Exercising Kegel muscles using preprogrammed exercise programs

• US 10,307,638 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LELO Incorporated (LELOi AB)
• Original Assignee: LELO Incorporated (LELOi AB)
• Inventors: Sedic, Filip
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganesan, Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US15/662,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20170333750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 19/40 Devices insertable in the genitals
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/505 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/655 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/20 for vaginal muscles or other sphincter-type muscles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load

Abstract

A Kegel muscle exercising apparatus includes various exercise programs that adaptively change depending on a user'"'"'s exercise performance. This apparatus includes an insertable device for inserting into the body of a user, computer program code that contains exercise programs that specify operation of a stimulation mechanism by a controller, a stimulation mechanism that directs a user to contract her Kegel muscles according to an exercise program, a sensor that measures Kegel muscle contraction activity, and a controller that receives feedback from the sensor. This feedback comprises the results of an exercise program, and depending on the results, the apparatus can determine a different exercise program appropriate for the user. Following the different exercise programs allows a user to improve her Kegel muscle strength.

Claims

1. A Kegel muscle exercising apparatus comprising:

an insertable device;

a stimulation mechanism integrated within the insertable device, the stimulation mechanism configured to deliver one or more physical stimuli to a user at a location of the insertable device;

a controller integrated within the insertable device and coupled to the stimulation mechanism;

computer program code stored on a memory and including one or more exercise programs that specify operation of the stimulation mechanism by the controller, wherein the operation corresponds with an instruction specified by the exercise program, and varying the physical stimulus according to the exercise program, the exercise program specifying a plurality of patterns of operation of the stimulation mechanism that each correspond to a type of muscle contraction instructed to the user; and

a sensor integrated within the insertable device and coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive feedback from the sensor;

wherein a pattern of the plurality of patterns of operation includes a contraction period, the contraction period following delivery of a contraction stimulus comprising one of the one or more physical stimuli that instructs the user to contract the Kegel muscles; and

wherein the pattern of the plurality of patterns of operation includes a relaxation period, the relaxation period following delivery of a relaxation stimulus comprising one of the one or more physical stimuli that instructs the user to relax the Kegel muscles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the plurality of patterns of operation includes multiple cycles, each cycle of the multiple cycles containing at least one contraction period and at least one relaxation period.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the contraction stimulus lasts for about one second.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the contraction period lasts for between about five seconds and about fifteen seconds.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the relaxation stimulus lasts for about one second.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the relaxation period lasts for between about five seconds and about fifteen seconds.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pattern of the plurality of patterns of operation includes at least five cycles.

8. A Kegel muscle exercising apparatus comprising:

an insertable device;

a stimulation mechanism integrated within the insertable device, the stimulation mechanism configured to deliver one or more physical stimuli to a user at a location of the insertable device, wherein the stimulation mechanism is a motor for vibrating the insertable device;

a controller integrated within the insertable device and coupled to the stimulation mechanism;

computer program code stored on a memory and including an exercise program that specifies operation of the stimulation mechanism by the controller, wherein the operation corresponds with an instruction specified by the exercise program and varying the physical stimulus according to the exercise program, the exercise program specifying a plurality of patterns of operation of the stimulation mechanism that each correspond to a type of muscle contraction instructed to the user; and

a sensor integrated within the insertable device and coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive feedback from the sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a pattern of the plurality of patterns of operation includes a contraction period, the contraction period including a contraction stimulus comprising one of the one or more physical stimuli that instructs the user to contract the Kegel muscles;

and

wherein the pattern of the plurality of patterns of operation includes a relaxation period, the relaxation period including a relaxation stimulus comprising one of the one or more physical stimuli that instructs the user to relax the Kegel muscles.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pattern of the plurality of patterns or operation comprises multiple cycles, each cycle of the multiple cycles containing at least one contraction period and at least one relaxation period.

11. A Kegel muscle exercising apparatus comprising:

an insertable device;

a stimulation mechanism integrated within the insertable device, the stimulation mechanism configured to deliver one or more physical stimuli to a user at a location of the insertable device;

a controller integrated within the insertable device and coupled to the stimulation mechanism;

computer program code stored on a memory and including an exercise program that specifics operation of the stimulation mechanism by the controller, wherein the operation corresponds with an instruction specified by the exercise program and varying the physical stimulus according to the exercise program, the exercise program specifying a plurality of patterns of operation of the stimulation mechanism that each correspond to a type of muscle contraction instructed to the user, wherein each pattern of the plurality of patterns includes a contraction period and a relaxation period; and

a sensor integrated within the insertable device and coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive feedback from the sensor, wherein feedback from the sensor comprises results of the exercise program;

wherein the results of the exercise program comprising the feedback is transmitted to the controller; and

wherein the controller selects a second exercise program that is delivered to the user based on the feedback comprising the results of the exercise program the controller receives.