NL1044757B1 - Recycled textile superabsorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one aspect of the inventive concept there is provided a system made from a washable and reusable superabsorbent incontinence textile system made out of recycled PET materials comprising: a urine-sensitive circuit arranged on a recycled textile to present a changed electrical characteristic when exposed to urine; an electrical circuit used to convert the relatively high-impedance signals at the input of the urine sensitive circuit in relatively low-impedance signals at the input of a frequency-generating circuit; a frequency-generating circuit arranged to perform a frequency transmission when the urine-sensitive circuit is exposed to urine; and a mobile device arranged to receive an input from the frequency-generating circuit or an input from a user based on the frequency-generating circuit signal and use the input from the frequency-generating circuit or the input from a user based on the frequency-generating circuit signa! to recommend a personalized training to the user.

Description

RECYCLER TEXTILE SUPERABSORBENT ARTICLE

Technical field

The present inventive concept relates to an incontinence reveled absorbent textile, made from recycled fibers into a superabsorbent article.

Backuround

Urinary incantinsnes, or an inability lo control urinary function, is a common problem affecting children, men and women of all ages. Many fee! embarrassed and do not dare Io visit the doctor for help. This can lead fo chronic incontinence. In the prior art, 8 common way of managing incontinence is to use absorbent articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins or pads, or sven catheters, However, this only reduces the inconvenience for a wearer when an incontinence event DCOUrs.

Common types of urinary incontinence include stress incontinancs and urge incontinence. There is alse a mixed type of incontinence including both stress incontinence and urges incontingnca, Stress incontinence may be caused by loss of support of the urethra which is ususily a consequence of damage to pelvic support structures as a result of childbirth, overweight or and some medications. Strass incontinence is typically characterized by a lsakage of a relatively small volume of urine during activities which increase shdominal pressure such ag coughing, sneezing and lifting, or rapid movements for example during sporting activities. it is known that some people suffering fromm (stress) incontinence do not feel whan they have a wine leakage. The main treatment for stress incontinence is pelvic foor exercises.

Other possibilities would be a surgery to tighten or support the bladder outlet or prescription of medications. Urge incontinence may on the other hand be caused by abnormal bladder contractions. This is sometimes also referred lo as an “overactive” uring bladder, Urge incontinence is typically characterized by a leakage of a relatively largs volume of urine in association with insufficient warning fo get to the bathroom in time, Possible treatments for urge incontinence are pelvic floor exercises to retrain the bladder or prescription of medications to relax the bladder,

In the prior art, various systems relying on slsctrical sensors for detscting presence or urine in for example a diaper are known, Such prior ant systems are however often merely able to detect that the diaper has become wet and signal the need to change the diaper to for example the wearer of the diaper or a carataker. However, this only provides a limited help to people suffering from incontinence in that il mainly make it easier for the wearer or caretaker to determing that it may be time to change the diaper and it doesnt provide the wearer or caretaker with any data about the events, which might be useful for analysis and prevention in the future.

Anather type of incontinence is bedwetting. Persistent bedwetting (functional nocturnal enuresis) is a common problem for more than 18% of all

B-year-olds and still 2% for 12-14-yearolds. Involuntary urination at least twice a week for 5-B-years-old and once a week for children 7 years and older can be seen 4s enurasis.

Enuresis can be frustrating and embarrassing. Having to changes sheets and the washing and cleaning In the middie of the night does not only affect the night's rest of the child but also of the parents.

The actual causes of noclumal enuresis are quite unknown but strass, & genetics, constipation and hormonal problems seem to affect it. Some children may produce a large amount of urine during the night dus a lack of the argining vasopressin hormone which can cause the enuresis.

Also, being able to recognize when the bladder is full is a skilt which has io be leamed and for some children this process takes longer than normal, causing them to involuntary urinate in bed during the night. The brains of child need to recognize the signals the bladder sends as soon as it is full and contracts. The brains can be trained to recognize the signals of the bladder by either postponing (holding on) or by using the toilet. in the prior art, a common way of managing this problem is to use absorbent articles such as diapers. However, this only manages the problem and mostly reduces the inconvenience of washing and changing sheets in the middle of the night, but it does not help te overcome the problem itself.

In the prior art, various systems detacting enuresis and activating an alarm are known. Such prior art systems however often require batteries to operate which make the systems large and expensive in use, US Pal No, 2.014.152 442 describes a system which generates fis own energy using a combination of magnesium and carbon.

Many of these prior art systems also use an unfriendly buzzing sound and are fairly obtrusive, since they are quite large and require wires to he 28 passed underneath the pajamas. The nonewirsless prior art systems which require the sensor to be connected to the alarm by a wire are less atlractive due to the awkwardness and risk of entanglement. Soms of the prior art systems alse only wake up the wearer of the system and not the parents or carggiver which might need to be awaken to assist the child by going to the bathroom. in the prior art, most systems only wake up the wearer and/or parents and do not automatically log the time of the event, making it harder to discover pattems.

Recycled plastic textiles, also know as PET (recycled polysinylene terephthalate) textiles, are made from recycled plastic bottles, containers, and othar forms of post consumer waste, The plastic waste is collected, sorted, and cleansed before it is processed into polyester fiber, which is then used to make textiles. The process involves shredding the plastic into small flakes, which are then melted and extruded into a filament that can be spun into a yarn. This yarn can then be woven or knit into a wide range of textiles.

Recycled plastic textiles are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional textiles, as they divert plastic waste from landfills and reduce the need for virgin plastic production. They also require less energy and resources {o produce compared to traditional textiles, making them a more sustainable choice.

According to a report by the Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit organization focused on promoting sustainable textile products, the use of recycled polyester in the textile industry has increased significantly in recent years,

with a global production of recycled polyester fiber reaching 2.6 million metric tons in 2019,

However, it is important to note that the use of recyciad plastic textiles is still relatively new, and there are some challenges associated with their 5 production and use, such as the need for specialized recycling facilities and concerns about the shedding of microfibers during washing.

Summary of the inventive concept

The inventors have realized that it would be advantageous to provide a recycled textile system allowing for an improved comfort and user experience, a frequency transmission and elimination of the batteries. More specifically the inventors have realized that, for a great number of people suffering from incortinence-like problems, it would be helpful to have an ecological and recycled textile system for monitoring incontinence providing monitoring of aspects other than merely the presence of moisture In a diaper.

Recycled plastic textiles, also know as PET (recycled polyethylene teraphthalate) texdiles, are made from renycled plastic bottles, containers, and ather forms of post consumer waste, The plastic waste is collected, sorted, and cleaned before it is processed into polyester fiber, which is then used io make textiles. PET textiles are becoming more and more popular as people become more environmentally conscious and seek sustainable alternatives to traditional fabrics, However the use of recycled textiles is still not as common as natural fibers such as cotton or wool. This recycled yam can then be woven or knit into a wide rangs of textiles, including clothing, bags, and home furnishings — or in our product as a raw absorbent textile solution.

