Disposable absorbent lift device
The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent pad comprising multiple layers. In particular, the absorbent pad of the present invention maintains skin dryness by absorbing moisture while preventing leakage to the skin or the bed linens, allowing air circulation at the surface of the patient's skin to prevent heat buildup, and is strong enough to allow the patient to be repositioned, even when the pad is wet. In a particular embodiment the first layer is comprised of a fluid-permeable, porous material, the second layer is disposed under the first layer and is comprised of at least one super absorbent material, and a base layer disposed under the second layer.
1. An absorbent pad comprising: a) a first layer which is fluid permeable and air permeable; b) a second layer disposed under the first layer, comprising at least one super absorbent material; c) a base layer disposed under the second layer, comprising a hydrophobic breathable film disposed over an air-permeable material, wherein the tensile strength of the base layer at break, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, is in the range of about 45 to about 100 N/25 mm in the machine direction and about 30 to about 60 N/25 mm in the cross direction, wherein the base layer comprises: d) a third layer disposed under the second layer, comprising a hydrophobic, breathable film; and e) a fourth layer disposed under the third layer, comprising an air-permeable material.
2. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a nonwoven material.
3. The absorbent pad of claim 2 , wherein the nonwoven material is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic nonwoven material, a staple nonwoven material, a melt blown nonwoven material, a spunmelt nonwoven material, a spunbond nonwoven material, SMS (spunbond meltblown spunbond) materials, spun lace materials, needle-felted materials, a thermal bonded nonwoven, a trough air bonded nonwoven material, a spunlaid nonwoven material, or any combination thereof.
4. The absorbent pad of claim 2 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, viscose rayon, nylon, at least one biodegradable polymeric material or a combination thereof.
5. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a weight of about 10 gsm to about 20 gsm.
6. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a Moisture Transfer Rate of between about 5 sec/mL to about 200 sec/mL.
7. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has an air permeability in the range of about 10 seconds/100 mL to about 100 seconds/100 mL.
8. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises formed or unformed material.
9. The absorbent pad of claim 8 , wherein the second layer comprises a formed material, and the formed material is an air-laid material.
10. The absorbent pad of claim 9 , wherein the air-laid material comprises a natural fiber.
11. The absorbent pad of claim 10 , wherein the natural fiber is cellulose.
12. The absorbent pad of claim 11 , wherein the cellulose is selected from the group consisting of wood fibers, plant fibers, field crop fibers, and fluff pulp.
13. The absorbent pad of claim 9 , wherein the air-laid material is thermobonded.
14. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises natural or synthetic material.
15. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a super absorbent polymer.
16. The absorbent pad of claim 15 , wherein the super absorbent polymer comprises a polymer or copolymer of sodium polyacrylate.
17. The absorbent pad of claim 15 , wherein the second layer further comprises about 90 gsm to about 110 gsm of macerated wood pulp.
18. The absorbent pad of claim 15 , wherein the second layer comprises about 20 to about 30 gsm of super absorbent polymer.
19. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the second layer has moisture absorption capacity in the range of about 50 cc/m.sup.2 to about 20,000 cc/m 2 as measured by the ISO11948-1 test method.
20. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the super absorbent material does not substantially swell or separate from the first and/or base layers when wet.
21. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the third layer comprises a polyethylene film.
22. The absorbent pad of claim 21 , wherein the polyethylene film is perforated.
23. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the third layer has a weight in the range of about 20 gsm to about 45 gsm.
24. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the third layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 1,000 g/m 2 /day to about 10,000 g/m 2 /day.
25. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the fourth layer comprises a nonwoven material.
26. The absorbent pad of claim 25 , wherein the nonwoven material is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic nonwoven material, a staple nonwoven material, a melt blown nonwoven material, a spunmelt nonwoven material, a spunbond, nonwoven material, SMS (spunbond meltblown spunbond) materials, spun lace materials, needle-felted materials, a thermal bonded nonwoven, a trough air bonded nonwoven material, a spunlaid nonwoven material, or a combination thereof.
27. The absorbent pad of claim 25 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, viscose rayon, nylon, at least one biodegradable polymeric material and combinations thereof.
28. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the fourth layer has a weight in the range of about 30 to about 80 gsm.
29. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth layers are adhered together.
30. The absorbent pad of claim 29 , wherein the layers are adhered together using an adhesive.
31. The absorbent pad of claim 30 , wherein the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.
32. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the pad has rewet of about 1 g to about 3 g.
33. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein a) the first layer is a spunbond, nonwoven sheet, b) the second layer comprises a thermobonded absorbent airlaid core comprising cellulose fibers and super absorbent polymers c) the third layer is a perforated polyethylene film and d) the fourth layer is a nonwoven sheet with a weight of about 15 gsm to about 90 gsm.
34. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein a) the first layer comprises a material with a Moisture Transfer Rate between about 5 sec/mL to about 200 sec/mL and an air permeability in the range of about 10 seconds/100 mL to about 100 seconds/100 mL; b) the second layer has an absorption capacity in the range of about 50 cc/m 2 to about 20,000 cc/m 2 as measured buy the ISO11948-1 test; c) the third layer has a weight of about 20 to about 45 gsm and a Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate in the range of about 1,000 g/m 2 /day to about 10,000 g/m 2 /day; and d) the fourth layer has a weight of about 30 gsm to about 90 gsm.
35. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the pad has a maximum lift weight of up to about 400 lbs.
36. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the pad has a maximum lift weight of up to about 325 lbs.
37. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein after exposure to about 1 to about 1000 ccs of fluid, the pad has a max lift weight of up to about 325 lbs.
38. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the tensile strength at break, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, is about 70±16 N/25 mm in the machine direction and about 45±10 N/25 mm in the cross direction.
39. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the elongation at break, when tested by the ASTM D 882 method, is about 75±40% in the machine direction and about 75±30% in the cross direction.
40. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the tensile strength at 25% elongation, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, is about 47±8 N/25 mm in the machine direction and about 28±8 N/25 mm in the cross direction.
41. The absorbent pad of claim 1 further comprising a means for lifting and/or repositioning a patient on the pad.
42. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , further comprising handles.
43. A method of absorbing fluids, protecting bedding, and/or maintaining skin dryness of an incontinent patient, comprising placing the absorbent pad of claim 1 under the patient, whereby the absorbent pad absorbs fluids, and/or protects bedding, and/or maintains skin dryness.
44. The method of claim 43 , further comprising lifting or repositioning the patient with the absorbent pad.