Device for exercising or supporting the pelvic floor muscles
A device ( 101 ) for supporting or exercising the pelvic floor muscles in a female human. The device has a unitary elongate body having a first enlarged end ( 103 ), a second enlarged end ( 105 ), and a relatively narrow interconnecting region ( 107 ) that interconnects the first enlarged end and the second enlarged end. The first enlarged end ( 103 ) generally extends in a first direction from the interconnecting region ( 107 ) and from one end of the interconnecting region. The second enlarged end ( 105 ) generally extends in a second generally opposite direction from the interconnecting region ( 107 ) and from the other end of the interconnecting region. The first enlarged end ( 103 ), the second enlarged end ( 105 ), and the narrow interconnecting region ( 107 ) are substantially fully insertable into the vagina to provide resistance to contraction of the pelvic floor muscles.
1. A device for exercising and strengthening pelvic floor muscles of a female human having a vagina with an anterior vaginal wall and a vaginal opening, the device comprising:
a tip end portion configured to be inserted into the vagina and spaced inwardly from the vaginal opening, the tip end portion comprising a first surface opposite a second surface, the first surface being generally concave when viewed from an exterior of the device, and the second surface being generally convex when viewed from the exterior of the device;
a base end portion configured to be inserted into the vagina and positioned adjacent the pelvic floor muscles to provide resistance to contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, the base end portion being positioned nearer the vaginal opening than the tip end portion when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina, the base end portion being larger than the tip end portion and having a continuous surface across a diameter extending between its outermost edges; and
a curved interconnecting region that interconnects the tip end portion and the base end portion, together the tip end portion, the interconnecting region, and the base end portion having a generally figure-eight-like outer shape, the interconnecting region having a first curved portion adjacent the tip end portion, a second curved portion adjacent the base end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second curved portions, the intermediate portion being narrower than the tip and base end portions, a portion of the intermediate portion being narrower than the first and second curved portions,
wherein, when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina, the first curved portion positions the tip end portion to extend away from the intermediate portion in an inward and anterior direction with the concave first surface being adjacent the anterior vaginal wall, the second curved portion positions the intermediate portion to extend away from the base end portion in an inward and posterior direction, and contracting the pelvic floor muscles adjacent the base end portion presses the tip end portion against the anterior vaginal wall.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tip end portion comprises:
a perimeter extending between the first surface and second surface, wherein the perimeter is generally convex when viewed from the exterior of the device.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base end portion is generally bulbous, with first and second opposite surfaces that are generally convex when viewed from the exterior of the device.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base end portion has a greater maximum depth than the tip end portion.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base end portion has a greater maximum width than the tip end portion.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tip end portion has a maximum width, and a maximum depth,
the base end portion has a maximum width, and a maximum depth,
the maximum width of the tip end portion is greater than the maximum depth of the tip end portion, and
the maximum width of the base end portion is greater than the maximum depth of the base end portion.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion of the interconnecting region has a maximum width and a maximum depth, and
the maximum width of the intermediate portion is greater than the maximum depth of the intermediate portion.
8. The device of claim 1 for use with the human female having a finger, wherein the base end portion comprises a recess configured to receive the finger during removal of the tip and base end portions from the vagina after insertion therein.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base end portion is rigid and does not compress when the base end portion is inserted into the vagina and the pelvic floor muscles adjacent the base end portion are contracted.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the tip end portion and the interconnecting region are both rigid.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina and the pelvic floor muscles adjacent the base end portion are contracted, the tip end portion tilts or moves inside the vagina relative to the base end portion towards the pubic bone.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is substantially compostable.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is substantially biodegradable.
14. A method of exercising pelvic floor muscles performed by a human female having a vagina with an anterior vaginal wall and a vaginal opening, the method comprising:
(a) inserting a device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles into the vagina, the device comprising:
a tip end portion configured to be inserted into the vagina and spaced inwardly from the vaginal opening, the tip end portion comprising a first surface opposite a second surface, the first surface being generally concave when viewed from an exterior of the device, and the second surface being generally convex when viewed from the exterior of the device;
a base end portion configured to be inserted into the vagina and positioned adjacent the pelvic floor muscles to provide resistance to contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, the base end portion being positioned nearer the vaginal opening than the tip end portion when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina, the base end portion being larger than the tip end portion and having a continuous surface across a diameter extending between its outermost edges; and
a curved interconnecting region that interconnects the tip end portion and the base end portion, together the tip end portion, the interconnecting region, and the base end portion having a generally figure-eight-like outer shape, the interconnecting region having a first curved portion adjacent the tip end portion, a second curved portion adjacent the base end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second curved portions, the intermediate portion being narrower than the tip and base end portions, a portion of the intermediate portion being narrower than the first and second curved portions,
wherein, when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina, the first curved portion positions the tip end portion to extend away from the intermediate portion in an inward and anterior direction with the concave first surface being adjacent the anterior vaginal wall, the second curved portion positions the intermediate portion to extend away from the base end portion in an inward and posterior direction, and contracting the pelvic floor muscles adjacent the base end portion presses the tip end portion against the anterior vaginal wall; and
(b) after the device has been inserted, contracting the pelvic floor muscles against the base end portion of the device to thereby press the tip end portion against the anterior vaginal wall.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the pelvic floor muscles are contracted against the device for a predetermined amount of time, and the method further comprises:
(c) relaxing the pelvic floor muscles after they have been contracted for the predetermined amount of time.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
repeating the contracting and the relaxing of the pelvic floor muscles a predetermined number of times.
17. The method of claim 14 performed by the female human having lower abdomen muscles, the method further comprising:
bracing the lower abdomen muscles before contracting the pelvic floor muscles; and
breathing in and out during the contracting of the pelvic floor muscles.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the device remains inserted in the vagina for between about 5 minutes and about 12 hours.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the device remains inserted in the vagina for between about 5 minutes and about 8 hours.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the device remains inserted in the vagina for between about 5 minutes and about 4 hours.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the device remains inserted in the vagina for about 5 minutes.
22. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
repeating the contracting of the pelvic floor muscles while the device remains inserted in the vagina; and
relaxing the pelvic floor muscles between repetitions of the contracting.
23. The device of claim 1 for use with the human female having a pubic bone and a protrusion in the anterior vaginal wall formed by the pubic bone, wherein the first curved portion, the second curved portion, and the intermediate portion are configured to accommodate the protrusion in the anterior vaginal wall formed by the pubic bone when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina.
24. The device of claim 1 for use with the human female having a pubic bone and a protrusion in the anterior vaginal wall formed by the pubic bone, wherein the interconnecting region comprises a surface contiguous with the concave first surface of the tip end portion, the surface of the interconnecting region extending along the first curved portion, and the intermediate portion, and
together the concave first surface of the tip end portion and the surface of the interconnecting region have a concave or scooped shape configured to extend alongside the protrusion in the anterior vaginal wall formed by the pubic bone when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina.
25. The device of claim 1 for use with the human female having a bladder neck, and the anterior vaginal wall comprising a G-spot, wherein when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina and the pelvic floor muscles adjacent the base end portion are contracted, the tip end portion applies pressure to at least one of the bladder neck and the G-spot.
26. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base end portion is configured to move inwardly from an initial position when the tip and base end portions are both inserted into the vagina and the pelvic floor muscles adjacent the base end portion are contracted, and
the base end portion is configured to return to the initial position when the pelvic floor muscles adjacent the base end portion are relaxed after having been contracted.
27. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a smooth contoured outer surface extending around the tip end portion, the base end portion, and the interconnecting region.