Recycled plastic textiles are an eco-friendly allemative to traditional textiles, as they divert plastic waste from landfills and reduce the need for virgin plastic production. They also require less energy and resources to produce compared to traditional textiles, making them a more sustainable choice,

According to a report by the Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit organization focused on promoting sustainable textile products, the use of recycled polyester in the textile industry has increased significantly in recent years, with a global production of recycled polyester fiber reaching 2.6 million metric tons in 2013, This recycled plastic filament can then also be used to create the device covering, which can receive a frequency signal in any way.

The system makes it possible to correlate (the times and day of} an actus! detection of an involuntary urination event (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as a urination event or an incontinence event) with a parameter which is indicative of a urine bladder fill level. This type of correlation may be particularly useful for providing the user and the caregiver with a preventive alarm, to prevent the user from wetting himself (during the night). Information regarding a fill level of the urine bladder preceding or upon the occurrence an incontinence event may thareby be valuable for understanding at which uring bladder fill level the risk of an incontinence event is Increased, However, it should be noted that the system also may be useful for monitoring relatively small urine leakages caused by stress and activities implying increased abdominal pressure as the risk for such leakages also may increase with the uring bladder fill level,

By triggering the recording of the dats in response to detecting or determining that the urine-sengitive circuit has been exposed to urine, an accurate monitoring is provided since the urine bladder ill level indicat parameter will correspond to the conditions prevailing at the tims of the incontinenca evant. This accuracy would ba difficull to achieve with any manual monitoring method,

The local mobile device may further be arranged to record in said data, an indication of that the wine-sengitive circuit has been exposed to urine. The local mobile device may hence be arranged to associate the indication of that the urina-sensitive circuit has been exposed to uring with sald at least one parameter determined by the local mobile device and/or the electrical circuit,

The association may induds linking the indication to said at least one parameter determined by the local mobile device and/or the electrical circuit,

The local mobile device may be arranged to record the data in a

MAO.

According to one embodiment — developing a new absorbent product made from recycled materials, including the vitra thin miniaturized wearable sensor. This would include recycled textile plastic as an sco-friendiy alfernalive to traditional textiles, as diverting plastic waste fom landfills and reduce the need Tor virgin plastic production. This type of textiles also require less energy and resources to produce compared to traditional textiles, making them a more sustainable choles,

Recycled textiles can be manufactured through various processes.

The absorbent recycled textile is machine knitted and manufactured using recycled PET, that are collected and sorted according to the material,

These are cleaned and processed in order to remove dirt and contaminants.

Once the recycled materials have been processed, the collected raw material is spun into a twisted filament that can be used on a circular or other knitting maching for manufacturing and knitting of the textile. However, once the fiber has been spun, it also allows for the filament to be used In other forms of textile, such a woven or nonwoven.

Alongside the embodiment of the washable and superabsorbent incontinence texdile system article, a sensitive conductive thread is sewn on to the absorbent textile, Different finishes can be used to Increase absorbency features, In addition to the conductive thread. This is arranged to present a changed electrical characteristic when exposed to urine, arranged to convert the relatively high impedance signals.

Other embodiments include a urine sensitive circuit arranged on a recycled textile In which its frequency generating circuit is arranged to perform a frequency transmission when the urine sensitive circuit is exposed to urine.

According to ong embodiment the electrical circuit can be extended with other components io function as circuits known as e.g. a processing circuit,

Blustooth circuit, analog-to-digital converter circuit, NFL circuit, measurement circuit or other types of circuits.

According to one embodiment the frequency-generating circuit is arranged io produce a frequency when the urine-sensitive circuit has been sxposead to urine based on the changed slsctrical characteristic.

According is one embodiment, this frequency-genarating circuit may be arranged to directly and discretely notify the user when the urine-sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine by sither an audible indicator (8.9. a vibrating speaker) or tactile indicator (8.9. a vibration motor).

According to ong embodiment, the electrical circuit and/or the frequency-gensrating circuit may be part of a voltage boost circuit.

According to one embodiment the local mobile devies is arranged to determine that the urine-gensitive circuit has been expossd to urine based on the frequency producsd by the frequency-generating circuit, Mors specifically, the local mobile device may determine that the urine-sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine by detecting the frequency produced by the fregquency- generating circuit which is driven by the electrical circuit which is powered by ine urine-sensitive circuit.

According to one embodiment, the local mobile devics is arranged to receive a user input {sg by touch via the user interface) in response to the discrete notification from the frequency-generating circuit.

According to ons embodiment, the local mobile device is arranged to, based on the user input, give an output to the user,

According to one embodiment, the above-mentioned output can be another indicator that the urine-sensitive circuit has been exposed to uring.

According to ons embodiment, the above-mentioned aulput can be a sat of (personalized) training videos which help to cure uring loss by training the pelvic floor region.

According to one embodiment the urine-sensitive circuit is arranged to presant an electrical response when exposed fo uring, and whersin the focal mobile device is arranged to determine that the wing-sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine by detecting the frequency produced by the frequanay- generating circuit,

According to one embodiment, the urine-sensitive circuit may also be used io present a changed slectrical characteristic when being exposed to other body fluids than urins (e.g. sweat, menstrual fluid, vaginal discharge, ele.)

According to one embodiment the changed electrical characteristic or the electrical response of the urine-sensitive circuit includes ong or more selected from the group comprising: a changed resistance, a changed capacitance, a changed inductance, a changed impedance, a changed resonances frequency, a changed voltage generated by the urine-sensilive circuit, a changed current generated by the urine-sensilive circuit, 8 changed resonance frequency of the uring-sensitive cireuit.

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is further arranged to estimate a urine bladder fill level based on the at least one determined parameter, Le. by using the al least one determined parameter,

The estimate of the urine bladder fill level may be included in said recorded data and/or indicated to the wearer,

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is arranged to provide a signal which is indicative of a urine bladder fill level basad on the at least ons determined parameter. The signal may for example be used to provide a user with information on the bladder fill level. The signal may indicate the fill level in relative or absolute terms. A user of the system may,

based on this information, be able to decide whether i is tims {o visit the toilet or nat,

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is grranged fo provide a signal which is indicative of an Increased risk for an incontinence event based on the at least one determined parameter. The signal may for example be used to provide a user with a preventive alarm to prevent the user from involuntary winating (in bed), A user of the system may, based on this information, also be able to decide whether il is time to visit the toilet or not,

According to one ambaodiment the local mobile device is further arranged to determing a threshold based on the at least ona determined parameter raprasented by the recorded data. A threshold corresponding lo a wring bladder fill threshold may thus be determined, Sincs the threshold is based on the at least ons determined parameter, the threshold may be delermined to corraspond to a fill level of the urine bladder al, and above, which there is an increased risk for an incontinence event. Moreover, by basing the threshold on the at least one determined parameter, which is/are measured parameter(s), the threshold may be tailored for a specifie individual.

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is further arranged to determine a threshold based on the al least one determined parameter represented by the recorded data and a previously determined threshold. The advantages discussed In connection with the preceding ambodiment apply correspondingly to this embodiment. Moreover, by basing the threshold determination also on a previously determined threshold, the threshold may over time be tuned to better correspond to the incontinence problems for the specific individual.

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is further arranged to compare at least one of the parameters represented by the recorded data to a threshold and generate an alert signal based on a result of the comparison. The threshold may be determined in accordance with any one of the above-mentioned embodiments. The wearer may thus be alerted of that there may be an increased risk for an incontinence event.

According to one embodiment the system further comprises a sensor 13 arranged to determine an orientation or a movement of the sensor, and a local mobile device being further arranged to, in response to determining that the urine-sensitive circuit has been exposed to uring, record data representing an estimated movement and/or posture of the wearsr based on an orientation and/or a movement determined by the sensor, This 18 embodiment enables correlation of the actual detection of the urination event with the at least one determined parameter being indicative of a urine bladder fill level and an estimated movement and/or posture of the wearer (which is indicative of a current activity of the wearer),

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is further arranged to determing a threshold based on the at least one determined parametar represented by the recorded data and the estimated movement and/or posture. As will be explained in more detail below, a movement and/or posture of the wearer may influence bath the determination of the paramater(s) by the local mobile device and the risk of an incontinence event ata certain fill level. This embodiment therefore enables a threshold to be determined based also on the estimated movement and/or posture the waarer had at the time of the incontinence event, Thresholds may thus be associated with movements and/or postures.

According to ong embodiment the local mobile device is arranged to repeatedly determine al least one parameter which varies with a fill level of the urine bladder and the local mobile device is further arranged to compare the repeatedly determined parameters to ong or more thresholds, sach threshold being associated with a movement and/or posture of the wearer.

The advantage of this embodiment may bs understood from the previous embodiment

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is arranged to provide an alarm signal in response to determining that the uring-sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine, A user may thus be informed of that a urine leakage has occurred, which otherwise could have passed by unnoticed. This may simplify for the user to understand which situations may lead to involuntary urination.

According to one embodiment the system further comprises at least one or a combination of a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, an altimeter or a skin contact sensor, Further sensors enable more parameters which may have an influence on the urination event to be recorded in the data. Thus, parameters measursd by these sensors may be included in the data recorded by the local mobile device in response to a wination event,

According to ons embodiment the local mobile device is arranged to wirglessly communicate with the sensor. This communication can be

Bluetooth, WIFI RF, ZigBes, sound, IR or any other wireless technology based on frequency or sound.

According to one embodiment the remote mobile device is arranged © wirelessly communicate with the local mobile devine and/or the sensor. This communication can be Bluetooth, WIFI, RF, ZigBee, sound, IR or any other wireless technology.

According to one embodiment the uring-sensitive circuit and the slectrica! circuit are galvanically connected. This may enable a simple communication between the wine-sensitive circuit and electrical cireuit.

According to one embodiment the slectical circuit and the frequeancy- generating circuit are galvanically connected. This may enable a simple communication between the electrical circuit and Trequency-generating circuit,

The typs of signal the electrical circuit communicates to the frequency- generating circuit can be pulses, a frequency, a PWM signal, a vollage, a 185 current, a sinewave, a square wave or any other signal which is produced with a certain frequency,

According to ons embodiment the urine-sensitive circuit and the local mobile device are galvanically separated. This may simplify use of the system since the urine-sensitive circuit may be handled without having to deal with any wiring. Algo, it allows the urine-sensitive circuit to be used as a disposable component of the system which easily may be replaced following an incontinence event.

According to one embodiment the uring-sensitive circuit includes a portion arranged to generate a current when exposed [0 urine to powsr a transmission of a signal from the freguency-generating circuit to the local mabile device, whersin the mcal mobile device is arranged to record said data in response to receiving the signal from the freguency-generating circuit.

Thus, the urination event may directly trigger the recording of the data by the local mobile device. Moreover, since the current powering the transmission of the signal is generated by the urine, no additional power source in the uring- sensitive circuit is required. The urine-sansitive circuit may thereby be produced rationally at a relatively low cost,

According to ong embodiment the portion includes a first conduating path or electrods arranged to act as an anode and a second conducting path or electrode arranged to act as a cathode when the portion is exposed 10 urine. An anode-cathode pair makes rational and relatively inexpensive production of a reliable, self-powered urine-sensitive circuit possible. Also, more than two paths, electrodes or pairs can be used. Placing these {pairs of) electrodes in series or parallel can be used to produce more electric power,

According to one embodiment, materials from the sensor such as the material of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) can function as one of the above mentioned electrodes. This material includes one or more selected from the group comprising: copper, magnesium, silver, gold, carbon, aluminum, zinc, iron, nicked, tin, lead or any other material or alloys of these materials.

According to ons embodiment the local mobile device is further arranged to, In response to determining that the urine-sensitive circuit has been exposed to uring, record time data. The time of the incontinence event may thereby be recorded.

According to ons embodiment the remote mobile devics is arranged to, inresponse to receiving a signal from the local mobile device, provide an alarm signal to the user of the remole mobile device. More specifically, the remote mobile device is arranged to provide an alarm signal when the urine- sensitive circuit has been exposed tc uring or when the local mobile device generates an alert signal based on any of the above-mentioned embodiments.

According to another embodiment, the remote mobile device is arranged to, in response to receiving a signal from the sensor, provide an alarm signal to the user of the remote mobile device. More specifically, the remote mobile device is arranged lo provide an alarm signal when the urine- sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine.

According ts another embodiment, the remote mobile devine is arranged to start operating in response to receiving a signal from the local mobile device.

According to one embodiment the local mobile device is further 18 arranged fo, subsequent to detecting a urination event (e.g. by detecting that the urine-sensitive circult has been exposed to uring), perform a comparison between: the at least one parameter represented by the data recorded in response to the detection of the urination event, and a parameter determined by the local mobile device and/or the electrical circuit at an instant subsequent to the detection of the wination event.

According to one embodiment, the adhesive material may be made out of or include a porous or absarbing material such that it can absorb or let through fluids.

According to one embodiment, the adhesive material may be used to altach the system to a diaper/nappy, underwsar/undergarment, pair of shorts,

pair of trousers, pajamas, blankets or any other material one may aliach the system to.

According to one embodiment the system may include as portion which changes color or electrical characteristic when being exposed to urine. The change of color or the change in the slectrical characteristic may bs an indication of the presence of {a certain concentration of) a substance which in turn may be an indination of e.g. pregnancy, cystitis, diabetes, ovulation, elo.

According to ons embodiment, the system may include one or more magnets or ferromagnetic materials which may be used to attach the systam {oa diaperinappy, undsrwsarundergarment, pair of shorts, pair of trousers, pajamas, blankets or any other material ons may attach the system to.

According to ong embodiment, a rechargeable or non-reschargeabie battery may ba connected fo the urine-sensitive circuit or the electrical circuit,

According to one embodiment, the rechargeable or norrrechargeabie ballery and/or the magnets or ferromagnstic materials may be connected to the uring-sensitive or energy generating circuit. More specifically, the rechargeable or non-rechargsabls battery and/or the magnets or terrumagneije materials may be used Ww determing that the urine-sensitive circuit 111 has been axpused ta wing,

According to ons embodiment, one or more parts of the system such as the battery, the PCB, components of the PCB, the snergy generating oirouit or other components of the system may be used as one of the above- mentioned magnets or ferromagnetic materials.

According to ons embodiment, the local mobile device and/or the remote mobile device may include 3 microphone,

According to one embodiment, the microphone of the local mobile device and/or the rarmote mobile device may be used to make an audio recording, more specifically, the microphone of the local mobile device and/or the remote mobile device may be used fo make a voice recording.

According to one embodiment, the audio recording may be stored on an internal or external storage of the local mobile device and/or the remote mobile device.

According to one embodiment, the above-mentioned audio recording or an already pre-recorded audio recording may be used as an alarm sound fo wake the user of the system.

According to one smbodiment, the electrical circuit may contain one or mora components such as but not limited to transistors, capacitors or specific

IC which may be used to convert the low-conductivity, high-resistance signal in the wrine-sensitive circuit to a high-conductivity, low-resistance signal in the electrical circuit,

According to one embodiment, the electrical circuil may contain ong or mors components such as but not limited to counters an RC-cireuit or a crystal which may be used to generate a periodic signal with a specific friterval.

According to one embodiment, the above-mentioned periodic signal may be used as a power-saving mode for the system.

According to ons embodiment, the electrical circuit may contain one or mare components such as but not imited to counters an RC-clrouit or a crystal which may be used to automatically power OFF the system after a specific amount of time.

According to one embodiment, the frequency generating circuit may contain one or more components such as bul not limited lo counters an RC- circuit or a crystal which may be used to generate a specific frequency.

According to ons embodiment, the electrical circuit may contain one or mare components such as but not imited to a aich system which, when the uring sansitive circuit has bean exposed to urine, switch the fraquency- generating circuit ON Tor a period of time which is longer than the period the wrine-senaitive circuit has been exposed to urne,

According to one smbaodiment, the electrinal generating circuit may include an electrical circuit which is used to amplify the frequency signal.

According to ong embodiment, the external devices may be calibrated to listen to the calibrated frequency signal generated by the frequency generaling cireuit,

Acoarding to ong embodiment, the system may also be used for other applications in health, sport, lifestyle, slg.

According to one embodiment the casing material can also be made out of recycled filament, able to withstand manufacturing, processing, material decomposition and performance,

Boel description of the drawings

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present inventive concept, will be better understood through the following

Hlustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept, with reference to the appended drawings, where like reference numerals will be used for like elements, wherein

Fig. 1is a schematic iflusiration of a system in accordance with an embodiment for monitoring incontinence;

Fig. 2 is a schematic tiustration of a system in accordanas with ancther gmbadiment;

Fig. 3 is a schematic Hlustration of a possible configuration of a sensor in accordance with an embodiment;

Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic overview of the system and the connections between the elements.

Fig. B Hlustrates the recycling textile layers interaction with the sensor,

Delgiled description of preferred embodiments

Detailed ambodiments of aspents of the present inventive concent will now he desoribad with reference to the drawings,

Fig. 1 schematically tustrates an embodiment of a system 100 for motoring incontinence, The system comprises a sensor 110 and may alse comprise of two optional devices 120 and 130. In uss, the sensor 110 may typically be positioned in or near the croich region of the wearer, for example at an absorbant article {e.g. a diaper/nappy, a sanitary napkin/pad, or some ather article for absorbing wine) or in connection to the underwear or undergarmment. The wearer may also be referred to as a user of the system 100.

Fig. 2 schematically Hlustrates an embodiment of a system 100 for monitoring incontinence in more detail, The system 100 comprises of a sensor 110, a local mobile device 120 and remote mobile device 130 which may be optional 120 and 130 from Fig. 1. The sensor 110 comprises of a wine-sensitive circuit 111, an glectioal circuit 112, a frequency-generating girouit 113 and an optional sensor 114 which will be discussed in further detail below,

The urine-sensiijve circuit 111 is arranged to present a changed electrical characteristic when exposed to urine. In other words the urine- § sensitive circuit 111 may, in response lo being sopussd to wine, present a changed electrical characteristic or electical property. If an incontinence event occurs urine may be released onto the absorbent article or the underwear of the wearer wharein the urine-sensitive circuit 111 may be axpossd to the wine, The electrical cirouit 112 is arranged to start operating when the wine-sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to urine. As will be described in further detall below, the electrical circuit 112 may be arranged to comriunicats {e,g. over a wireless ar wired interface) with the urine-sensitive gircuit 111 and determing that the urine sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed io wine by detecting thal an electrical characteristic of the uring sensitive circuit 111 has changed. The electrical circuit 112 may also be arranged io drive the frequancy-genarating circuit 113 which starts to produce a frequency when the uwrine-sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to urine.

The electrical characleriztic of the wrine-sensitive circuit 111 may change from a first characteristic to a second characteristic when the urine exposure is increased (Le. due to an incontinence event), it should be understood that a changed slectrical characteristic may occur as a result of the urine-sansitive circuit 111 changing from a relatively dry condition (8.9. before occurrence of an incontinence evert) to a relatively moist condition {&.g. upon ocourrence of an incontinence event). The changed characteristic 28 may also occur as a result of the urine-sensitive circuit 111 changing from an alrsady moist condition (e.g. 88 a result of a first incontinence event) fo an aven more moist condition (eg. as a result of a second incontinence avent, subsaquent to tha first incontinence event). Thus, the electrical characteristic may change in a manner which is proportional to the amount of urine to which the wing-sensitive circuit 111 Is exposed.

Moreover, an exposure to uring for the urine-sansithve aircuit 111 may in this context not necessarily imply a direct contact with the urine, In fact, the urine-sensitive circuit 111 may be embedded in an absorbant material and thus not came into dieet confact to urine relessed by the wearer, However, the presence of wring proximate {0 the urine-sensitive circuit may nevertheless cause a changed slecircal characteristic,

According to some embodiments the urine-sensitive circuit 111 may be arranged to present an electrical response when exposed to urine, and wherein the electrical circuit 112 is arranged io determing that the wine sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed fo wine by detecting the electrical response of the wine-sensitive circuit 111.

