 12 hours or more.

Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following examples and comparative examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited by these.

Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5
Using detection compositions that show different responses to urine specific gravity values as toilet training indicators, the response of the indicators to urine and the success or failure of toilet training were evaluated.

How to evaluate the success of toilet training
The success of toilet training was evaluated as follows: the child was able to go without diapers at least during the day (i.e., was able to graduate from diapers during the day) and the child was able to go without diapers all day, including at night (i.e., was able to graduate from diapers). The state of being able to graduate from diapers means that the child is able to defecate on a regular toilet at his/her own will.

<Diapers>
The diapers used in the examples and comparative examples had an absorbent article, which had a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent layer as an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and the toilet training indicator according to the present disclosure was applied to the back sheet as the toilet training indicator material. Specifically, the toilet training indicator was directly applied to the back sheet and dried, and used as the toilet training indicator material, or the toilet training indicator was held on a carrier and adhered to the back sheet, and this was used as the toilet training indicator material.

Methods for assessing urinary response
The toilet training indicator used was an indicator capable of measuring urine specific gravity. Specifically, a reagent composition was used that contained bromothymol blue and methyl red as pH indicators, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) as a surfactant, and TES as a pH buffer. The degree of coloration of the toilet training indicator in the absorbent article of the diaper that had absorbed urine was measured against a color sample to measure the specific gravity of the urine. The specific gravity of the urine was expressed as a number in the range of 1.0000 to 1.0350, and the average value of the urine specific gravity measured during the evaluation period was taken as the average urine specific gravity value.

Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5
The urine specific gravity of infants aged 2 years and 2 months (26 months) to 3 years and 4 months (40 months) wearing the above-mentioned diapers was measured over an evaluation period of 2 to 4 days. At the same time, toilet training was carried out and the success or failure of toilet training was evaluated.

The evaluation results are shown in Table 1 below. Table 1 shows the infant's age in months, the average urine specific gravity during the period of toilet training, and the results of toilet training. The results of training are indicated as "O" if the training was successful (if the infant was able to graduate from diapers) and "X" if the infant was unsuccessful (if the infant could not graduate from diapers).

As can be seen in Table 1, in the cases of Examples 1 to 6, in which the average urine specific gravity was 1.0292 to 1.0333, the children were able to graduate from diapers by undergoing toilet training. On the other hand, in the cases of Comparative Examples 1 to 5, in which the average urine specific gravity was 1.0258 to 1.0283, the children were unable to graduate from diapers even after undergoing toilet training.

In particular, Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 show results for the same infant. When the average urine specific gravity was 1.0261 (Comparative Example 1), the infant was unable to graduate from diapers even after toilet training, but when the average urine specific gravity was 1.0306 (Example 1), the infant was able to graduate from diapers through toilet training. Note that Comparative Example 3 and Example 2 also show results for the same infant, and similar findings can be made.

Note that, since urine specific gravity increases with the development of renal function, it is believed that there is a certain degree of correlation between age (months) and urine specific gravity. However, the correlation between age and urine specific gravity is weak, and in fact, as seen in Table 1 above, there are cases where the urine specific gravity is relatively high despite the relatively young age (Example 6, etc.), while there are also cases where the urine specific gravity is relatively low despite the relatively old age (Comparative Examples 2 and 3, etc.). Therefore, it is clear from the above results that even if there is a certain degree of correlation between age and urine specific gravity, it is not possible to use age alone as an indicator instead of urine specific gravity to determine the start time of toilet training. Rather, urine specific gravity provides an indicator that cannot be read from age when determining whether a child is at a developmental stage suitable for toilet training.

The above examples and comparative examples show that by using a toilet training indicator for absorbent articles whose response to urine varies depending on the developmental stage of the infant, it is possible to accurately determine the time to start toilet training.

1 Toilet training indicator material 2 Toilet training indicator 2' Carrier containing toilet training indicator 3 Back sheet

Claims (10)

An absorbent article for toilet training comprising at least an absorbent body and a toilet training indicator,
The toilet training indicator is a toilet training indicator for an absorbent article, which responds differently to urine depending on the developmental state of an infant, indicates the time for starting toilet training, and shows different responses depending on the value of urine specific gravity,
the response to the urine is a color reaction;
The absorbent article for toilet training comprises:
A colour swatch indicating that the wearer is in a state suitable for toilet training; and/or
Further comprising a color swatch indicating that the wearer is not in a developmental state suitable for toilet training;
Absorbent articles for toilet training. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the response to urine is a color reaction. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the toilet training indicator is configured to indicate when toilet training should begin when the urine specific gravity value is 1.0300 or greater. the response to the urine is a color reaction;
2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the toilet training indicator is configured to indicate the time to start toilet training by changing color when the urine specific gravity value is 1.0300 or more. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the toilet training indicator comprises a combination of a pH buffer, a pH indicator, and a surfactant. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the toilet training indicator comprises a combination of a polyelectrolyte and a pH indicator. Includes toilet training indicator materials,
The toilet training indicator material includes a material constituting an absorbent article, and the toilet training indicator applied to the material.
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Includes toilet training indicator materials,
The toilet training indicator material includes a material constituting an absorbent article, and a carrier containing the toilet training indicator applied to the material.
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The absorbent article according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the material constituting the absorbent article is a sheet-like substrate, and the sheet-like substrate has a visible light transmittance of 30% or more and 80% or less in the visible spectrum region. A toilet training device that includes a toilet training indicator and a toilet training absorbent article that includes at least an absorbent body and a toilet training indicator .
A package displaying a color swatch indicating that the wearer is in a developmental state suitable for toilet training, and/ or a color swatch indicating that the wearer is not in a developmental state suitable for toilet training,
The toilet training indicator is a toilet training indicator for absorbent articles, which responds differently to urine depending on the developmental state of an infant, indicates the start time of toilet training, and shows different responses depending on the value of urine specific gravity.
Packaging .

Images