Intravaginal device for electrically stimulating and/or for sensing electrical activity of muscles and/or nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity
First Claim
1. A device for stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the device comprising:
- (a) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual said body self expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and
(b) at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with said wall, wherein an electrical current providable from said at least one pair of electrodes serves for electrically stimulating the muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity;
wherein a length of said body when relaxed is 1.3-1.7 times shorter than said length of said body when fully contracted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual and/or for sensing electrical activity of muscles defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity is provided. The device includes (a) a body having memory properties such that when the body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual the body self expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and (b) at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of the body such that when the body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity.
74 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A device for stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the device comprising:
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(a) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual said body self expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and
(b) at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with said wall, wherein an electrical current providable from said at least one pair of electrodes serves for electrically stimulating the muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity;
wherein a length of said body when relaxed is 1.3-1.7 times shorter than said length of said body when fully contracted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the system comprising:
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(a) an intravaginal positionable device assembly including;
(i) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within the intravaginal cavity of the individual said body expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and
(ii) at least one pair of electrodes being for providing an electrical current, said at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with the intravaginal cavity wall, said electrical current providable from said at least one pair of electrodes serves for electrically stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity; and
(iii) a power and control unit being detachably attached to said body and being for providing electrical current to said at least one pair of electrodes; and
(iv) at least one sensor attached to said body, such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, said at least one sensor is capable of sensing muscle activity of the muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity; and
(v) a transmitter being for transmitting a signal receivable outside the body, said signal including data pertaining to said muscle activity sensed by said at least one sensor; and
(b) an extracorporeal monitoring unit being for processing said signal received from said transmitter to thereby determine duration or intensity of said electrical current provided to said at least one pair of electrodes from said power and control unit;
wherein a length of said body when relaxed is 1.3-1.7 times shorter than said length of said body when fully contracted. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning an intravaginal device within the intravaginal cavity of the individual, said intravaginal device including;
(i) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual said body self expands to conform to a contour the intravaginal cavity, wherein a length of said body when relaxed is 1.3-1.7 times shorter than said length of said body when fully contracted; and
(ii) at least one pair of electrodes being for providing an electrical current, said at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with said wall, wherein said electrical current providable from said at least one pair of electrodes serves for electrically stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity; and
(b) providing said electrical current of a predetermined intensity and/or duration to said at least one pair of electrodes attached to said exterior surface of said body to thereby stimulate muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A device for sensing electrical activity of muscles defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the device comprising:
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(a) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual said body self expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and
(b) at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with said wall;
wherein a length of said body when relaxed is 1.3-1.7 times shorter than said length of said body when fully contracted. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A device for stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the device comprising:
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(a) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual said body self expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and
(b) at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with said wall, wherein an electrical current providable from said at least one pair of electrodes serves for electrically stimulating the muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity;
wherein said body defines a substantially rounded diamond shaped frame when relaxed. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the system comprising:
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(a) an intravaginal positionable device assembly including;
(i) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within the intravaginal cavity of the individual said body expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and
(ii) at least one pair of electrodes being for providing an electrical current, said at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with the intravaginal cavity wall, said electrical current providable from said at least one pair of electrodes serves for electrically stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity; and
(iii) a power and control unit being detachably attached to said body and being for providing electrical current to said at least one pair of electrodes; and
(iv) at least one sensor attached to said body, such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, said at least one sensor is capable of sensing muscle activity of the muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity; and
(v) a transmitter being for transmitting a signal receivable outside the body, said signal including data pertaining to said muscle activity sensed by said at least one sensor; and
(b) an extracorporeal monitoring unit being for processing said signal received from said transmitter to thereby determine duration or intensity of said electrical current provided to said at least one pair of electrodes from said power and control unit;
wherein said body defines a substantially rounded diamond shaped frame when relaxed. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning an intravaginal device within the intravaginal cavity of the individual, said intravaginal device including;
(i) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual said body self expands to conform to a contour the intravaginal cavity, wherein said body defines a substantially rounded diamond shaped frame when relaxed; and
(ii) at least one pair of electrodes being for providing an electrical current, said at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with said wall, wherein said electrical current providable from said at least one pair of electrodes serves for electrically stimulating muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity; and
(b) providing said electrical current of a predetermined intensity and/or duration to said at least one pair of electrodes attached to said exterior surface of said body to thereby stimulate muscles and nerves defining and surrounding the intravaginal cavity of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A device for sensing electrical activity of muscles defining and surrounding an intravaginal cavity of an individual, the device comprising:
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(a) a body having memory properties such that when said body is contracted and positioned within an intravaginal cavity of the individual said body self expands to conform to a contour of the intravaginal cavity; and
(b) at least one pair of electrodes being attached to an exterior surface of said body such that when said body is positioned within the intravaginal cavity, each electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes is biased against a wall of the intravaginal cavity to thereby maintain electrical contact with said wall;
wherein said body defines a substantially rounded diamond shaped frame when relaxed. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification