US3699965A

US3699965A - Tampon for absorbing body fluids

Info

Publication number: US3699965A
Application number: US88434A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zdenek Denny Dostal
Original assignee: International Playtex Inc
Current assignee: Playtex FP Inc; INTERN PLAYTEX CORP
Priority date: 1970-11-10
Filing date: 1970-11-10
Publication date: 1972-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-24

Abstract

An article of manufacture for the absorption of body fluids, particularly tampons, comprising a body portion with at least a portion of the filaments which make up the body portion being inflated filaments having voids therein. The inflated filaments have a lower specific gravity than like non-inflated filaments, and are preferably of cellulose base materials, and as used in a tampon provide a product having the ability, upon the application of moisture to increase in size in both length and diameter.

Description

United States Patent Dostal 51 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] TAMPON FOR ABSORBING BODY FLUIDS [72] Inventor: Zdenek Denny Dostal, Ramsey, NJ.

[73] Assignee: International Playtex Corporation,

New York, NY.

221' Filed: Nov. 10,1970

21] App1.No.: 88,434

[52] use] ..12s/2s5 [511 Int. Cl. ..A61f13/20 5s] FieldofSearch ..128/284, 285,290, 296, 270

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1961 Graham, Jr ..128/285 5/1964 Gray et a]. ..';....l28/284 3,171,773 3/1965 Estes et a1 ..l28/284 X 3,177,872 4/1965 Pearman ..128/285 X 3,347,237 10/1967 Jones ..128/285 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum AttorneyStewart Fried and Jeffrey A. Schwab [57] ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTED um 24 m2 SHEET 2 0F 2 F/G.3A

F/G.3B

INVENTOR. ZDENEK DENNY DOSTAL a. ATT RN vs TAMPON FOR ABSORBING BODY FLUIDS certain desirable characteristics. Since the primary function of the end product is the absorption of body fluids, a main attribute of any fiber, filament or materi al employed is its ability to absorb and retain moisture.

Due to the fact that the end product, for example a tampon or a dental packing is to be inserted within an area having limited dimensions, the product should also have other highly desirable characteristics.

In particular, in tampons, the material employed must be adaptable for forming into a particular shape to allow for comfortable insertion into the vaginal canal. The fibers or filaments which make up the tampon must have sufficient integrity so as to prevent their breakdown within the body when subjected to the discharged body fluid. Further, the tampon must have sufficient resiliency to inhibit body pressure from causin g the absorbed fluid from being forced out of the tampon during use. At the same time the tampon must be able to expand or bloom so as to adapt itself to the size of the vaginal canal to prevent leakage of the body fluid, and preferably the tampon should not only bloom laterally but should also grow in a lengthwise direction.

With the greater commercial acceptanceof tampons in recent years, various attempts have been made to provide a product having as many of the above characteristics aspossible and still provide a product which can be economically manufactured in mass quantities. Initial attempts to increase absorbency were generally directed to an increase in the bulk of material employed. With the size limitation inherent in tampons the increase in material bulk was necessarily accomplished by attempts to compress more material into a product of a given size. While to a point such attempts were successful, compression beyond a given level causes many undesirable results. Too much compression lessens or destroys to some extent the resiliency of the fibers or filaments used thus adversely affecting the expansion and bloom characteristics of the end product. Compression further creates a more dense agglomeration of fibers or filaments thus cutting down the interstices or open areas between the fibers or filaments where blood corpuscles could otherwise be retained. Thus, above certain limits bulk with a higher concentration or density of material can actually adversely affect absorption capabilities.

Other attempts at improving the overall characteristics of tampons included the employment of various fibrous materials, however where further absorbent characteristics were desired, prior workers once again reverted to higher bulk under compression and again were faced with the problems of a greater density of fibers with its resultant problems.

Although the problems have long been experienced, by and large the majority of the presently employed commercial tampon products sold are constructed of either cotton or a relatively fine denier viscose rayon and in some cases a blend of either cotton or viscose rayon with cellulose crepe.

According to the present invention it has been found that various materials and in particular cellulose base materials modified in a manner to provide a lower .specific gravity, not only provide for greater absorbency, but further provide, when incorporated into a tampon enhanced blooming and growth attributes.

In particular it has been found that inflated cellulose base materials when employed as a constituent material in a product for absorbing body fluids significantly advantageously affect the overall characteristics of the product.

