The present invention relates to a device for detecting a medical condition of a subject from a menstrual blood collected from said subject. The device comprises a sampling member comprising one or more polymeric materials, the sampling member, when arranged to be in contact with the menstrual blood, collects constituent biomolecules of the menstrual blood at the polymeric materials; and a positioning member comprising an absorbing material, the positioning member being configured to support the sampling member; wherein the positioning member is releasably attachable to a sanitary product wearable by the subject.

The present invention relates to a device for detecting a medical condition of a subject from a menstrual blood collected from said subject. The device comprises a sampling member comprising one or more polymeric materials, the sampling member, when arranged to be in contact with the menstrual blood, collects constituent biomolecules of the menstrual blood at the polymeric materials; and a positioning member comprising an absorbing material, the positioning member being configured to support the sampling member; wherein the positioning member is releasably attachable to a sanitary product wearable by the subject.

The present invention is directed to a hygiene article for use in personal care absorbent products such as nappies or diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, incontinence garments, wound aids, personal protective equipment, facemasks, gowns, head and shoe covers and the like. More particularly, invention provides a hygiene article including a fibre composition comprising a combination of sheep wool fibres and polymeric fibres, wherein the polymeric fibres are not derived from one or more petrochemicals.

The present invention is directed to a hygiene article for use in personal care absorbent products such as nappies or diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, incontinence garments, wound aids, personal protective equipment, facemasks, gowns, head and shoe covers and the like. More particularly, invention provides a hygiene article including a fibre composition comprising a combination of sheep wool fibres and polymeric fibres, wherein the polymeric fibres are not derived from one or more petrochemicals.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A method can include providing a first supply of fibers, providing a second supply of fibers, and providing a headbox. The headbox can include a machine direction, a cross-direction, and a first cross-directional divider that separates a first zone of the headbox from a second zone of the headbox in a cross-directional manner. The method can further include transferring the first supply of fibers and the second supply of fibers to the headbox. The method can also include transferring the first supply of fibers and the second supply of fibers through the headbox to provide the substrate.

Disclosed are a wet non-woven fabric, the use of the wet non-woven fabric as a supporting layer of a water treatment membrane, a method for preparing the wet non-woven fabric, and a water treatment membrane containing the wet non-woven fabric. The wet non-woven fabric has an average pore size of no greater than 20 .Math.m, a maximum pore size of no greater than 40 .Math.m, and a maximum pore size/average pore size ratio of no less than 1 and no greater than 12.

Disclosed are a wet non-woven fabric, the use of the wet non-woven fabric as a supporting layer of a water treatment membrane, a method for preparing the wet non-woven fabric, and a water treatment membrane containing the wet non-woven fabric. The wet non-woven fabric has an average pore size of no greater than 20 .Math.m, a maximum pore size of no greater than 40 .Math.m, and a maximum pore size/average pore size ratio of no less than 1 and no greater than 12.

The present invention relates to a packaging material for use in a pouched product for oral use in order to enclose a filling material. The packaging material is a saliva-permeable nonwoven material comprising fibres. The packaging material is a wetlaid nonwoven material, or, alternatively, the fibres are carded and the nonwoven material is hydroentangled, or, alternatively, the fibres are carded and the packaging material has a basis weight ≤30 g/m.sup.2. 50%-100% of the fibres are cellulose-based staple fibres, and 0%-50% of the fibres are thermoplastic fibres, with % numbers being based on total weight of fibres at 21° C. and 50% RH. The packaging material further comprising at least 10% of a binder, taken as a wt % of a total weight of the packaging material. The present invention also relates to a pouched product for oral use comprising such a packaging material. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing of a packaging material for a pouched product for oral use.

A method for producing a fibrous web includes: (a) a fibrous ply containing polylactide fibers and, as necessary, other fibers are laid on a substrate in a random fiber arrangement, (b) initially a loose, pre-compressed nonwoven is created by applying a first pressure to the fibrous ply, the tear resistance of which nonwoven permits free bridging of a span between 0.1 m and 1 m before the nonwoven tears, (c) the pre-compressed nonwoven is then passed through the calender gap, wherein a pattern consisting of point or linear pressure zones is formed in the gap, with the fibers in the pressure zones being exposed to a second pressure, which is higher than the first pressure, and to a temperature such that the fibers fuse.

A method for producing a fibrous web includes: (a) a fibrous ply containing polylactide fibers and, as necessary, other fibers are laid on a substrate in a random fiber arrangement, (b) initially a loose, pre-compressed nonwoven is created by applying a first pressure to the fibrous ply, the tear resistance of which nonwoven permits free bridging of a span between 0.1 m and 1 m before the nonwoven tears, (c) the pre-compressed nonwoven is then passed through the calender gap, wherein a pattern consisting of point or linear pressure zones is formed in the gap, with the fibers in the pressure zones being exposed to a second pressure, which is higher than the first pressure, and to a temperature such that the fibers fuse.