Uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise assistance device

Abstract

This invention discloses a contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device, comprising a base plate, a seat support, and a leg support mechanism. A squatting mechanism and a rocking mechanism are provided on one side of the base plate. The seat support is used to support the mother's buttocks, and its bottom is detachably fastened to either the squatting mechanism or the rocking mechanism. The squatting mechanism is used to move the seat support up and down in response to the mother's contractions, and the rocking mechanism is used to swing the seat support back and forth in response to the mother's contractions. The leg support mechanism is located at the lower part of the seat support and is used to support and guide the bending of the mother's thighs. Compared with existing technologies, this device can guide the mother to perform effective assisted movements, stimulating the mother's body to achieve natural labor induction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical assistive device technology, and in particular to a uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise assistive device. Background Technology

[0002] Childbirth refers to the entire process by which the fetus and its appendages (such as the placenta, fetal membranes, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, etc.) are expelled from the mother's uterus through the birth canal. The entire process of childbirth is usually divided into three stages: the first stage is the cervical dilation stage, the second stage is the fetal expulsion stage, and the third stage is the placental expulsion stage.

[0003] The first stage of labor begins with regular contractions and continues until the cervix dilates to 10 centimeters. Regular contractions are defined as contractions occurring approximately every 5 minutes. The first stage of labor typically lasts 8-14 hours for first-time mothers and 6-8 hours for mothers who have given birth before. If it exceeds this time, dystocia (difficult labor) is more likely to occur.

[0004] The second stage of labor refers to the process from full dilation of the cervix to complete delivery of the fetus. For first-time mothers, this usually takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, while for mothers who have given birth before, it may only take a few minutes to 1 hour. The third stage of labor occurs after the birth of the fetus, when the placenta and fetal membranes are expelled. This usually takes 10–15 minutes and never exceeds 30 minutes.

[0005] Most people only understand the second stage of labor, or even the stage of delivery itself; medical staff only provide guidance and assistance during the second stage. In reality, the first stage of labor is crucial, not only determining whether the mother can successfully deliver naturally, but also posing a significant challenge to her physical and mental well-being.

[0006] The first stage of labor is relatively long and is accompanied by contractions throughout, which are often unbearable for the mother. The pain often prevents her from eating normally, leading to excessive energy expenditure and severely impacting the progress of the second stage of labor. Simultaneously, the first stage of labor also requires effective cervical dilation. At the onset of regular contractions, the cervix may only be dilated to one or two fingers. Effective progress, influenced by the mother's physical condition, labor strength, psychological state, and emotions, is necessary for the cervix to gradually dilate to ten fingers before the second stage of labor can begin.

[0007] If the first stage of labor does not progress effectively, and the cervix dilates slowly or not at all, dystocia (difficult labor) may occur, necessitating a cesarean section. This will cause more suffering for the mother and may also affect the health of the fetus. Currently, hospitals still advocate for vaginal delivery. After the first stage of labor has progressed normally, or after medical intervention has been used to enter the first stage, labor can be induced using medication or non-medication methods to achieve effective cervical dilation to ten centimeters. Non-medication methods mainly involve natural labor induction, which is achieved through specific assisted exercises to stimulate the mother's body and provide psychological support. However, during the first stage of labor, the mother may be unable to perform labor induction on her own due to fatigue or pain, and family members may not be able to provide professional guidance, making effective natural labor induction difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention provides a contraction-responsive maternal movement assistive device to solve the technical problem that it is difficult for mothers to effectively guide their movements to induce labor during the first stage of labor.

[0009] This invention provides a uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device, comprising: A substrate, wherein a squatting mechanism and a swinging mechanism are provided on one side of the substrate; A seat support is used to support the buttocks of a postpartum woman. The bottom of the seat support is detachably fastened to the squatting mechanism or the rocking mechanism. The squatting mechanism is used to move the seat support up and down in coordination with the postpartum woman's uterine contractions, and the rocking mechanism is used to move the seat support back and forth in coordination with the postpartum woman's uterine contractions. A leg support mechanism, located at the lower part of the seat support, is used to support and guide the bending of the mother's thighs.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the seat support includes a base plate, a back support portion and a hip support portion, the back support portion and the hip support portion are rotatably connected, the base plate and the back support portion are connected by a first elastic telescopic rod, the base plate and the hip support portion are connected by a second elastic telescopic rod, and the base plate is detachably connected to the squatting mechanism or the rocking mechanism.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, one end of the first elastic telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the base plate, and the other end of the first elastic telescopic rod is ball-jointed to the back support portion; one end of the second elastic telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the base plate, and the other end of the second elastic telescopic rod is ball-jointed to the hip support portion.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the squatting mechanism includes a first driving member, a lead screw, a slider, and a first connecting plate. A vertically arranged groove is provided on the base plate, the slider is slidably disposed in the groove, the slider is threadedly connected to the lead screw, the first driving member is used to drive the lead screw to rotate, the slider is connected to the first connecting plate, and the first connecting plate is used to be detachably connected to the base plate.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the slider and the first connecting plate are adaptively slidably connected by a sliding component. The sliding component includes a sliding rod and two hydraulic chambers. The two hydraulic chambers are disposed in the first connecting plate. The two ends of the sliding rod are slidably connected in the hydraulic chambers respectively. The two hydraulic chambers are interconnected by a pipe.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the swing mechanism includes a second driving component, a gear assembly, a swing rod, and a second connecting plate. The second driving component drives the swing rod to reciprocate through the gear assembly. The swing rod and the second connecting plate are rotatably connected. The second driving component and the gear assembly are both disposed on the base plate. The swing rod is an adaptive telescopic rod. The second connecting plate is used for detachable connection with the base plate.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the leg support mechanism includes a foot pedal, a calf support member, and a thigh support member. The calf support member is fixed to the heel of the foot pedal, and the thigh support member is rotatably connected to the upper end of the calf support member. A third driving member for controlling rotation is provided between the thigh support member and the calf support member.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the calf support is arranged perpendicular to the foot pedal, the foot pedal is placed on the ground, and the bottom of the foot pedal has a counterweight.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sides of the back support and the hip support away from the base plate, as well as the sides of the calf support and the thigh support away from the base plate, are all covered with a sponge layer and an air cushion layer.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, a control module and a voice module are further included. The control module is used to control the first driving component, the second driving component, and the third driving component. The voice module is integrated inside the substrate and is used to play music or rhythm to guide the mother's movements.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this invention: The contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid proposed in this invention can be fixedly placed against a hospital wall, alongside tools such as yoga balls. When using this device, if squatting is required, the seat support is fixedly fastened to the squatting mechanism; the mother places her legs in the leg support mechanism and her buttocks in the seat support, then activates the squatting mechanism to guide her in the squatting motion. If hip-swaying is required, the seat support is fixedly fastened to the swaying mechanism, then the swaying mechanism guides the mother in the hip-swaying motion. Squatting and hip-swaying are movements currently advocated by many hospitals to quickly induce labor by engaging the pelvis and opening the cervix. Although these movements are simple, they are difficult for mothers to perform correctly. With the guidance of this device, during these two movements, the mother's thighs are supported and guided by the leg support mechanism, and her buttocks are supported and guided by the seat support. The mother can perform the movements correctly without exerting any effort, effectively inducing labor. Compared with existing technologies, this device can guide mothers in effective assisted movements, stimulating the mother's body to achieve natural labor induction. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0021] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to an example of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a side view of a uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to an example of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a front view of a uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to an example of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the first connecting plate in a uterine contraction-responsive maternal movement aid device according to an example of the present invention.

[0022] The attached figures are labeled as follows: Substrate 10, Squat mechanism 20, first drive component 21, lead screw 22, slider 23, sliding rod 24, first connecting plate 25, cylinder 26, pipe 27. The components include: a swing mechanism 30, a second drive component 31, a main gear 32, a half gear 33, a swing rod 34, and a second connecting plate 35. Seat support 40, base plate 41, back support 42, hip support 43, first elastic telescopic rod 44, second elastic telescopic rod 45 Leg support mechanism 50, foot pedal 51, calf support component 52, thigh support component 53 Control module 60, voice module 61. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. Various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0024] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. The drawings only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0025] In the following description, numerous details are explored to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other embodiments, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form rather than in detail to avoid obscuring embodiments of the invention.

[0026] The specific structure of the uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device in this invention is described in conjunction with [reference needed]. Figures 1 to 4 This contraction-responsive maternal movement aid includes: The substrate 10 has a squatting mechanism 20 and a swinging mechanism 30 on one side. The seat support 40 is used to support the buttocks of the mother. The bottom of the seat support 40 is detachably fastened to the squatting mechanism 20 or the rocking mechanism 30. The squatting mechanism 20 is used to move the seat support 40 up and down in coordination with the mother's uterine contractions. The rocking mechanism 30 is used to move the seat support 40 back and forth in coordination with the mother's uterine contractions. A leg support mechanism 50 is located at the lower part of the seat support 40 and is used to support and guide the bending of the mother's thighs.

[0027] The seat support 40 is used to support the buttocks of the mother. It can be optimized by using a massage chair seat support 40. The squatting mechanism 20 can make the seat support 40 move up and down at a suitable frequency. The squatting mechanism 20 can be combined with existing mechanical mechanisms, as long as the appropriate frequency of up and down movement is achieved. The rocking mechanism 30 can make the seat support 40 swing appropriately. The rocking mechanism 30 can be combined with existing mechanical mechanisms, as long as the appropriate frequency of rocking movement is achieved.

[0028] The leg support mechanism 50 is used to support the mother's legs from the thigh to the calf and guide the thigh flexion.