It has long been recognized that polynosics such as regenerated cellulose and cellulose esters can be inflated. For example, in the manufacture of regenerated cellulose fibers and filaments various techniques are known to form the filaments with hollow areas within the filament walls. In some techniques a plurality of longitudinally oriented voids are disposed within the filament. In other techniques, flatter, transverse, somewhat regularly aligned voids are formed.

In some instances gaseous material remains entrapped in bubble form in the voids and in other instances the gases are releasedleaving the voids open to the air environment which fills them.

While the techniques may differ depending upon the material desired, inflation of the filaments is obtainable for regenerated cellulose such as viscose rayon and collodion fibers (e.g., nitrocellulose) and for cellulose esters such as acetate, triacetate, cuprammonium rayon and ethyl cellulose rayon.

While there has been much advancement in the fiber arts, the basic technology has heretofore not been to any appreciable extent applied to tampons or like product usage.

In the area of cellulose base materials, it would appear as if the initial work in inflated fibers or filaments evolves around an attempt to impart to such cellulosic materials the look and feel of wool, that is to impart a lightness and fluffy texture to an otherwise heavy, transparent and cold to the touch fiber. By providing for voids or gaseous pockets within the fiber, suppleness and to some degree elasticity was imparted to the fibers. v

The absorbent characteristics of the fibers, was not necessarily considered and in fact many workers in the art, apparently in an attempt to improve on wool worked towards a hydrophobic inflated product and improvements were directed generally towards the hand and feel as well as the uniformity which could be imparted to such a fiber. The inflated characteristics were generally only recognized insofar as they were adaptable for cushions, life preservers or sound insulation materials.

While more recently the fact that such filaments or fibers had absorbency characteristics which might be employed in an end product was recognized, the basic use of the fiber was in a woven fabric or other fabric end products constructed so that it would retain its desired shape even when absorbency was desired. Thus, while it was recognized that an inflated rayon or cellulosic product might be used in an absorbent end product, as yet the desirable requisite of the material for tampon use were neither recognized nor applied to this type of filament or fiber.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention inflated fibers and filaments and in particular cellulose base fibers or filaments have been incorporated either as a major constituent or as a complementary constituent in body fluid absorbent products particularly tampons, with the resultant product exhibiting a high bulk-low density ratio as compared to other absorbent materials adaptable for tampon usage. While the specific gravity ratios differ depending upon the particular cellulose base material employed and method of manufacture the inflated cellulose base material exhibits markedly lower densities than commonly available fibers. For'example, in a 1.5 denier fiber, cotton has a specific gravity of 1.50; rayon has a specific gravity of 1.50 and woolhas a specific gravity density of 1.28 whereas inflated viscose rayon has a specific gravity of 0.60 to 1.20. This means that a given weight of 1.5 denier inflated rayon if inflated to the 0.60 range will have twice the surface area of an equal weight of standard rayon, plus absorptive capacity within the fibers to give a greater than 100 percent absorptivity than a standard rayon or cotton counterpart.

It has further been found that the inflated fibers or filaments have a markedly greater blooming and lengthwise growth ability than standard viscose rayon fibers or like denier.

Without wishing to be bound by any particularly theory of operability, as used in a tampon it is believed that the inflated viscose rayon has greater absorptive qualities and characteristics due to the fact that the hollow cellulosic fibers or filaments can absorb large amounts of water and various other solutionsas well as a portion of the menstrual blood serum due to the areas within the fibers which osmotically or by capillary action attract and hold the fluids and serum. Similarily it would appear as if the larger blood corpuscels and menses which cannot be absorbed within the hollow make-up of the fibers adhere more readily around and between the filaments due to the greater outer surface area of the fibers or filaments and within the interstitial areas between the fibers or filaments.

As hereinafter more particularly described it has also been found that a combination employing standard (i.e., non-inflated) and inflated cellulosic material in given proportions exhibits greater absorbency characteristics than the expected sum of the absorbent properties of each of the constituents separately would indicate. While again not wishing to be bound by any particular theory as to functionality it would appear as if the greater affinity for fluid of the inflated material acts with the standard rayon so as to cause the standard rayon to more closely reach its greatest potential levels. Further, the growth experienced by the inflated cellulose base material may act to provide a greater spacing apart of the standard viscose rayon fibers or filaments thus providing more exposed surface areas for fluid retention.

