WO2018015591A1

WO2018015591A1 - Device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles

Info

Publication number: WO2018015591A1
Application number: PCT/ES2017/070459
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joan GARRIGA I RODÓ
Original assignee: Ecareyou Innovation, S.L.
Priority date: 2016-07-08
Filing date: 2017-06-23
Publication date: 2018-01-25
Also published as: ES1162833Y; ES1162833U

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a flexible water-resistant housing body (2) containing a base plate (5), a power battery (6), a vibration-emitting motor (7), and at least two pressure sensors (8), as well as an antenna (3) for wireless connection between the device (1) and a smartphone or other electronic apparatus suitable for having installed a particular software, in the form of an app, which allows the operation of the device to be controlled. The housing body (2) is formed by two parts, a substantially oval main part (2a) and a secondary part (2b) in the form of an elongate flexible appendage containing the antenna (3). The main part (2a) of the housing body (2) houses a case (4) divided, in turn, into two halves, and in which the base plate (5), power battery (6) and vibration-emitting motor (7) are connected. The two flexible laminar pressure sensors (8) are incorporated outside of the case (4). The antenna (3) is inserted into the secondary part (2b) and housed in a plastic sheath (9). The wireless connection is by means of Bluetooth.

Description

DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

DEVICE FOR EXERCISING THE MUSCULATURE OF THE PELVIC FLOOR

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as expressed in the statement of the present specification, refers to a device for exercising pelvic floor musculature that provides, to the function to which it is intended, advantages and novelty characteristics that will be described in detail below, which represent a remarkable improvement of the current state of the art.

The object of the present invention lies, specifically, in a device that, provided with sensors and electronic components that connect wirelessly with software that is installed in the mobile phone or other device capable of doing so, is intended to serve as an instrument of training for women, by detecting, quantifying and dating the movements of the pelvic floor musculature that the user performs when wearing it, providing a tool to improve the pelvic floor musculature and consequently reduce the urinary incontinence of the user. Likewise, it is worth mentioning that an improvement in the pelvic floor also increases the quality of sexual relations that the user can maintain.

In conclusion, the device object of the invention aims to offer a better quality of life to the user thereof thanks to the improvements that are incorporated that offer outstanding advantages over other similar devices already existing in the market. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The field of application of the present invention is part of the industry sector dedicated to the manufacture of electronic devices and devices intended to exercise muscles of the human body, focusing specifically on the scope of those intended to exercise the pelvic floor muscle group of the woman.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, Dr. Arnoid Kegel was the first to relate the pelvic floor and urinary incontinence, so he devised a series of exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles, muscles that, prior to that, were not even known of their existence or the repercussions that its weakening had on the quality of life. Today these exercises, renewed and perfected, are essential to strengthen the pelvic floor whose impact not only covers the field of urinary incontinence, but also that of sexuality. In that sense, it is worth mentioning that some devices of the type that are concerned here are known in the market, designed to be an instrument of help in performing the aforementioned exercises of the pelvic musculature, and that, basically, they consist of the controlled contraction of the same.

In general, said devices are made up of a housing suitable for insertion into the vagina and which, through different systems, allow better control of said contractions. However, said devices have some aspects that can be improved, since some of their technical and structural characteristics are limited, this being the essential objective of the present invention. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature that the invention proposes is thus configured as a novelty within its field of application, since according to its implementation and in a restrictive way the stated objective is satisfactorily achieved, the characterizing details being what distinguish from what is already known conveniently set forth in the final claims that accompany the present description. Specifically, what the invention proposes, as noted above, is an electronic device whose purpose is to serve as a training tool for women, by detecting, quantifying and dating the movements of the pelvic floor muscles that the user performs when has been introduced into the vagina, in order to achieve, through said controlled contraction exercise of said muscle group, an improvement in their quality of life, especially when there are problems of incontinence.