The changed electrical characteristic or the electrical response of the urine-sensitive circuit 111 may for examples include a changed electrical parameter of the urine-sensitive circuit 111. The particular type of electrical parameter which is changed may depend on the actual design of the urine sensitive circuit 111 {e.g. which circuit elemants are included in the circuit 111) and may for sxample include ons or a combination of a changed resistance, a changed inductance, a changed capacitance or a changed impedance. As will also be described in more detail below, the changed slectrical characteristic may also include a changed voltage at a pair of alectrodes (eg. an anode-cathode pair) of the uring sensitive circuit 111.

The electrical circuit 118 may be arranged to detect the changed alectrical characteristic of the wine-sensitive circuit 111. The electrical circuit 112 may further be arranged to drive the frequency-gensrating cirouit 113 when urins-sensitive circuit 111 has bean exposed to wring. The type of signal the slectrical circuit 112 communicates to the frequency-generating circuit 113 may be a signal based on frequencies (8.9. pulses, a frequency, a PWM signal, a voltage, a current, a sinewave, a square wave, sie.)

According to one embodiment, the electrical circuit 112 may be arranged In power the frequency transmission from the frequency-gensrating circuit 113 ON and OFF when the urine-sensitvs circuit 111 is exposed a wring. The electrical circuit 112 may further be arranged to automatically power-OFF the frequency-generating circuit 113 at a pre-defined time period after the uring-sensitive ciroult 111 has been exposed to urine.

According to ancther embodiment the electrical circuit 112 may be arranged to amplify the frequency signal from the frequency-generating circuit 113 when the wing-sensitive circuit is exposed to wing, The electrical chrouit 112 may further be arranged to switch the frequency-genarating circuit 113

ON for a period of time which is longer than the parind the urine sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to urine,

The frequency-generating circuit 113 may be arranged to produce a frequency signal when the urins-sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to uring. In particular, the frequency-genarating circuit may, after the urine. sensilive circuit 111 has been exposed lo wing, recaive a signal from the slectrical circuit 112 which has been powered by the urine-sensitive circult 111. As non-limiting examples, the frequency-gangrating circuit 113 can be a speaker or an antenna, used to transmit a freguency signal,

The local mobile device 120 may be arranged to receive a frequency signal transmitted by the frequency-generating circuit 113. The local mobile device 120 may further be arranged to give a signal lo the user (e.g. overa wireless or wired interface) thal the absorbent article (e.g. a diaperinappy, a sanitary napkin/pad, or some other ardicle for absorbing urine) may be saturated and has to be changed. This will avoid leakage of the absorbent addicle. In another non-limiting example, the local mobile device 120 may be arranged to give a signal to the user that he is leaking uring while he is asleep so that the user can visit the toilet to finish winating. Meanwhile, local mobile device 130 is also arranged to, in response to determining that the wins. sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to urine, record data representing the atleast one parameter determined by the loos! mobile device circuit 120 and/or the electrical cirouit 112. The parameters) determined by the local mobile device 120 may for example be the dale of the svent, the time of the avant and/or the number of the event.

The electrical circuit 112 may be arranged in a same unit as the urine- sensiiive circuit 111, the frequency-genaraling circuit 113 and the optional sensor 114 and be galvanically connected to the wine-sensitive circuit 111, the frequency-genarating circuit 113 and the optional sensor 114, The wine sensitive circuit 111, the electrical oircuit 112, the freguency-generating cirouit 113 and the optional sensor 114 may alsa be arranged on separate carriers (ag. different circuit boards or different substrates) wherein the circuits 111,

112, 113 and 114 may be connacted by wires or a plug-socket interface. The wrine-sensitive circuit 111, the electrical circuit 112, the frequency-generating circuit 113 and the optional sensor 114 may also be arranged on a same carrier wherein the circuits 111, 112, 113 and 114 may be connected by a set of conductive paths.

The local mobile device 120 may be arranged to record data at an instant immediately preceding the detection of a frequency signal of frequency-generating circuit 113, Specifically, the local mobile device 120 may be arranged to record data at an instant immediately preceding the detection of a urination event by the electrical circuit 112, eg, by detecting the changed electrical characteristics of the wrine-sensitive circuit 111, The recorded data may be used to correlate a date and time to the occurence of a urination or incontinence event. The data may be recorded in a memory of the local mobile device 120 which will be discussed in mars detail below. This recorded data may be stored for transmission to an external unit or for further analysis,

In particular, the local mobile device 120 may be arranged to record data representative of the parameter(s) as determined by the local mobile device 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112 at an instant immediately precading the detection of the urination event by the electrical circuit 112.

Thereby, the recorded data may bs used to correlate a wine bladder fill level to the occurrence of a urination or incontinence event.

More specifically, the local mobile device 120 may record the data in a data structure linking the at least one parameter as determined by the local mobile device 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112 to the detected wination event. The data may for example be stored In an array data structure or as antries In a database, assoniating the at least ons parameter as determined by the local mobile devine 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112 with the detected urination event, Along with the data, an indication of that the urine- sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine may be stored, for example using a single-bit binary flag. The local mobile device 120 may include a timer wherein a time of the detection of the urination event may be recorded in the data structure. The stored time may for example correspond to a {time of the) day.

Tha lonal mobile device 120 may also be arranged ty continuously, or repeatedly compare the data representing the parameter(s) as determined by the local mobile device 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112 to a respective threshold which could be the date and/or time, For example, if the local mobile device 120 is arranged ID measures the date and time of an wrination event the threshold may be a moment in a wesk or on a day which correspondents to a moment al which the risk of an involuntary urination svet is substantially increased. The threshold may thus be referred ic as a urine bladder fil threshold, The threshold may be stored in a memory, If the iocal mobile device 130 detarmines that the threshold is met or exceeded an alert signal (Le. a warning signal} may be provided to the wearer or the caretaker to indicate that the risk of an involuntary urination event is increased, Advantageously, the local mobile device 120 may provide the signal to the wearer or caretaker already when a delermined Ume differs from the threshold by less than a pradetermined amount, adapied to give the wearer some time to e.g. go io the tollel (e.g. 10 minutes or 20 minutes in advance before the time when an incontinence event is expected io occur).

The signal may be a visual, audible and/or tactile signal generated by a visual wicicator {sq a display or a LED}, an audible indicator (8.9. a speaker) or tactile indicator (8.4. a vibrator), Alternatively, the signal may be provided by the local mobile device 120 to an external device such as the remote mahile device 130, (2.4. a mobile phone, a tablet computer, intelligent lighting or a speaker} which may present a warning on a display thereof or generating an audible warming.

