Postpartum uterine massage device

TW202633587AActive Publication Date: 2026-08-16CHANG GUNG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
TW114103894
Authority / Receiving Office
TW · TW
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-02-03
Publication Date
2026-08-16
Estimated Expiration
2045-02-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Current postpartum uterine massage methods are time-consuming and difficult for nursing staff to perform on every mother, and educating mothers and companions leads to inconsistent application and reduced effectiveness in preventing postpartum hemorrhage.

Method used

A postpartum uterine massage device with an integrated hardness detector and massager that automatically determines the firmness of the uterus and applies appropriate massage force, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving consistency.

Benefits of technology

The device enhances postpartum care quality by reducing the burden on nursing staff and ensuring consistent, effective uterine massage, thereby lowering the risk of postpartum hemorrhage and improving maternal recovery.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure TWG2TA001071977_001
    Figure TWG2TA001071977_001
  • Figure TWG2TA001071977_002
    Figure TWG2TA001071977_002
  • Figure TWG2TA001071977_003
    Figure TWG2TA001071977_003
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

This invention relates to a postpartum uterine massage device, comprising a waist belt body and a base disposed thereon. The base includes a controller, a track assembly, a hardness detector, and a massager. The track assembly includes a main track forming a circular path; a left return zone connected to the main track and located to the left of the main track; and a right return zone connected to the main track and located to the right of the main track. The hardness detector is electrically connected to the controller and has a probe and a first moving rod. The first moving rod is a telescopic structure and moves on the track assembly. When the hardness detector is not driven, it is stationary in the left return zone. The massager is electrically connected to the controller and has a massage head and a second moving rod. The second moving rod is also a telescopic structure and moves on the track assembly. When the massager is not driven, it is stationary in the right return zone. When the controller performs a hardness detection operation, the hardness detector moves intermittently on the track assembly and repeatedly applies force to the body being tested for detection. When the controller performs a massage operation, the massager moves continuously on the track assembly and adjusts the massage intensity by controlling the length of the second telescopic rod according to the hardness detection results. This allows for intelligent massage of the postpartum uterus to prevent uterine bleeding.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the field of postpartum care products, and in particular to a postpartum uterine massage device that can automatically determine the softness and hardness of the postpartum uterus and apply appropriate massage intensity to it in order to effectively prevent the danger of postpartum hemorrhage. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) can be divided into early or primary postpartum hemorrhage, characterized by blood loss exceeding 500 ml (vaginal delivery) or 1000 ml (cesarean section) within 24 hours of delivery, and late or secondary postpartum hemorrhage, occurring between 24 hours and 6 weeks after delivery. Early or primary hemorrhage is the most common type of postpartum hemorrhage. According to data from the World Health Organization, postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal death globally, with approximately 70,000 women dying from it each year. The mortality rate is highest within 24 hours of delivery, and even in developed countries, postpartum hemorrhage remains among the top three causes of maternal death. Therefore, postpartum hemorrhage is a problem that requires serious attention.

[0003] Common causes of early or primary postpartum hemorrhage include uterine atony, retained placental fragments, or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), with uterine atony being the most common factor. To promote uterine contraction and prevent and control postpartum hemorrhage, it is necessary for nursing staff to perform postpartum uterine massage on the mother at a certain frequency and duration. However, postpartum uterine massage is performed frequently and takes a considerable amount of time. Due to limited medical resources, it is practically impossible for nursing staff to perform postpartum uterine massage on every mother. Therefore, the current approach is to educate mothers and their companions on relevant health education so that they can perform the massage at a certain frequency on their own. However, relying on mothers and their companions to perform the massage themselves encounters many difficulties, such as postpartum pain or excessive fatigue causing the mother to be unwilling to massage, the companion being unable to assist, forgetting to massage according to the massage rules at regular intervals, and the mother and companion being unable to accurately assess the condition of the uterus and adjust the massage intensity accordingly. On the other hand, while educating new mothers and their companions may eliminate the need for individual massages, repeatedly instructing different families is quite time-consuming. Therefore, effectively addressing this current state of postpartum care remains a crucial issue in the modern healthcare environment.

