Delivery preparation and facilitation device and preparatory gymnastics

• US 6,648,842 B2
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wilhelm Horkel
• Original Assignee: Wilhelm Horkel
• Inventors: Horkel, Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US09/403,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/97-1-, 604/98.01, 604/99.01, 604/99.02, 604/99.04, 604/100.01, 604/103.07, 604/915-916, 604/101.05, 604/275, 604/279, 606/192-193, 606/119, 600/33, 600/38, 600/591, 600/115-116, 128/836, 128/DIG.23, 607/138
• US Class Current: 601/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for preparing a pregnant woman to delivery and facilitating the delivery itself, which comprises an entirely expandable stretch body, which is positioned in the expulsion area of the urogenital canal in such a way that it is partly inside the vagina and partly outside. There is also disclosed a preparatory gymnastics method involving the inventive device.

Claims

1. An exercise method for preparing to give birth using a device for preparing to give birth, the device comprising:

an expandable elongated body which is positionable in the area of the vaginal orifice such that it is located partly inside the vagina in a vaginal interior and partly outside the vagina during use,

the body is adapted to be expandable in its entirety,

wherein the body further comprises a first expandable portion, a second expandable portion and a waist portion defined therebetween, said first expandable portion having an end that is adapted for insertion into the vaginal interior and that is uninterrupted by any portion of said device extending therethrough,

said defined waist portion being expandable along with the remainder of the body, the waist portion being adapted to expand the vaginal orifice in preparation for giving birth, the waist portion being adopted to be self-centered in the area of the vaginal orifice during use,

the waist portion being constricted with respect to the remainder of the body before insertion of the device through the vaginal orifice, during use of the device and after withdrawal of the device through the vaginal orifice,

wherein said first expandable portion and said waist portion are configured to expand the vaginal interior and vaginal orifice respectively to mimic the extent of expansion that would occur while giving birth, and

wherein said first expandable portion is positioned within said vaginal interior such that said first expandable portion does not contact the cervix during use,

the exercise method comprising the steps of;

positioning the expandable body partly within the vaginal interior and partly outside and the vaginal orifice with the waist portion being self-centered in the area of the vaginal orifice, and

thereafter expanding the expandable body to a desired dimension such that the waist portion is expanded to expand the vaginal orifice and said expandable body is expanded to expand said vaginal interior and without contacting the cervix, and

maintaining the body in the expanded state for a predetermined time in its position.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the expansion of the expandable body is increased with repeated use in order to achieve an increasing preparatory stretching of the vaginal interior.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the expandable body is pulled from the vagina after a period of time.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the time period is between 10 to 20 minutes.

5. Method according to claim 3, wherein the expansion of the waist region is selected to be up to a diameter of 10 cm.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer and inner half-shells form two air tight chambers separated from one another.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the half-shell insertable in the vagina is inflatable by means of a separate inflation hose.

8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the device comprises a three-way valve for selecting the inflation mode of the outer and inner half-shells.