GB2492754A

GB2492754A - An electronic posture sensor / personal massager / pelvic floor trainer reactive to the squeezing or orientation or motion of the device

Info

Publication number: GB2492754A
Application number: GB201111532A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dominic Goodwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-06
Filing date: 2011-07-06
Publication date: 2013-01-16
Also published as: GB201111532D0

Abstract

An electronic device for personal health or wellbeing contains one or more sensors and a vibrating motor, which provides feedback to the user when tilted, stretched or squeezed by initiating or varying tactile vibrations. This invention may be applied in various embodiments as a posture sensor to alert poor upper body posture, round the waist for weight control, or as a pelvic floor trainer to train muscles of the pelvic floor, or as a personal massager or sex toy to give hands free control of vibratory stimulation. Typically the device will contain an accelerometer and / or strain gauge to monitor and respond to the movements and girth of the upper body if worn outside the body, or respond to contraction of the vaginal muscles when used inside the body.

Description

An electronic Posture Sensor or 2 Personal Massager or Pelvic Floor 3 Trainer reactive to the squeezing or 4 orientation or motion of the device.

This invention relates to personal health and well-being.

6 According to this invention there is provided an electronic device containing a 7 microprocessor and various sensors (such as an accelerometer, and a strain or pressure 8 gauge) which detect and react to movements of the wearer and feedback devices (such 9 as a vibrating motor(s) or LED(s)). it may be worn or held adjacent to the body or inserted into the orifices of the pelvic region.

11 It is particularly applicable to improving posture, by detecting slouching, poor posture 12 or slack tummy muscles of the wearer, and reacting typically by activating a vibrating 13 motor to remind the wearer to adopt a better posture by straightening their backs or by 14 tightening their tummy muscles or altering their pelvic carriage.

Poor posture may be detected with this invention by its accelerometer detecting the 16 inclination of the upper or lower body when wearing the device as a pendant.

17 Alternatively when tucked into the waistband of clothing or worn with a separate 18 waist-strap, a strain gauge will detect either the squeezing of the device within the 19 band, or the stretching of the device if waistband is attached to either end.

Optionally the device may send telemetric data to a receiver for analysis of posture 21 data, and may also log data internally.

22 This invention is also particularly applicable in Pelvic Floor training, particularly after 23 child birth, because the same combination of sensors and vibrating motor can also be 24 used to encourage tightening of the muscles of the Pelvic Floor when inserted into those body cavities by providing direct positive feedback to the user when they 26 successfully tighten those muscles. In addition, vibration therapy is understood to 27 strengthen musdes in that region.

28 It is also applicable in the area of sexual well-being when operated in a similar way, 29 for exercising muscular activity and as a sex-toy, because the device responds directly to the muscular actions of the user in the pelvic region by modifying the stimulatory 31 vibrations without requiring manual setting of speed or intensity.

32 lii one embodiment the device contains a microprocessor, an accelerometer and/or 33 strain-gauge or pressure gauge with interface circuitry (typically a wheatstone bndge 34 and op-amp), a vibrating motor, optionally a display element, such as an LED, a battery. and optionally a contacdess charging coil and circuitry. These are preferably 36 housed in a waterproof casing. Optionally the unit will incorporate a radio transmitter 37 to transmit information to an external unit or computer for analysis. Optionally the 38 unit may feature contaciless charging.

39 In one embodiment this invention maybe worn as a pendant around the neck to hang against the front or back of the upper body and detect changes in orientation. It may 41 alternatively be worn on a waistband and detect changes in orientation or changes in 42 tension in the waistband. It may alternatively be worn inside garments, and detect 43 changes in the surface force on the unit as the device is squashed between the body 44 and the garments.

In one embodiment its shape and waterproof nature mean that it may be inserted into 46 body orifices, such as the vagina to monitor the orientation and motion of the pelvis 47 and/or the tension in the surrounding muscles. In this manner it may be used to 48 monitor and improve posture or for pelvic floor training, or for sexual stimulation.

49 The accelerometer allows the unit to react to tapping or shaking of the device for the user to control the operation of the device (turning on, turning off, selecting the 51 program, selecting the speed of operation, etc.) 52 Software running in the microprocessor will also include programs to encourage 53 movement of certain muscles and particular exercise programs.

54 Two possible methods of wearing the device on the torso and abdomen as a posture sensor and posture correction device are shown in figure 1.

56 In the first case, the tension in the supporting band, the inclination of the 57 accelerometer in the device and the physical contact pressure from the waistband of 58 clothing will all respond to the inclination of the torso and lack of tension in the 59 abdominal muscles. These signals will be monitored by the microprocessor and compared to the stored correct position and activate the vibrating motor to remind the 61 wearer to correct their posture.

62 The second case shows the device being worn as a pendant. In this case, the 63 accelerometer alone detects the inclination of the upper body, and when this is away 64 from the stored correct position for a period of time, the internal vibrating motor or an LED is activated to remind the user to adopt a more correct position.

66 The user may tap, double-tap, triple-tap, squeeze or shake the device, or use and 67 included micro-switch to control the operation of the device.

68 For example, to set the memory of the correct posture, the user adopts that posture 69 and then taps the device (which is detected by the accelerometer), or alternatively presses a microswitch.

71 To interrupt the vibrations and to continue in a different position without warnings 72 from the device, the user may apply repeated taps or shake the device. This will be 73 detected by the accelerometer and put the device into a different mode.

74 Figure 2. details the design of the device in the form of a schematic diagram of the key circuit elements, and how they are incorporated into the body of the device.

76 Tn one embodiment, the device will be encased in a non-rigid silicone-like material so 77 that the strain-gauge and micro-switch which will be incorporated within the material 78 can detect the deformation of the materia' under tension and under contact pressure.

79 Mounting eyes at each end of the device allow the attachment of a strap to fit around the wearer's neck or waist.

81 As an alternative embodiment, the device may be housed in a solid housing and 82 indude pressure sensitive pads on the surface.

83 A rigid or flexible pcb carries the main circuit elements, the rechargeable battery, and 84 optionally the induction coil for contactless charging. The vibrating motor is encased in a cover to allow it to spin when the remainder of the device is set in silicone.

86 The processor has different modes of operation which are selected by tapping the 87 device or depressing the micro-switch.

88 "Anti-slouch" mode 1 registers a desirable posture by storing current values of the 89 accelerometer and strain/pressure-gauge and will activate a user signal (vibration or LED) if the device stays stationary in another position for too long.

91 "Anti-slouch" mode 2 registers a commonly adopted bad posture by storing current 92 values of the accelerometer and strainlpressure-gauge and will activate a user signal 93 (vibration or LED) if the device stays stationary in that position for too long. This 94 allows more freedom to adopt "Slimming" mode alerts the user when waistband tension is too high.

96 A number of "Pelvic Training Program" modes activate the vibration motor(s) in 97 predefined sequences with or without changing the speed, frequency or intensity of 98 the vibrations as the squeeze on the device increases.