Incontinence detection pad having redundant electrical paths to an RFID tag

US11478383B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Hill-Rom Services, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Ryan S. Severns · Grand Rapids, US
• James D. Voll · Columbus, US
• Brett Knittle · Oldenburg, US
• Gavin M. Monson · Oxford, US
• John V. Harmeyer · Cleves, US
• Charles A. Lachenbruch · Lakeway, US
• Frank E. Sauser · Cincinnati, US
• Joseph T. Canter · Cadiz, US
• Yongji Fu · Cadiz, US
• Kirsten M. Emmons · Batesville, US
• David L. Ribble · Indianapolis, US
• Neal Wiggermann · Batesville, US
• John D. Christie · Batesville, US
• Dan R. Tallent · Columbus, US
• Marwan Nusair · Cincinnati, US
• Edward J. Koors · Indianapolis, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 2021
• Grant date: Oct 25, 2022
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2013/424
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An absorbent article has one or more fluid filter layers to inhibit electrode traces from being exposed to low volumes of fluid to reduce the number of false positives that are indicated by an RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad. An antenna inlay has a sacrificial trace portion to permit testing for proper operation of an RFID chip electrically coupled to the antenna inlay. After testing, the sacrificial trace portion is severed. A fluid barrier layer blocks fluid from reaching portions of electrode traces that are located on a backsheet outside a periphery of an absorbent core of an incontinence detection pad. The power at which an antenna transmits to wirelessly energize a passive RFID tag of an incontinence detection pad is controlled to reduce the number of false positives indicated by the RFID tag.