KR102663380B1 - Device to strengthen the pelvic muscle and peripheral muscle - Google Patents

Abstract

Clothing worn to cover at least the user's buttocks, through the perineum, to the abdomen and waist, and having a circuit pattern formed in each of the designated areas; a plurality of electrode pads arranged to correspond to each of the circuit patterns; and a first function of transmitting an electrical stimulation signal to the plurality of electrode pads through the circuit patterns upon power application, and a second function of detecting biological signals from the plurality of electrode pads through the circuit patterns. A device for strengthening pelvic muscles and their surrounding muscles, including a body module that performs at least one function, is disclosed. In addition to this, various embodiments identified through this document are possible.

Description

Device to strengthen the pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles{DEVICE TO STRENGTHEN THE PELVIC MUSCLE AND PERIPHERAL MUSCLE}

Embodiments disclosed in this document relate to a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles.

Urinary incontinence is a phenomenon that causes urination without one's will. Recently, as the average life expectancy has increased, the elderly population is increasing and its prevalence is also increasing. Urinary incontinence can be caused by deterioration of the pelvic floor muscles due to frequent childbirth or dystocia, decreased function of the urethral sphincter due to nerve damage, history of pelvic surgery or radiation, neurogenic bladder due to central and peripheral nervous system diseases or complications of diabetes, acute and chronic urinary tract infections, etc. Some medications may be the cause.

Symptoms of urinary incontinence include stress incontinence, which occurs when abdominal pressure increases; urge incontinence, which occurs when urine cannot be held when the bladder is full; overflow urinary incontinence, which occurs when the bladder is full of urine and overflows; and true urinary incontinence, where urine is expelled without any trigger. etc., and may appear in a mixture of several forms.

If you have stress urinary incontinence, you may urinate in situations where abdominal pressure increases, such as when coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping rope, or lifting heavy objects.

If you have urge incontinence, you often already leak urine while going to the bathroom to urinate.

When you have overflow urinary incontinence, your urine stream becomes weak and you often have to strain to urinate. Even after urinating, you may feel a feeling of residual urine that is not refreshing.

True urinary incontinence occurs when there is a structural abnormality in the ureter or bladder or the function of the urethral sphincter is lost, preventing urine from being stored and always leaking urine.

Since urinary incontinence occurs for different reasons depending on each type, it may be important to find the cause through various diagnostic tests and treat each cause. Treatments include bladder training and pelvic floor muscle exercises, biofeedback, drug therapy, and surgical therapy.

Products related to pelvic floor muscle exercise and biofeedback mainly involve inserting a small device (e.g. probe) that can detect pelvic muscle contraction into the vagina or rectum of a naked patient, causing the user to feel great shame and uncleanness. It can make you feel it.

If such a device is not used, the patient must repeat the movement, also called 'Kegel exercise', but there is a problem in that it is difficult for the patient to determine the amount of exercise and its effect on their own.
Technologies related to pelvic floor muscle exercise and biofeedback include Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2022-0060077 (2022.05.11.), Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0004496 (2021.01.13.), and Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0004496 (2021.01.13.). No. 10-2005-0117253 (December 14, 2005), etc.

In various embodiments disclosed in this document, a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles using electrical signals may be provided.

According to one embodiment, the device for strengthening the pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles includes: clothing worn to cover at least the abdomen and waist from the user's buttocks through the perineum, and having a circuit pattern formed in each of the designated areas; a plurality of electrode pads arranged to correspond to each of the circuit patterns; and a first function of transmitting an electrical stimulation signal to the plurality of electrode pads through the circuit patterns upon power application, and a second function of detecting biological signals from the plurality of electrode pads through the circuit patterns. It may include a main body module that performs at least one function.

According to one embodiment, the garment includes a cloth layer forming the overall appearance of the garment; and a stretchable conductive layer disposed to correspond to the positions of each of the designated areas on one side of the cloth layer, and a protruding pattern may be formed on the side facing the cloth layer among both sides of the stretchable conductive layer. .

According to one embodiment, the protrusion pattern may be a pattern in which a first protrusion portion having at least one vertex and a second protrusion portion having at least one vertex are sequentially and repeatedly arranged.

According to one embodiment, an adhesive layer corresponding to the protruding pattern may be disposed between the cloth layer and the elastic conductive layer.

According to one embodiment, the area of the protruding structure formed by the protruding pattern may be larger than the area of the designated areas on one side of the cloth layer.

According to one embodiment, the main body module may adjust the intensity of the electrical stimulation signal for each of the plurality of electrode pads based on the intensity of each of the biological signals.

