GB2571440A

GB2571440A - Pelvic floor exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2571440A
Application number: GB1900505.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Whittle Sandra
Original assignee: Soma Therapies Ltd
Current assignee: Soma Therapies Ltd
Priority date: 2018-01-16
Filing date: 2019-01-14
Publication date: 2019-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-01-14
Also published as: GB201800700D0; GB201900505D0; GB2571440B

Abstract

The pelvic floor muscle exerciser comprises a main body 12 shaped fit into a vagina, with an integrally formed handle 14. The body 12 has a rounded trapezoidal prism shape with a proximal end 22 connected to the handle 14, and a wider distal end 20, rounded to aid insertion into the vagina. The body 12 has parallel front and rear sides 24, 26, with non-parallel sides 28, 30 defining a taper of the body 12 such that the body 12 is asymmetrical. The exerciser may have a hardness that allows Kegel exercising through clenching. The body 12 and handle 14 may be formed of plastics or rubber that may be hypoallergenic, latex free or silicone. The handle 14 may be spherical. The body 12 or handle 14 may have nodules. There may be a removable vibrating device located in the body 12 that is battery powered and waterproof.

Description

(57) The pelvic floor muscle exerciser comprises a main body 12 shaped fit into a vagina, with an integrally formed handle 14. The body 12 has a rounded trapezoidal prism shape with a proximal end 22 connected to the handle 14, and a wider distal end 20, rounded to aid insertion into the vagina. The body 12 has parallel front and rear sides 24, 26, with non-parallel sides 28, 30 defining a taper of the body 12 such that the body 12 is asymmetrical. The exerciser may have a hardness that allows Kegel exercising through clenching. The body 12 and handle 14 may be formed of plastics or rubber that may be hypoallergenic, latex free or silicone. The handle 14 may be spherical. The body 12 or handle 14 may have nodules. There may be a removable vibrating device located in the body 12 that is battery powered and waterproof.

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FIGURE 3

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FIGURE 6

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISE APPARATUS

This invention relates to a pelvic floor exercise apparatus.

Pelvic floor exercises are important, especially for women over about 40 years of age: 40% of women over 40 experience distressing symptoms when the bladder, bowel or womb descends into the vagina. Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, and/or damage caused to the pelvic floor muscles during childbirth are amongst the main causes of problems such as abdominal discomfort, prolapse, incontinence, and painful intercourse. A need therefore exists for women, in particular, to perform regular pelvic floor exercises to develop and maintain the condition of the pelvic floor muscular structure, as well as to rehabilitate the same post trauma.

The process of exercising the pelvic floor muscles (so-called Kegel exercises) essentially involves the person clenching the pelvic floor muscles following a prescribed exercise regime. The exercise regime may involve repeated clenching and relaxing, or clench-and-hold exercises, or any combination of the foregoing. The pelvic floor muscles, as with any other muscle of the body, can be trained and conditioned in this way, thus ameliorating, or curing some of the problems associated with weak, dysfunctional, or damaged pelvic floor muscles and self-management is less expensive that other standard practises.

However, because the pelvic floor muscles are internal, the person carrying out the pelvic floor muscle exercise may have no way to know whether they are doing the exercise correctly. Because most people lack proper proprioception of their internal anatomy, and in the vagina particularly, there can be little actual sensation during pelvic floor exercise. Furthermore, because in women the pelvic floor muscles contract around what is essentially an empty void (the womb/vagina), there can be little or no sensory feedback during the exercises, because there is nothing for the pelvic floor muscles to push back against, to create the requisite sensation of clenching/relaxing. As a result of the foregoing, this can often lead to incorrect and/or ineffectual exercise, which is entirely unsatisfactory for the person concerned.