The above described time-based threshold comparison may be made 1D ina corresponding manner alsa for the other parameter types which the electrical circuit 112 and/or the local mobile device 120 may determing, as described above. Thus, sach type of parameter threshold may be refarced to as respective a urine bladder fill threshold, The local mobile device 120 may he arranged to provide 8 warning signal in response to any one of the determined parameter(s) meeting or exceeding is associated threshold.

The threshokid{s) may be predelermined, for example during a calibration phase of the system 100, According to an alternative embodiment, the local mobile device 120 may be arranged io determing the wine bladder fill thrashold(s). The local mobile device 120 may set or configure sach threshold based on the parameter(s) determined by the local mobile devine 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112 and represented by the data recorded by the local mobile device 120 In response to detecting the incontinence event.

The local mobile device 120 may be arranged to set or configure each threshold for example in response to a first detected urination event. <5 Optionally, local mobie device 120 may sel or configure sach threshold based on both the parameter(s) determined by the local mobile device 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112 and a previously determined threshold. For exampla, if the data recorded by the local mobile device 120 in response 10 detection of an urination event represents a parameter value which is smaller than a previous threshold, a new threshold may be configured to be smaller than the previous threshold. Conversely, if the data recorded by the local mobile device 120 In response to detection of an wrination event reprasenis a parameter value which is greater than a previous threshold, a new threshold may be configured to be greater than the previous threshold, Thereby the threshold(s) may be adapted based on the bladder fill level at the time of the actual occurrences of urination events.

Optionally other parameters could be the intensity of the sound generated by the frequency-generating circuit or/and the level of the electrical characteristic which could be proportional with the wine quantity,

Optionally, the local mobile device 120 may be arranged to repeatedly provide a signal which is indicative of a urine bladder fill level. The signal may for example indicate a value or values of the parameter(s) most recently determined by the local mobile device 120, The signal may also be indicative of a ratio or ratios between a value or values of the parameter(s) most recently determined by the local mobile device 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112, and associated parameter thresholds, The signal may for example be provided to a display providing information allowing the uring bladder fill level to be determined. The valus(s) and/or ratio(s) may for example be presented on a display connected to the local mobile device 120. Alternatively, the signal may be provided by the local mobile device 120 to a remote mobile device (8.g. a mobile phone, a tabist computer, intelligent lighting or a speaker) which may present the value(s) and/or ratios) on a display.

As described above, the sensor 110 may further include an optional sensor 114 which is arranged to be attached on the wearer. This optional sensor 114 may be arranged to determine an orientation and/or a movement of the optional sensor 114. The optional sensor 114 may be provided ing same unit as the urine-sensitive circuit 111, the electrical circuit 112 and the frequency-generating circuit 113. The optional sensor 114 may include an acosleromster and/or a gyroscopes, for examples in the form of MEMS devices.

The accelerometer may bs a single-axis accelerometer, a dual axis accelerometer or a three-axis accelerometer. The accelerometer may provide measurements of the orientation and/or movement, e.g. by storing the measurements in a memory or buffer accessible by the electrical circuit 112.

The optional sensor 114 may be arranged lo store a predetermined number of measurements and start discarding the oldest measurement when the predetermined number is excesded. This may for example be conveniently implemented using a first-in-first-out buffer (Le. a FIFO-buffer). The elactrical circuit 112 may, based on the orientation and/or movement measurements, estimate a movement and/or posture of the wearer of the sensor 110. By comparing movement measurements during a time interval, electrical circuit 112 may determine whether the wearer was moving during the time interval and/or estimate a posture of the wearer. The electrical circuit 112 may optionally also characterize the type of movement as movement by walking, by running, or by the wearer changing orientation or posture. As a non-limiting example, if an axis of an accelerometer is oriented along the length direction of the body, the accelerometer may provide a signal corresponding to the acceleration dus to gravity when the user is standing up, and a signal close io zero when the user is lying down. This concept may be expanded to be able to identify further postures.

The movement pattern and posture of the wearer of the sensor 110 may affect whether a present urine bladder fill level implies an increased risk for an involuntary wination event. Therefore advantageously, the local mobile device 120 may, in response to determining that the wine-sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to urine, record data representing the parameter detsrmined by the local mobile device 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112 as well as an orientation or a movement determined by the optional sensor 114.

The additional data may enable a more accurate and extensive analysis of the incontinence events of the wearer since the occurrence of an incontinence event may be correlated to a movement pattern or posture of the wearer and the wine bladder fill level.

In case the local mobile device 120 is arranged to perform threshold comparisons, as described above, a parameter threshold may preferably be associated with a respective movement or posture of the wearer. For example, a first ime threshold may be used when the wearer is lying down and a second threshold may be used when the wearer is upright or is walking.

As a non-limiting example, the risk of an involuntary urination for a particular parson can be higher when this person is laying on his back then when he is laying on his side. The time threshold may nesd to be shifted forward or backward based on the position of the person, The thresholds may be stored ma memory or buffer accessible to the incal mobile device 120. The remota mobile device 130 may be arranged to receive a signal from the local mobile device 120 that the wine-sensitive circuit 111 has basen exposed to urine. The rarnote mobile device may also be arranged to receive a signal directly from the sensor 110 that the wine-sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed lo urine.

Az a non-limiting example, the remote mobile device 130 may give a signal to the caretaker or the wearer that the absorbant article may be saturated and has to be changed.

Fig. 3 tlustrates a schematic ustration of a possible configuration of a sensor in accordance with an embodiment and which may be used as the sensor in the system 100. The sensor 110 may include a portion 111 arranged lo generale a current when exposed {o urine, Portion 111 may also be referred to as the wing-sensitive circuit 111 as mentioned above, The urine-sensiljve Circuit 111 includes a first and a second slectrode 117, 118,

The first electrode 117 and the second electrode 118 are arranged to act as respectively the anode and the cathode when uring is present between the electrodes 117, 118. Thus, the wine may act as an electrolyte wherein a voltage may bg generated between the first and the second electrode 117, 118, The urine-gensitive circuit 111 is thus arranged to present a changed voltage characteristic and current characteristic when exposed io urine. The magnitude of the generated current may be proportional to a surface area of the slectrodes 117, 118 and/or to a surface area of substrate 115 being sxposed io urine, Various material combinations for the electrodes 117, 118 are possible. For example, the first electrode 117 may include coppsr and the second electrode 118 may include magnesium; the first electrode 117 may include copper and the second electrode 118 may include zing; the first slectrode 117 may include carbon and the second electrode 118 may include magnesium,

As may be understood, a maximum current generated at the urine sensitive circuit 111 will be limited by infer alia by the dimensions {eg length) of the electrodes and the substrate 115, the amount of urine absarbed by the substrate 115, the amount of overlap between adjacent anode-cathode electrode portions and the electrolyte concentration (ions concentration) in the urine. A generated current may hence be increased by providing a salt (e.g. sadium chinride} in the wine-sensitive circuit 111 and/or the substrate 115,

Optionally, a polymer coating, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ar polyurethane, may be applied at the wing-sensitive circuit 111, the substrats 115 and/or to the electrodes 117, 115, More generally, the polymer may be a polymer which reacts with one or more specific analytes which may be present in the urine {e.g. creatinine, calcium or uric acid). The current generated at the wrine-sensitive circuit 111 whan exposed to urine {and the analytes present in the urine) may thereby be increased.

