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.

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.