Perineometer with wireless biofeedback
First Claim
1. A probe receivable within a pelvic cavity for sensing contraction pressure applied by pelvic floor muscles, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having an external surface portion;
a transducer including a distributed sensing arrangement provided by a sensing body extending lengthwise and circumferentially in overlapping relation along the external surface portion of the shaft;
the sensing body including a plurality of variable impedance elements capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pelvic floor muscle contractions against the sensing body, the variable impedance elements being distributed around and lengthwise along a portion of the sensing body;
a dielectric insulating material forming a portion of the sensing body and being disposed between the pelvic cavity and the plurality of variable impedance elements, such that the variable impedance elements are disposed at an external surface of the sensing body; and
a signal processor circuit disposed in the probe and electrically coupled to the variable impedance elements for producing a feedback signal in response to the electrical impedance exhibited by the variable impedance elements.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A perineometer for home or clinical use assesses the strength of pelvic floor muscles and provides audible and visual biofeedback signals as training aids during pelvic exercises. Impedance signals proportional to vaginal contraction pressure forces are developed by a transducer sleeve that is mounted on a vaginal probe. A battery-powered RF transmitter module contained within the probe transmits wireless impedance signals to a hand-held receiver equipped with an audio-visual display monitor. The probe reacts the pelvic contraction forces and thus provides a direct tactile feedback signal that is used in combination with audible and visual feedback signals for improving the endurance and strength of pelvic floor muscles.
72 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A probe receivable within a pelvic cavity for sensing contraction pressure applied by pelvic floor muscles, comprising:
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an elongated shaft having an external surface portion; a transducer including a distributed sensing arrangement provided by a sensing body extending lengthwise and circumferentially in overlapping relation along the external surface portion of the shaft; the sensing body including a plurality of variable impedance elements capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pelvic floor muscle contractions against the sensing body, the variable impedance elements being distributed around and lengthwise along a portion of the sensing body; a dielectric insulating material forming a portion of the sensing body and being disposed between the pelvic cavity and the plurality of variable impedance elements, such that the variable impedance elements are disposed at an external surface of the sensing body; and a signal processor circuit disposed in the probe and electrically coupled to the variable impedance elements for producing a feedback signal in response to the electrical impedance exhibited by the variable impedance elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20)
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14. A probe receivable within a pelvic cavity for sensing contraction pressure applied by pelvic floor muscles against the probe, comprising:
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a shaft that is intersected by a pocket; a transducer sleeve extending circumferentially and lengthwise in overlapping relation around and along the shaft, the transducer sleeve including a variable impedance element capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pressure forces applied to the transducer sleeve, the variable impedance element being distributed around and lengthwise through the transducer sleeve to provide a distributed sensing arrangement; a dielectric insulating material associated with the transducer sleeve, the dielectric insulating material disposed between the pelvic cavity and the variable impedance element such that the variable impedance element is disposed at an external surface of the transducer sleeve; and an electronic circuit module disposed in the pocket and electrically coupled to the variable impedance element for transmitting wireless feedback signals in response to pelvic contraction forces applied to the transducer sleeve.
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15. A probe receivable within a pelvic cavity for sensing contraction pressure applied by pelvic floor muscles against the probe, comprising:
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a probe body having a head portion adapted to seat within a pelvic cavity and having a shaft portion adapted to seat at the introitus of the pelvic cavity; the shaft portion having a pocket for receiving an electronic circuit module and a DC battery for supplying DC operating power; a transducer sleeve extending circumferentially and lengthwise in overlapping relation around and along the shaft portion intermediate the closure cap and the head portion, the transducer sleeve including a variable impedance element capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pelvic contraction forces applied to the transducer sleeve, the variable impedance element being distributed around and lengthwise through the transducer sleeve to provide a distributed sensing arrangement; a dielectric insulating material associated with the transducer sleeve, the dielectric insulating material disposed between the pelvic cavity and the variable impedance element such that the variable impedance element is disposed at an external surface of the transducer sleeve; and an electronic circuit module enclosed within the pocket and electrically coupled to the variable impedance element, the electronic circuit module including an RF transmitter for transmitting wireless feedback signals in response to contraction forces applied to the transducer sleeve.
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16. Apparatus for training a patient'"'"'s pelvic floor muscles, comprising in combination:
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a probe receivable within a patient'"'"'s pelvic cavity for engaging pelvic floor muscles, the probe including a shaft and a sensing transducer extending lengthwise and circumferentially in overlapping relation along the shaft, and the sensing transducer including a variable impedance element capable of exhibiting a change in electrical impedance in response to pelvic floor muscle contractions applied against the sensing transducer, the variable impedance element being distributed around and lengthwise through the transducer sleeve to provide a distributed sensing arrangement; a dielectric insulating material associated with the transducer sleeve, the dielectric insulating material disposed between the pelvic cavity and the variable impedance element such that the variable impedance element is disposed at an external surface of the transducer sleeve; a signal processor circuit contained in the probe and electrically coupled to the sensing transducer for transmitting a wireless radio frequency signal containing feedback information related to the electrical impedance of the transducer; and a portable monitor including a radio frequency receiver for receiving the wireless signal and an indicator device coupled to the receiver for producing a feedback signal in response to information contained in the wireless signal and in a format that can be observed or heard by a patient while a training exercise is underway. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification