METHOD WITH BIOFEEDBACK FOR TRAINING THE MUSCLES OF THE PELVIC FLOOR

• US 20150182161A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya
• Original Assignee: Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya
• Inventors: Ramos Castro, Juan Jose, Maanas Villanueva, Miguel Angel, Espua Pons, Montserrat, Perez Gonzalez, Amelia
• Granted Patent: US 10,602,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/202 Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/313 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/391 of genito-urinary organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6873 Intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/605 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/20 for vaginal muscles or other sphincter-type muscles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

The invention relates to a method with biofeedback for training muscles of the pelvic floor, applicable to the treatment of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and prolapse of pelvic organs, using a portable electronic device for capturing, by means of sensors, EMG signals relating to abdominal activity and the area to be treated during muscle exercises, said device providing results visually and/or acoustically, the method comprising: placing a vaginal or rectal sensor (10) and two sensors (11) in the lower abdominal area, performing exercises working the muscles of the pelvic floor, providing evaluation of the exercises performed and storing results. The user places the sensors herself, the device evaluating the correct placement of the sensors indicating to the user that the suitable position has been reached through said acoustic and/or visual means, and performing a step prior to the exercises for acquiring muscle tone.

Claims

1. A method with biofeedback for training muscles of the pelvic floor, applicable to the treatment of urinary or fecal incontinence, in which an electronic device is used for capturing, through sensors, EMG signals relating to an area to be treated, while performing exercises, and to abdominal activity, and evaluative results of the exercises are shown by visual and/or acoustic display means associated with said electronic device, the method comprising the following steps:

a) placing a vaginal or rectal sensor (10) for capturing EMG signals in the user'"'"'s vagina or rectum;

b) placing at least two sensors (11) for capturing EMG signals in the lower abdominal area;

c) performing a repetitive series of exercises working the muscles of the pelvic floor or adjacent areas,

d) providing evaluations of the exercises performed by means of acoustic signals and/or on a screen; and

e) storing the results of each session,

characterized in that

a portable electronic device is used configured for capturing EMG signals relating to the pelvic floor and EMG signals relating to a lower abdominal area through feedback by means of sensors;

the user places said vaginal or rectal sensor as well as said sensors in the lower abdominal area herself; and

it includes step b 1) after step b) and before step c) for performing said repetitive series of exercises which comprises verifying the correct placement of said at least two sensors indicating to the user that a suitable position has been reached through said acoustic and/or visual means.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises performing first relaxation exercises before step c) to establish a baseline level of muscle activity from the muscle tone captured by the EMG signal provided by said abdominal sensors, and a maximum level, requesting to that end maximum contraction of said abdominal area from said user.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises in said step c) acquiring a maximum number of repetitive and sustained or resistance contraction exercises, which the user is capable of performing, by repetition of a contraction exercise intended for training the different types of muscle fibers of the pelvic muscles.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that in said step c) at least one maximum contraction of the muscles of the pelvic floor or adjacent areas is requested.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that during each session the results of an exercise or of one or more groups of exercises performed are re-evaluated, and a correction factor is applied to the time the contraction is maintained for the remaining exercises of a training session and of the following sessions.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the results of the different exercises performed in each session and patient are stored in the portable electronic device, in a history log, for the next workout, and in that the parameters of said exercises are reconfigured for said next workout in a new session depending on said previously stored results and on the response to said step b1).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step b1) for verifying the correct placement of said at least two sensors (11) comprises measuring the captured EMG signal and comparing it with threshold values sufficient for assessing a baseline muscle tone measurement, in response to a relaxation exercise, derived from said sensors, and emitting a visual and/or acoustic confirmation or repositioning request signal after measuring and evaluating the captured signal relating to abdominal activity.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that said repositioning information is carried out with the aid of visual means showing an image of the abdominal area on which the areas where the mentioned sensors (11) must be placed are graphically illustrated.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the EMG signals and EMG signals captured by the at least two abdominal sensors (11) are transmitted to said portable electronic device by radiofrequency/wireless means.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that said EMG signals are stored in said portable electronic device and later transmitted to a computer of a rehabilitation center for preparing clinical reports for evaluating and monitoring remote therapy compliance.