SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR KEGEL TRAINING

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.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for optimizing a pelvic floor muscle exercise performed by a subject comprising: (a) displaying on a user interface device in real time a visual representation of the subject's vagina that is generated from signals received wirelessly by the user interface device from an intravaginal device, wherein 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; wherein the user interface device is configured to analyze signals from the accelerometers; (b) providing physiological feedback information from the user interface device to the subject that is 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 of the subject is maintained, wherein the physiological feedback information guides the subject to: (i) activate pelvic floor muscles in a manner that strengthens the pelvic floor; (ii) limit activation of pelvic floor muscles in a manner that harms the pelvic floor; and (iii) increase the duration of time during which activation of the pelvic floor muscles is maintained, thereby optimizing the subject's pelvic floor muscle exercise.

3. A The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface device further comprises a data processor and a communication module configured to store and retrieve Cloud-based data of the subject remotely.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the physiological feedback information is a visual or numerical display of the subject's pelvic floor muscle exercise history, which is retrieved as part of the Cloud-based data of the subject.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the physiological feedback information is a visual or numerical display of Kegel power.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the physiological feedback information is a visual or numerical display of pelvic floor muscle exercise optimization.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface device is connected to the intravaginal device through Bluetooth communication.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface device is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, tablet, and watch.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface device is configured to run a computer implemented application comprising visual and/or auditory feedback features.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the application displays and records indicia corresponding to the position of the subject's vagina that is generated by the accelerometers prior to and during performance of a pelvic floor exercise.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the recorded indicia further comprise one or more of session date, maximum score, session time, maximum lift time, and session duration time.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the intravaginal device comprises six accelerometers.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface device displays a line on the user interface corresponding to a position of the subject's vagina that is generated by the accelerometers during performance of the pelvic floor exercise, wherein the line corresponds to a lift maneuver when the line rotates from right to left, and wherein the line corresponds to a bearing down movement and/or relaxation of pelvic floor muscles when the line rotates from left to right.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback comprises an auditory and/or vibratory signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the visual and/or auditory feedback is configured to indicate if the intravaginal device is orientated properly.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the recorded indicia are stored in a diary on the user interface device.

17. A system for optimizing a subject's pelvic floor muscle exercise comprising: a user interface device configured to run an application comprising visual and/or auditory feedback features; and an intravaginal device comprising a plurality of accelerometers positioned along a length of the intravaginal device and configured to generate a signal in response to movement of the accelerometers; wherein the user interface device is wirelessly connected to the intravaginal device and is configured to analyze signals from the accelerometers using the application; wherein the application is configured to display a line on the graphical user interface corresponding to a position of the subject's vagina that is generated by the accelerometers during performance of the pelvic floor exercise, wherein the line corresponds to a lift maneuver when the line rotates from right to left, and wherein the line corresponds to a bearing down movement and/or relaxation of pelvic floor muscles when the line rotates from left to right; wherein the application is configured to display and/or record a history of scores resulting from pelvic floor exercise sessions performed by the subject using the intravaginal device, each of which is generated from data produced by the accelerometers; and wherein the system provides physiological feedback information to the subject using the visual and/or auditory feedback features to optimize the pelvic floor exercise.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user interface device further comprises a data processor and a communication module configured to store and retrieve Cloud-based data of the subject remotely.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the physiological feedback information is a visual or numerical display of the subject's pelvic floor muscle exercise history, which is retrieved as part of the Cloud-based data of the subject.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the application displays and records indicia corresponding to the position of the subject's vagina that is generated by the accelerometers prior to and during performance of a pelvic floor exercise.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the recorded indicia further comprise one or more of session date, maximum score, session time, maximum lift time, and session duration time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] The invention will be described more in detail with reference to the following drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the system of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the vaginal device of the present invention including the probe and external electronics box.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a cross section view of the probe of the vaginal device of the present invention, including the flex strip.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the probe of the vaginal device of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the probe of the vaginal device of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of part of the vaginal device of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the external electronics enclosure of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the Application Main Screen of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the Vertical Alignment Screen of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the Training Screen (Zoom 1 kp 087) of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the Training Screen (Zoom 1 kp 005) of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 12(A) is a view illustrating the Training Screen (Zoom 2 kp 005) of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 12(B) is a view illustrating the Training Screen (Zoom 2 kp 057) of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 13 (A) is a view illustrating the Training Screen (Zoom 3 kp 003) of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 13 (B) is a view illustrating the Training Screen (Zoom 3 kp 024) of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating the Anatomical Animation of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the History Screen of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the training system for the proper performance of Kegel exercises. The system includes a vaginal device 110 that is inserted into patient 100. The vaginal device 110 may be fabricated of silicone. Other suitable materials, however, may be used. The vaginal device 110 is connected via a cable 120 to an external electronics box 130. The external electronics box 130 may be connected by Bluetooth connection 140 to a user interface device 150 that is a smart device such as an iPhone, an iPad, an iPod Touch, an Android-based system, a Microsoft Windows-based system, or other equivalent device. Alternatively, the external electronics box 130 may be connected to a custom display device. The user interface device 150 may communicate with a web-located central database server 170 via an internet connection 160. Data from the patient's sessions may be stored on the user interface device 150 and transmitted after each session to a central database server 170. The data transmitted may include the highest score plus the length of time maintaining that score, and possibly the raw data, and well as other data such as the start time of and the length of the session, maximum lift duration, the maximum temperature reached, and the maximum pressure reached. The Bluetooth transmission from the external electronics box 130 to the user interface device 150 may be a serial data connection rather than the audio connection typical of Bluetooth devices such as a Bluetooth headset and the communication is handled through a Serial Port Protocol (SPP). If the smart device is from Apple, it requires that a special authentication chip (MFi chip where MFi means Made for iOS or Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod) is used in the embedded electronics in connection with the Bluetooth connection.

[0038] The use of a smart device communicating using Bluetooth with the external electronics box 130 is only one embodiment of the present invention. Alternatively other wireless means or even a wired connection may be used. In another embodiment, the output of the external electronics box 130 is processed using Lab VIEW or custom application running on a notebook or desktop computer with connection either wireless or wired.

[0039] The device may be used at home, work, physician's office, clinic, nursing home, pelvic health or other center or other locations suitable for the patient. A physician, nurse, technician, physical therapist, or central customer support may supply support for the patient. Central customer support may be provided even on a 24 hour, seven-day a week basis.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the elements of the system worn by the patient 100. The vaginal device may include a probe 200 that may be inserted into the vagina with cable 210 connecting the probe 200 to the external electronics box 220. FIG. 3 illustrates the probe of the vaginal device 310 with its internal electronics 300 and cable 320 extending to the external electronics box attached to electrical pads 350. MEMS accelerometers 330 may be mounted on a flex-strip circuit 300. ESD suppressors 340 may be on the same side of the strip as the MEMS accelerometers; the pads for connections to the thermistors for temperature measurement (not shown) are on the opposite of the flex strip 300. Pressure sensors may be included as well but are not shown in the figure. In one embodiment, the output from the MEMS accelerometers 350 uses I.sup.2C communications. The output of the thermistor may be processed through an analog-to-digital converter; thus outputs from both types of sensors may be translated into a transmittable digital signal.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the side view of the probe of the vaginal device 400 with ribs 410 allowing patients to better grip the device 400 during insertion and possibly during removal (although the vaginal device is normally removed by pulling on cable 420 that extends to the external electronics box). In some embodiments, the probe may be composed of a silicone-material. The orientation line 430 may be disposed on the outer surface of the probe of the vaginal device 400. The logo 440 may be disposed on the outer surface of the probe of the device 400 as well. The logo 440 and line 430 may be molded into the silicone. The dimensions of the probe of the vaginal device 400 may typically be 16 mm in diameter and 11 cm long, usually in the range of 14 to 20 mm in diameter and 9 to 12 cm long.

[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the probe of the vaginal device. The probe of the vaginal device 500 is shown such that the outer silicone shell is shown as crosshatched. The electronics may reside on flexible strip 520 that is also shown as crosshatched. In one embodiment according to the present invention, the inner silicone portion 510 may be composed of two half cylinders of silicone, one above strip 510 and one below.

[0043] A cross section of the vaginal device 600 looking from the end from which cable 610 comes out is shown in FIG. 6. Silicone sheath 620 surrounds the upper silicone cylinder 630 and lower silicone cylinder 640 divided by separation line 660. The flexible strip may be sandwiched between the upper 630 and lower 640 cylinders positioned at separation line 660.