It has been found that the absorbency and retention characteristics of inflated cellulosic materials is so superior to that of standard viscose rayon that, if desired the scouring step which is normally employed in tampon manufacture where rayon viscose is a constituent material can be eliminated and a tampon exhibiting greater absorbency characteristics than a standard rayon tampon results. Scouring is generally performed on viscose rayon tow to remove certain finishing eliminated and a tampon made-from such material will exhibit absorbency levels greater than that of a standard scoured viscose rayon tampon.

While as heretofore stated a plurality of inflated cellulose base materials may be employed, viscose inflated I rayon is highly suitable since it can be more economi-- cally. manufactured than nitrocellulose and the previously described cellulose esters.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention in the manner in which it may be carried out may be further understood by reference of description following and the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are transverse and longitudinal cross sections respectively pictorially representing one form of inflated viscose rayon which may be employed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are transverse and longitudinal cross sections pictorial representations respectively of an alternative inflated viscose rayon filament which may be employed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are transverse and longitudinal cross sections of an alternative filament of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are pictorial transverse and longitudinal cross sections of another filament of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the inflated viscose rayon of FIG. 1B pictorially illustrating entrapped gaseous filled bubbles within the filament.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a tampon constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the tampon of FIG. 4 after ithas received body fluids.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial rendition of a micro-photograph of one form of inflated viscose rayon filaments in a dry state.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial illustration of a micro-photograph illustrating the filaments of FIG. 6 after they have been subjected to moisture.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a micro-photograph depicting the filaments after they have been subjected a serum (blood).

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

FIGS. 1A, 18, 2A, 2B, 3A, 33, 4A, 4B andS are representative of various forms of inflated viscose rayon. The differences between the filaments 1a, 2a n 3 is the result of variations in the manufacturing methods employed.

Each of the filaments illustrated represent an inflated viscose rayon however, it will be appreciated that other filaments will have a similar configuration when inflated.

The diameter of the filaments will of course vary depending upon the denier being manufactured and the uniformity of the technique employed for inflating the fibers or filaments.

ln FIGS. 1A and 1B the hollow areas 4, due to the method of manufacture are relatively long, and extend an appreciable longitudinal distance along the fiber or filament. For ease of reference the filament of FIGS. 1A and 18 can be referred to as being of the high" inflated type with the high" being a reference to the formation of the hollow areas 4.

1n FIGS. 2A and 2B the hollow areas 5 are greater transversely than longitudinally and because of their basic flat configuration, for ease of reference may be termed low inflated filaments.

It is of course appreciated that in manufacture the high and low type

hollow areas

4 and 5 respectively do not have the regular shape illustrated and size and shape variations are common such as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4A, 4B where an irregular pattern inflated areas are randomly spaced within the filaments.

In FIG. 5 the filament 3 is of the high type however, there is entrapped within the hollow areas 4 bubbles 6 of encased gaseous material.

It is to be appreciated that while the pictorial representation of FIG. 3 shows the gaseous bubble entrappment in a high" type filament, the same may also occur in the low type filament of FIGS. 2A, 2B or the filaments of FIGS. 3A, 3B or 4A, 4B.

The

filaments

1, 1a, 2, 2a and 3 are generally manufactured and processed so as to be produced in the form of tow. The tow is then cut to a particular size length and carded. In order to to facilitate carding, a surfactant is oftentimes applied to the tow.

Once carded or otherwise processed the rayon can be used as a constituent material in the manufacture of tampons such as the tampon 7 illustrated in FIG. 4. The tampons may be constructed in a variety of ways using various manufacturing techniques. For example, a tampon forming machine such as depicited in US. Pat. No. 3,465,390 to Mooney, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, may be employed.

As will be seen from the examples which follow, the use of inflated material greatly improves the absorbency levels of a body fluid retentive article and further enchances the overall desirable characteristics of such a product. As can be more readily appreciated from the following examples, a given weight of material will have approximately twice the surface area of an equal weight of a non-inflated unit of the same material with the addition of absorptive capacity within the fibers or filaments.

