EP1747048B1 - Pelvic floor training device - Google Patents

Abstract

A training device for training the pelvic floor muscles of a human, which can be externally placed on the human body and can be connected to feedback units that produce feedback signals, such as vibrations. The training device is, at least on one side, aligned with the pelvic floor, can be compressed and can be axially deformed on its sensor side. A pressure force sensor unit of the training device can be positioned during the operation in such a manner that the ischial tuberosities of the pelvic floor can be situated on both sides on the pressure sensor unit, and a gravitational force component passing through the pelvic floor acts upon the pelvic floor training device, making a precise measurement of the exertion on the pelvic floor possible.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device which is used to train the muscles of the pelvic floor of a human. It contains pressure or force transducers, which are placed externally to the human body. The coupling of the very soft muscles to a suitable pressure-force receiving unit with feedback possibilities takes place while sitting and thus by gravity.

State of the art

A training device for the same problem is for example from the US 5 531 226 A known. The known training device comprises a hose body which expands elastically after compression again. It is not exactly defined where it can be squeezed. A major disadvantage of such training equipment is that they must be worn directly on the skin, for example, so that they achieve effect. This means that such a device can only be used individually or must be thoroughly cleaned before or after use.

In the US Pat. No. 6,436,029 B1 There is described a pelvic floor muscle exercising apparatus comprising a saddle-like member with built-in control and stimulation means which is applied to the body and can selectively apply pressure at various locations.

Next there are training devices (eg KR-B-6416937 , corresponding WO 2004/045411 A ), in which the body is to be coupled to a chair device by a mechanical height adjustment. A pelvic floor exerciser according to KR-B-6416937 is equipped with a display connected to the fluid chamber via a fluid line. In addition, intracorporeal coupling mechanisms of electrical measuring and stimulating electrodes have been proposed, which practically only in urological practices may be used.

Summary of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a training device for the pelvic floor muscles, which allows a defined simple pressure or force measurement on the pelvic floor muscles.

This object is achieved in a training device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the training device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention thus relates to a training device for training of human pelvic floor muscles, which is provided for training for external investment in the human body directly or indirectly between the two seatbones sitting down. The training device comprises a pressure force receiving unit, which is compressible at least on the side facing the pelvic floor and can be expanded on a side not facing the pelvic floor. The pressure force receiving unit is provided with a flexible, in particular radially elastic body, which gas, gel or liquid material and is held on the pelvic floor facing surface of a non-stretchable envelope. Furthermore, the training device comprises a force transducer coupled to the compressive force receiving unit on its expandable side or a sensor adapted to measure compressive force, and a feedback unit connected to the force transducer for generating a feedback signal, for example vibrations of the filling.

During a measurement and training period, according to the present invention, the state of the currently measured muscle activity can be stimulated again via the coupling measuring unit itself.

With the present invention, a training device is provided with a pressure force receiving unit so that the outgoing from the pelvic floor muscles force can always be coupled vertically. This is possible because the pressure force absorption unit is compressible on all sides and the pressure force absorption unit is located between the seat bones of the pelvic floor during operation. Without muscle activity only the force of gravity works, which can be compensated electronically. The training device according to the invention comprises a few components and is easy to produce.

The exercise device according to the invention can be used without having to be worn on the body. This is more hygienic than known exercise equipment and more accurately measures because of the push-force sensor system and the user's sitting pose. During the tightening of the pelvic floor creates a muscle pressure force that can be measured accurately.

The pressure force measuring units and / or feedback units are adjustable during operation to a zero position. As a result, the weight-related signal is separated and the tensing of the pelvic floor muscles is even measurable.

The measured pressure force of the pelvic floor muscles is evaluated as amplitude as a function of time in an assigned evaluation or control unit. This makes it possible to represent the different phases of training (rest, tense, and relax) for the user, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the training. This information can be represented, for example, by the amplitude and frequency (cocking and relaxing) of the waveforms. External devices can be connected for evaluation, e.g. Printers, personal computers and the like.

