WO2007051883A2

WO2007051883A2 - Active device for stimulating the perineal area

Info

Publication number: WO2007051883A2
Application number: PCT/ES2006/000604
Authority: WO
Inventors: María Olga POLO EGUIA
Original assignee: Polo Eguia Maria Olga
Priority date: 2005-11-07
Filing date: 2006-10-31
Publication date: 2007-05-10
Also published as: ES2251887A1; ES2251887B1; WO2007051883A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an active device for stimulating the perineal area, which is configured to be inserted into the vagina (8). The inventive device includes a hollow body (2) consisting of an upper segment (21), a lower segment (22), an inner wall (13) and striking means (30) for striking the inner wall (13). Since the invention comprises an active device, the body also includes movement-generating means (34) for actuating the striking means (30) and movement-transmission means for transmitting movement from the movement-generating means (34) to the striking means (30) such that the inner wall (13) is struck alternatively by the striking means (30).

Description

ACTIVE DEVICE FOR STIMULATING A PERINEAL AREA

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an active device configured to be introduced into the user's vagina to stimulate the perineal area.

Background of the invention

Different inventions are known in the state of the art to stimulate the perineal area. The invention described in the application ES 2226590 shows a mechanical device to stimulate a perineal area, configured to be introduced into a vagina that has: a hollow body which in turn includes: an upper portion, a lower portion, an inner wall and means of suspension The suspension means have: a first end connected to the inner wall at a point of the upper portion and a second end to hold a pendulum. The configuration of the device is such that it allows the pendulum to crash against the inner wall of the body when the device is used by a user.

Description of the invention

The inventions known in the state of the art only show, however, passive devices in which the user must generate a movement for the device to become operational.

The present invention relates to a device that placed

Extravaginally, it produces a mechanical stimulation of the vaginal vibroreceptors and the pelvic floor musculature both in a static situation, when the user is not moving, and dynamic, when the user is in motion.

It results in vaginal and muscular pelvic floor toning, and therefore it is very useful in any pathology linked to the weakness of said muscles (among others: urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunctions, vaginal openings, grade I and II cystoceles), as a method of prevention and post-partum perineal recovery, as prevention and recovery of perineal hypotonia in women with hyperpressive activity (sport, hyperpressive work activity, chronic cough and other causes) and as a method of maintenance of the pelvic floor musculature.

The solution of the present invention to the problems posed is achieved by means of a knocker assembly housed in the inner cavity of a body of shape. that, during the use of the device, the inner wall of the body is struck, improving the vaginal and muscular pelvic floor toning.

The mechanism inside the device allows to regulate the force of the impact as well as the number of impacts per cycle. The device can also incorporate a guide support that can operate the mechanism and facilitate the introduction of the device into the vagina.

A first aspect of the invention refers to an active device for stimulating a perineal area, configured to be introduced into a vagina comprising: a hollow body comprising: an upper portion; a lower portion; an interior wall; hammering means for percussion on the inner wall; motion generating means for actuating the hammering means; motion transmitting means for transmitting movement from the movement generating means to the hammering means so that the inner wall is alternately struck by the hammering means. Within this first aspect of the invention, a first, a second, a third and a fourth modalities or variants of the invention can be included.

The body of the device of the invention can have a shape selected between spherical and ovoid.

Likewise, in the first and second modalities or variants of the device of the invention: the motion transmitting means may comprise: a rotating shaft in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion and the lower portion; first movement guidance means integral to the hollow body and substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; the hammering means may comprise: an intermediate portion guided in the first movement guidance means; an extreme portion to hit the inner wall; so that the percussion means describe a movement: rotary when dragged by the rotary axis; radial when guided by the first means of movement guidance. In addition, in the first mode or variant of the device of the invention: the motion transmitting means may comprise: second movement guiding means integral to the rotary axis and substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; the hammering means may comprise: an initial guided portion in the second movement guidance means; so that the percussion means describe a movement: rotary when being dragged by the rotary axis and the second movement guidance means; radial when guided by the first movement guidance means and the second movement guidance means.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment or variant of the invention, the first movement guidance means may comprise a washer having: an outer diameter that coincides with a diameter of the inner wall; a variable inner diameter having a plurality of radial discontinuities where said inner diameter increases in the form of a step so that the inner wall is struck by the end portion when the intermediate portion reaches said discontinuities.

According to the third modality or variant of the invention: the motion transmitting means may comprise: a rotating axis in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion and the lower portion, said axis rotating in alternate directions of rotation; The inner wall may comprise: receiving means integral to the hollow body constituted by at least one protuberance in a parallel of the body, the parallel being each of the circles that on a surface of revolution result from cutting it by planes perpendicular to its axis; the hammering means may comprise: at least one arm having an intermediate portion attached to the rotary axis; an extreme portion configured to strike the inner wall in the receiving means; so that the percussive media can describe a movement: alternative rotary when dragged by the rotary axis.

According to the fourth modality or variant of the invention: the motion transmitting means may comprise: a rotating shaft in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion and the lower portion; first movement guidance means for defining a diametral path of the hammering means, the first movement guidance means being substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; the hammering means may comprise: an intermediate portion guided in the first movement guidance means; an extreme portion to hit the inner wall; so that the percussion media can describe a movement: radial when guided by the first movement guidance means.

Optionally, the first movement guidance means can describe a rotary movement as they are dragged along the rotary axis.

Additionally, the device of the invention can comprise extraction means for extracting the body, said extraction means comprising, a first end connected to the lower portion of the body and a second end protruding from the vagina so that the device is extracted by the user.

Likewise, the device of the invention may have placement means constituted by a recess in the lower portion of the body. These placement means fulfill a double function: on the one hand, they facilitate the device to be introduced into the vagina and on the other, they constitute the housing of the first end of the extraction means.

Other additional characteristics that the device of the invention can present are the following:

- It can have the end portion of the percussion means spherical. - the movement generating means can be in the inner wall in the lower portion.

- the hammering means can hit the inner wall in an equatorial portion between the upper portion and the lower portion.

- It can also comprise drive means for connecting / disconnecting motion generating means.

The device of the invention can also comprise means for introducing a rod, referred to above as a guide support, to facilitate the introduction of the body into the vagina. Said introduction means may have a first end connected to the lower portion of the body and a second end for the device to be introduced by the user. The first end of the introduction means may be configured to allow the introduction means to be disconnected from the body and thus removed from the vagina once the body has been placed in the use position. The first end of the introduction means may also be configured to activate the drive means.

Brief description of the drawings

Next, a series of drawings that help to better understand the invention and that expressly relate to modalities or variants of said invention that are presented as non-limiting examples thereof are very briefly described.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a device of the invention showing the different parts of a first modality or variant of said device. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the first movement guidance means.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the first movement guidance means.

Figure 4 is an elevation view of the second movement guidance means showing the initial portion, the intermediate portion and the extreme portion of the hammering means as well as the springs or springs housed in said second movement guidance means.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of the invention showing the different parts of a second embodiment or variant of said device.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of the invention showing the different parts of a third mode or variant of said device.

Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D are cross-sectional views of different body options according to the third modality or variant showing the intermediate portion and the extreme portion of the hammering means as well as the receiving means.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of the invention showing the different parts of a fourth mode or variant of said device. Detailed description of the invention

The active stimulator, placed inside the vagina, is located above the pelvic floor 9 and its support is given passively, by the compression of the walls of the vagina 12 and the muscle tone of the pelvic floor, since its shape and dimensions are configured for it, without the need to demand an active contraction of the patient to hold it.

The hollow ball or body 2 comprises a cavity 3 within which it includes a mechanism that allows to regulate the force of the blows as well as the number of impacts. Said mechanism comprises movement generating means 34 for actuating the hammering means 30 that strike on the inner wall 13 and movement transmitting means for transmitting movement from the movement generating means 34 to the hammering means 30.

When the movement generating means 34, constituted by a motor, are activated, the hammering means 30 percuss on the inner walls 13 of the hollow ball or body 2, creating a blow and vibration that will stimulate the vaginal baroreceptors and vibroreceptors and the pelvic floor , and will cause a toning of the pelvic floor 9, as well as an increase in vaginal muscular activity.

The motion transmitting means that are part of the mechanism may include: a rotating shaft in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion 21 and

The lower portion 22; first movement guidance means 35 integral to the hollow body 2 and substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; On the other hand, the hammering means 30 may comprise: an intermediate portion 32 guided in the first movement guiding means 35; an end portion 33 to strike the inner wall 13;

The movement transmitting means that are part of the mechanism can also include second movement guidance means 36 integral to the rotary axis and substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation. On the other hand, the hammering means 30 may comprise an initial portion 31 guided in the second movement guidance means 36. Said second movement guidance means 36 may be formed by at least one blind hole that houses the initial portion 31; a spring or spring 37 can also be introduced at the bottom of said hole for radially pushing out the initial portion 31 and thus when the intermediate portion 32 reaches a step in the first movement guidance means 35, the inner wall 13 is hit by the end portion 33.

The impact force of the hammering means 30 can be regulated taking into account that the force exerted by a spring or spring 37 is proportional to the elastic constant of the spring and its elongation / compression. Thus, by modifying any of these magnitudes, the impact force of the end portion 33 on the inner wall 13 can be selected.