For this purpose, said device is configured from an enveloping body, made of silicone or a similar flexible material, which has two essential parts, a main part, larger in size and where the functional elements of the device are housed, and which is the part that is introduced into the user's vagina, and an adjacent extension that determines a flexible appendix, which is located on the outside of the vagina, inside which the antenna cable through which it is connected is housed, by way of wireless, with the software that allows the control and monitoring of the exercises to be performed.

It should also be noted that both parts are attachable with each other, which provides advantages in allowing access to their internal functional elements for repair or replacement of any of them.

In any case, the device is completely airtight and totally waterproof.

Going into more detail about the mentioned functional elements, it should be noted that the main part of the enclosure incorporates a housing divided, in turn, into two practicable halves, where a base plate, a power battery and a small motor that cause vibrations, since one of the functions performed by the device is to vibrate, usually as a means of warning to alert the user that she should perform or resume contraction exercises. Also, coupled to said housing and, conveniently connected to the base plate, the device incorporates two sensors capable of detecting the pressure exerted on the main part of the housing. Specifically, these are two flexible laminar-type force sensors (thin-film sensor), arranged on both sides of said part, so as to allow optimum control of the pressure exerted on the device.

Finally, the device has a connection port to allow recharging the battery.

As noted, the device is designed for connection Wireless, preferably via bluetooth, with software that is installed on a mobile phone type smartphone or an electronic tablet or other device suitable for it, preferably consisting of an APP type application (term derived from the abbreviation of the English application) through which the user can keep track of the exercises she performs.

Specifically, this APP is designed and programmed to indicate to the user the previous exercises that she can perform to determine the degree of weakness of her pelvic musculature, which are compared with the standards obtained by a clinical study, and with this allows to adapt the programming of exercises to be performed depending on the degree detected.

The APP activates the vibration of the device to indicate to the user when to exert pressure and, in addition, detects if said pressure is being carried out correctly or incorrectly to instruct the user.

In addition, it is also planned that the APP includes a training program with various modalities, according to the needs of each user, which, in addition, can be downloaded to the device itself.

Specifically, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, said Application, suitable for various operating systems of the most used currently, includes up to eight different languages of use for both text and voice messages, different vibration patterns, menstrual calendar, guide of user to learn to find and activate the pelvic muscle group, possibility to download the information collected in the cloud, password access protection and a wide range of different types of exercises to perform.

In addition, it is important to note that this Application contemplates the possibility of carrying out some exercises prior to the habitual use of the device with the aim of making an initial diagnosis that determines the state of the musculature of the pelvic floor of the user, comparing the results of said previous exercises with the standards obtained from parameters extracted from a clinical study, which distinguishes the functionality of the device compared to others existing in the market.

Preferably, from the initial diagnosis automatically generated by the application, the application automatically generates some exercises to be performed by the user (different according to the diagnosis) so that based on the current situation of the musculature of her pelvic floor the user gets the musculature Your pelvic floor reaches the quality standards determined by the clinical study. The described device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles consists, then, in an innovative structure with characteristics unknown until now for the purpose to which it is intended, reasons that together with its practical utility, provide it with sufficient grounds to obtain the privilege of exclusivity that is requested.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a descriptive sheet is attached as an integral part of it, an illustrative and non-limiting the following has been represented:

Figure number .- Shows a side perspective view of an example of realization of the device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature, object of the invention, its general external configuration being appreciated. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the exploded view of the device of the invention, according to the same example shown in Figure 1, showing in it the main parts and elements it comprises, as well as its configuration and arrangement.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and according to the numbering adopted therein, a non-limiting example of the device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature of the invention can be seen, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described. in detail below.

Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the device (1) in question comprises an enveloping body (2), made of silicone or a similar flexible material, consisting of two parts, a main part (2a), of substantially sensitive configuration. oval, intended to be introduced into the user's vagina and inside which most of the rest of the device's elements (1) are housed, and a secondary part (2b) in the form of an elongated and flexible appendix that extends from one end of the main part (2a), intended to be located on the outside of the vagina, and inside which incorporates an antenna (3) through which the device (1) is connected, wirelessly, with a smartphone or other electronic device in which a specific software has been installed in the form of APP for control of its operation and monitoring of the exercises performed, said main (2a) and secondary (2b) parts of the enclosure body (2) provided tas of a tight junction (2c) that make of the whole of said casing body (2) a totally water resistant element.

According to Figure 2, it is observed how, housed inside the main part (2a), the enclosure (2) comprises a housing (4) divided, in turn, into two practicable halves, where a plate is coupled base (5), a power battery (6) and a small motor (7) that emits vibrations, and, externally to it, two pressure sensors (8) which, preferably consisting of flexible laminar type sensors (thin-film sensor), are located at opposite points on both sides of said housing (4), so that they detect any pressure exerted on the main part (2a) in which said housing (4) is housed.

Likewise, the antenna cable (3) is appreciated, which, connected at one end to the base plate (5) is inserted into the secondary part (2b) of the housing (2) housed in a plastic sheath (9). Said antenna (3), as already indicated, provides the wireless connection between the device (1) and the smartphone or electronic device where the control software is installed, preferably, by means of a Bluetooth connection system, which uses standard protocol of difficult interference with other equipment, including auto re-connection system.

Finally, the interior of the main body (2a) also incorporates a connection port (10), preferably consisting of a hidden orifice jack connector, to connect the corresponding item that allows the battery to be recharged (6); which preferably is 200mA with an operating capacity of up to 180 days for normal use and up to 3 hours of continuous use. Describes sufficiently the nature of the present invention, as well as the way to put it into practice, it is not considered necessary to extend its explanation so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages that derive from it, stating that, within its essentiality, it can be put into practice in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, and to which it will also achieve the protection that is sought as long as it is not altered, changes or modifies its fundamental principle.

Claims

1.- Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature that, formed as an instrument to be introduced into the vagina so that it detects movements of the pelvic floor musculature performed by the user, is characterized by comprising an enveloping body (2), flexible and water resistant, whose interior includes a base plate (5), a power battery (6), a motor (7) that emits vibrations and at least two pressure sensors (8), as well as an antenna (3 ) Wireless connection between the device (1) and a smartphone or other electronic device capable of incorporating a specific software installed, in the form of APP, which allows the control of its operation and the monitoring of the exercises performed.

2. Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature according to claim 1, characterized in that the enveloping body (2) is constituted by two parts, a main part (2a), of substantially oval configuration, intended to be introduced into the vagina of the user and in whose interior most of the elements of the device (1) are housed, and a secondary part (2b) in the form of an elongated and flexible appendix that extends from one end of the main part (2a), intended to remain located on the outside of the vagina, and inside which incorporates the antenna (3) through which the device (1) is connected wirelessly.

3. Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature according to claim 2, characterized in that said main (2a) and secondary (2b) parts of the enveloping body (2) have a tight joint (2c).

4. - Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the interior of the main part (2a) of the enclosure (2) houses a housing (4) divided, in turn, into two practicable halves, where the base plate (5), the power battery (6) and the motor (7) that emit vibrations are coupled.

5. - Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature, according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that, externally to the housing (4), the two pressure sensors (8) are incorporated which are located at opposite points on both sides of the same.

6. - Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature according to claim 5, characterized in that the two pressure sensors (8) are flexible laminar type.

7. - Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature, according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the antenna (3) is inserted into the secondary part (2b) of the enclosure (2) housed in a plastic sheath ( 9).

8. - Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature, according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the wireless connection between the device (1) and the smartphone or electronic device where the control software is installed, is via bluetooth.

9. - Device for exercising the pelvic floor musculature, according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it incorporates a connection port (10) to connect an item that allows the recharge of the power battery (6).