In other situations, pelvic floor exercise is indicated where there is poor circulation, fascial tissue thickening or hardening, or other maladies in the womb/vaginal tissues. In these cases, massage can be prescribed, which seeks to render the affected structures suppler by stimulating blood flow, physical manipulation and by rubbing: in a manner that will be well-understood to those familiar with physiotherapy and deep-tissue massage techniques. However, in order to obtain the requisite massage, the patient is often advised to obtain and use a sex toy, such as a dildo, due to the scarcity of suitable medical/therapeutic devices for this purpose. However, sex toys are generally designed for an entirely different purpose, namely to achieve climax through genital stimulation, rather than to provide effective therapeutic massage, and so repurposing of sex toys for therapeutic purposes is generally contraindicated.

Moreover, because the requirement for pelvic floor muscle exercises generally increases with the patient's age, it will be readily apparent to the skilled reader that other medical problems that are comorbid with pelvic floor dysfunction, or the simple fact that older patients can have reduced dexterity, makes the use (i.e. the handling and manipulation) of massage tools or sex toys particularly difficult for certain members of this older and/or more infirm demographic.

A further problem that exists with known pelvic floor exercise apparatus is that they have a certain size and shape, and are not, therefore easily adapted for use across a range of different anatomies. Various research studies have highlighted the variations of vaginal surface area, shape and standard deviations in width, depth, and length in women of different ages and ethnic groups. The use of a too-small or too large pelvic floor exercise apparatus can reduce the efficacy of the pelvic floor exercise regime, and in many cases, it can be detrimental to the patient's wellbeing.

It is clear from the foregoing that a need exists for a solution to one or more of the above, problems, which solution or solutions this invention aims to provide.

Various aspects of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

According to the invention, there is provided a pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus comprising a main body that is shaped and sized so as to fit into a vagina; and a grip portion formed integrally with the main body, which is shaped and sized so as to fit into the hand of a user, the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus being characterised by: the main body being formed as a generally rounded trapezoidal prism shaped part comprising a relatively narrow proximal end which conjoins with the grip portion and a relatively wide distal end, the distal end being rounded so as to facilitate, in use, insertion of the main body into the vagina, the main body comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear surfaces, and a pair of non-parallel side surfaces, the relative inclination of which define a taper of the main body from the relatively narrow proximal end to the relatively wide distal end.

The main body and grip portion are suitably formed from single moulded piece of plastics or rubber. As the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus is designed to contact sensitive mucosal membranes of the body, in use, the plastic or rubber is suitably hypoallergenic and/or latex-free. The hardness of the plastic or rubber is suitably selected to as to be soft enough to provide a degree of cushioning, but nevertheless rigid enough to provide something firm for the pelvic floor muscles to push against during an exercise regime. Preferably, the material from which the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus is manufactured is resiliently deformable, as this may provide a Hookean tactile feedback to the user, in use, that is to say, a deformation that is substantially proportional to the force applied. Preferably, the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus is manufactured from silicone, which is hypoallergenic, latex-free, and easily hand- or machine-washable.

The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus is shaped and sized so as to fit into a vagina. Suitably, it is shaped and sized so as to comfortably fit into a human vagina, but it will be appreciated that the apparatus could be designed for the treatment of animals (or other mammals), or indeed people of different anatomic dimensions, and as such, the precise dimensions of the apparatus do not need to be set out explicitly herein. Nevertheless, the length of the apparatus is typically between 6 and 16cm to accommodate vaginal lengths the approximately the same dimensions, and typically it has a width of between 2 and 4.5 cm to accommodate vaginal widths of approximately the same dimensions.

The grip portion is formed integrally with the main body, and this provides a user with the ability to directly manipulate the main body, once it has been inserted into the vagina. The length of the main body is suitably such that the grip portion protrudes from the body when the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus has been fully inserted into the vagina.

Suitably, the grip portion is substantially spherical, which makes it relatively easy to grip from any direction, that is to say, the feel or handling of the grip part is largely independent of the orientation of the main body. Having a ball-shaped grip part enables the grip part to fit comfortably into the palm or fist of a user, meaning that the user does not need to have particularly dextrous fingers to be able to use the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus.