The first and the second electrode 117, 118 may be galvanically connected to the electrical circuit 112. A current generated al the electrodes 117, 118 may thus power the slectrical circuit 112 to drive the frequency- generating circuit 113. The frequency-gensrating circuit 113 may produce 3 frequency when the electrical ciroult 112 is powered by electrodes 117 and 118. As described above, the frequenny may be received by local mobile device 120 and/or remote mobile device 130 which may determing that the urine-sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to urine.

Ag illustrated in Fig. 3, the urine-sensilive circuit 111 may be provided on, in or between a substrate 115. The substrate may generally be a relatively thin and flexible substrale, The circuit elements forming the wine-sensitive circuit 111 may be formed by conducting portions provided on the substrate 115, e.g. by deposition of a conducting material on the substrate or by masking and etching of conducting material from the substrate, according lo processes which per se are wellknown to the skilled person, The substrate 115 may for example be a thin plastic foil, such as a PET-foll (Polyethylene tersphihalats). One face of the substrate 115 may be provided with an adhesive 118. The sensor 110 may thus be arranged as a palch-like structure. An adhesive face may allow for easy attachment of the sensor 110 on an absorbent article or underwear and easy removal therefrom,

Advantageously, the substrate 115 is biocompatible and environmentally friendly and is provided with a shape and a size minimizing inconvenience for the wearer throughout his/her daily aglivities. The substrate 115 may also include or be made an absorbent material, such as paper, a doth, cotton or absorbant polymers, The substrate itself may thus absorb the wring, wherein the absorbed wine in ium may cause a change of the electrical characteristic of the uring-sensitive circuit 111, The substrate 115 with the urine-sensitive circuit 111 may be arrangad on an inside of the absorbent article (e.g. the diaper or the underwear) with the uring-sensitive circuit 111 facing towards the absorbent article (wherein the substrate will be interposed between the urine-sensitive circuit 111 and the skin) or towards the skin of the wearer The wine-sensitive circuit 111 may alternatively be arranged on an outside of the absorbent arficle wherein the urine-sensitive circuit 111 may be exposed to uring absorbed by the absorbent article. According to a further option, the urine~-sansitive circuit 111 may alternatively be integrated in the absorbent article, for example within the absorbent material of a diaper or a sanitary napkin or within the absorbent malerial of the substrate 115.

As described above, the electrical circuit 112 may determine that the uring~-sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed to urine by detecting that an electrical characteristic of the urine-sensitive circuit 111 has changed, and, in response to determining that the urine-ssnsilive circuit 111 has been exposed to uring, drive the freguency-gensraling circuit 113. With reference to Fig. 2, the local mobile device 120 may, in response to detecting the frequency signal from the frequency-generating circuit 113, record data representing the at least one parameter related to the urine bladder fill level, provide the wearer with an alert signal about the urination event and optionally communicate the urination event to the remote mobile device 130.

Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic overview of an embodiment of the system 100 and the connections between the elements. The numbered elements in the schematic overview of Fig. 4 may be implemented in accordance with elements with the same reference numbers from the previously described figuras. The system 100 includes a sensor 110. This sensor 110 may include a urine-sensitive circuit 111. The sensor 110 may further include an electrical circuit 112, a frequency-genearating circuit 113 and an optional sensor 114.

The frequency-generating circuit 113 may include both a transmitter portion for supporting communication with an external device or a communication network {for example a Bluetooth® protocol such as

Bluetooth® low energy) as well as a transmitter portion for sending read-out ar interrogation signals to the urine-sensitive circuit {a.g, using NFC). The glectrical circuit 112 may include both a receiver portion for supporting communication with the external device or the communication network (for example a Blustooth® protocol such as Bluetooth® low energy) as well as a receiver portion for receiving signals from the urine-sensitive circuit (e.g. using NFC).

The system 100 further comprises of a local mobile device 120, remote mobile device 130, a communication network 140 and a user 150.

The local mobile device 120 may include a memory 122 for recording data representing paramster{s) related to the urine bladder fill level determined by the local mobile device 120 and/or the electrical circuit 112, data representing the movement and/or posture of the wearer, as well as thresholds and data recorded by the receiver 121, The local mobile device 120 may further include a recsiver 121 for receiving the frequanay signal from the sensor 110 and a transmitter 123 for tansmiling signals to the remote mobile device 130, the communication network 140 and/or other external devices. The local mobile device may further comprise of other sensors which are known in the arl,

The local mobile device 120 may further includs for example a microprocessor or a CPU. The logic governing the operations of the loca! mobile device 120 may for example be stored as software instructions in a storage medium (typically non-transitory form), for example the memory 122 which instructions are arranged to perform the operations of the local mobile device 120 described herein when executed by the local mobile device 120,

The memory 122 may be a volatile memory, s.g. a Random Access Memory

(RAM) or a flash memory sic. The memory 122 may for example include a program section and a data section, wherein the program section may stors the above-mentioned software instructions and the data section may store data and variables used to carry out the described operations.

The remota mobile devine 130 may include a receiver 131 for receiving signals from the local mobile device 120 and/or the sensor 110 and for recording data directly from the receiver 131. The remote mobile device 130 may further include other sensors which are known in the art.

The local mobile device 120 and the remote mobile device 130 may {urther include a user interface including a user input device, such as a bution or keypad, lights, speaker, and display, such as a liquid crystal (LOD) display or a light-emitting diode (LED) display. The speaker and/or the display may be used for providing indications and alerts to the user and/or caretaker, as described above, The user interface may also include a tactile indicator, such as a vibrator, which may be used instead, or as a complement to the speaker and the display. The user interface may also include a user input device such as buttons or a keypad to allow the user 150 and/or caretaker to change the settings of the system 100 or io give input to local mobile device 120 or ramote mobile device 130.