According to one embodiment, the main body module may form a stimulation pattern of the electrical stimulation signal after combining at least two electrode pads among the plurality of electrode pads based on the intensity of each of the biological signals. there is.

t), 주기(1b-

t) 및 세기를 확인하고, 상기 확인된 평균 주파수, 지속 시간, 주기, 및 세기에 기초하여, 상기 전기 자극 신호의 자극 패턴을 형성할 수 있다.According to one embodiment, the main body module determines the average frequency (1-hz) and duration (1-hz) of each of the biological signals during a plurality of designated sections.

t), period (1b-

t) and intensity can be confirmed, and a stimulation pattern of the electrical stimulation signal can be formed based on the confirmed average frequency, duration, period, and intensity.

According to one embodiment, the main body module determines whether to apply the power based on the impedance signal detected from the plurality of electrode pads, or displays the power through a display module communicatively connected to the main body module. Notifications related to the impedance signal may be provided.

According to one embodiment, it further includes a display module communicatively connected to the main body module, wherein a visual element according to detection of the biological signals is displayed on a display area of the display module, and the visual element includes, It may include at least one of the movement of an object and the waveform of a graph.

According to one embodiment, the device for strengthening the pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles is disposed on the inside of the garment, includes an internal space, and further includes an airbag that inflates or contracts depending on the amount of gas injected into the internal space. can do.

The device for strengthening the pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to various embodiments disclosed in this document can stimulate the user's pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles by using electrical signals.

In addition, the device for strengthening the pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to various embodiments disclosed in this document provides a form of contact with the body part related to the user's pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles, and is a product inserted into the vagina or rectum. By comparison, the user's sense of shame and uncleanness can be reduced.

In addition, the apparatus for strengthening the pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to various embodiments disclosed in this document displays signals detected according to stimulation of the user's pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles as a visual element, allowing the user to You can check the stimulation.

In addition, various effects that can be directly or indirectly identified through this document may be provided.

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.
Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles, viewed from various angles, according to an embodiment.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing clothing for a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a combination of a plurality of electrode pads of a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating sectional waveforms of biological signals detected through an apparatus for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.
Figure 6 is a diagram showing an airbag applied to a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.
In relation to the description of the drawings, identical or corresponding components may be assigned the same reference number.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should appropriately use the concept of terms to explain his or her invention in the best way. Based on the principle of being definable, it should be interpreted with meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of the present invention, so at the time of filing the present application, various alternatives may be used to replace them. It should be understood that equivalents and variations may exist.

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment, the pelvic muscle and surrounding muscle strengthening device 100 (hereinafter, muscle strengthening device 100) includes clothing 110, a plurality of electrode pads 120, a main body module 130, and a display. It may include a module 140. Clothing 110, the plurality of electrode pads 120, and the main body module 130 may be electrically connected. The main body module 130 and the display module 140 may be communicatively connected through respective communication circuits.

According to one embodiment, the clothing 110 may be worn by the user so as to cover the user's abdomen and waist from the user's hips through the perineum. In one embodiment, circuit patterns 110a for forming a track, which is a movement path of an electrical signal, may be formed in each of the designated areas of the clothing 110. The circuit patterns 110a may be formed to correspond to the respective positions of the user's gluteus maximus, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor muscles on the inner surface of the clothing 110.

According to one embodiment, each of the plurality of electrode pads 120 may be arranged to correspond to each of the circuit patterns 110a. For example, input/output terminals of each of the plurality of electrode pads 120 may be connected to correspond to each of the circuit patterns 110A.

According to one embodiment, each of the plurality of electrode pads 120 may include an electro muscular stimulation (EMS) sensor and an electromyography (EMG) sensor. When power is applied from the main body module 130, the EMS sensor can stimulate the user's muscles (eg, gluteus maximus, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor muscles). When power is applied from the main body module 130, the EMG sensor can acquire biological signals generated from the user's muscles. In various embodiments, the EMS sensor may increase or decrease the intensity of an electrical stimulation signal for stimulating the user's muscles, depending on the intensity of the biological signal acquired using the EMG sensor.

According to one embodiment, the main body module 130 may perform a first function for generating an electrical stimulation signal for stimulating the user's muscles and a second function for detecting biological signals from the user's muscles. . In one embodiment, the main body module 130 may transmit an electrical stimulation signal to each of the plurality of electrode pads 120 through the circuit patterns 110a according to the application of power. In one embodiment, the main body module 130 may detect the user's biological signal from each of the plurality of electrode pads 120 through the circuit pattern 110a when power is applied.

