System and method for kegel training
Inventors
Iglesias, Ramon Jose • Mishelevich, David J. • Nash, Sean C. • Schaefer, Kaitlin B. • Lokre, Jahnavi • Trcka, Milan V. • Patel, Himanshu • Zwierstra, Jan B. • Dunlop, Trevor • Gifford, Aaron
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12311228-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method for optimizing a patient's Kegel exercises is provided. The system includes a user interface device and a vaginal device. The vaginal device includes an intra-vaginal probe having an accelerometer that is configured to generate a signal in response to movement of the probe. The user interface device is connected to the vaginal device and analyzes signals from the accelerometer to provide physiological feedback information to the patient. The vaginal device may be connected to the user interface device via wireless communications such as Bluetooth or by wire. The user interface device may be a smart device or a computer that transmits information to central web-based data server accessible by the patient or authorized healthcare providers or third-party payers.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to optimizing a pelvic floor muscle exercise by wirelessly sensing motion using an intravaginal device that comprises a plurality of accelerometers positioned along a length of the intravaginal device. Each accelerometer generates a signal in response to movement during performance of the pelvic floor muscle exercise, and those signals are received by a user interface device for analysis. The user interface device displays, in real time, a visual representation of the subject’s vagina generated from the accelerometer signals.
The visual indicator is a line that corresponds to a lift maneuver when the line rotates from right to left, and corresponds to a bearing down movement and/or relaxation of pelvic floor muscles when the line rotates from left to right. The method also displays and records indicia corresponding to the position of the subject’s vagina generated by the accelerometers prior to and during performance of the pelvic floor muscle exercise. The recorded indicia comprise maximum lift time.
Physiological feedback information is provided from the user interface device to the subject based on a change in position of the subject’s vagina and a duration of time during which activation of the pelvic floor muscles of the subject is maintained. The user interface device runs a computer implemented application with visual feedback features and provides physiological feedback information to guide the subject to activate pelvic floor muscles in a manner that strengthens the pelvic floor, limit activation of pelvic floor muscles in a manner that harms the pelvic floor, and increase the duration of time during which activation of the pelvic floor muscles is maintained, thereby optimizing the subject’s pelvic floor muscle exercise.
Claims Coverage
The partial content contains two independent claims that cover both a method and a system. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are centered on wireless sensing with an intravaginal multi-accelerometer device, real-time visualization distinguishing lift versus bearing down/relaxation using a rotating line, and physiological feedback derived from position changes and activation duration, including recording/displaying maximum lift time and score history.
Wireless intravaginal multi-accelerometer sensing
The intravaginal device comprises a plurality of accelerometers positioned along a length of the device that are configured to generate a signal in response to movement of the accelerometers, and the user interface device receives the signals wirelessly and analyzes signals from the accelerometers.
Real-time line indicator distinguishing lift vs bearing down/relaxation
The user interface device displays in real time a visual indicator corresponding to a position of the subject's vagina generated by the accelerometers, wherein the movement distinguishes between a lift maneuver and a bearing down movement and/or relaxation of pelvic floor muscles, wherein the visual indicator is a line that corresponds to the lift maneuver when the line rotates from right to left and corresponds to the bearing down movement and/or relaxation of pelvic floor muscles when the line rotates from left to right.
Physiological feedback based on position change and activation duration
The user interface device provides physiological feedback information to the subject generated based on a change in position of the subject's vagina and a duration of time during which activation of the pelvic floor muscles is maintained, and the physiological feedback information guides the subject to activate pelvic floor muscles to strengthen the pelvic floor, limit activation of pelvic floor muscles to avoid harming the pelvic floor, and increase the duration of time during which activation is maintained to optimize the pelvic floor muscle exercise.
Recording indicia including maximum lift time and session history of scores
The user interface device displays and records indicia corresponding to the position of the subject's vagina generated by the accelerometers prior to and during performance, wherein the recorded indicia comprise maximum lift time; and the application displays and/or records a history of scores resulting from pelvic floor muscle exercise sessions performed by the subject, wherein the history of scores comprises maximum lift time.
Across the independent claims, coverage is provided for a wireless intravaginal multi-accelerometer approach paired with a real-time rotating-line visual indicator distinguishing lift versus bearing down/relaxation, and physiological feedback derived from vaginal position change and activation duration. The independent claims further require recording/displaying indicia including maximum lift time and a history of scores to support optimization of pelvic floor muscle exercise.
Stated Advantages
Guides the subject to strengthen the pelvic floor by activating pelvic floor muscles in a manner that strengthens the pelvic floor.
Helps prevent harm by limiting activation of pelvic floor muscles in a manner that harms the pelvic floor.
Improves exercise quality by increasing the duration of time during which activation of the pelvic floor muscles is maintained, thereby optimizing the subject's pelvic floor muscle exercise.
Documented Applications
Optimizing a subject's pelvic floor muscle exercise for a pelvic floor muscle exercise performed by a subject.
Providing physiological feedback during pelvic floor muscle exercise sessions, including displaying and/or recording a history of scores with maximum lift time.
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