The user 150 may receive a (discrete) signal directly from sensor 110 after which user 150 may use the user interface of local mobile device 120 or remote mobile device 130 to Input data into local mobile devices 120 or remote mobile device 130. The input data may ba used to recommend a personalized pelvic floor training to the user. 1044757 SE

As schematically indicated in Fig. 4, the elements 111-114 may be arranged on a sams carrier. The carrier 110, also referred to as sensor 110 may preferably be a relatively light-weight and unobtrusive unit which may be secured to the skin at the bladder region or lo an absorbent article (2.9. by means of an adhesive) of the wearer, secured to the wearer by means of a strap or secured to an edge of the diaper or underwear, if the urine-sensitive circuit 111 is Implemented in accordance with the urine-sansitive circuit 111 as described in Fig. 2 and 3, the uring-sensitive circuit 111 may in response to being exposed lo urine generate a current powering transmission of a wireless signal which may be received by ths receiver 121 of the local mobile device 120. The local mobile device 120 may, in response io detecting the wireless signal, determine that a urination event has occurred and accordingly record data representative of the parameters) {as determined by the electrical circuit 112 and/or the mobile device 120} at an instant immediately preceding, or at a same time as, the detection of the wireless signal as well as data representing an estimated movement and/or posture of the wearer as determined by the optional sensor 114. Optionally the local mobile device 120 may, In response to detecting that the wine sensitive circuit 111 has been exposed io urine, send a wireless signal to the receiver 131 of the remote mobile device 130.

Cptionally, the sensor 110 may include other additional sensors, generally indicated as element 114. For examples, and as discussed above, ihe sensor 110 may include a skin proximity sensor (eg, a touch capacitive- based or registive-based sensor which per se are well-known in the art for detecting skin proximity or contact). The skin contact sensor may be arranged to interrupt the circuit of uring-sensilive circuit 111, electrical circuit 112 or the freguency-generating circuit 113 In response to detecting loss of contact with the skin of the wearer. By interrupting the sither of these circuits, the sensor 110 will stap transmitting a signal. This may Indicate to the local mobile § device 120 thal the user has removed the sensor from his body and/or tha absorbent article. In case the frequency which the frequency-generating circuit 113 produces is audible, interrupting the circuit will also make the sensor 110 stop making sound. Optionally, instead of a dedicated skin proximity sensor the urine-sansitive circuit 111, which may present a changed slectrical characteristic when proximate or in contact with the skin, may be used fo detect the proximity or contact with the skin.

As a replacement of or in addition to the skin-proximity sensor, the sensor 110 may also include a temperature sensor for measuring a skin temperature and/or an ambient temperature. The sensor 110 may also include an altimeter for measuring the altitude. Data related to the measurements performed by theses additional sensors 114 may also be stored in the memory 122 of the local mobile device 120 in responss to detecting an incontinance event or in a memory or buffer acoessible io electrical circuit 112. This additional data may enable an sven more accurals : 20 and extensive analysis of the incontinence events of the wearer since the goowrence of an incontinence event may be correlated to additional parameters which may have an influgnce on the occurrence of the involuntary urination event. The recorded dala may repeatedly, or upon request, be transmitted by the transmitter 123 of the mobile device 120 to the remote mobile device 130 or a communication network generally indicated by element 140 in Fig. 4. The transmitter 123 may Tor example use the

Blustonth® low energy protocol.

Alternatively, the functions of the system 100 may be Implemented in one or more integrated circuits, or even in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

The local mobile device 120 may be a small, battery-powered, portable device such as a device intendad to be placed next to the bed or in the room of the wearar or which accompanies the wearer of the sensor 110 throughout a daily routine (e.g. a mobile phone). The remote mobile device 130 can for example De a mobile device of the wearer, a mobile device of a medics! staff ar caretaker and/or a networked device or server. The remote mobile device 130 may have a simple user interface, such as a button or keypad, and a display or other visual indicator as mentioned above. As a further example tha remote mobile device 130 may De a mobile phone. The transmitted data can

Intum be used to provide indications on the mobile device 10 the wearer or the medical staff of an impending, an already occurred incontinence event andfor an estimated bladder fill level. The transmitted data can also be used to perform analytical studies to determine an incontinence diagnose and suggest a treatment best suited Tor the user's condition. As another example, the remote mobile device 130 may be a smart lighting system (e.g. Philip

Hue) which may be used to light up the room when an incontinence event has been detected during the night.

For analysis and diagnosis purposes, the data recorded by the local mobile device 120 may be used to establish a micturition tog or micturition diary. For example, the diary may include the diurnal (daytime) and nocturnal (nighttime) incontinence events and the time thersof.

In the above the inventive concept has mainly been described with reference to a limited number of examples. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other examples than the ones disclosed above gre squally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended claims.

For example, instead of being wirsless connected (and thus galvanically disconnected) the sensor 110 may be galvanically connected by wire to the local mobile device 120. The wires may for example be integrated in the undergarment or in the absorbent article, For example, a sensor similar to the sensor 110 however without the requenay-generating circuit 113 ould be used wherein a current or voltage generated at the electrodes 117, 118 could be directly detected and measured by the local mobile device 120 using techniques which are well-known in the art, According to another example a sensor similar to the sensor 110 could be used wherein a changed impedance, resistance or capacitance between the electrodes 117, 118 could be directly detected and measured by the local mobile device 120. In these examples, the electrodes 117, 118 of the urine-sensitive circuit 111 can for example be formed as thin layers on the substrate 115, The layers may for example be of a micrometer thickness, wherein the electrodes may be flexible and thus may minimize discomfort for the waarer. To further reduce the weight of the electrodes 117, 118 they may be perforated.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the structure of yams and interaction with the sensor according to the present invention.

a0

Claims (7)

CONCLUSIONS 1. A washable and reusable superabsorbent incontinence textile system made from recycled PET materials consisting of: A urine-sensing circuit arranged on a recycled PET die to present a changed electronic property when it comes into contact with urine; An electronic circuit arranged to convert the relatively high-impedance signal at the input of the urine-sensing circuit to a low-impedance signal at the input of the frequency-generating circuit; A frequency-generating circuit arranged to perform a frequency transmission when the urine-sensing circuit comes into contact with urine; and a mobile device arranged to receive an input from the frequency-generating circuit or a frequency-generating circuit input from the user, and use this input from the frequency-generating circuit or this user-based frequency-generating circuit input to present the user with personalized training. 2. A system, in accordance with conclusion 1, in which the Printed Circuit Board functions as a component of the packaging of the washable and reusable superabsorbent incontinent textile system, 3. A system according to claims 1-2, wherein the washable and reusable super absorbent incontinence textile system communicates with external devices to extend the functionality of the washable and reusable super absorbent incontinence textile system, A system according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the external device listens to the specific frequency of the frequency generating circuit. A system in accordance with claims 1 to 4, wherein the frequency-generating circuit or the exleme device can inform the user of the system when it is time to visit the toilet. 6. A system in accordance with claims 1-5, in which one or more components of the washable and reusable superabsorbent incontinence textile system are used as a magnetic or ferromagnetic material, A system according to claims 1 to 6, wherein the washable and reusable absorbent incontinent textile system is used to repeatedly determine at least one parameter varying with urination times and an external device further arranged to compare these repeatedly determined parameters with one or more time threshold values to inform the user when it is time to visit the toilet,