The exercise device according to the invention may comprise a receiving seat element in which the pressure force receiving unit can be positioned is. The exercise device is thus easy to use and can be integrated on a chair seat surface or as a seat of a fitness machine or the like. A device for adjusting the height of the pressure-receiving unit with respect to the seat part may be provided. By a convenient for the user arrangement of the pressure force absorption unit can be achieved that a better contact with the force transducer is achieved, which improves the signal quality.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Explosionsansicht, die eine erste Ausführungsform des erfindungegemäßen Trainingsgerätes zeigt,

Fig. 2

eine Schnittansicht des Trainingsgerätes von Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Trainingsgerätes während der Anwendung,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Trainingsgerätes mit Sitzteil und

Fig. 5

eine Schnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Trainingsgerätes mit Sitzteil.

The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to embodiments and with reference to the drawings. In this show:

Fig. 1

an exploded view showing a first embodiment of the training device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a sectional view of the training device of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of a training device during the application,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a second embodiment of the exercise device according to the invention with seat part and

Fig. 5

a sectional view of another embodiment of the exercise device according to the invention with seat part.

Detailed description of embodiments

In Fig. 1 is an exploded view and in Fig. 2 a sectional view of a first embodiment of the training apparatus 10 for the pelvic floor muscles according to the invention shown.

The exerciser 10 includes an easily deformable part (Filling media, liquids, gels or gases in a round body or the like) as a pressure force receiving unit 11, which is held in a radially expandable and axially non-stretchable, sleeve-like body 12. The sleeve body 12 ensures that the pressure force absorption unit 11 is deformable by compressive force only in the radial direction, that is, compressible. Only on the sensor-side end face 13 is it expandable in the axial direction.

The composition of pressure-force receiving unit 11 and sleeve body 12 can be held in a bottom plate 14. The pressure-force receiving unit 11 is made, for example, from an elastic round body filled with liquid, gel or gas.

In the bottom plate 14, a housing 15 can be inserted in addition. The housing 15 accommodates a display unit 16, e.g. an LCD display, various operation buttons (on / off button 17, zero button 18) and several other switching elements, for example, on a printed circuit board (PCB) 19 are arranged with components, which can be provided for example with a USB port 20. Furthermore, the housing 15 provides space for a holding body 24 in which, for example, batteries 25 can be placed. The holding body 24 also carries a pressure force sensor 21, a pressure force distributor or actuator 22 for the introduction of muscle-stimulating functions and a pressure conductor 23. These ensure that a pressure force is applied to the pressure force sensor 21 accurately forwarded.

The housing 15 can be positioned at various locations with respect to the compression force receiving unit 11 and the sleeve body 12. This can be done in many ways known to those skilled in the art, for example with a self-locking slot in the bottom plate 14.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a training device during the application. It is illustrated how the pelvic floor training device 10 according to the invention can be used in practice.

The pelvic floor of a human consists of a number of bony structures that are held together by muscles. The most important bony structures in the pelvic floor are the two sit bones 50 (Tuber Ischiadicum), the pubis 51 (Os Pubis), the coccyx 52 (Os Coccygis) and the sacrum 53 (Os Sacrum).

The pelvic floor training device 10 according to the invention is used by a person sitting down. Both seat bones 50 are parallel to the side of the device 10. When a person sits down on the device 10, the pelvic floor (the perineum) is stretched, on the one hand by the pressure force receiving unit 11 and on the other hand because the sit bones are due to the action of gravity move apart on the axis of rotation 54 of the pelvic joint. As a person tightens their pelvic floor muscles during exercise, the seat bones 50 are again moved towards each other, thereby radially compressing the pressure-bearing unit 11. On the underside, the pressure force receiving unit 11 can not expand because the bottom plate is stiff and on the upper side the pelvic floor muscles try to return to their normal position. Thereby, the pressure force receiving unit 11 is simultaneously radially compressed from above and from the side.

The pressure force receiving unit 11 can exert the pressure force generated in it only on the side of the force pressure sensor 21. All forces exerted during training are thus transmitted by the pressure force absorption unit 11 and forwarded to the pressure force sensor 21. The signal from the push force sensor 21 is processed (electronically or mechanically) into a feedback signal indicating to the user how the pelvic floor muscles are taut. The feedback signal is adjusted the device 10 displays zero force on its display device 16 without tension on the pelvic floor muscles. Thus, the great weight is separated from the small measurement signal. Any change in the tension of the pelvic floor muscle is thus visible in the feedback signal.