The main body has the overall, general shapeof a generally rounded trapezoidal prism. It thus has generally trapezoidal front and rear surfaces, that are connected by inclined side walls. This gives rise to a main body, which has a relatively narrow proximal end and a relatively wide distal end. The widening of the main body from its grip (proximal) end to its distal end enables it to better conform to the internal shape of a vagina, which typically has a narrow opening, which widens internally. Thus, the shape of the main body is better anatomically matched to the void of the vagina, and so is a better overall fit than, say, a generally phallic- or cylindrically-shaped sex toy. Not only does this configuration provide better comfort, but because more of the main body is in contact with the walls of the vagina when it is relaxed, this means that each part of the vagina wall has a roughly similar surface of the main body to push against, during an exercise regime. This can lead to more uniform exercising of the pelvic floor muscles, which is generally advantageous.

Meanwhile, the substantially parallel front and rear surfaces of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus can be separated from the walls of the vagina. Whilst this may appear to be disadvantageous, in fact the opposite is true. If the main body of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus were to be substantially conical, then each part of the vagina wall would, potentially, contact part of the main body when in a relaxed state. Such a configuration has been found to lead to ineffectual exercising because, as the user has no real proprioception of the vagina walls, all feeling in that general area seems the same to an inexperienced user. However, by providing a pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus as in the invention with tapered side walls, but parallel front and rear surfaces, the user can feel the difference, or get a sense of the orientation of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus within the vagina as it is rotated about is longitudinal axis, which is, of course, greatly facilitate where the grip portion is generally ball-shaped. Now, with the invention, the user can rotate the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus about its longitudinal axis, and in so doing, provide a sweeping-type massage to the vagina walls, whilst at the same time, exploiting the difference in sensation between the contacting and non-contacting parts of the main body, gain a sort of proprioception of what is going on.

Further, by rotating the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus within the vagina, it is possible to perform an exercise regime which indexes and this can concentrate the exercise on diametrically opposite parts of the vagina in a step-wise or sweeping fashion.

Preferably, the main body portion comprises nodules, which may be generally hemispherical in shape, which project from the surfaces thereof. The advantage or providing nodules in this way is that rotation or rotational reciprocation of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus about is longitudinal axis can provide a sweeping-type massage to the anatomy. Likewise, if the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus is tilted or reciprocated axially, this too can provide a massaging effect, thus improving the efficacy of the apparatus. Suitably, the grip portion is likewise provided with nodules, which may be generally hemispherical in shape, and which project from the surface thereof.

The nodules on the grip part conveniently aid gripping of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus, which may be particularly necessary where it is used with in conjunction with a lubricant.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the main body portion comprises a hollow interior volume for receiving a vibrating device, which can be used to enhance the massage capabilities of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus. In particular, where the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus comprises nodules on its exterior surface(s), the vibrating device can impart therapeutic massage forces to the tissues via the nodules, which serve to concentrate the force applied over a smaller area, and thus improve the therapeutic benefits and/or effects. The vibrating device, where provided, suitably has an elongate, e.g. a slender cylindrical form, and is inserted into the hollow interior volume via an opening in the grip portion of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus. A cap or insert may be provided, which fits into a blind hole of the grip portion for securing and/or sealing the vibrating device inside the main body portion. Suitably, the vibrating device is battery-powered, and suitably it is IP rated against ingress of liquids, gels, and the like.

Benefits of the invention are manifold, but fall into two main categories, namely physical benefits, and physiological benefits.

With regard to the former, the invention may more comfortably breakdown muscle tightness and fascial tension between the soft tissue and internal fascia layers. It may also reduce tension and increase sensory stimulation to the pelvic floor. By using the invention, it has been found that it stimulates the internal walls of the vagina, thus increasing pelvic floor strength and stability, which can in turn, reduce symptoms of incontinence and vaginal prolapsing. In other words, regular use of the invention may: regenerate soft tissue and connective tissue structures of the pelvic floor; strengthen pelvic floor muscles; reduce pelvic pain; increase internal sensitivity; and/or increase connective tissue lubrication.

