MULTI-MODE PELVIC EXERCISE PROBE

• US 20070112284A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anatasol, LLC
• Original Assignee: Anatosol LLC
• Inventors: Hoffman, Craig, England, Michael, Hoffman, Gerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,628,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/591
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/227 of constricting muscles, i.e. sphincters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/20 for vaginal muscles or other sphincter-type muscles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal

Abstract

A perineometer exercise probe for home or clinical use assesses the strength of pelvic floor muscles and provides audible, visual and tactile biofeedback signals as training aids during pelvic exercises. The exercise probe is selectively operable in a passive reaction mode, in which audible, visual and tactile biofeedback signals proportional to pelvic muscle contractions are generated, and in an active vibrating mode in which therapeutic vibrations are applied directly to internal pelvic musculature with or without co-generation of biofeedback signals proportional to the strength of pelvic muscle contractions; and in a combination of both modes simultaneously. The probe reacts the pelvic contraction forces and thus provides passive tactile feedback signals that are experienced simultaneously with audible, visual and vibration-induced tactile biofeedback signals for improving the endurance and strength of pelvic floor muscles. Biofeedback signaling is facilitated by wireless two-way communication between the probe and a portable monitor.

Claims

1. An instrument for training and rehabilitating a patient'"'"'s pelvic muscles comprising a probe configured for insertion into a pelvic cavity and including at least one sensor for dynamically sensing a force applied to the probe by contraction of the pelvic muscles, vibrator apparatus disposed in the probe for imparting mechanical vibrations against the pelvic muscles, and a control circuit coupled to the sensor and the vibrator apparatus for selectively operating the training instrument in a passive, reaction mode in which passive tactile feedback signals are produced with co-generation of biofeedback signals proportional to pelvic muscle contractions, and in an active, vibrating mode in which vibration therapy is applied directly to internal pelvic musculature;

and in a combination of both modes simultaneously.

2. An instrument for training and rehabilitating a patient'"'"'s pelvic floor muscles according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor comprises a variable impedance element capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pressure forces applied to the probe; and

the control circuit comprises an electronic circuit module enclosed within the probe and electrically coupled to the variable impedance element for transmitting wireless feedback signals in response to pelvic contraction forces applied to the probe.

3. Apparatus for training a patient'"'"'s pelvic floor muscles, comprising in combination:

a probe receivable within a patient'"'"'s pelvic cavity for engaging pelvic muscles, the probe containing a transducer capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pelvic muscle contractions against the transducer;

a signal processor circuit contained in the probe and electrically coupled to the transducer for transmitting a wireless radio frequency signal containing feedback information related to the electrical impedance of the transducer;

a portable monitor including a radio frequency transceiver for transmitting and receiving the wireless feedback signal and an indicator device coupled to the transceiver for displaying a visual representation of feedback information contained in the wireless signal;

vibrator apparatus disposed in the probe for imparting mechanical vibrations against the pelvic floor muscles; and

a control circuit electrically coupled to the transducer and to the vibrator apparatus for stimulating the pelvic floor muscle with mechanical vibrations at a frequency that is proportional to the magnitude of the sensed pelvic muscle contraction force.

4. A method for training and rehabilitating a patient'"'"'s pelvic floor muscles comprising the steps:

inserting a probe into a pelvic cavity;

selectively contracting and relaxing the patient'"'"'s pelvic floor muscles against the probe;

producing a signal proportional to the force applied by the pelvic floor muscles against the probe;

selectively operating the probe in a passive training mode or in an active training mode, and for passive mode operation, (a) imparting internal passive tactile feedback signals to a patient in response to contraction of the pelvic floor muscles against the probe; and

for active mode operation, (b) imparting mechanical vibrations against the pelvic floor muscles at a vibration frequency that is proportional to the pelvic muscle contraction force applied against the probe;

transmitting to a portable monitor a biofeedback signal that contains information related to the force applied against the prove during pelvic muscle contractions; and

receiving the biofeedback signal on a portable monitor and displaying the signal in a format that can be observed or heard by the patient while a training exercise is underway.

5. The method for training and rehabilitating a patient'"'"'s pelvic floor muscles as set forth in claim 4, including the steps:

providing a probe having a transducer capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pelvic contractions applied to the transducer;

transmitting a wireless radio frequency signal containing feedback information related to the electrical impedance of the transducer;

producing a tactile feedback signal in response to the pelvic contractions;

communicating the tactile feedback signal directly to the patient via transmission of reaction forces through the pelvic muscles engaged about the probe;

communicating the wireless radio frequency signal to a portable monitor; and

displaying a visual representation of feedback information contained in the wireless signal on the portable monitor so that it can be observed by the patient while a training exercise is underway.