[0004] In view of this, the creative team, based on its extensive knowledge in the medical field and clinical experience in actual care operations, conducted on-site visits and observations of postpartum care, and thus conceived and proposed a postpartum uterine massage device to help solve the dilemma of postpartum uterine care, effectively reduce the probability of postpartum hemorrhage and provide mothers with better care quality, while also reducing the burden on nursing staff. [Summary of the Invention]

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a postpartum uterine massage device that combines intelligent technology with a special track and structural design to automatically determine the firmness of the uterus and apply appropriate massage force.

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention discloses a postpartum uterine massage device, comprising: a waist belt body; and a base disposed on the waist belt body, comprising: a controller; a track assembly, comprising: a main track, which is a circular path; a left recovery zone located on the left side outside the circular path of the main track, the main track and the left recovery zone being interconnected through a first connecting track; and a right recovery zone located on the right side outside the circular path of the main track, the main track and the right recovery zone being interconnected through a second connecting track; and a hardness detector electrically connected to the controller, the hardness detector having a probe and a first moving rod, wherein one end of the probe is connected to the first moving rod, and the first moving rod is a telescopic structure and moves on the track assembly, when the hardness detector... When not driven to perform a detection operation, the device is stationary at the left return zone position; and a massager electrically connected to the controller, the massager having a massage head and a second moving rod, wherein one end of the massage head is connected to the second moving rod, and the second moving rod is also a telescopic structure, moving on the track assembly. When the massager is not driven to perform a massage operation, it is stationary at the right return zone position; wherein, when the controller is driven to perform a hardness detection operation, the hardness detector moves intermittently on the track assembly, and repeatedly applies force to a test object through the telescopic structure of the first moving rod to perform hardness detection; when the controller is driven to perform a massage operation, the massager moves continuously on the track assembly, and controls the length of the telescopic structure of the second moving rod according to the hardness detection result to adjust the massage intensity. Therefore, this is an automated uterine massage function that can detect the firmness of the uterus and apply appropriate pressure to postpartum women, helping them prevent bleeding and allowing them to rest comfortably. For caregivers, it can also reduce the time spent on postpartum uterine massage education and implementation, lighten their burden, and enable them to provide higher quality care services.

[0007] Preferably, the track assembly further includes: a left secondary track, which is a circular path disposed on the left side within the annular path of the main track, and the main track and the left secondary track are interconnected through a third connecting track; and a right secondary track, which is a circular path disposed on the right side within the annular path of the main track, and the main track and the right secondary track are interconnected through a fourth connecting track; wherein, when the test object exhibits a softer hardness only after detection on the left secondary track or the right secondary track, the massager continuously moves only in the corresponding area of ​​the track assembly where the test object is softer after detection. Accordingly, the massage areas can be more precisely divided and appropriate pressure can be applied according to the hardness of different areas to improve the accuracy of the massage.

[0008] Preferably, the probe has at least one piezoelectric thin film to determine the hardness or softness of the object being tested by voltage changes, thus having the advantage of accurate detection.

[0009] Preferably, the postpartum uterine massage device further includes: a hardness display light bar, electrically connected to the controller and disposed on the outer surface of the base, so that when the waistband body is worn on the subject and the hardness is detected, the degree of uterine softness and hardness can be quickly displayed, thereby allowing the mother, companion or medical personnel to quickly read and know the state of the uterus.

[0010] Preferably, the postpartum uterine massage device further includes: a wireless charger electrically connected to the controller and disposed on the base side, so as to have the advantage of easy charging and use.

[0011] Preferably, the diameter of the massage head is 3.5 to 4.5 cm so that the massage head has an appropriate contact area.

[0012] In summary, the postpartum uterine massage device of the present invention can automatically sense the firmness of the postpartum woman's uterus and apply appropriate massage force to assist in postpartum rehabilitation and prevent postpartum uterine bleeding. Furthermore, the present invention is very convenient and easy to use; simply wearing it allows for appropriate massage of the postpartum uterus to promote uterine contraction. This helps mothers and their caregivers to effectively perform postpartum rehabilitation, and also improves the quality of postpartum care for nursing staff. Furthermore, the present invention also proposes many additional technical features for this postpartum uterine massage device, as described in the preceding paragraphs.

