Device and method for pelvic floor training

Abstract

A device for training pelvic floor muscles comprises a rigid housing for a user to sit on, comprising a ridge with an opening facing the pelvic floor muscles of the user sitting on it, a beam arranged in the housing, being flush with or protruding from or facing the opening in the ridge, adapted to couple to an activity of the pelvic floor muscles of the user, and a sensor for sensing a movement of and/or a force exerted on the beam. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for training pelvic floor muscles of a user, in particular being performed using the device.

1 . A device for training pelvic floor muscles, comprising
 a rigid housing for a user to sit on, comprising a ridge with an opening facing the pelvic floor muscles of the user sitting on it,   a beam arranged in the housing, being flush with or protruding from or facing the opening in the ridge, adapted to couple to an activity of the pelvic floor muscles of the user, and   a sensor for sensing a movement of and/or a force exerted on the beam.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , which device is a portable device. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , comprising
 communication means adapted to transmit a signal of the sensor to a remote electronic device, in particular wherein the communication means is a Bluetooth transmitter for connecting to a mobile device, and   a power supply, in particular a battery, for supplying the sensor and the communication means with power.   
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , comprising
 guiding means to restrict movements of the beam to a direction perpendicular to the opening in the ridge, and   an elastic element, in particular a pressure spring, between the housing and the beam, providing a restoring force for movements of the beam.   
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the guiding means includes at least one guiding pin. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the guiding means include a spring arranged for executing a spring force on the beam in a direction perpendicular to the opening,   wherein the spring is arranged and shaped for restricting movements of the beam to a direction perpendicular to the opening,   preferably wherein the beam comprises one or more shoulders at its bottom end facing the sensor, and wherein the spring acts on the one or more shoulders.   
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the guiding means includes two or more fins, and   wherein the beam is arranged between the at least two fins.   
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sensor sensing a force exerted on the beam comprises at least one load cell, in particular at least one strain gauge,   in particular wherein the sensor comprises two or more strain gauges arranged in a Wheatstone bridge configuration.   
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1 , comprising
 a cap covering the opening in the ridge, which cap preferably is one or more of:
 made from a thermoplastic polymer; 
 seals the opening; 
 an integral element with the ridge. 
   
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein one of the cap and the beam includes a notch while the respective other one of the cap and the beam includes a protrusion reaching into the notch, and   preferably wherein the protrusion and the notch are arranged in a press fit.   
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the housing has an extension I in longitudinal direction which represents its largest dimension, a width w and a height h including the ridge,   in particular wherein I<20 cm, and/or   in particular wherein w<8 cm, and/or   in particular wherein h<4 cm.   
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the opening is elongated in longitudinal direction and aligned with the ridge,   in particular wherein a longitudinal extension of the opening is in the range of 5 cm to 20 cm, preferably 11.7 cm, and its width is in the range of 0.5 cm to 2 cm, preferably 1.1 cm.   
     
     
         13 . A kit for training pelvic floor muscles, comprising
 a device according to  claim 1 , and   a pad for placing the device on,   preferably wherein the pad includes a recess for receiving the device, in particular wherein the recess has a height between 0.8 mm and 1 mm, and in particular of 0.9 mm.   
     
     
         14 . A kit for training pelvic floor muscles, comprising
 a device according to  claim 1 , and   a bag for carrying the device.   
     
     
         15 . A method for supporting a training of pelvic floor muscles of a user, comprising
 receiving data indicative of an activity of the pelvic floor muscles,   determining calibration values, in particular in response to a maximum contraction of the pelvic floor muscles and an idle stated,   processing the received data, and   outputting the processed data, in particular in a visual and/or acoustic and/or haptic manner.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the received data is supplied by the device according to  claim 1 , in particular by the sensor of the device.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of processing the received data comprises
 normalising the received data with the calibration values,   deriving data indicative of a quantity and/or a dynamics of the contraction of the pelvic floor muscles from the normalised data, and   using the derived data in a software representing tasks for the training.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of outputting the processed data comprises
 displaying an avatar that moves in response to the processed data, in particular wherein the avatar moves in at least one dimension,   in particular wherein the avatar moves in a predefined manner in one dimension, and moves in response to the processed data in a second dimension.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , comprising
 offering modes to the user, and   in response to a selection of a mode, applying the mode in controlling the software,   in particular the modes representing a training of power and/or endurance and/or coordination of the pelvic floor muscles.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15 , comprising
 receiving additional data indicative of an activity of abdominal muscles of the user,   processing the received additional data, and   outputting the processed additional data.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 15 , comprising
 storing one or more of the processed data or the derived data.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the steps of the method are performed automatically. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein one or more of the processed data and the derived data is transmitted to a cloud computer system,   wherein one or more of new calibration values, new parameters and modified processed or derived data are received from the cloud computer system,   in particular wherein the one or more of the received new calibration values, the received new parameters and the received modified processed or derived data are used in a software representing tasks for the training.   
     
     
         24 . A computer program element, comprising computer code means for performing a method according to  claim 15  when executed on a processing unit. 
     
     
         25 . System A system for training pelvic floor muscles, comprising
 a portable device for training pelvic floor muscles, comprising
 a rigid housing for a user to sit on, comprising a ridge with an opening facing the pelvic floor muscles of the user sitting on it, 
 a beam arranged in the housing, being flush with or protruding from or facing the opening in the ridge, adapted to couple to an activity of the pelvic floor muscles of the user, and 
 a sensor for sensing a movement of and/or a force exerted on the beam, and 
   a remote electronic device, comprising a processing unit, and communication means for receiving data from the device including the signal of the sensor, in particular via Bluetooth,   wherein the processing unit is configured to execute the computer program element according to  claim 24 .   
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 25 , comprising
 a third device comprising
 an additional sensor for sensing an activity of abdominal muscles of a user, and 
 communication means adapted to transmit a signal of the additional sensor to the remote electronic device, in particular via Bluetooth, 
 in particular wherein the remote electronic device is configured to use the transmitted signal for performing a method comprising:
 receiving data indicative of an activity of the pelvic floor muscles, 
 determining calibration values, in particular in response to a maximum contraction of the pelvic floor muscles and an idle state, 
 processing the received data, and 
 outputting the processed data, in particular in a visual and/or acoustic and/or haptic manner. 
 
   
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 25 ,
 comprising a cloud computer system the remote electronic device is configured to communicate with,   wherein the remote electronic device is configured to transmit one or more of the processed data and the derived data to the cloud computer system,   wherein the remote electronic device is configured to receive one or more of new calibration values, new parameters or modified processed or derived data,   in particular wherein the remote electronic device is configured to use the one or more of the received new calibration values, the received parameters and the received modified processed or derived data in a software representing tasks for the training.   
     
     
         28 . Use of a device according to  claim 1  as a controller for an electronic game,
 preferably wherein the electronic game is represented by a software representing tasks for a training of the pelvic floor muscles, 
 preferably an avatar in the electronic game is controlled by the controller.