Method and apparatus for exercising pelvic floor muscles

Abstract

An exercising set for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient comprises: at least one insert fitted for a human body cavity mechanically interconnected to a force generating means by means of a connector. The human body cavity is selected from: woman's vaginal cavity or any user's inner rectal cavity. The force generating means is adapted to generate a pulling force which is lower than the contraction force of said patient's pelvic floor muscles when applied on the at least one insert to prevent the insert leaving the human body cavity.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . An exercising set for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient, comprising: at least one insert fitted for a human body cavity mechanically interconnected to a force generating means by means of a connector; said human body cavity being selected from: woman's vaginal cavity or any user's inner rectal cavity;
 wherein said force generating means is adapted to generate a pulling force which is lower than the contraction force of said patient's pelvic floor muscles when applied on said at least one insert to prevent said insert leaving said human body cavity.   
     
     
         52 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein said insert is a tampon. 
     
     
         53 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein said exercising set further comprises an indicator adapted to provide indication and feedback regarding the displacement of said force generating means caused by the contraction of said patient's pelvic floor muscles. 
     
     
         54 . The exercising set of  claim 53 , wherein said indicator comprises a displacement sensor selected from a group consisting of: an accelerometer, a laser displacement sensor, RF sensor, a visual indicator, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         55 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) said at least one insert comprises connection means adapted to mechanically connect said at least one insert to said connector; (b) said spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
         56 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein said connector is selected from a group consisting of: a string, a filament, a thread, a rope, a cable, a wire, a cord, an elastic band, a rubber band, a spring, or any combination thereof; further wherein said connector is provided with a grasping means selected from: a fastener or a holder; said grasping means being adapted to join said connector with said connection means. 
     
     
         57 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein said insert is provided with at least one disposable coating layer adapted to cover said at least one insert. 
     
     
         58 . The exercising set of  claim 57 , wherein said coating layer is made of elastic isolating materials. 
     
     
         59 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein said insert is provided with an applicator adapted to assist the insertion of said insert into said human body cavity. 
     
     
         60 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein said connector is selected from a group consisting of: a string, a filament, a thread, a rope, a cable, a wire, a cord, an elastic band, a rubber band, a spring, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         61 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) said force generating means comprises an assembly of one or more weights which are releasably interconnected; (b) said assembly of one or more weights is arranged in vertical row; (c) said one or more weights are interconnected via means selected from: magnetic means, screw means, fastening means, or any combination thereof; (d) said assembly of one or more weights is accommodated in a weight-holder; said weight-holder being mechanically connected to said connector; (e) said pulling force applied on said assembly of one or more weights and on said insert is the gravity force; (f) said exercising set further comprising a vibrator adapted to being mechanically connected to said assembly of one or more weights in a way that allows said vibrator to vibrate said assembly of one or more weights. 
     
     
         62 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) said force generating means comprises a pull mechanism for applying a pulling force on said insert; (b) said pull mechanism is driven by an energy selected from a group consisting of: a mechanical, an electrical, a magnetic, a pneumatic, a thermal, or any combination thereof; (c) said pull mechanism is an electrical motor with a cam; the direction, the speed and the time of the rotation of said electrical motor are fully controllable; said connector being connected to said cam; said pull mechanism is adapted to convert the round movement of said electrical motor to a linear movement of said connector; (d) said pull mechanism is mechanically fixed to the surface it is located on; (e) the rotation axis of said cam is perpendicular to said connector. 
     
     
         63 . The exercising set of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) said exercising set is adapted for training of when said patient is in a position selected from: vertical, horizontal, or any other predetermined inclination; (b) said horizontal training further comprises a treatment bed adapted to accommodate said patient on the same; in said horizontal training, said force generating means being located on said treatment bed in front of said patient. 
     
     
         64 . A method for training pelvic floor muscles of a patient by a resistance to a pulling force generated by an exercising set, said method comprising steps of:
 a. providing exercising set for exercising the pelvic floor muscles of a patient, comprising: at least one insert fitted for a human body cavity mechanically interconnected to a force generating means by means of a connector; said human body cavity being selected from: woman's vaginal cavity or any user's inner rectal cavity;   b. inserting said at least one insert into said human body cavity;   c. generating a pulling force via said force generating means; and,   d. squeezing said human body cavity by said patient, by contracting the pelvic muscles of the same;   wherein said step (d) of squeezing said human body cavity by said patient is adapted to prevent said insert from leaving said human body cavity, such that the force generated by said force generating means is lower than the contraction force of said pelvic muscles; further wherein said at least one insert is a tampon.   
     
     
         65 . The method as recited in  claim 64 , further comprising at least one step selected from (a) providing said exercising set with an indicator adapted to provide indication and feedback regarding the displacement of said force generating means caused by the contraction of said patient's pelvic floor muscles; (b) providing said at least one insert with connection means; further wherein said method further comprises step of connecting said at least one insert to said connector via said connection means; (c) providing said indicator with a displacement sensor selected from a group consisting of: an accelerometer, a laser displacement sensor, RF sensor, a visual indicator, or any combination thereof; (d) performing said step (b) of inserting said at least one insert into said human body cavity by using an applicator adapted to insert said at least one insert into said human body cavity. 
     
     
         66 . The method as recited in  claim 64 , further comprising step of selecting said connector from a group comprising: a string, a filament, a thread, a rope, a cable, a wire, a cord, an elastic band, a rubber band, a spring, or any combination thereof; further wherein said spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
         67 . The method as recited in  claim 64 , further comprising at least one step selected from (a) connecting said connector to said connecting means via a grasping means selected from: a fastener or a holder; (b) providing said at least one insert with at least one disposable coating layer adapted to cover said at least one insert; wherein said coating layer is made of elastic isolating materials; (c) selecting said connector from a group comprising: a string, a filament, a thread, a rope, a cable, a wire, a cord, an elastic band, a rubber band, a spring, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         68 . The method as recited in  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) said force generating means comprises an assembly of one or more weights which are releasably interconnected; (b) said assembly of one or more weights is arranged in vertical row; (c) said one or more weights are interconnected via means selected from: magnetic means, screw means, fastening means, or any combination thereof; (d) said assembly of one or more weights is accommodated in a weight-holder; said weight-holder being mechanically connected to said connector; (e) said pulling force applied on said assembly of one or more weights and on said insert is the gravity force; (f) said exercising set is provided with a vibrator adapted to being mechanically connected to said assembly of one or more weights in a way that allows said vibrator to vibrate said assembly of one or more weights. 
     
     
         69 . The method as recited in  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) said force generating means comprises a pull mechanism for applying a pulling force on said insert; (b) said pull mechanism is driven by an energy selected from a group consisting of: a mechanical, an electrical, a magnetic, a pneumatic, a thermal, or any combination thereof; (c) said pull mechanism is an electrical motor with a cam; the direction, the speed and the time of the rotation of said electrical motor are fully controllable; said connector being mechanically connected to said cam; said pull mechanism is adapted to convert the round movement of said electrical motor to a linear movement of said connector; (d) said pull mechanism is mechanically fixated to the surface it is located on. 
     
     
         70 . The method as recited in  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) the rotation axis of said cam is perpendicular to said connector; (b) said exercising set is adapted for training of when said patient is in a position selected from: vertical, horizontal, or any other predetermined inclination; (c) said horizontal training further comprises a treatment bed to accommodate said patient on the same; in said horizontal training, said force generating means being located on said treatment bed in front of said patient.