Implementation Method

[0013] To enable those skilled in the art to clearly understand the content of this invention, the following description and accompanying drawings are provided for your reference. The structural dimensions, proportions, sizes, shapes, or application states shown in the figures are merely illustrative and intended to illustrate the technical features of this invention, and do not represent actual structural designs; this is hereby stated.

[0014] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2 together, which are schematic diagrams of the structure and module blocks of the postpartum uterine massage device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention discloses a postpartum uterine massage device 9, which is worn by postpartum women on the abdomen to perform postpartum massage and rehabilitation of the uterus. The postpartum uterine massage device 9 includes a waistband body 1 and a base 2. The waistband body 1 may be, for example, a belt structure with fasteners and adjustable length to facilitate adjustment of the binding state according to the shape of the postpartum woman. The base 2 is disposed on the waistband body 1 and includes a controller 20, a track assembly 21, a hardness detector 22, and a massager 23.

[0015] The track assembly 21 includes a main track 211, a left return zone 212, and a right return zone 213. The main track 211 is a circular path, preferably an ellipse. The left return zone 212 is located on the left side outside the circular path of the main track 211, and the main track 211 and the left return zone 212 are interconnected through a first connecting track 214. The right return zone 213 is located on the right side outside the circular path of the main track 211, and the main track 211 and the right return zone 213 are interconnected through a second connecting track 215.

[0016] The hardness detector 22 is electrically connected to the controller 20. The hardness detector 22 has a probe 221 and a first moving rod 222, wherein one end of the probe 221 is connected to the first moving rod 222, and the first moving rod 222 is a telescopic structure and moves on the track assembly 21. When the hardness detector 22 is not driven to perform a detection operation, it is stationary at the left return zone 212. The massager 23 is electrically connected to the controller 20. The massager 23 has a massage head 231 and a second moving rod 232, wherein one end of the massage head 231 is connected to the second moving rod 232, and the second moving rod 232 is also a telescopic structure and moves on the track assembly 21. When the massager 23 is not driven to perform a massage operation, it is stationary at the right return zone 213. When the controller 20 is activated to perform hardness detection, the hardness detector 22 moves intermittently on the track assembly 21 and repeatedly applies force to a test object, namely the abdomen corresponding to the uterus of a postpartum woman, through the telescopic structure of the first moving rod 222 to perform hardness detection. Preferably, in one embodiment, the probe 221 has at least one piezoelectric film 2211 to determine the hardness of the test object through voltage changes. When the probe 221 applies force to the test object due to the telescopic structure of the first moving rod 222, it can determine the hardness of the test object based on the feedback voltage change, thereby obtaining the hardness detection result. The probe 221 may also have multiple piezoelectric films 2211, which can be stacked. In this case, the hardness of the test object can be further determined by comprehensively considering the voltage changes of each piezoelectric film 2211. When the controller 20 is activated to perform a massage, the massager 23 moves continuously on the track assembly 21, and the length of the telescopic structure of the second moving rod 232 is controlled according to the hardness detection result to adjust the massage intensity. In a preferred embodiment, the side of the base 2 that contacts the mother's abdomen may be provided with an elastic soft material to cover the track assembly 21, the hardness detector 22, and the massager 23. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and it can be understood that when the base 2 has an elastic soft material, the track assembly 21, the hardness detector 22, and the massager 23 will be located inside the base 2 and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

