GB2272168A

GB2272168A - A device for exercising pelvic floor muscles.

Info

Publication number: GB2272168A
Application number: GB9322505A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alison Mary Beagrie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-31
Filing date: 1993-11-01
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-01
Also published as: GB2272168B; GB9322505D0

Abstract

A device for exercising pelvic floor muscles comprises a rubber body member 1 for insertion into the vagina of a patient. The weight of the body member 1 exerts a downward force on the pelvic floor muscles. A removal portion 2 is integrally formed or coupled to a part of the body member 1 and, in use, extends out of the vagina. The body member 1 may enclose a movable weight which allows the pelvic muscles to be more efficiently exercised. A set of devices having the same weight but different external dimensions can be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Medical Device" The invention relates to a medical device and in particular, a device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient.

The pelvic floor muscles play an important role in supporting the pelvic organs, especially the bladder.

Weak pelvic floor muscles can cause difficulties in controlling the bladder and this problem is called stress incontinence. Especially in women, child-birth or ageing can weaken these muscles, so causing stress incontinence. Exercising of the pelvic floor muscles can help prevent or reduce stress incontinence.

It is already known that the pelvic floor muscles may be strengthened by inserting a weighted mass into the vagina, so that the downward pressure on the pelvic floor muscle due to the mass causes the pelvic floor muscles to contract to help prevent the mass slipping out of the vagina. This contracting movement of the pelvic floor muscles exercises and helps to strengthen the muscles.

For example, the device disclosed in European Patent No. 0,198,641B discloses cone-shaped members which may be inserted into the vagina to achieve this exercising of the pelvic floor muscles.

However, the device disclosed in EP 0,198,641B has the disadvantage that the outer material of the cone is manufactured from a polymethylmethacrylate which is a hard plastic material. In addition, there is the problem of extracting this device from the vagina when the exercising session is finished. Also there is the danger that as a patient is moving around while exercising, the device may inadvertently slip into a breach position which can cause discomfort and/or difficulties in inserting and removing the device from the vagina.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a medical device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient comprises a body member for insertion into the vagina of the patient, the weight of the body member exerting a downward force on the pelvic floor muscles, and a removal portion, the removal portion being integrally formed with at least a portion of the body member and adapted to extend out of the vagina, in use.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a medical device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient comprises a body member for insertion into the vagina of the patient, the weight of the body member exerting a downward force on the pelvic floor muscles, and a removal portion integral with or coupled to the body member and adapted to extend out of the vagina in use, and the body member having a length greater than 50mm.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a medical device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient comprises a body member for insertion into the vagina of the patient, the weight of the body member exerting a downward force on the pelvic floor muscles, a removal portion integral with or coupled to the body member and adapted to extend out of the vagina, in use, and the external surface of the body member comprising an elastomeric material.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a medical device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient comprises a body member for insertion into the vagina of the patient, the weight of the body member exerting a downward force on the pelvic floor muscles, and the body member enclosing a movable weight which is mounted for movement with respect to the body member.

Typically, two or more of the four aspects of the invention may be combined into the one medical device and preferably, all four aspects of the invention are combined into one device.

Typically, in the first three aspects the body member may contain a weight to increase the mass of the body member. In one example of the invention the weight inside the body member may be movably mounted within the body member so as to permit movement of the weight or at least of a portion of the weight within the body member.

In an alternative example of the invention, the body member comprises a filler material which is admixed with the material of the body member and typically, gives a specific gravity of the body member of approximately 3.88. The filler material may be a medically safe metal oxide or atomised steel.

Preferably, the moveable weight is enclosed within a housing means insertable in the body member wherein the housing means comprises first and second springs, and first and second closing means; the first spring abuts said first closing means at one end of the first spring and abuts a first end of said moveable weight at another end of the first spring; the second spring abuts said second closing means at one end of the second spring and abuts a second end of said moveable weight at another end of said second spring.

Preferably, in one example of the invention, the total weight of the device may be approximately 60g.

Preferably, the body member releasably encloses a moveable weight mounted so as to permit movement of the weight or at least a portion of the weight within the body member and said weight is exchangeable with a number of different weights with differing mass.

Typically, the direction of movement of the weight is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member.

Preferably, both the external surface of the body member and the removal portion may be manufactured from an elastomeric material, such as nitrile rubber.

Preferably, the external surface of the medical device is seamless and may be formed by a moulding process.

Typically the removal portion may have a thickness of at least lmm and preferably, a diameter of approximately 3mm.

Preferably, the length of the body member is approximately 75mm and the removal portion may have a greater length, most preferably approximately 83mm.

Typically, the body member is cylindrical and may have an external diameter of approximately 22mm.

