Vaginal-pelvic muscle exerciser and birthing trainer

Abstract

A device for insertion into the birth canal of a female user, comprising an asymmetrical, inflatable, bulb defining an outer surface, the bulb sized and shaped so as to define a crease along at least a portion of the surface adapted to be placed in registry with the user's urethra when the bulb is inflated, the bulb further sized and shaped to contact the bulbocavernous facia, pubococcygeal facia and illiococcygeal facia when inflated, and means for inflating and deflating the bulb.

I claim as follows:  
     
         1 . A device for assisting a user to exercise the muscles of the vaginal region comprising: an asymmetrical, inflatable, bulb defining an outer surface, the bulb sized and shaped so as to define a crease along a portion of said surface adapted to be placed in registry with the user's urethra when first bulb is inflated, the bulb further sized and shaped to contact the bulbocavernous facia, pubococcygeal facia and the iliococcgygeal facia when inflated; 
 means for inflating and deflating the bulb;    means for indicating the deflection of the bulb brought about by the contraction of one or more muscles of the user.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb is made of a bio-compatible material.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the material is silicone.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mans for indicating is a pressure gauge.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for inflating and deflating the bulb is a hand operated pump.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the pump includes a flexible bladder pneumatically connected to the bulb by a fluid-tight tube.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a bulb insertion guide concentrically disposed within an interior cavity of the bulb, said guide formed of a semi-rigid plastic and adapted to communicate the interior cavity of the bulb with the means for inflating and deflating the bulb.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further including means for permitting the user to manipulate the bulb connected to the bulb.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , further including a means for permitting the user to manipulate the bulb connected to the bulb.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a stop-member adapted to abut the users mons pubis when the bulb is inserted into the user.  
     
     
         11 . A method for allowing a user to exercise her pubococcygeous, illiococcygeous and bulbocavernous muscles, the device including an asymmetrical, inflatable, bulb sized and shaped so as to define a ventral crease adapted to be placed in registry with the user's urethra when the bulb is inflated and further sized and shaped to contact the bulbocavernous facia, pubococcygeal facia and the iliococcgygeal facia when inflated; means for inflating and deflating the first bulb; means associated with the device for indicating the deflection of the bulb brought about by the contraction of one or more muscles of the user, the method comprising the steps of: 
 deflating the bulb and inserting the bulb into a vagina;    aligning the crease with the urethra of the user;    inflating the bulb so that the exterior surface of the bulb contacts the pubococcygeous, illiococcgygeous and bulbocavernous facia using the means for inflating and deflating;    contracting the levator ani muscles so as to deflect the bulb inwardly, displacing fluid within the bulb out of the bulb and into the means for indicating.    
     
     
         12 . A device for insertion into the birth canal of a female user, comprising: 
 an asymmetrical, inflatable, bulb defining an outer surface, the bulb sized and shaped so as to define a crease along at least a portion of said surface adapted to be placed in registry with the users urethra when the bulb is inflated, the bulb further sized and shaped to contact the bulbocavernous facia, pubococcygeal facia and illiococcygeal facia when inflated;    means for inflating and deflating the bulb.    The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb is made of a bio-compatible material.    The device of  claim 2 , wherein the material is silicone.    The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for indicating is a pressure gauge.    The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for inflating and deflating the bulb is a band operated pump.    The device of  claim 5 , wherein the pump includes a flexible bladder pneumatically connected to the bulb by a fluid-tight tube.    The device of  claim 1 , further including a bulb insertion guide concentricalyy disposed within an interior cavity of the bulb, said guide formed of a semi-rigid plastic and adapted to communicate the interior cavity of the bulb with the means for inflating and deflating the bulb.    The device of  claim 1 , further including means for permitting the user to manipulate the bulb connected to the bulb.    The device of  claim 7 , further including a means for permitting the user to manipulate the bulb connected to the bulb.    
     
     
         13 . A method for allowing a user to condition her birth canal, the device including an asymmetrical, inflatable bulb sized and shaped so as to define a ventral crease adapted to be placed in registry with the users urethra when the bulb is inflated; means for inflating and deflating the bulb; the method comprising the steps of: 
 deflating the bulb and inserting the bulb into a vagina;    aligning the crease with the urethra of the user;    inflating the bulb so that the exterior surface of the bulb contacts the pubococcygeous, illiococcygeous and bulbocavernous facia using the means for inflating and deflating.