[0017] With this postpartum uterine massage device 9, simply tie the waistband 1 to the abdomen of the postpartum woman corresponding to the fundus of the uterus, then drive the hardness detector 22 to perform hardness detection. After confirming the hardness and obtaining the hardness detection result, drive the massager 23 to move along the track assembly 21 so that the massage head 231 can apply appropriate massage to the postpartum woman. In this way, the postpartum woman can rest comfortably without worrying about uterine massage rehabilitation, and the caregiver can better take care of the postpartum woman. As for the nursing staff, there is no need to visit each postpartum woman regularly to perform massage, and the time spent repeatedly teaching each postpartum woman or caregiver the relevant steps of uterine massage can be saved, allowing the nursing staff to have more time to provide more comprehensive care to the postpartum woman. The postpartum uterine massage device 9 utilizes a specially designed track assembly 21, a hardness detector 22, and a massager 23 to automatically detect the firmness of the uterus and apply appropriate massage pressure. For example, if a lower firmness is detected, the second telescopic rod 232 of the massager 23 extends to a greater length, allowing the massage head 231 to apply greater pressure to the mother. Conversely, if an increase in firmness is detected, indicating increased uterine contraction strength, the second telescopic rod 232 of the massager 23 moves to a smaller length, allowing the massage head 231 to apply less pressure. Furthermore, the circular path design of the main track 211 of the track assembly 21 allows the massager 23 to perform a circular massage on the mother during operation, increasing the coverage of the uterine massage area. During detection, the circular path also ensures accurate hardness detection of the uterine area. In this way, the uterus can be effectively contracted as soon as possible during the golden period after childbirth to reduce the chance of bleeding, and the mother can use it while resting and recovering, which can reduce the mother's discomfort and rejection.

[0018] Furthermore, to provide better massage based on the postpartum uterine condition, the track assembly 21 further includes a left secondary track 216 and a right secondary track 217. The left secondary track 216 is a circular path located on the left side of the annular path of the main track 211, and the main track 211 and the left secondary track 216 are interconnected through a third connecting track 218. The right secondary track 217 is a circular path located on the right side of the annular path of the main track 211, and the main track 211 and the right secondary track 217 are interconnected through a fourth connecting track 219. When the tested body only exhibits a softer firmness after detection by the left secondary track 216 or the right secondary track 217, the massager 23 continuously moves only in the corresponding area of ​​the track assembly 21 where the tested body is softer after detection. Through the left secondary track 216 and the right secondary track 217, the hardness detector 22 can more accurately detect and confirm the hardness of local areas, allowing the massager 23 to massage areas that are still relatively soft. For example, if the hardness detector 22 detects a harder area on the left and a softer area on the right, the massager 23 will only move and massage within the right half of the circular path of the right secondary track 217 and the main track 211. A connecting track can also be provided between the left secondary track 216 and the right secondary track 217 to connect them, facilitating the movement of the massager 23 and the hardness detector 22 to different areas.

[0019] To intuitively indicate the firmness of the uterus to the mother or caregiver, the postpartum uterine massage device 9 further includes a hardness indicator light bar 24, electrically connected to the controller 20 and disposed on the outer surface of the base 2, so that when the belt body 1 is worn on the subject, the firmness of the uterus is quickly displayed after detection. In this way, the mother or caregiver can quickly know the current firmness of the uterus after detection by the hardness detector 22, wherein the hardness indicator light bar 24 can indicate the firmness through, for example, light color, brightness, or a metering bar.

[0020] In order to achieve the effect of fast and convenient charging, the postpartum uterine massage device 9 may further include a wireless charger 25, which is electrically connected to the controller 20 and is set on the side of the base 2, so as to eliminate the inconvenience caused by needing to plug in an electrical connection cable for charging through wireless charging.

[0021] Furthermore, preferably, the diameter of the massage head 231 is 3.5 to 4.5 cm, for example, 4 cm. This allows the massage head 231 to have an appropriate contact area, avoiding excessive pressure on too many uterine areas due to excessive size, or insufficient contact area due to insufficient pressure on the uterus. At the same time, the above-mentioned diameter range allows the massage head 231 to have a pressing feel that is most similar to that of the heel of a human hand.