With regard to the latter, the physiological benefits of the invention may include, as a byproduct of strengthening and relieving tension in the pelvic floor region, stimulate the internal fascia to allow the body's own recovery process to take place. Further, regular massaging with the invention may initiate increased stimulation of the various receptors in the soft tissue and internal fascial system of the vaginal cavity to reduce increased tension patterns that may be a source of pelvic pain.

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the pelvic floor muscle apparatus shown in Figure 1 along the direction II;

Figure 3 is a front view of the pelvic floor muscle apparatus shown in Figure 1 viewed along narrow III;

Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of Figure 1 viewed along the arrow IV;

Figure 5 is a schematic, exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the pelvic floor muscle apparatus in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 6 is a schematic cross-section of the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus 10 has a generally elongate form that comprises a main body portion 12 and a grip portion 14. The surfaces of the apparatus 10 are covered in partspherical nodules 16, which, in the grip portion 14, served to facilitate gripping of the apparatus 10; whereas on the main body portion 12, the nodules 16 serve to facilitate stimulation and massage, as shall be apparent from what follows.

Tension manifests in the pelvic area because it is made up of a dense muscular network, which holds up the core of the body and protects organs such as the uterus, bladder and bowel. The pelvic floor apparatus increases pelvic floor sensory feedback and is designed to deal with various types of pelvic floor dysfunction: Incontinence, chronic pain, connective and other soft tissue thickenings, prolapses, and to reduce soften scar tissue and adhesions.

The nodules on the device provide a brief mechanical stretch affecting the connective tissue and muscles of the vagina to initiate biochemical and neurophysiological responses that increases selfregulating physiological responses to reduce vaginal tension by stimulating communication cells that stimulates tissues to repair, regenerate and remodel within their homeostatic roles.

The invention may provide a treatment option for women to conservative management of pelvic floor dysfunction as an alternative to surgery. Also, physical pain can be experienced during sexual intercourse because of the tout muscles that are deprived of blood and oxygen. The massage effect of nodules increases blood circulation and tissue oxygenation.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it can be seen that the main body portion 12 has a generally trapezoidal prism shape, which is indicated in Figure 1, schematically, by the construction lines 18.

As can be seen from the construction lines 18 in Figure 1, the generally trapezoidal prism shape of the main body portion 12 comprises substantially parallel front 24 and rear 26 surfaces, and non-parallel side surfaces 28, 30. The result is that the main body portion 12 has a relatively wide distal end 20 and a relatively narrow proximal end 22, where it joins the grip portion 14. It will be apparent that the thickness 32 of the main body portion 12 is substantially the same all the way along the length of the main body portion 12, whereas its width 34 varies along the length of the main body

12. As a result, as the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus 10 is rotated 36 about its longitudinal axis, it will create a sweeping sensation within the body.

Because the main body portion 12 is covered with nodules 16, manipulation of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus 10 within the body can give rise to a therapeutic massage effect, which can soften the tissues, and thereby give rise to a beneficial effect as described hereinabove.

The nodules 16 are part-spherical, as can be seen in the drawings, which makes the apparatus relatively easy to clean because there are no undercuts or crevices into which dirt and bacteria can be trapped. For a similar reason, the transition 36 between the main body portion 12 and the grip portion 14 is gradual, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, and that has an ergonomic, as well as a hygienic, benefit.

The grip portion 14 is substantially spherical in overall shape, and this facilitates gripping the grip portion 14 within the palm of the user's hand. This is a particularly beneficial feature of the invention where it is to be used by the elderly or those with reduced hand dexterity, and because the grip portion 14 is significantly wider than the main body portion 14, it helps to avoid over-insertion of the apparatus 10 into the body. The nodules 16 disposed on the surface of the grip portion 14 facilitate gripping the apparatus 10 when it is wet and/or lubricated.

Turning now to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, which are, respectively, exploded and schematic cross-sectional views of an embodiment of the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus 10, it can be seen that an internal void 40 can be provided in the main body, which communicates with an opening 42 in the grip portion 14 of the apparatus. The void 40 is provided to slidingly receive a vibrating device 44, which can be inserted axially into the void 40, via the opening 42. A push-fit, or screw-threaded closure 46 is also to provided to retain the vibrating device 44 within the void 40, as well as to seal/close off the opening 42.

Although not shown in the drawings, the vibrating device 44 is of a generally conventional configuration, that is to say comprising a battery power source, and a vibrator, for example, a motor carrying an offset cam. When the vibrating device 44 is switched on, it transmits a vibration onto the inner walls 48 of the void 40, thereby imparting a therapeutic vibration to the outer surfaces of the main body portion 12, which has the benefits outlined hereinabove. It will be noted that the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings is missing the nodules 16 shown in Figures 1 to 4 the drawings. The provision of nodules is preferable, but not necessarily essential to the effective operation of the apparatus 10. It will be appreciated, however, that the nodules 16, which are not shown on the embodiment shown in figures 5 and 6 the drawings could be incorporated into that particular embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims:

Claims

1. A pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus comprising a main body that is shaped and sized so as to fit into a vagina; and a grip portion formed integrally with the main body, which is shaped and sized so as to fit into the hand of a user, the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus being characterised by: the main body being formed as a generally rounded trapezoidal prism shaped part comprising a relatively narrow proximal end which conjoins with the grip portion and a relatively wide distal end, the distal end being rounded so as to facilitate, in use, insertion of the main body into the vagina, the main body comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear surfaces, and a pair of non-parallel side surfaces, the relative inclination of which define a taper of the main body from the relatively narrow proximal end to the relatively wide distal end.

2. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body and grip portion are formed from single moulded piece of plastics or rubber.

3. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plastic or rubber is hypoallergenic.

4. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the plastic or rubber is latex-free.

5. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any of claims 2, 3 or 4, wherein the hardness of the plastic or rubber is selected to as to be soft enough to provide a degree of cushioning, but nevertheless rigid enough to provide something firm for the pelvic floor muscles to push against, in use.

6. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the material from which the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus is manufactured is silicone.

6. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any of claims 2 to 5m, wherein the material from which the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus is manufactured is silicone.

7. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the length ofthe main body portion is between 6 and 16cm.

8. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the width of the main body portion is between 2 and 4.5 cm.

9. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the grip portion is substantially spherical.

10. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the main body has a relatively narrow proximal end and a relatively wide distal end.

11. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the main body comprises substantially parallel front and rear surfaces and non-parallel side surfaces.

12. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the main body portion comprises nodules.

13. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the grip portion comprises nodules.

14. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the nodules are partspherical in shape.

15. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatusof any preceding claim, wherein the main body portion comprises a hollow interior volume, and a vibrating device locatable within the hollow interior volume.

16. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of claim 15, further comprising cap or insert, which fits into an opening of the hollow interior volume.

17. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of claim 16, wherein cap or insert securing and/or seals the vibrating device inside the hollow interior volume.

18. The pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus of claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein the vibrating device is battery-powered and IP-rated against ingress of liquids, gels, and the like.

1007 19

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

Claims:

1. A pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus comprising a main body that is shaped and sized so as to fit into a vagina; and a grip portion formed integrally with the main body, which is shaped and sized so as to fit into the hand of a user, the pelvic floor muscle exercise apparatus being characterised by: the main body being formed as a generally rounded trapezoidal prism shaped part comprising a proximal end which conjoins with the grip portion and a distal end, the distal end being rounded so as to facilitate, in use, insertion of the main body into the vagina, the proximal end being narrower than the distal end; the main body comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear surfaces, and a pair of non-parallel side surfaces, the relative inclination of which define a taper of the main body from the distal end to the proximal end.