According to one embodiment, the main body module 130 may detect an impedance signal from the plurality of electrode pads 120. The main body module 130 may determine whether to apply power supplied to the plurality of electrode pads 120 based on the detected impedance signal. Alternatively, based on the detected impedance signal, the body module 130 sends a notification related to the impedance signal (e.g., a message saying "Electrode contact is poor, please wear it again") on the display area of the display module 140. It can be displayed. Accordingly, the muscle strengthening device 100 can prevent accidents (eg, skin burns due to triboelectricity) that may occur due to separation between the plurality of electrode pads 120 and the skin.

According to one embodiment, when the main body module 130 detects a user's biological signal from each of the plurality of electrode pads 120, the detected biological signal may be transmitted to the display module 140.

According to one embodiment, the main body module 130 may perform initial calibration of the operation program of the muscle strengthening device 100. For example, when the user uses the muscle strengthening device 100 for the first time, the main body module 130 guides the user to repeat the Kegel exercise 3 times strongly and 3 times weakly, and then repeats the Kegel exercise 3 times each through the EMG sensor. By detecting biological signals caused by Kegel exercise, the intensity of the electrical stimulation signal for each stage (e.g., highest stimulation stage and lowest stimulation stage) can be set. If the value detected according to the user's strong Kegel exercise is lower than the highest stimulation level (e.g., level 10), the main body module 130 generates an electrical stimulation signal to supplement the user's Kegel exercise after performing the initial calibration. It can be delivered to the corresponding body part of the user through a plurality of electrode pads 120.

According to one embodiment, visual elements corresponding to bio-signals detected using the main body module 130 may be displayed on the display area of the display module 140. For example, in response to a biological signal (or an instruction corresponding to a biological signal) being transmitted from the main body module 130 to the display module 140, the movement of an object (e.g. : A character's jumping motion, a change in the length of an arrow pointing toward a balloon, or a fighter jet's missile firing motion) and the waveform of the graph can be displayed. The movement of the object may vary depending on the strength of the biological signal.

According to various embodiments, the display module 140 may be mounted on a smartphone or TV device independent of the plurality of electrode pads 120 and the main body module 130. This display module 140 can provide visual information to the outside (eg, a user). The display module 140 may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. In one embodiment, the display module 140 may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of force generated by the touch.

According to various embodiments, the muscle strengthening device 100 may omit at least one of the above-described components or may further include at least one other component. For example, the muscle strengthening device 100 may further include a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of a portion of the clothing 110 (eg, an area corresponding to the perineum). The muscle strengthening device 100 may adjust the intensity of the electrical stimulation signal based on the humidity detected using the humidity sensor.

According to one embodiment, the operation (or function) of at least one component within the muscle strengthening device 100 may be performed by at least one processor (not shown).

According to various embodiments, at least one processor receives a command or instructions from a memory (not shown) and controls each component according to the received command or instructions to perform various functions. can do. At least one processor may be implemented as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro control unit (MCU), a micro processor unit (MPU), or the like.

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles, viewed from various angles, according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment, when the clothing 210 is viewed from the front, the first electrode pad 220a may be disposed on an area corresponding to the user's gluteus maximus muscle among the inner surfaces of the clothing 210.

According to one embodiment, when the clothing 210 is viewed from above, the second electrode pad 220b is disposed on an area corresponding to the user's abdominal muscles among the inner surfaces of the clothing 210, and corresponds to the user's pelvic floor muscles. A third electrode pad 220c may be disposed in the area.

According to one embodiment, when the clothing 210 is viewed from behind, the main body module 230 may be mounted on an area corresponding to the user's waist among the inner surfaces of the clothing 210. In Figure 2, the position of the main body module 230 is expressed as an area corresponding to the user's waist area among the inner surfaces of the clothing 210, but the location is not limited thereto. For example, the main body module 230 may be held by the user's hand.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating clothing for a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.

Referring to the first state 300a, each of the designated areas of the garment 310 (e.g., the garment 110) has a laminated structure of a fabric layer 311, a stretchable conductive layer 312, and an adhesive layer 313. A circuit pattern (for example, the circuit pattern 110a of FIG. 1) may be formed.

According to one embodiment, the cloth layer 311 may be a non-conductive fiber layer made of an elastic material that forms the overall appearance of clothing 310, such as pants or underwear.