6. A method of exercising and training pelvic floor muscles according to claim 4, further comprising the step:

allowing the patient to sense internal tactile feedback signals and mechanical vibrations while observing the visual representation display on the portable monitor during contraction of pelvic floor muscles against the probe.

7. A method of exercising and training pelvic floor muscles according to claim 4, further comprising the step:

increasing the vibration frequency in direct proportion to increase in the magnitude of the sensed contraction force during the active operating mode.

8. A method of exercising and training pelvic floor muscles according to claim 4, further comprising the step:

reducing the vibration frequency in direct proportion to decrease in the magnitude of the sensed contraction force in a pelvic muscle relaxation training mode of operation.

9. A method for training and rehabilitating a patient'"'"'s pelvic floor muscles comprising the steps:

inserting a probe into a pelvic cavity of a patient;

maintaining the probe in intimate contact with pelvic floor muscles as the pelvic muscles are contracted against the probe;

sensing the strength of pelvic contractions by direct tactile sensation to the patient in response to engagement of pelvic floor muscles against the probe;

producing a signal proportional to the pressure force applied by the pelvic floor muscles against the probe;

generating a biofeedback signal that is a function of the pressure force signal and communicating the biofeedback signal to a portable monitor;

imparting mechanical vibrations against the pelvic floor muscles at a frequency that is proportional to the magnitude of the pressure force applied by the pelvic floor muscles against the probe; and

selectively contracting and relaxing the patient'"'"'s pelvic muscles against the probe while the patient selectively experiences (a) vibration-induced tactile biofeedback with or without audible or visual biofeedback monitoring, or (b) passive tactile biofeedback with or without audible or visual biofeedback monitoring, during a training exercise.

10. A method for pelvic floor muscle conditioning comprising the steps of (a) inserting a probe containing a vibrator and a force sensor into a pelvic cavity;

(b) contracting the pelvic floor muscle against the probe;

(c) sensing the magnitude of pelvic floor muscle contraction forces applied against the probe; and

(d) stimulating the pelvic floor muscle with mechanical vibrations occurring at a frequency that is proportional to the magnitude of the pelvic muscle contraction force.

11. The method for pelvic floor muscle conditioning according to claim 10, including the step of controlling the vibrations to occur at a frequency that is substantially directly proportional to the magnitude of the pelvic muscle contraction force.

12. The method for pelvic floor muscle conditioning according to claim 10 including the steps of increasing the vibration frequency from about 1 Hz corresponding with a nominal pelvic muscle force exerted on the probe under “

at rest”

relaxed pelvic muscle condition, to a vibration frequency of about 100 Hz corresponding to a predetermined maximum pelvic muscle force exerted on the probe during a sustained, best effort pelvic muscle contraction.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10, including the step:

selectively contracting and relaxing the patient'"'"'s pelvic muscles against the probe while the patient selectively experiences either (a) vibration-induced tactile biofeedback with or without audible or visual biofeedback monitoring during an active mode training exercise, or (b) passive tactile biofeedback with or without audible or visual biofeedback monitoring during a passive mode training exercise.

14. A method of exercising and training pelvic floor muscles according to claim 10, further comprising the step:

reducing the vibration frequency substantially in direct proportion to decrease in the magnitude of the contraction force during a pelvic muscle relaxation training mode of operation.

15. A method of exercising and training pelvic floor muscles according to claim 10, further comprising the step:

selectively operating the probe in a passive reaction mode, in which audible, visual and tactile biofeedback signals proportional to pelvic muscle contractions are generated, or in an active vibrating mode in which therapeutic vibrations are applied directly to internal pelvic musculature with or without co-generation of biofeedback signals proportional to the strength of pelvic muscle contractions;

or in a combination of both modes simultaneously.

16. A method of exercising and training pelvic floor muscles according to claim 10, further comprising the step:

selectively contracting and relaxing the patient'"'"'s pelvic muscles against the probe;

co-generating biofeedback signals proportional to the strength of the pelvic muscle contractions;

transmitting the biofeedback signals to a portable monitor that can be observed by the patient;

receiving the biofeedback signals in the portable monitor and displaying the biofeedback signals in a format that can be viewed or heard by the patient while a training exercise is underway; and

selectively operating the probe in a passive reaction mode in which the probe reacts the pelvic contraction and thus provides passive tactile feedback signals that are experienced internally while by the patient is simultaneously observing biofeedback signal displays on the portable monitor.