[0044] The vaginal device was designed with manufacturability as a key consideration. A critical element is that molding the silicone with the electronics enclosed takes too long a time to cure because the electronics used have a maximum temperature of 65° C. Short enough curing time to make such molding commercially practical requires the liquid silicone to be heated to on the order of 175° C. One manufacturing approach therefore was to mold upper cylinder half 630, lower cylinder half 640, and silicone sheath 620 at the higher temperature. The flexible electronics strip may then be placed on an upside-down upper cylinder half 630 with the MEMS accelerometers fitting into pockets in its surface placed by the mold tooling. The upside-down lower cylinder 640 may be coated with adhesive and then placed over the upside-down upper cylinder 630 tooling. Once the whole cylinder is assembled, the silicone sheath 620 may be placed into a fixture that applies vacuum to its sides and enlarges the opening. The full cylinder containing the sandwiched flexible electronics strip may then be inserted into the opening of the silicone sheath until the end of the full cylinder hits the end of sheath 620. The vacuum may then be released and the cylinder is suitably enclosed within the sheath. The wall of sheath 620 may be longer than the length of the cylinder. This is done so there will be a pocket surrounding cable 610 that when filled in with silicone material (Dow Silastic) that adheres to the silicone cylinder, the silicone sheath and the cable. All of the silicone materials are biocompatible. The cable jacket may be biocompatible or coated with a layer of Parylene or other coating that is biocompatible.

[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates the external electronics box 700, with logo 750 that receives its data input from connector 710 with its cable to the vaginal device. The external electronics box may be turned on by power button 720. A Bluetooth-indicator Light-Emitting Diode (LED) 730 and System-indicator LED 740 signal status may also be included as part of the external electronics box.

[0046] External electronics box 700 in FIG. 7 communicates wirelessly via e.g., Bluetooth to a smart device such as an iPhone. One embodiment of the external electronics box 700 is the Leva™ device for the prevention and treatment of pelvic dysfunction including urinary incontinence. FIG. 8 shows the main-menu screen of the smart device. A splash screen (not shown) may precede the main-menu screen. The user may log in to get access to the application on the smart device. An operative button on the screen is Training button 800. Other buttons are the Tour 805, History 810, Info 815, and Leva™ site 830. Tour 805 provides access to screens giving background on the application. Info 815 provides access to the information such as the identification of the Leva™ device to which the smart device is connected. Button 810 provides access to the history of the patient's sessions. This is shown in further detail in FIG. 15 below. The first bar 820 located at the top of the screen includes, from left to right, the mobile-phone signal levels, the network operator (in this case AT&T) the type of communications (LTE in this case), an active Wi-Fi Internet connection (if any, not present in this case) the time, the fact an alarm is set, the Bluetooth communication is active, and the battery is fully charged. Button 825 provides access to the FAQs (if Internet connection is available). The second bar 835 located at the bottom of the screen, from left to right shows that there is a Bluetooth connection to the Leva™ device, the battery of the Leva™ device is charged, and that the Leva™ device is not plugged in.

[0047] FIG. 9 illustrates the screen that allows the patient to see whether she has orientated the Leva™ device properly, namely the device 900 is oriented with its top at the “twelve o'clock” position with the orientation line 905 directly towards the patient's anterior. Relative orientation 910 in this case shows the Leva™ device is rotated slightly counter clockwise relative to target 920. Circle-with-arrows 915 indicates to the patient which direction to physically rotate the device to move it into proper orientation. Icon 925 indicates that the application is in line mode as shown in further detail in FIG. 10. The training session cannot begin until vaginal device is correctly aligned.

[0048] FIG. 10 shows the training screen in dynamic-line mode. Background 1000 indicates the area of motion of dynamic line 1010 where line 1010 represents the profile of the vaginal device within the vagina. The dots on the line show the positions of the six MEMS accelerometers on the flexible strip. Area 1005, with the red background, is where line 1010 will be displayed if one is bearing down as if one were having a bowel movement. Thus it is possible to differentiate between a correct and incorrect Kegel exercise. Line 1010 will appear in region 1005 if the attempt to do a Kegel exercise is incorrect. Arrow 1015 illustrates the proper direction for a correct Kegel exercise. As noted above, however, area 1005 may be the desired location of line 1010 in the case where the patient is getting into a relaxed state in connection with the relief of pelvic pain. The right-to-left movement of line 1010 is referred to as a lift. The Kegel exercise unit may be the Kegel power abbreviated kp, although other designations can be used. Current kp 1020 in FIG. 10 is 087 (87, since leading zeros are ignored). The greater the lift of the vaginal device towards the anterior of the patient, the higher the kp score. The maximum length of time the lift was held 1025 during the session in the figure is 00:07 or seven seconds. The length of time that the current lift is held 1030 is also seven seconds in this example. The value for the highest value of kp score in the current session 1035 is 088. The time for the current session 1040 is 10 seconds. To zoom in so the highest score displayed in the region is not 100, but less, the user clicks on the plus sign 1045. Zoom level is displayed on the screen background 1000. Background 1000 maybe filled with blue color to indicate the maximum score during the session. The temperature of the vaginal device near the entrance to the vagina is 1050 with the first value (77° F.) being the current temperature and the second is the maximum temperature in the session (also 77° F. in this example). To stop the session, the user may press the stop button 1055.

[0049] FIG. 11 shows an example of the training screen in Zoom 1 mode with a kp score 1110 (005) on background field 1100. Zoom 1 covers the display range of 0 to 100. If the line does not move much when a patient tries to do a Kegel exercise, the patient may get discouraged. The application provides the facility to “zoom in” and display scores in the range of 0 to approximately 60 for Zoom 2 and 0 to approximately 30 for Zoom 3. The red zone 1230 at the right edge of overall background is zoomed as well. Zooming in changes the amount that the dynamic line will move for a given degree of lift, but does not change the score. FIG. 12 illustrates two examples of Zoom 2. One may change the zoom level by Zoom button 1200, alternating among the three zoom levels. In FIG. 12A, background 1205 shows the application is set to zoom level 2, with line 1210 at the level of five kp as reflected in the digital score 1215 of 005. Another example of Zoom 2 is shown in FIG. 12B. In this case, dynamic line 1220 is near the top of the range with score 1225 indicating a value of 057. In this example, line 1220 is curved reflecting the physical profile of the MEMS accelerometer along the flexible strip contained within the vaginal device. The kp score does not change based on the zoom. The maximum score is maintained within a session if the zoom level is changed. If the user generates a score higher than the maximum for that zoom level, “-” is displayed rather than a numeric score.

[0050] FIG. 13 illustrates a pair of examples of Zoom 3. Again one changes the zoom level by Zoom button 1300, again alternating among the three zoom levels. In FIG. 13A, background 1305 shows the application is set to zoom level 3, with line 1310 at the level of three kp as reflected in the digital score 1315 of 003. Another example of Zoom 3 is shown in FIG. 13B. In this case, region 1320 again shows Zoom 3, and line 1325, is toward the top of the range with score 1330 indicating a value of 024. In both FIGS. 13A and 13B the lines 1305 and 1325 are curved representing the physical profile of the vaginal device. Icon 1335 indicates the anatomy-mode choice that can be selected.

[0051] FIG. 14 illustrates the training session using an anatomical animation to display lift as opposed to the dynamic line. To access this mode, the user may touch the anatomy icon at the top right of the Training screen when in dynamic-line mode (e.g., icon 1335 in FIG. 13B). Line 1400 moves with the Kegel contraction, but is not necessarily scaled to score 1410, in this case 057. The pelvic organs shown are pubic bone 1415, uterus 1420, bladder 1425, colon 1430, anus 1435, and coccyx 1440. Some of these organs move on the display as the Kegel is executed. To end the training session, the patient may press the Stop button 1450. To access the dynamic-line mode, the patient may touch the dynamic-line-mode icon 1445.

[0052] FIG. 15 shows the History screen. This element of the App may be accessed through the Menu screen shown in FIG. 8. The readings for each session may be contained within a region 1500, with icon 1505. Readings may be session date 1510, maximum score 1515, session time 1520, maximum lift time 1525, session-duration time 1530 and maximum temperature 1535. To return to the Main Menu screen, FIG. 8, one touches return arrow 1540.

[0053] When a session is closed, the data may be kept both in a file on the smart device uploaded to a database on the central database server. The user does not need to take any action for the latter to happen. If the smart device does not have an Internet connection at the time a given session is closed, the data for that session may be uploaded at a later time when both the application is being used and an Internet connection is available. Those with access authorization may access the data in the database. Such users may be the patient, the healthcare provide taking care of them, third party payers, or central customer support personnel in some circumstances. The patient must give authorization for the various uses of the information. The patient may view her history on the smart device or on a web browser. The healthcare professional via a web browser may provide a prescription for the patient (e.g., how many sessions per day and length of each session) placed in the central database. The patient using a web browser may access that prescription. In another embodiment, the patient may keep a diary on the smart device and that diary information is uploaded to the central database and accessible by the patient and authorized healthcare professionals.

[0054] The invention supports the patient. The process begins with a healthcare professional training the patient in the use of the Leva™ device. The patient may receive feedback from the Leva™ device on how well she is doing her Kegel exercises. Proper performance of the Kegel exercises may provide for prevention or mitigation of pelvic dysfunction including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, and pelvic-organ prolapse. Proper performance of Kegels may also result in improvement of sexual experience. With permission of the patient, data from the sessions may be shared with the healthcare professional(s) taking care of the patient either through the web-based database or by the patient bringing in their Leva™ device. For third-party payments, the web-based database data maybe available to authorized third parties.

[0055] The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Based on the above discussion and illustrations, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that various modifications and changes may be made to the present invention without strictly following the exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein. Such modifications and changes do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.