[0022] In summary, the postpartum uterine massage device of the present invention can automatically sense the softness and hardness of the postpartum woman's uterus and apply appropriate massage force to assist in postpartum rehabilitation and prevent postpartum uterine bleeding. Moreover, the present invention is very convenient and easy to use. It can be worn to massage the postpartum uterus appropriately to promote uterine contraction. This can help mothers and their companions to effectively carry out postpartum rehabilitation. For nursing staff, it can reduce the workload of nurses in the delivery room and postpartum ward, thereby improving the quality of postpartum care. This postpartum uterine massage device can be further equipped with various technical features. For example, to provide more precise massage to different areas of the uterus based on their firmness, the track assembly can include a left secondary track and a right secondary track. The probe head can use a piezoelectric film to determine the firmness of the uterus by utilizing voltage changes, offering advantages such as ease of use and accurate judgment. Furthermore, to provide a more intuitive understanding of the uterine firmness, a hardness indicator light bar can be used to display corresponding information based on the firmness. The postpartum uterine massage device can also be equipped with a wireless charger for rapid wireless charging. To provide a more comfortable and appropriate massage experience for the mother, the diameter of the massage head can be 3.5–4.5 cm. Based on extensive professional experience in medical care and numerous observations and feedback from actual participation in postpartum care, the invention team has found that postpartum uterine bleeding is a highly dangerous condition for mothers; therefore, postpartum uterine massage is a crucial and essential rehabilitation activity. However, in reality, postpartum women are exhausted and experience various pains, making it extremely difficult for them to immediately perform uterine massage themselves. Furthermore, caregivers also have many other responsibilities and are often overwhelmed. Therefore, even with explanations and instructions from nursing staff, compliance remains low. Relying on nursing staff to personally perform massage on each postpartum woman is impractical in a real medical setting, as one caregiver must attend to a large number of women simultaneously. In light of this, our invention team conceived and proposed this postpartum uterine massage device, hoping to effectively help postpartum women reduce the likelihood of postpartum hemorrhage and contribute to improving the current state of postpartum medical care.

[0023] The above description is only a preferred embodiment within the scope of the patent application of this invention, and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention based on the content of this embodiment; therefore, any textual changes or modifications made without departing from the equivalent scope of this invention should still be covered within the scope of the patent application of this invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the postpartum uterine massage device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the module of the postpartum uterine massage device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A postpartum uterine massage device, comprising: a waistband body; and a base disposed on the waistband body, comprising: a controller; and a track assembly comprising: a main track, which is a circular path; a left recovery zone located on the left side outside the circular path of the main track, the main track and the left recovery zone being interconnected through a first connecting track; a right recovery zone located on the right side outside the circular path of the main track, the main track and the right recovery zone being interconnected through a second connecting track; a left secondary track, which is a circular path disposed on the left side inside the circular path of the main track, the main track and the left secondary track being interconnected through a third connecting track; and a right secondary track, which is a circular path disposed on the right side inside the circular path of the main track, the main track and the right secondary track being interconnected through a fourth connecting track; A hardness detector, electrically connected to the controller, has a probe head and a first moving rod, one end of which is connected to the first moving rod. The first moving rod is telescopic and moves on a track assembly. When the hardness detector is not driven to perform a detection operation, it is stationary at the left return zone position. A massager, electrically connected to the controller, has a massage head and a second moving rod, one end of which is connected to the second moving rod. The second moving rod is also telescopic and moves on the track assembly. When the massager is not driven to perform a massage operation, it is stationary at the right return zone position. When the controller is activated to perform a hardness detection, the hardness detector moves intermittently on the track assembly and repeatedly applies force to the test object through the telescopic structure of the first moving rod to perform hardness detection. When the controller is activated to perform a massage, the massager moves continuously on the track assembly and controls the length of the telescopic structure of the second moving rod to adjust the massage intensity according to the hardness detection result. Wherein, when the test object is found to be softer only on the left or right secondary track, the massager moves continuously only in the corresponding area of ​​the track assembly where the test object is found to be softer.

2. The postpartum uterine massage device as described in claim 1, wherein, The probe has at least one piezoelectric thin film to determine the hardness or softness of the object being tested by voltage changes.

3. The postpartum uterine massage device as described in claim 1 or 2 further includes: a hardness display light bar electrically connected to the controller and disposed on the outer surface of the base, so that when the waistband body is worn on the subject, the degree of uterine softness and hardness is quickly displayed after hardness is detected.

4. The postpartum uterine massage device as described in claim 3 further includes: a wireless charger electrically connected to the controller and disposed on the base side.

5. The postpartum uterine massage device as described in claim 4, wherein, The diameter of the massage head is 3.5 to 4.5 cm.