ABSORBENT BODY WITH FLUID TRANSPORT MEANS

The invention is concerned with an absorbent body of fibrous material for absorbing body fluids. The body being generally planar and elongated and having a substantially uniformly compressed peripheral edge extending about essentially the entire periphery of the body. The peripheral edge has a density of at least ten times greater than the least dense portion of the body, the dense peripheral edge extending inwardly from the extreme periphery for a distance of at least 0.1 cm. The body is provided with a longitudinal density gradient. The longitudinal gradient extending from a point of least density longitudinally toward the compressed peripheral edge with the density increasing toward the peripheral edge at an increasing rate. The body is also provided with a transverse density gradient, the transverse gradient extending from a point of least density transversely toward the compressed peripheral edge and the transverse density increasing toward the peripheral edge at an increasing rate. Thus, body fluid striking the body at a point in proximity to the peripheral edge will be transported rapidly away from that point.