Medical probe for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of pelvic floor musculature
First Claim
1. A method for bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, or for pelvic floor physiotherapy using a probe system that comprises a probe having a probe body inserted into a vagina or a rectum, a plurality of uni-polar electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of said probe thereby defining an electrode matrix pattern, and a control unit operationally coupled to said probe and adapted for receiving absolute value electromyography (EMG) signals from each of said electrodes and for processing each of said absolute value EMG signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region,the method comprising the steps of:
- determining muscle tension in the pelvic region based on the absolute value EMG signals measured with the electrodes;
providing bio feedback based on said muscle tension; and
repeating these steps in the bio-feedback training for pelvic floor physiotherapy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, includes a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of the probe, the probe system further includes a control unit, operationally coupled to the probe, adapted for receiving EMG signals from each of the electrodes and for processing each of the signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region.
41 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, or for pelvic floor physiotherapy using a probe system that comprises a probe having a probe body inserted into a vagina or a rectum, a plurality of uni-polar electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of said probe thereby defining an electrode matrix pattern, and a control unit operationally coupled to said probe and adapted for receiving absolute value electromyography (EMG) signals from each of said electrodes and for processing each of said absolute value EMG signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region,
the method comprising the steps of: -
determining muscle tension in the pelvic region based on the absolute value EMG signals measured with the electrodes; providing bio feedback based on said muscle tension; and repeating these steps in the bio-feedback training for pelvic floor physiotherapy. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, or for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, said probe system comprising:
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a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum; a plurality of uni-polar electrodes arranged in a matrix and which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of said probe, each electrode being configured to measure absolute value electromyography (EMG) measurements; a control unit, operationally coupled to said probe, adapted for receiving absolute value EMG signals from each of said electrodes and for processing each of said absolute value EMG signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region, wherein the control unit is configured to; determine muscle tension in the pelvic region based on absolute value measurement signal values measured with the electrodes, provide bio-feedback based on said muscle tension, and repeat these steps in a training for pelvic floor physiotherapy. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, said probe system comprising:
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a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of uni-polar surface electrodes which are positioned, in a matrix, at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of said probe, the probe being configured to measure absolute value electromyography (EMG) electrode measurements; a control unit, operationally coupled to said probe, adapted for receiving only absolute value EMG signals from each of said electrodes and for processing each of the absolute value EMG signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region, wherein the control unit is configured to; (1) determine the absolute value electric signals from muscles or nerves in the pelvic floor region using the uni-polar electrodes, (2) determine muscular tension of the muscles in the pelvic floor region from the determined absolute value electric signals, (3) calculate electric stimulus signals to be applied to the electrodes based on the determined muscular tensions, (4) control the probe to apply the calculated electric stimulus signals to the electrodes causing at least one of contraction and relaxation of the muscles in the pelvic floor region, and (5) provide bio-feedback on the determined muscular tension, wherein the control unit is configured to control the uni-polar electrodes for obtaining electrical signals providing measurement of the absolute values. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification