Systems and methods for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include at least one electrically stimulating electrode coupled to a pulse generator. Individuals with GERD are treated by implanting a stimulation device within and/or proximate the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, gastric fundus, or other nearby gastrointestinal structures and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and/or fundus, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. Electrical stimulation provided by the disclosed systems results in an increase in the length of the high pressure zone of the LES and/or modulation of the receptive relaxation response of the fundus to decrease gastric pressure, creating a longer barrier to the reflux of gastric contents or increasing functional lower esophageal pressure respectively, thereby treating GERD.

A pressure sensing device including an elongate housing configured to be at least partially inserted into a user, and that defines an external surface having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. The device includes a first pressure sensor, configured to sense pressure applied to a first portion of the external surface and to convert the sensed pressure to first pressure data, and a second pressure sensor, configured to sense pressure applied to a second portion of the external surface and to convert the sensed pressure to second pressure data. Sensor is spaced, along the longitudinal axis, toward the distal end from sensor.

The present invention relates to the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor prolapse. The diagnosis and treatment may involve the use of a multiple sensor-enabled device for vaginal insertion capable of providing real-time data regarding the pa -tient’s physiology, the position and movement of the urethra, and the muscular strength of the patient’s vagina and pelvic floor. The methods and devices of the invention may also be useful to addressing other medical issues, including urinary incontinence, sexual health, and fecal incontinence, as well as facilitate patient home wellness activities.

The present invention is directed to a balloon based system and method for measuring gastrointestinal motility. The balloon can be a stand-alone balloon with pressure sensing capabilities or the balloon can be deployed as a component of a catheter-based system. The balloon can be deployed in an uninflated state and can be inflated with fluid such as air, water, or other biocompatible fluid while disposed within the gastrointestinal tract. The pressure sensor can take the form of a pressure sensor disposed within the balloon or disposed on a surface of the balloon. Additional, sensors can also be applied to monitor other conditions, function, or disease state.

Photoacoustic and/or acousto-optical techniques may be used to transabdominally perform fetal oximetry and/or trans-abdominal fetal pulse oximetry. In some cases, a composite acoustic signal that has emanated from an abdomen of a pregnant mammal may be received by a processor from, for example, an ultrasonic detector and/or microphone positioned on, or near, a pregnant mammal's abdomen and the composite acoustic signal may result from an optical signal incident on the pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein. A portion of the composite acoustic signal that was incident on the fetus may be isolated from the composite acoustic signal and then analyzed to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level and/or a fetal tissue oxygen saturation level.

Disclosed is an extensible electrode array (102) for accurately locating a pelvic floor muscle, and its design method and an extensible pelvic floor electrode. The design method includes: (1) obtaining a three-dimensional muscle anatomy map of a pelvic floor muscle, dividing a muscle according to the three-dimensional muscle anatomy map and determining a muscle fiber trend, and for each muscle, determining a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate points for marking each muscle along the muscle fiber trend (S101); (2) after projecting all three-dimensional coordinate projects onto a two-dimensional plane unfolded in a shape of an elastic cavity (101), taking each two-dimensional coordinate point in the two-dimensional plane as a location to dispose an electrode plate (S102); (3) simulating a mechanical property of the elastic cavity (101), and determining a deformation rate of an extensible electrode wire (105) of the electrode plate when the extensible electrode wire (105) of the electrode plate is arranged along a muscle fiber direction of the pelvic floor muscle (S103); and (4) according to a design result, mounting the electrode plate and the extensible electrode wire (105) on the elastic cavity (101) to form the extensible electrode array (102) (S104). The design method enables each electrode plate to locate the pelvic floor muscle before and after expansion, thereby improving accuracy in collecting a myoelectric signal of the pelvic floor muscle.

A device for measuring contractions and/or relaxation of one or more muscles of a body cavity, the device having a hollow body which is for positioning in the body cavity and which is covered by a coating made of or having a biocompatible material, the body being formed of two half-shells which are each physically connected, permanently and continuously during the use of the device, with the aid of non-compressible or deformable connecting means, to at least one pressure sensor, or part of the pressure sensor, arranged in the body. Also, a method for measuring the contraction and/or relaxation of the muscles of a body cavity, a method for monitoring the contractions and/or relaxation of the muscles, and a method for exercising these muscles.

A computer-implemented method for pelvic floor feedback. The method includes capturing a strength of action potentials via wireless sensors, the wireless sensors positioned proximate to a pelvic floor of a user. The method also includes transmitting the strength of the action potentials to a mobile device. The method also includes recording the strength of the action potentials on the mobile device.

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.

Provided is a biofeedback apparatus using a magnetic stimulator. In the biofeedback apparatus, a tube filled with a non-conductive fluid is disposed between a magnetic stimulator and patient's pelvic floor muscles to measure a change in pressure according to muscle exercise of the pelvic floor muscles, biofeedback is available without insertion of a tool for measurement of a pressure or an EMG (electromyogram) into vagina, urethra, or the like. In the biofeedback apparatus, since driving of the magnetic stimulator and driving of a pressure transducer do not influence each other, a controller can continuously monitor a state of change in pressure of the pelvic floor muscles by using the pressure transducer and, at the same time, can adjust a strength of a magnetic field generated from the magnetic stimulator to an optimal strength according to the monitored state, so that it is possible to maximize the effect of treatment.