PELVIC EXERCISE DEVICE

Abstract

The present application pertains to a device for personal training for pelvic floor muscles of a female user. Methods of using the device are also described.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 63/332,964 filed on Apr. 20, 2022 and U.S. provisional application 63/402,236 filed Aug. 30, 2022. Both applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

The device is used for personal training for female pelvic floor muscles.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The intravaginal device is made from medical-grade materials. The device has a small detachable air pump to adjust the size (for a female user's comfort) and provide internal resistance for the user's muscles to work against. This device helps the user to feel the contraction of each muscle and helps strengthen and tone the female pelvic floor muscles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features can be obtained, a more particular description of the subject matter briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a representative device.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed schematic of a representative device.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the distal end of the representative device's variable pressure chamber.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the tube and bulb disconnected from the representative device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in order to illustrate various features of the invention. The embodiments described herein are not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention, but rather are intended to provide examples of the components, use, and operation of the invention.

The device is generally for personal training for pelvic floor muscles. The intravaginal device is made from medical-grade materials. The specific type of materials are not particularly critical so long as they are substantially impermeable to air and are not toxic or otherwise harmful to a human body. Suitable materials may include biocompatible medical grade materials such as, for example, silicone, latex, plastics, and combinations thereof. Useful plastics may include thermosets, thermoplastics, elastomers, or combinations thereof. For example, thermoplastics may include nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene while useful thermosets may include various epoxy resins and phenolic resins. Suitable thermosets may include various gel colloids. Silicone and polyurethane may be particularly useful materials.

The device typically includes a pump, automated or manual, for inflating the insertable portion of the device to a user's desired size and comfort level. For example, a device may have a small detachable air pump to adjust the size (for a user's comfort) and provides internal resistance for a user's muscles to work against. This device helps the user to feel the contraction of each muscle and helps strengthen and tone the female pelvic floor muscles. If desired, the device may have an associated counter to count repetitions, a timer to time how long the device is in use, a digital display associated with the amount of air or size of the device, or any combination thereof

Any convenient mechanism for pumping air to the device may be employed. Such mechanisms includes those used for blood pressure cuffs—either manual or automated. Such mechanisms are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,954,099 and 5,467,772 which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 1 shows a squeezable bulb 6 used as an air pump that is preferably removable or may be integral with a tube 7 that provides air to the variable pressure chamber 4 and then to the inflatable portion 8 of the device when the bulb 6 is squeezed. A knob 9 may be closed when pumping air to the inflatable portion. Knob 9 may be opened to release at least a portion or up to substantially all of the pumped air contained in inflatable portion 8 of the device. The tube 7 is removably attached to the variable pressure chamber 4 in any convenient manner. In FIG. 1 a connector 10 extends from the variable pressure chamber 4 and may be connected to the tube in any convenient manner.

The specific method of using the device may vary depending upon the female user's preferences. In one embodiment the user adjusts the inflatable portion 8 of the device to a desired size and removes the tube 7 from the device with the desired inflation. A check valve 2 within connector 10 or at a suitable location adjacent or within the variable pressure chamber 4 keeps the inflatable portion 8 of the device at the desired size. Lubricant may be used to insert the device into the vagina. Kegel exercises may then be performed while the inflatable portion 8 is inserted. The device is configured to provide internal resistance for the user's pelvic muscles to work against thereby assisting the user in feeling the contraction of one or more up to all of the individual pelvic muscles thereby strengthening the user's pelvic floor with periodic use. The device may then be removed and simply washed with soap and water.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the device wherein 3 is a nipple for connecting tube 7 so that bulb, variable pressure chamber 4, and inflatable portion 8 are in fluid, e.g., air, communication with air being selectively released or contained within inflatable portion 8 by using valve 9 after pumping the bulb. Alternatively, another biocompatible fluid may be employed such as saline to inflate the inflatable portion 8. As shown in FIG. 2 rubber sealing ring 5, check valve 2, and check valve guide 1 are configured to introduce air into the variable pressure chamber 4 through connector 10 and into inflatable portion 8. Tubular portion 11 acts as a stop and extends from the vagina during the use of the device. The configuration is such that variable pressure chamber 4, connector 10, and tubular portion 11 stay about the same size during and after inflating inflatable portion 8.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the distal end of the device's variable pressure chamber shown as section B in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 4 the tubular portion 11 may be connected to the device with a valve 12 connecting to nipple 5.

In some embodiments, the inflatable portion of the device is configured such that its length may be balanced with pressure. For example, ribs made of the same or different medical grade material may be included within, for example, the inflatable portion of the device. In this manner, the inflatable portion may be made substantially cylindrical and/or non-bulging to minimize discomfort. Alternatively or additionally, the inflatable portion may be configured such that it changes size such as length due to an accordion-type structure.