Likewise, the number of impacts per cycle can also be chosen by varying the number of radial discontinuities 38 in the first movement guidance means 35. These discontinuities 38 can be realized by at least one spiral section having at least one radial discontinuity at its perimeter . Several spiral sections arranged in a clover shape can also be used, linking the lobes to each other by radial discontinuities 38. The device of the invention can also include anchors 39 inside the body 2 to fix the mechanism to the inner wall 13.

According to the third embodiment or variant of the invention illustrated in Figures 6-7D: the motion transmitting means may comprise: a rotating shaft in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion 21 and

The lower portion 22, rotating said axis in alternate directions of rotation; The inner wall 13 may comprise: receiving means 15 integral to the hollow body 2 constituted by at least one protuberance in a parallel of the body 2, the parallel being each of the circles that on a surface of revolution result from being cut by planes perpendicular to its axis; the hammering means 30 may comprise: at least one arm having an intermediate portion 32 attached to the rotary axis; an end portion 33 configured to strike the inner wall 13 in the receiving means 15; so that the hammering means 30 can describe a movement: alternative rotary when dragged by the rotary axis.

The number of arms that are part of the hammering means 30 and protuberances that constitute the receiving means 15 determines the number of impacts per unit of time as well as the location of the points of impact. He number of arms and protuberances 15 must also be in line with the rotation of the rotary axis;

- for example, only one protuberance 15 and one arm may be available, so that the impact will always occur at the same point of the inner wall, the rotating axis must rotate 360 °, reaching an impact per cycle, see figure 7A;

- two diametrically opposed protuberances 15 and two diametrically opposite arms can be arranged: in each cycle two impacts are generated, at the diametrically opposite points where the protuberances are located, rotating the rotary axis 180 ° in each direction, see figure 7B; - Four equidistant protuberances 15 and two diametrically opposite arms can be arranged: in each cycle two impacts are generated, at the points where the protuberances are located, rotating the rotary axis 90 ° in each direction, see figure 7C;

- Four equidistant protuberances and four cross-shaped arms can be arranged: in each cycle four impacts are generated, at the points where the protuberances are located, rotating the rotary axis 90 ° in each direction, see figure 7D.

In the figures 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D the directions of rotation are indicated by arrows. As can be seen, depending on the number of impacts desired per cycle, both the number and location of the protuberances 15 and the number of arms can be varied.

According to the fourth mode or variant of the invention illustrated in Figure 8: the motion transmitting means may comprise: a rotating shaft in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion 21 and the lower portion 22; first movement guidance means 35 to define a diametral path of the hammering means 30, the first movement guidance means 35 being substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation. In this fourth embodiment or variant, the hammering means 30 may comprise: an intermediate portion 32 guided in the first movement guiding means 35; an extreme portion 33 to hit the inner wall 13.

In order for the hammering means to describe a diametral path along the first movement guidance means 35 starting from the rotation of the rotary axis, Any mechanism, such as a belt pulley, spindle gears and equivalent, can be used.

Optionally, the first movement guidance means 35 can describe a rotational movement as they are in turn driven by the rotary axis. In this way, the point of impact of the hammering means 30 on the inner wall 13 crosses a circumference.

Externally, the active perineal stimulator is constituted by a handle or extraction means 1, a body 2 and a guide support 50 that helps in introducing the device into the vagina 8 and which can also be used to activate the actuation means 40 to connect / disconnect the movement generating means 34 once the device has already been introduced in the vagina 8 or prior to its introduction. The upper part of the guide support 50 that contacts the body 2 in the lower portion 22, can activate the drive means 40. The activation of the drive means 40 can be achieved by turning the first end of the insertion means or guide support 50 and can also be activated manually with other systems such as button or switch. Once the movement generating means 34 have been activated by the drive means 40, the guide support 50 can be removed.

The hollow body 2 has a spherical, ovoid or similar preference shape. The body material may be a polymeric material intended to be in direct contact with tissues and organs.

At the midpoint of the lower portion 22, a handle or means 1 for securing preferably waterproof rope, thread or similar are secured.

The active perineal stimulator is inserted inside the vagina 8 leaving the body 2 located above the pelvic floor 9, and with the handle or extraction means 1 directed towards the outside of the vagina 10.

The handle or extraction means 1 extend from the body 2 of the stimulator, to the outside of the vagina 10, the length and shape of extraction means 1 being adequate to facilitate the extraction of the active stimulator after its use.

To facilitate the correct placement of the stimulator, the body 2 may have placement means constituted by a footprint or recess 23 in which the insertion of the handle 1 is located. This footprint or recess 23 serves in addition to the guide for introducing the perineal active stimulator .

Claims

An active device for stimulating a perineal area, configured to be introduced into a vagina (8) characterized in that it comprises: a hollow body (2) comprising: an upper portion (21); a lower portion (22); an interior wall (13); hammering means (30) for percuting on the inner wall (13); motion generating means (34) for actuating the hammering means (30); motion transmitting means for transmitting movement from the motion generating means (34) to the hammering means (30) so that the inner wall (13) is alternately struck by the hammering means (30).

2. The device of claim 1 characterized in that: the motion transmitting means comprise: a rotating shaft in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion (21) and the lower portion (22); first movement guidance means (35) integral to the hollow body (2) and substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; the hammering means (30) comprise: an intermediate portion (32) guided in the first movement guidance means (35); an extreme portion (33) to hit the inner wall (13); so that the hammering means (30) describe a movement: rotary when dragged along the rotary axis; radial when guided by the first movement guidance means (35).

3. The device of claim 2 characterized in that: the motion transmitting means also comprise second movement guidance means (36) integral with the rotary axis and substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; the hammering means (30) further comprise an initial portion (31) guided in the second movement guidance means (36); so that the hammering means (30) describe a movement: rotary when being dragged along the rotary axis and the second movement guidance means (36); radial when guided by the first movement guidance means (35) and the second movement guidance means (36).

4. The device of any of claims 2-3 characterized in that the first movement guidance means (35) comprise a washer having: an outer diameter that coincides with a diameter of the inner wall (13); a variable inner diameter having a plurality of radial discontinuities

(38) where said inner diameter increases in the form of a step so that the inner wall (13) is hit by the end portion (33) when the intermediate portion (32) reaches said discontinuities (38).

5. The device of claim 1 characterized in that: the motion transmitting means comprise: a rotating shaft in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion (21) and the lower portion (22); first movement guidance means (35) to define a diametral path of the percussion means (30), the first movement guidance means (35) being substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation; the hammering means (30) comprise: an intermediate portion (32) guided in the first movement guidance means (35); an extreme portion (33) to hit the inner wall (13); so that the hammering means (30) describe a movement: radial when guided by the first means of movement guidance (35).

6. The device of claim 5 characterized in that the first movement guidance means (35) describe a rotary movement when being dragged along the rotary axis.

7. The device of claim 1 characterized in that: the motion transmitting means comprise: a rotary axis in a direction of rotation determined by the upper portion (21) and the lower portion (22), said axis rotating in alternate directions of rotation; The inner wall (13) comprises: receiving means (15) integral to the hollow body (2) constituted by at least one protuberance in a parallel of the body (2); the hammering means (30) comprise: at least one arm having an intermediate portion (32) attached to the rotary axis; an end portion (33) configured to strike the inner wall (13) in the receiving means (15); so that the hammering means (30) describe a movement: alternative rotary when being dragged along the rotary axis.

The device of any one of claims - 1-7 characterized in that it further comprises extraction means (1) for extracting the body (2), said extraction means (1) comprising, a first end connected to the lower portion (22 ) of the body (2) and a second end protruding from the vagina (8) so that the device is removed by the user.

9. The device of any of claims 1-8, characterized in that it further comprises positioning means constituted by a recess (23) in the lower portion (22) of the body (2) to: facilitate that the device is introduced into the vagina ( 8) and housing the first end of the extraction means (1).

10. The device of any of claims 1-9 characterized in that the body (2) has a shape selected between spherical and ovoid.

11. The device of any of claims 2-10 characterized in that the end portion (33) of the hammering means (30) has a spherical shape.

12. The device of any of claims 1-11 characterized in that the movement generating means (34) are in the inner wall (13) in the lower portion (22).

13. The device of any of claims 1-12 characterized in that the percussion means (30) hit the inner wall (13) in an equatorial portion between the upper portion (21) and the lower portion (22).

14. The device of any of claims 1-13 characterized in that it further comprises actuation means (40) for connecting / disconnecting the movement generating means (34).

15. The device of claim 14 characterized in that it also comprises means for introducing (50) in the form of a rod to facilitate the introduction of the body (2) into the vagina (8), said introduction means (50) comprising a first connectable end to the lower portion (22) of the body (2) and a second end for the device to be introduced by the user.

16. The device of claim 15 characterized in that the first end of the introduction means (50) is configured to allow the introduction means (50) to be disconnected from the body (2) and thus extracted from the vagina once the body (2) has been placed in position of use.

17. The device of any of claims 15-16 characterized in that the first end of the introduction means (50) is configured to activate the actuation means (40).