Absorbent article with fractionation member

Abstract

An absorbent article for the management of body exudates having in combination, an acquisition component and a storage component. The acquisition component, interposed between the source of body exudates and the fluid storage component, has a member for fractionating body exudates emanating from the source and for storing the solid portion of the body exudates. The acquisition component has a plurality of pores in the size range of red blood cells, suspended solids, and other body exudates which traps, and stores the solid portion of body exudates and allows the fluid portion to continue flowing through the acquisition component and into the storage component. The storage component is for storing the fluid portion of the body exudates.

We claim: 
     
       1. An absorbent structure for the management of a fluid portion and a solid portion of body exudates emanating from a source, said structure comprising: a) a storage component for storing the fluid portion of the body exudates; and   b) an acquisition component interposed between said storage component and the source, said acquisition component comprising a member for fractionating body exudates emanating from the source and for storing the solid portion of the body exudates.   
     
     
       2. The absorbent structure of claim 1, wherein said acquisition component has a pore size average greater than the pore size average of said storage component. 
     
     
       3. The absorbent structure of claim 1, wherein said acquisition component comprises fibers having pore size radii from about 5 μm to about 150 μm. 
     
     
       4. The absorbent structure of claim 3, wherein said acquisition component comprises cellulosic fibers. 
     
     
       5. The absorbent structure of claim 4, wherein said cellulosic fibers comprise chemically stiffened, curled, and twisted cellulosic fibers. 
     
     
       6. The absorbent structure of claim 5, wherein said acquisition component comprises an individualized refined, wet laid curled cellulosic fibers. 
     
     
       7. The absorbent structure of claim 6, wherein said refined fibers comprises at least about 0.05% kymene, by dry weight. 
     
     
       8. The absorbent structure of claim 1, wherein said acquisition component comprises a mixture of cellulosic fibers and thermoplastic material bonded together in a thermally bonded matrix. 
     
     
       9. The absorbent structure of claim 1, wherein said storage component comprises a flexible, hydrophilic polymeric material. 
     
     
       10. The absorbent structure of claim 1, wherein said storage component comprises a superabsorbent polymer which absorbs body exudates to form a swollen hydrogel material. 
     
     
       11. An absorbent article for the management of a fluid portion and solid portion of body exudates, emanating from a source, said article comprising: a) a backsheet;   b) a storage component interposed between said backsheet and the source, said storage component for storing the fluid portion of the body exudates; and   c) an acquisition component interposed between the source and said storage component, said acquisition component comprising a member for fractionating the body exudates emanating from the source and for storing the solid portion of the body exudates.   
     
     
       12. The absorbent structure of claim 11, wherein said acquisition component has a pore size average greater than the pore size average of said storage component. 
     
     
       13. The absorbent structure of claim 11, wherein said acquisition component comprises fibers having pore size radii from about 5 μm to about 150 μm. 
     
     
       14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein said acquisition component comprises cellulosic fibers. 
     
     
       15. The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein said cellulose fibers comprise chemically stiffened, twisted, and curled cellulosic fibers. 
     
     
       16. The absorbent article of claim 15, wherein said refined fibers comprise at least about 0.05% kymene, by dry weight. 
     
     
       17. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein said acquisition component comprises a mixture of hydrophilic cellulosic fibers and thermoplastic material bonding the fibers together in a thermally bonded matrix. 
     
     
       18. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein said storage component comprises a flexible, hydrophilic polymeric material. 
     
     
       19. The absorbent structure of claim 11, wherein said storage component comprises a superabsorbent polymer, which absorbs body exudates to form a swollen hydrogel material. 
     
     
       20. An absorbent article for the management of a fluid portion and a solid portion of body exudates emanating from a source said article comprising: a) a backsheet;   b) a storage component interposed between said backsheet and the source, said storage component comprising a hydrophilic flexible polymeric structure of interconnected open cells for storing the fluid portion of body exudates;   c) an acquisition component interposed between the source and said storage component, said acquisition component comprising individualized curled cellulosic fibers that are mechanically altered from an unrefined state to a refined state for fractionating body exudates emanating from the source and for storing the solid portion of the body exudates; and   d) a topsheet interposed between the source and said acquisition component.