Embodiments

• • 1. A device for strengthening pelvic muscles comprising:
  • an inflatable portion configured to be inserted into a vagina;
  • a pump operably connected to the inflatable portion wherein the pump is configured to inflate the inflatable portion to a desired size.
  • 2. The device of any preceding claim wherein the pump is a manual pump that is detachable from the inflatable portion.
  • 3. The device of any preceding claim further comprising a counter to count repetitions, a timer, a digital display, or any combination thereof.
  • 4. The device of any preceding claim wherein the manual pump comprises a squeezable bulb and wherein the squeezable bulb is operably connected to a variable pressure chamber and wherein the variable pressure chamber is operably connected to the inflatable portion.
  • 5. The device of any preceding claim further comprising a knob to selectively release air from the inflatable portion.
  • 6. The device of any preceding claim further comprising a check valve between the variable pressure chamber and the inflatable portion wherein the check valve is configured to keep the inflatable portion at the desired level of inflation.
  • 7. The device of any preceding claim further comprising a rubber sealing ring, a check valve, and a check valve guide wherein the check valve guide extends from the squeezable bulb into the inflatable portion and wherein the rubber sealing ring, the check valve, and the check valve guide are operably connected to all for the selective introduction of air into the variable pressure chamber through a connector such that the selectively introduced air is further selectively introduced from the variable pressure chamber to the inflatable portion.
  • 8. The device of any preceding claim further comprising a tubular portion extending from the inflatable portion wherein the tubular portion is circumferentially smaller than the inflatable portion and wherein the tubular portion is configured to remain substantially the same size before, during, and after inflation of the inflatable portion.
  • 9. The device of any preceding claim wherein the inflatable portion comprises ribs configured to maintain the inflatable portion substantially cylindrical.
  • 10. The device of any preceding claim wherein the inflatable portion comprises inflatable bellows configured to allow the inflatable portion to change length depending upon the degree of inflation.
  • 11. A method for strengthening pelvic muscles comprising:
  • inserting an inflatable portion of a device into a user's vagina;
  • inflating the inflatable portion of the device to a size sufficient for the user to detect internal resistance against one or more pelvic muscles of the user; and
  • contracting one or more pelvic muscles of the user in a manner such that the inflatable portion of the device is squeezed.
  • 12. The method of any preceding claim further comprising counting the number of repetitions using a counter associated with the device.
  • 13. The method of any preceding claim further comprising measuring the time using a timer associated with the device.
  • 14. The method of any preceding claim further comprising measuring the amount of air or size of the device using a digital display associated with the device.
  • 15. The method of any preceding claim wherein the device is configured such that the user feels the contraction of one or more up to all pelvic muscles.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as may be apparent. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, may be apparent from the foregoing representative descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended representative claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended representative claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such representative claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

Claims

1. A device for strengthening pelvic muscles comprising:

an inflatable portion configured to be inserted into a vagina;

a pump operably connected to the inflatable portion wherein the pump is configured to inflate the inflatable portion to a desired size.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pump is a manual pump that is detachable from the inflatable portion.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a counter to count repetitions, a timer, a digital display, or any combination thereof.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the manual pump comprises a squeezable bulb and wherein the squeezable bulb is operably connected to a variable pressure chamber and wherein the variable pressure chamber is operably connected to the inflatable portion.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a knob to selectively release air from the inflatable portion.

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising a check valve between the variable pressure chamber and the inflatable portion wherein the check valve is configured to keep the inflatable portion at the desired level of inflation.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising a rubber sealing ring, a check valve, and a check valve guide wherein the check valve guide extends from the squeezable bulb into the inflatable portion and wherein the rubber sealing ring, the check valve, and the check valve guide are operably connected to all for the selective introduction of air into the variable pressure chamber through a connector such that the selectively introduced air is further selectively introduced from the variable pressure chamber to the inflatable portion.

8. The device of claim 4 further comprising a tubular portion extending from the inflatable portion wherein the tubular portion is circumferentially smaller than the inflatable portion and wherein the tubular portion is configured to remain substantially the same size before, during, and after inflation of the inflatable portion.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the inflatable portion comprises ribs configured to maintain the inflatable portion substantially cylindrical.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the inflatable portion comprises inflatable bellows configured to allow the inflatable portion to change length depending upon the degree of inflation.

11. A method for strengthening pelvic muscles comprising:

inserting an inflatable portion of a device into a user's vagina;

inflating the inflatable portion of the device to a size sufficient for the user to detect internal resistance against one or more pelvic muscles of the user; and

contracting one or more pelvic muscles of the user in a manner such that the inflatable portion of the device is squeezed.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising counting the number of repetitions using a counter associated with the device.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising measuring the time using a timer associated with the device.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising measuring the amount of air or size of the device using a digital display associated with the device.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the device is configured such that the user feels the contraction of one or more up to all pelvic muscles.