Pelvic muscle exercise device

Abstract

An exercise device useful in exercising pelvic floor muscles and provides feedback to a patient for assisting the patient in performing pelvic floor muscle exercises, thereby strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and preventing urinary incontinence.

1 . A pelvic muscle exercise device adapted to be received within a vaginal canal, for use by a patient, wherein said device comprises: 
 an elongate shaft having a forward end and a rearward end;    a pressure sensitive element associated with said shaft, said pressure sensitive element responsive to pressure applied to the exterior of the pelvic muscle exercise device; and    a feedback element for providing feedback to the patient responsive to a predetermined threshold of said pressure sensitive element.    
   
   
       2 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 1  further comprising a withdrawal device connected to said rearward end of said shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 1  further comprising a sleeve holding device positioned on said shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 1  further comprising a sleeve of resilient, compressible material, said sleeve adapted to be received on at least a portion of said shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein said sleeve is made from an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       6 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein said sleeve is replaceable.  
   
   
       7 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein said sleeve is disposable.  
   
   
       8 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein said feedback is selected from the group consisting of vibration, sound and light.  
   
   
       9 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 8  wherein said feedback is vibration.  
   
   
       10 . The pelvic muscle exercise device according to  claim 5  wherein said feedback element is located outside said vaginal canal.  
   
   
       11 . A method of exercising the muscles of the pelvic floor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing a sleeve of resilient, compressible material on at least a portion of a shaft of a pelvic muscle exercise device, wherein said shaft has a forward end portion and a rearward end portion;    inserting said exercise device into a vaginal canal so that the said exercise device is positioned within the vaginal canal and an outer portion of said sleeve is adjacent to the walls of the vaginal canal;    squeezing pelvic muscles to bring said vaginal walls in contact with said sleeve to cause said sleeve to trigger a pressure sensitive element responsive to external pressure; and    providing feedback to a patient from a feedback element responsive to a predetermined threshold of said pressure sensitive element.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said sleeve is made from an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said feedback element is associated with said shaft.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said feedback element is located outside said vaginal canal.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of withdrawing said pelvic muscle exercise device from said vaginal canal using a withdrawal device on said rearward end portion of said shaft.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said feedback is vibration.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of changing said sleeve from a more firm sleeve to a more soft sleeve as said patient's pelvic muscles strengthen.