Absorbent article

Abstract

An absorbent article has an absorbent material and an outer surface including an inhibitor which is partially bound to the absorbent material and substantially inhibits the colonization of bacteria within the absorbent article. An absorbent article has an absorbent material. The absorbent material has an outer surface. The absorbent article includes a pre-toxin limiting agent which is partially bound to the absorbent material and substantially retards the production of bacteria-produced toxins by the bacteria residing within the absorbent article. An absorbent article has an absorbent material. The absorbent material has an outer surface. The absorbent article includes a toxin enclosing agent. Tthe toxin enclosing agent substantially inhibits the migration of toxin outwardly from within the absorbent article towards the outer surface of the absorbent article.

1 . An absorbent article having an absorbent material and an outer surface, comprising:an inhibitor which is at least partially bound to the absorbent material and substantially inhibits the colonization of bacteria within the absorbent article.  
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is an antimicrobial agent.  
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is an antifouling agent.  
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the inhibitor is confined in an unbound state within the absorbent article by a permeable structure which encases the absorbent material, the permeable structure being configured to allow body fluids to flow through the permeable structure in a first direction and substantially prevents flow of the inhibitor from passing back through the permeable structure and thereby exiting the absorbent article.  
     
     
         5 . An absorbent article having an absorbent material said absorbent material having an outer surface, said absorbent article, comprising: a pre-toxin limiting agent which is at least partially bound to the absorbent material and that substantially retards the production of bacteria-produced toxins by the bacteria residing within the absorbent article.  
     
     
         6 . An absorbent article having an absorbent material said absorbent material having an outer surface, said absorbent article, comprising: a pre-toxin limiting agent which is at least partially bound to the absorbent material and a pre-toxin limiting agent that substantially de-activates bacteria produced toxins arising from bacteria residing within the absorbent article.  
     
     
         7 . An absorbent article having absorbent material, said absorbent material having an outer surface, said absorbent article, comprising: a toxin enclosing agent, the toxin enclosing agent substantially inhibiting the migration of toxin outwardly from within the absorbent article towards the outer surface of the absorbent article.  
     
     
         8 . An absorbent article having absorbent material, said absorbent material having an outer surface, said absorbent article, comprising: a temperature limiting agent, the temperature limiting agent substantially inhibiting the elevation of temperatures within the absorbent article.  
     
     
         9 . An absorbent article having absorbent material, said absorbent material having an outer surface, said absorbent article, comprising: a temperature equilibrium agent, the temperature equilibrium agent substantially reducing the rate at which the absorbent article raises above equilibrium in an ambient environment.  
     
     
         10 . An absorbent product having an absorbent material and an outer surface, comprising: 
 a material which inhibits a growth of bacteria within the absorbent article, and    said outer surface physically separates the inhibitor from a vaginal mucosa tissue such that said growth of bacteria on said vaginal mucosa is not disrupted.