It will be further appreciated that this marked decrease in specific gravity can be imputed not only to viscose rayon, but also to other regenerated cellulose base materials and other cellulose esters. It should also be noted that various deniers can be employed [with the following tests using, as indicated 1.5 and 5.5 denier samplings] with the denier choice being one of suitability for particular need. For example, in a tampon a range of 1 denier upwards to 25 denier may be suitable, however the higher deniers are somewhat coarser. In addition, insofar as processing of raw materials is concerned, using present techniques relatively uniform inflation is difficult and somewhat expensive to obtain above the area of approximately denier.

So as to provide more definitive results the inflated material was used after being formed into tampons and absorbency levels and other results were determined in such conditions.

As will be seen from the following tables, tampons were made employing the low [L and high [H type inflated viscose rayon using 1.5 denier and 5.5 denier samplings.

A control tampon was used for comparative purposes, the control tampon being constructed to standard 3 denier rayon having the weight indicated in the tables.

Absorbency-levels were tested employing the Syngyna Method. A summary of the Syngyna Method may be'found in the paper entitled A Comparison Of The Absorptive Efficienty Of The Commercial Catamenial Tampons written by Professor G.W. Rapp and published in June, 1958 by the Department of Research, Loyola University, Chicago, Ill.

The Syngyna Method basically consists of applying to a properly positioned tampon an adaptation pressure of physiological magnitude and then allowing a fluid of proper consistency to flow as its tip at a controlled rate. The test is concluded when the first drop of fluid begins to fall from the open end of the Syngyna regardless of whether the tampon seems saturated or not.

So as to obtain more accurate date, the fluid used in the Syngyna tests for the following tests was blood.

Listed below in Table I are the absorbencies of 1.5 denier and 5.5 denier viscose inflated rayon fiber tampons of both the high and low variety and each in a scoured and unsecured condition. Also included in the data is the control sample of a standard 3 denier rayon tampon product. There is further illustrated a tampon constructed of a 1.5 denier outer layer and a 5 .5 denier inner layer.

*TABLE I Total Pick-up absobency Gram Above Control Tampon Type Weight Bloom All values average of 5 tampons pon. It should be further noted that the 'high and low material performed substantially equally well.

Table 11 illustrates the growth and bloom characteristics.

TABLE I1 Before After Tampon Saturation Saturatidn (l) 100% standard 3 denier rayon dry weight 2.91 diameter-l7/32" diameter 7/8" grams length-Q" length 2" (2) 100% denier inflated rayon dry weight 2.95 diameters-l7/32" diameter 1" grams length-2 1/8" lengths 2 1/2 diameter (3)100% 5.5 denier inflated rayon dry weight 3.18 diameter 17/32" 1 1/8" grams length-2 1/8" length 2 1/2" diameter 4) 50% 1.5 denier outer layer 50% 5.5 denier diameter-17/32" 1 H8" inner layer dry weight length-2 1/8" length-2 3/8" 3.19 grams As the above Table 11 indicates there is growth as well as blooming that is the tampons made from inflated viscose rayon not only grew in diameter but grew in length.

While in the past it has been possible to construct the tampon which would, upon absorption of body fluids grow in a lengthwise direction, such was affected by particular orientation of the layers of the material which made up the tampon. However, as seen in the above Table I1 tampons made of inflated material were made in the exact same manner as the control tampons and the control tampons did not grow in length whereas in fact the. tampons made of inflated materials did.

This is pictorially illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein the tampon 7 in its dry condition as shown in FIG. 6 grows both lengthwise and blooms, that is grows transversely to have a larger diameter. The tampon 7 of both FIGS. 6 and 7 are constructed in the same manner as is the control tampon, that is there is provided two layers of superimposed material which are formed into a somewhat cylindrical shape and a withdrawal string 8 is applied to one end of the tampon 7.

As would appear from the above test results, it is the nature of the inflated material which causes the growth and blooming and thus, the particular shape of the tampon and/or alignment of superimposed layers of material is not critical with respect to inhibiting growth or blooming of the tampon, thus the tampon maybe constructed in any suitable manner with the two layup and forming methods above described being merely optional of a form of tampon construction.

Testing was also conducted to point up the correlation between weight and pick-up per gram value. While the weight of the tampons differed the sizes were stan- 8 dardized. Two groups were tested. One had a length of 2 inches and a diameter of seventeen thirty-seconds of an inch and the other a length of 2 16 inches and a diameter of seventeen thirty-seconds of an inch with the results indicated in Table III.