Typically, a number of devices could be provided which could form a set of devices. Each device in the set could vary in dimensions and/or weight from each of the other devices in the set.

An example of a medical device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a medical device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles; Fig. 2 is a view along the line AA in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line CC in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through a dynamic weight for insertion into the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4; and, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line DD in Fig. 5.

Fig. 1 shows a medical device for insertion into the vagina of a patient for use in exercising the pelvic floor muscles of the patient. The device comprises a body member 1 and a removal portion or tail 2. The body member 1 is comprised of two sections, an upper section la having a hemi-spherical end 3 (see Fig. 2) and a lower section 1b which is integrally formed with the tail 2. The upper section la may be joined to the lower section lb, for example by a weld or bond 4.

Within the body member 1 is a cavity 5 which may be used to hold a static weight, a dynamic weight or may be left empty.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the body member 1 is cylindrical and co-axial with respect to the longitudinal axis 6 of the device and the tail 2 is also co-axial and cylindrical with respect to the longitudinal axis 6.

Typically, the upper section la, the lower section 1b and the tail 2 are manufactured from the same material and this is typically an elastomeric material, such as nitrite. In the example shown, the length of the body member 1 is approximately 75mm and the body member 1 has an approximate diameter of 22mm. The tail 2 has an approximate length of 83mm and a diameter of approximately 3mm.

Figs. 4 and 5 shown an example of a dynamic weight which may be inserted into the cavity 5 in the body member 1. The dynamic weight 7 comprises two end caps 8 and a hollow cylinder 9. Mounted within the hollow cylinder 9 is a cylindrical stainless steel weight 10 which is movably mounted within the hollow cylinder 9 by means of two springs 11, one spring being located between each end of the weight 10 and the respective end cap 8. The constant of the springs 11 is chosen such that, in use, the weight 10 moves at an appropriate rate and speed of movement within the hollow cylinder 9 for normal movement of a patient while exercising with the device.

The advantage of using a dynamic weight is that it may cause the pelvic floor muscles to be more efficiently exercised by virtue of the change in weight seen by the pelvic floor muscles due to oscillation of the weight 10 within the body member 1. Typically, the components of the dynamic weight 7 are preferably manufactured from a suitably sterile material, such as surgical quality stainless steel.

The invention has the advantage of having the tail 2 integrally formed with at least a portion of the body member 1 which helps prevent infection due to contaminants, such as bacteria, entering a join between the tail 2 and the body member 1, as is possible with prior art devices. In addition, as the device, has a length greater than 50mm, there is a reduced risk of the device moving to the breach position within the vagina during use. Furthermore, the device is manufactured from an elastomeric material such as nitrite which increases the comfort to the user.

Also, manufacturing the tail from an elastomeric material reduces the possibility of the tail accidentally damaging tissue during use. In addition having a tail thickness of greater than lmm also helps reduce the possibility of tissue damage.

As an alternative to a static weight in the cavity 5, the body member 1 could be solid and if necessary incorporate a filler material into the elastomeric material to alter the weight of the device.

Preferably, the filler may be a medically safe metal oxide or atomised steel and preferably, the specific gravity of the elastomeric material when combined with the filler is approximately 3.88.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A medical device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient comprising a body member for insertion into the vagina of the patient, the weight of the body member exerting a downward force on the pelvic floor muscles, and a removal portion, the removal portion being integrally formed with at least a portion of the body member and adapted to extend out of the vagina, in use.

2. A medical device according to Claim 1, wherein the external surface of the device is seamless.

3. A medical device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the material of manufacture is an elastomeric material.

4. A medical device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the length of the body member is at least 50mum.

5. A medical device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the total weight of the device is approximately 60g.

6. A medical device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the length of the removal portion is greater than that of the body member.

7. A medical device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the body member encloses a movable weight mounted so as to permit movement of the weight or at least a portion of he weight within the body member.

8. A medical device according to Claim 6 wherein said weight is exchangeable with a different weight with differing mass.

9. A set of medical devices, each in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, each device in the set having the same weight and each of the devices in the set having different external dimensions.

10. A movable weight insertable in a medical device in accordance with any of Claims 7 to 9, the weight being enclosed within a housing insertable in the body member wherein the housing having first and second springs and first and second closing means, the first spring abutting said first closing means at one end of the first spring and abutting a first end of said moveable weight at another end of the first spring, the second spring abutting said second closing means at one end of said second spring and abutting a second end of said moveable weight at another end of said second spring.

11. A medical device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient comprises a body member for insertion into the vagina of the patient, the weight of the body member exerting a downward force on the pelvic floor muscles, and the body member enclosing a movable weight which is mounted for movement with respect to the body member.

12. A medical device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.