According to one embodiment, the stretchable conductive layer 312 may be disposed to correspond to each position of designated areas on one side (eg, the lower side) of the fabric layer 311. For example, the stretchable conductive layer 312 may be formed of a plurality of conductive fiber layers (eg, screen-printed) in a designated area on one side of the cloth layer 311. Accordingly, the elastic conductive layer 312 is an electrode pad even if a part (e.g., the outer conductive fiber layer in contact with the electrode pad) is damaged (e.g., separated from the elastic conductive layer 312) when washing the clothing 310. The movement path of the electric signal can be maintained between the 120 and the main body module 130.

According to one embodiment, a protruding pattern may be formed on both sides of the stretchable conductive layer 312 toward the fabric layer 311 (eg, the upper side). The protruding pattern may be a pattern in which a first protruding part 312a having at least one vertex and a second protruding part 312b having at least one vertex are sequentially and repeatedly arranged. Here, each of the first protruding part 312a and the second protruding part 312b may have a different shape. Accordingly, the stretchable conductive layer 312 can increase the contact area with the adhesive layer 313 by using a three-dimensional protruding pattern. That is, the area of the protruding structure formed by the above-described protruding pattern may be larger than the area of designated areas on one side of the cloth layer 311.

According to various embodiments, in the protrusion pattern, the first protrusion portion 312a may be a tetrahedron, a pentahedron, a hexahedron, a cone, or a “T” shape. When the first protruding portion 312a has a “T” shape, the first width W1 corresponding to the upper portion of the first protruding portion 312a is the second width corresponding to the lower portion of the first protruding portion 312a. It can be larger than (W2). Here, a curved or edge area may be formed in the middle portion connecting the portion corresponding to the first width W1 and the portion corresponding to the second width W2.

According to one embodiment, the adhesive layer 313 may be disposed between the cloth layer 311 and the stretchable conductive layer 312. In one embodiment, the adhesive layer 313 may be adhered to correspond to the protruding pattern of the stretchable conductive layer 312. The adhesive layer 313 may be, for example, hot melt.

Referring to the second state 300b, the above-described protruding pattern may be formed over a certain area on one side of the stretchable conductive layer 313 (eg, the side facing the cloth layer 311).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a combination of a plurality of electrode pads of a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment, the muscle strengthening device 100 combines at least two of the plurality of electrode pads, based on the intensity of each biosignal detected using the plurality of electrode pads 120. Afterwards, a stimulation pattern of the electrical stimulation signal can be formed. For example, the main body module 130 provides a first stimulation pattern 401 including a combination of different electrode pads based on the intensity of each biosignal detected using electrode pads corresponding to the gluteus maximus muscle and the abdominal muscle, respectively. ), a second stimulation pattern 402, a third stimulation pattern 403, and a fourth stimulation pattern 404 can be formed. The first stimulation pattern 401 may be a signal pattern combining two first electrode pads 420a (eg, the first electrode pad 220a of FIG. 2) as a pair. The second stimulation pattern 402 includes one of the two first electrode pads 420a (e.g., the first electrode pad 220a in FIG. 2) and two second electrode pads 420b (e.g., the first electrode pad 220b in FIG. 2). It may be a signal pattern combining one of the two electrode pads 420a. The third stimulation pattern 403 may be a signal pattern combining two second electrode pads 420b (eg, the second electrode pad 220b in FIG. 2) as a pair. The fourth stimulation pattern 404 includes the other one of the two first electrode pads 420a (e.g., the first electrode pad 220a in FIG. 2) and the other two second electrode pads 420b (e.g., the first electrode pad 220b in FIG. 2). It may be a signal pattern combining one of the second electrode pads 420a.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating sectional waveforms of biological signals detected through an apparatus for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.

t), 주기(1b-

t) 및 세기를 확인한 이후, 상기 확인된 정보들에 기초하여, 아래 표와 같은 제1 자극 패턴 내지 제9 자극 패턴을 결정할 수 있다. 제1 자극 패턴 내지 제9 자극 패턴의 경우, 도 4의 전극 패드들(120)을 이용한 자극 패턴을 참조하여 결정될 수 있다.According to one embodiment, the muscle strengthening device 100 provides a plurality of electrode pads 120 based on analysis information (e.g., analysis information) of each of the biological signals detected using the plurality of electrode pads 120 during a designated time For example, the main body module 130 may determine the stimulation pattern of the electrical stimulation signal during a plurality of designated sections 500a, 500b, and 500c as shown in the graph 501. Average frequency (1-hz), duration (1-

t), period (1b-

t) and intensity, the first to ninth stimulation patterns can be determined as shown in the table below, based on the confirmed information. In the case of the first to ninth stimulation patterns, they may be determined with reference to the stimulation pattern using the electrode pads 120 of FIG. 4 .

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an airbag applied to a device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment, the muscle strengthening device 100 may further include an airbag 650 in addition to the components described above in FIGS. 1 to 5.

According to one embodiment, the airbag 650 may be placed inside the clothing 610. Additionally, the airbag 650 may include an internal space into which gas can be injected. This airbag 650 may be inflated or deflated depending on the amount of gas (eg, air) injected into the internal space.

Referring to the first state 500a, the airbag 650 may be in a state in which no gas is injected into the internal space, that is, in a deflated state. In this way, when the airbag 650 is in a deflated state, the main body module 130 can block the power applied to the plurality of electrode pads 120.

Referring to the second state 500b, gas may be injected into the internal space of the airbag 650, that is, it may be in an expanded state. Accordingly, the electrode pads (eg, first electrode pad 620a and second electrode pad 620c) may be in close contact with body parts (eg, gluteus maximus and abdominal muscles). In this way, when the airbag 650 is in an inflated state, the main body module 130 can apply power to the plurality of electrode pads 120.

According to one embodiment, after the above-described second state 500b, the muscle strengthening device 100 is converted to the above-described first state 500a through an electrical stimulation signal transmission process using the electrode pads 120. Movement can be stopped in a resting state.

As above, although the present invention has been described with limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the technical idea of the present invention and the following will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalence of the claims to be described.

Claims (11)

In the device for strengthening the pelvic muscles and their surrounding muscles,
Clothing worn to cover at least the user's buttocks, through the perineum, to the abdomen and waist, and having a circuit pattern formed in each of the designated areas;
a plurality of electrode pads arranged to correspond to each of the circuit patterns; and
At least one of a first function of transmitting an electrical stimulation signal to the plurality of electrode pads through the circuit patterns upon application of power, and a second function of detecting biological signals from the plurality of electrode pads through the circuit patterns. Includes a main body module that performs one function,
The clothes are:
a non-conductive fabric layer forming the overall appearance of the garment;
a stretchable conductive layer disposed to correspond to each of the designated areas on one side of the non-conductive cloth layer; and
an adhesive layer disposed between the non-conductive cloth layer and the flexible conductive layer,
In each of the designated areas, the circuit pattern is formed by a stacked structure of the non-conductive cloth layer, the elastic conductive layer, and the adhesive layer,
A protruding pattern for three-dimensional contact with the adhesive layer is formed on both sides of the elastic conductive layer, the side facing the non-conductive cloth layer,
The protruding pattern is a pattern in which a first protruding portion having at least one vertex and a second protruding portion having at least one vertex are sequentially and repeatedly arranged,
When the first protruding part is in a “T” shape, the first width corresponding to the upper part of the first protruding part is greater than the second width corresponding to the lower part of the first protruding part,
A device for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles, wherein a bend or edge area is formed in a middle portion connecting the portion corresponding to the first width and the portion corresponding to the second width. delete delete delete In claim 1,
The area of the protruding structure formed by the protruding pattern is larger than the area of the designated areas on one side of the non-conductive cloth layer. In claim 1,
The main body module is,
An apparatus for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles, adjusting the intensity of the electrical stimulation signal for each of the plurality of electrode pads, based on the intensity of each of the biological signals. In claim 1,
The main body module is,
An apparatus for strengthening pelvic muscles and surrounding muscles, forming a stimulation pattern of the electrical stimulation signal after combining at least two of the plurality of electrode pads based on the intensity of each of the biological signals. In claim 1,
The main body module is,
During a plurality of designated sections, check the average frequency (1-hz), duration (1-t), period (1b-t), and intensity of each of the biological signals,
A device for strengthening pelvic muscles and their surrounding muscles, forming a stimulation pattern of the electrical stimulation signal based on the identified average frequency, duration, period, and intensity. In claim 1,
The main body module is,
A pelvis that determines whether to apply the power based on the impedance signal detected from the plurality of electrode pads, or provides a notification related to the impedance signal through a display module communicatively connected to the main body module. Devices that strengthen muscles and their surrounding muscles. In claim 1,
Further comprising a display module communicatively connected to the main body module,
Visual elements according to detection of the biological signals are displayed on the display area of the display module,
The visual element includes at least one of the movement of an object and the waveform of a graph. A device for strengthening pelvic muscles and their surrounding muscles. In claim 1,
An apparatus for strengthening pelvic muscles and their surrounding muscles, further comprising an airbag disposed on the inside of the garment, including an internal space, and inflating or contracting depending on the amount of gas injected into the internal space.