During pelvic floor training, various muscles and muscle groups are trained, both the deep muscle layers (Pelvica diaphragm) and the superficial muscles (Urogenital diaphragm). This is useful for various types of treatments for problems such as incontinence, sexual disfunction, back problems and erectile dysfunction.

With the exercise device according to the invention, the various phases of training (relaxing and tensing) can be made understandable and visible, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

The feedback can take place with the aid of a display unit 16, for example in the form of an audio signal or optically by means of a pointer or analogue or digital display 16.

The electronics unit 19 is provided with components, such as e.g. a processor and associated memory elements, which are adapted to amplify and store the signal of the pressure force sensor 21 and to generate a feedback signal, which is forwarded to the display unit 16. The electronics unit 19 is powered by a battery, built-in solar cells or an external power source.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the exercise device 10 according to the invention. The device is additionally provided with a seat part 30, which is provided at the point with a slot where the training device 10 can be inserted. Preferably, the top of the seat portion has two surface portions 37 provided with laterally and forwardly sloping surfaces. This results in an optimal seating position (straining straight and against gravity) for doing the pelvic floor muscle training.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the pelvic floor training device is integrated in the seat part. It consists of a lower or base part 33, a holder part 36, on which the pressure force receiving unit 11 is mounted and an upper part 35, which may be provided with fabric 34.

On the lower part 33, the electronics unit 19 can be attached and including the batteries 25. Above is the display unit 16, possibly with control buttons. The pressure-force receiving unit 11 is attached to the holder part 36, but can forward the force to the pressure force sensor 21. The pressure force sensor 21 is attached to an adjustable sensor holder 31 and receives the pressure exerted by the pressure force receiving unit 11 force via a Druckkraftmittler or conductor 23 and pressure force distributor (or actuator for the initiation of muscle-stimulating functions) 22.

The adjustable sensor holder 31 is attached to the lower part 33. Turning on an adjusting device 32 results in a reciprocating movement of the sensor holder 31. In this way, the device 10 can be set in the idle state so that the pressure force receiving unit 11 just touches the pressure force transmitter 23. This setting can be made individually for each user of different weights.

All forces exerted by the pelvic floor muscles during exercise are now transmitted to the pressure force sensor 21 by the pressure force receiving unit 11. The adjustment device 32 is preferably suspended in the base part or base part 33 such that the sensor holder 31 can only be adjusted over a limited range.

Claims (10)

1. Training device (10) for training human pelvic floor muscles, which, for training purposes, is provided for external application to the human body directly or indirectly between the two seat bones when sitting, comprising:

   a pressure absorbing unit (11, 12) which can be compressed at least on the side facing the pelvic floor and comprises a flexible body (11) which contains gas, gel or liquid material and is held on the surface facing the pelvic floor by a sleeve (12),

   a force absorber (23, 21) and a feedback unit (16, 19) connected to the force absorber to produce a feedback signal, characterised in that the sleeve (12) is not expandable and the pressure absorbing unit is expandable on a side (13) not facing the pelvic floor,

   wherein the force absorber (23, 21) is coupled perpendicularly to the expandable side (13) of the pressure absorbing unit (11, 12).
2. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the feedback signal is a vibration signal.
3. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the flexible body (11) has a substantially cylindrical shape and the expandable side (13) is located on a cylinder end face.
4. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in claim 1 or 3, characterised in that the pressure absorbing unit (11, 12) and the force absorber (23, 21) can be adjusted with respect to each other.
5. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a seat part (30) is provided in which the pelvic floor training device (10) is positioned.
6. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that a setting device for setting the height of the pressure absorbing unit (11, 21) in relation to the seat part (30) is provided.
7. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a zero position of the sensor signal is provided for the inoperative state.
8. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a time-dependent representation of the feedback signal is provided.
9. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that signal processing devices for processing and recording the measurement or feedback signals can be attached or coupled to the force sensor (21).
10. Pelvic floor training device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that a pressure force distributor (22) or actuator with a force absorber (23) is provided to initiate muscle-stimulating functions.

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