Project Description:

Our team has created a novel two-fold menstrual device that consists of a highly absorbent disposable pad secured by an underwear garment to address rapid heavy and orientation-associated menstrual blood loss for users with menorrhagia. The pad component deviates from prior art in its unique composition – the layering of a permeable topsheet, an absorbent core consisting of organic cotton fabrics and wound packing, and an impermeable adhesive backsheet. These features provide a wicking effect that rapidly dries the surface of the pad, a capability of absorbing over 140 mL of fluid within the product (surpassing the current menstrual pad absorbance capacity of 70 mL of fluid), and an assurance that the product will hold all fluids while remaining adhered to the underwear, respectively. Additionally, current pads generally follow a standard shape that is uniform throughout, while our product has a flared front and back end to follow the contours of the body to provide more coverage and support. Menstrual pads today are also secured to the underwear through small adhesive strips on the underside of the product, though they can lose their stickiness over time, leading to shifting or bunching. In our invention, the crosshatched adhesive pattern on the backsheet of the pad increases the adhesive capability of the underside of the product. The pad is further secured by the stabilizing underwear, which contains two grippy straps and thicker inner side seams, designed to keep the pad in place. These elements introduce novelty to the period product market as our product addresses the absorbency and migration issues that are inherent to current menstrual devices on the market. These combined features will ensure peace of mind for our users and provide assurances that they will be protected from leaks and migration during the course of their menstrual cycles.