TABLE III 2" length-17/32" dlameter 2 1/8"1ength-17/32" diameter Denier Wt. Total Pick up Wt. Total pick up (3.) Absorper g. Absorper g.

bency bency Blend 1.93 14.21 7.36 2.44 16.88 6.93

Blend 2.22-=l5.l4 6.81 2.73 18.58 6.81

Blend 2.63 17.62 6.70 3.02 19.64 6.50

Blend 4.09 25.97 6.35

Blend 1.82 13.54 7.44 2.48 16-83 6.79

Blend 2.45 15.80 6.45 2.83 19.06 6.75

Blend 2.79 18.65 6.68 3.18 20.17 6.34

Blend 4.04 25.53 6.31

1.5 outer Layer 1.85 13.18 7.08 2.74 18.53 6.77

5.5 inner 1 Layer .2.74 17.53 6.39 3.56 22.52 6.32

50/50 Blend 1.5 denier inflated rayon 3.25 19.70 6.05

and standard 3 denier rayon 50/50 Blend of 5.5 denier inflated rayon and standard 2.99 17.83 5.97

3 denier rayon Control-100% 1 3 denier 2.61" 113.29 5.09 2.93 15.12 5.16

rayon 3.64 18.18 4.99

where clinical testing was done the results were within the ranges indicated from the Syngyna testing.

It would appear from the above data and other data obtained that the most desirable characteristics of a constituent material would be:

1. A low specific gravity 2. A system of voids within the filaments that makeup the basic constituent material 3. A rather close spacing of voids relative to each other.

It would also appear as if the difference between high or low type hollow areas is not significant in terms of the desirable attributes for a body fluid absorbing product.

Thus, while the examples above are indicative of results obtainable employing a regenerated viscose rayon, using techniques known in the man-made fiber arts, it is possible to, by inflation, that is by the integration of hollow areas within a fiber or filament, to lower the specific gravity of nitrocellulose or other collodion fibers.

Similarily cellulose esters such as acetate can be processed so that their specific gravity of 1.30 1.35 can be lowered by reason of manufacturing with voids 9 to a specific gravity of approximately 0.60 and similarily a 0.60 specific gravity can be given to triacetates, ethylcellulose rayon and cuprammonium fibers.

It would also appear that the entrappment of gaseous material in bubble form such as that which is illustrated in FIG. of the drawings does not detrimentallyaffect I the performance of a body fluidabsorbing product.

It would appear as if the serum or other body fluid as it is drawn towards the voids or hollow areas within the fibers or filaments evacuates the gaseous entrapped material by bursting the bubble and releasing the entrapped gas for escape through the porous filament or fibers. 7

The evacuation of the bubbles during the absorptive stages of use of the inflated cellulose material of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and which are pictorial representations drawn from microphotographs of the 5.5 denier viscose rayon inflated filaments.

As illustrated in P16. 8 where the inflated filaments or fibers 9 are shown in their dry state, each of filaments or fibers 9 includes a plurality of hollow or inflated areas 10 with gaseous bubbles or pockets ll somewhat randomly disposed in some of the hollow areas 10.

In FIG. 9 the fibers or filaments 9 are shown after they have been subjected to moisture. As can be seen in the encircled area 12, in the initial stages of absorption, the liquid or body fluid fills the hollow areas 1 0, evacuating the bubbles 11 fromthe hollow areas 10 as absorption takes place.

ln FIG. 10 the fibers or filaments 9 are shown after they have been subjected to blood serum.

Aside from absorption within the hollow area 11, blood corpuscles which are generally approximately 7 microns and thus too large to pass through the cellulosic outer surface of the inflated material to be entrapped within the inflated hollow areas, cling to the outer surface of the fiber or filament. Thus, while serum or other body fluid is drawn inside by capillan'ty and osmotic forces, larger constituents of the body fluid are absorbed by the cellulosic fibers or filaments and retained about the outer surface of the fibers or filaments or between the interstices or areas which space apart the fibers or filaments.

Since it would appear that the hollow areas act as retentive reservoirs for body fluid it is preferable that the fibers or filaments have a relatively high number of hollow areas per unit length. Additionally since capillarity and osmotic forces may play a part in drawing the liquid toward the hollow areas it would appear preferable to have the hollow areas relatively closely spaced apart.

