Redefining PMS: Creating Menstrual Products for Individuals with Limited Sensation
By: Jessica Baker, Sarayu Dandamudi, Tejas Kakunje, Grace Orlando, Mabelle Pasmooij, Abigail Riesmeyer, Rithika Vedamuthu, and David Wells
The Problem:
While numerous products have been developed to help individuals who menstruate manage their periods, there have been a limited number of products designed with considerations for the roughly 18 million Americans and Canadians who experience limited mobility and/or limited sensation. Oftentimes, individuals experiencing limited motor dexterity or mobility have difficulty managing monthly periods, which may reduce self-care independence for individuals. Common problems include difficulty applying menstrual products, difficulty detecting periods, and difficulty maintaining personal hygiene. In light of these problems, Periods Made Simple (PMS) is working to create a solution that helps individuals with limited mobility and/or limited sensation detect and manage their periods to gain independence and improve quality of life.
Addressing the Problem:
We have completed market research and initial brainstorming for possible solutions. We looked at various menstrual management products such as the classic pad and tampon as well as adapted technologies like the TINA a one-handed tampon inserter. After surveying and researching “traditionally” used products such as pads, tampons, and cups, we identified significant drawbacks in each product. We found that the traditional menstrual products were not helpful for people with limited mobility and sensation because they didn’t indicate when to change or were not easy to apply/change. Upon conducting research, we identified other technologies such as RFID and absorbent polymer technology that could be applied to solve the problem.
To refine and quantify our ideas, we established tiered requirements for the product to meet. We consulted with our community partner (The PROWHD lab) to include specific product requirements such as security and portability of the product. Now, we are in the prototyping phase with a focus on RFID technology.
Current Idea:
From our research, we learned that RFID tags are attached to the object that we wish to track, which in our case is the menstrual pad. RFID readers constantly send out signals of which the frequency varies depending on the type of tag being used. If the object that has the attached RFID tag is detected by the reader, the tag will then transmit a signal back to the reader.
Based on market research of the RFID technology used in diapers, we plan to emulate that technology in our design. The goal is to make our device compatible with disposable and reusable pads and allow for individuals who menstruate to be able to detect and manage their flow. In terms of the specifics of our design, we plan to attach an RFID passive tag to a pad and program an RFID reader using Arduino. We then plan to connect the reader to a smartphone application using Bluetooth technology to allow ease of use for our target market.
An example of this technology in use is a security scanner at a department store: the security scanner (an RFID reader) detects theft by communicating with RFID tags on retail items via radio waves. We plan to use a passive tag in our device because a passive tag does not require a power source of its own as it uses the power source of the RFID reader. This eliminates the need for a power source to be attached to the pad, which would be extremely uncomfortable for the wearer.
We plan to purchase a high frequency or ultra-high frequency tag as they have ranges of up to 1m and 10–15m, respectively. The goal is to maximize the range because this allows the user to receive information from the RFID through the app regardless of whether they are wearing the reader on their person or it is lying somewhere in their purse/backpack (further away). Figure 1 shows a mockup of our current design, and Figure 2 details the physical components we will utilize to bring our design to life:
Design Review 1 Feedback:
In Design Review 1, we received a lot of valuable feedback for our team. From our feedback, we found that the greatest problem we face is navigating the wiring and technology component of our design. Our team has a solid and focused design but lacks a background in circuitry and electronic design. Going forward, our team has already attempted to amend this issue. Our new focus has shifted to conducting research on different RFID technology and learning how we can apply this technology to our design. Currently, we are in the process of reaching out to professionals in electrical engineering to attempt and better understand the technology we are working with. We have also contacted an MIT lab that has already implemented RFID technology into a similar design.
Additional feedback from the design review focused on implementing a hygienic and simple design. Because these principles are both part of our design criteria, it is important that they are implemented in our design. One reviewer also focused on the cleaning process associated with reusable technology. We are applying this feedback by finding a way to eliminate a strenuous cleaning process from the design.
Design Review 2 Goals:
By the next design review, we want to have determined a clear approach for the electronic design of the sensor through market research and testing, and we want to have begun building and testing our prototype. We also plan to conduct interviews and focus groups with individuals with limited mobility from the PROWHD lab to make sure our design is well-fitted for the target population.