-While the examples in the present application have been particularly directed to an inflated viscose rayon it should be noted that it is known in the art to inflate other products. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,913,769 to Kastli there is disclosed processes for the manufacture of inflated cellulose acetate, cuprammonium rayon, nitrocellulose rayon as well as viscose rayon.

lt is therefore within the purview of the present invention to provide an article for the absorption of body fluids in the form of a shape body with at leasta portion of the body including a plurality of man-made filaments or fibers with at least a portion of the filaments or fibers including voids therein, such filaments being disposed so as to provide relatively randomly spaced areas therebetween whereby body fluid may be absorbed by the shaped body with such fluid being retained within the voids and the randomly spaced areas.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description; it is recognized though that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some'detail what is claimed is:

1. A tampon comprising a shaped body having means for the absorption andretention of body fluids and materials contained therein,

at least a portion of said body including a plurality of cellulose base material filaments,

at least a portion of said filaments including voids therein,

said filaments being disposed so as to provide relatively randomly spaced areas therebetween,

said voids and randomly spaced areas providing means for the absorption and retention of body fluids, with said randomly spaced areas adapted to retain materials within the body fluid of a size exceeding that which can be retained within the voids.

2. A tampon as claimed in claim 1 wherein said filaments are selected from a group consisting of viscose rayon, nitrocellulose, acetate, ethyl cellulose rayon and cupramnonium.

3. A tampon as claimed in claim 1 wherein the voids in said filaments are relatively closely spaced apart.

4. A tampon as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaped body grows in length and diameter as fluid is absorbed therein.

5. A tampon as claimed in claim 4 wherein a portion of' said filaments include voids having entrapped gases therein.

.6. A tampon comprising,

a shaped body having initial values of length and diameter,

a withdrawal means affixed to said body,

at least a portion of said body including filaments of a cellulose base material,

at least a portion of said filaments including voids therein,

said filaments being disposed so as to provide relatively randomly spaced areas therebetween whereby body fluid may be absorbed by said shaped body retained within said voids and said randomly spaced areas,

said shaped body adapted to grow in length and diameter from its initial values as fluid is absorbed therein.

7. A tampon as claimed in=claim 6 wherein said filaments including voids therein are of regenerated viscose rayon.

8. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filaments are l.5 denier.

9. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filaments are 5.5 denier.

10. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 where a portion I of said filaments are 1.5 denier and a portion of said filaments are 5.5 denier.

1 l 12 7 11. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 wherein a porat least a portion of said body including inflated filation of said shaped body further includes filaments ments having a lower specific gravity than nn-inwithout voids therein. flated like filaments,

12. A tampon comprising, I said filaments being disposed so as to provide relaa shaped body, tively randomly spaced areas therebetween. a withdrawal means affixed to said body,

Claims

1. A tampon comprising a shaped body having means for the absorption and retention of body fluids and materials contained therein, at least a portion of said body including a pLurality of cellulose base material filaments, at least a portion of said filaments including voids therein, said filaments being disposed so as to provide relatively randomly spaced areas therebetween, said voids and randomly spaced areas providing means for the absorption and retention of body fluids, with said randomly spaced areas adapted to retain materials within the body fluid of a size exceeding that which can be retained within the voids.

5. A tampon as claimed in claim 4 wherein a portion of said filaments include voids having entrapped gases therein.

6. A tampon comprising, a shaped body having initial values of length and diameter, a withdrawal means affixed to said body, at least a portion of said body including filaments of a cellulose base material, at least a portion of said filaments including voids therein, said filaments being disposed so as to provide relatively randomly spaced areas therebetween whereby body fluid may be absorbed by said shaped body retained within said voids and said randomly spaced areas, said shaped body adapted to grow in length and diameter from its initial values as fluid is absorbed therein.

7. A tampon as claimed in claim 6 wherein said filaments including voids therein are of regenerated viscose rayon.

8. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filaments are 1.5 denier.

9. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filaments are 5.5 denier.

10. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 where a portion of said filaments are 1.5 denier and a portion of said filaments are 5.5 denier.

11. A tampon as claimed in claim 7 wherein a portion of said shaped body further includes filaments without voids therein.

12. A tampon comprising, a shaped body, a withdrawal means affixed to said body, at least a portion of said body including inflated filaments having a lower specific gravity than non-inflated like filaments, said filaments being disposed so as to provide relatively randomly spaced areas therebetween.