[0029] This invention proposes a contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid that can be fixed against a hospital wall and placed alongside tools such as yoga balls. When using the device, if squatting is required, the seat support 40 is fixedly fastened to the squatting mechanism 20. The mother places her legs in the leg support mechanism 50 and her buttocks in the seat support 40, then uses the squatting mechanism 20 to guide her through the squatting motion. If hip-swaying is required, the seat support 40 is fixedly fastened to the swaying mechanism 30, which guides the mother through the hip-swaying motion. Squatting and hip-swaying are movements advocated by many hospitals to quickly induce labor by promoting pelvic engagement and cervical dilation. Although these movements are simple, they are difficult for mothers to perform correctly. With the guidance of this device, the mother's thighs are supported and guided by the leg support mechanism 50, and her buttocks are supported and guided by the seat support 40. The mother can perform these movements correctly without exerting any effort, effectively inducing labor.

[0030] In some embodiments, the seat support 40 includes a base plate 41, a back support 42, and a hip support 43. The back support 42 and the hip support 43 are rotatably connected. The base plate 41 and the back support 42 are connected by a first elastic telescopic rod 44, and the base plate 41 and the hip support 43 are connected by a second elastic telescopic rod 45. The base plate 41 is detachably connected to the squatting mechanism 20 or the rocking mechanism 30. For example, Figures 1 to 3As shown, the seat support 40 is used to support the mother's buttocks. Because the mother's abdomen is large and the baby has considerable weight, the mother's lower back may arch forward, and the angle of this arching varies from mother to mother. Therefore, the back support 42 and the buttock support 43 are rotatably connected. The base plate 41 and the back support 42 are connected by a first elastic telescopic rod 44, and the base plate 41 and the buttock support 43 are connected by a second elastic telescopic rod 45. After the mother's buttocks are placed in the seat support 40, her buttocks rest on the buttock support, and her back leans against the back support 42. The angle between the buttock support 43 and the back support 42 will adaptively adjust according to the mother's waist and hip position, allowing the mother to sit comfortably in the seat support 40. The first elastic telescopic rod 44 provides strong support for the back support 42, and the second elastic telescopic rod 45 provides strong support for the buttock support 43, enabling the seat support 40 to effectively support the mother's buttocks, making her feel comfortable and relaxed, and safe during up-and-down movements or back-and-forth swinging.

[0031] In some embodiments, one end of the first elastic telescopic rod 44 is fixedly connected to the base plate 41, and the other end of the first elastic telescopic rod 44 is ball-jointed to the back support portion 42; one end of the second elastic telescopic rod 45 is fixedly connected to the base plate 41, and the other end of the second elastic telescopic rod 45 is ball-jointed to the hip support portion 43. For example, Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the end of the first elastic telescopic rod 44 is ball-jointed with the back support 42, which facilitates the back support 42 to swing in the vertical direction; the end of the second elastic telescopic rod 45 is ball-jointed with the buttock support 43, which facilitates the buttock support 43 to swing in the vertical direction; so that the seat support 40 can adapt to the buttocks of the mother.

[0032] In some embodiments, the squatting mechanism 20 includes a first driving member 21, a lead screw 22, a slider 23, and a first connecting plate 25. A vertically arranged groove is provided on the base plate 10. The slider 23 is slidably disposed within the groove and is threadedly connected to the lead screw 22. The first driving member 21 drives the lead screw 22 to rotate. The slider 23 is connected to the first connecting plate 25, which is detachably connected to the base plate 41. For example, Figure 2 As shown, the first driving member 21 drives the lead screw 22 to rotate. The lead screw 22 is threadedly connected to the slider 23. The rotation of the lead screw 22 causes the slider 23 to slide up and down in the groove. The slider 23 then drives the first connecting plate 25 to move up and down. When the squatting mechanism 20 is connected to the base plate 41 through the first connecting plate 25, the squatting mechanism 20 can be activated to drive the seat support 40 to move up and down, thereby guiding the mother to complete the squatting action.

[0033] In some embodiments, the slider 23 and the first connecting plate 25 are adaptively slidably connected via a sliding component. The sliding component includes a sliding rod 24 and two hydraulic chambers. The two hydraulic chambers are disposed within the first connecting plate 25, and both ends of the sliding rod 24 are slidably connected within the hydraulic chambers. The two hydraulic chambers are interconnected via a pipe 27. For example, Figure 4 As shown, both hydraulic chambers and pipes 27 are embedded inside the first connecting plate 25. The central axes of the two hydraulic chambers are kept on the same line. The two ends of the sliding rod 24 are slidably connected in the hydraulic chambers, and both hydraulic chambers are filled with hydraulic oil. After the seat 40 is connected to the first connecting plate 25 through the base plate 41, the seat 40, after bearing the weight of the mother, will transfer the hydraulic oil through pipes 27 in the two hydraulic chambers according to the height of the mother, thereby achieving the seat 40 adapting to the height of the mother. In order to make the sliding component lift the first connecting plate 25 to a higher position, a spring can be installed in the upper hydraulic chamber. When the seat 40 is not in use, the hydraulic oil in the lower hydraulic chamber will be transferred to the upper hydraulic chamber under the action of the spring, thus raising the first connecting plate 25.

[0034] In some embodiments, the rocking mechanism 30 includes a second driving member 31, a gear assembly, a rocking rod 34, and a second connecting plate 35. The second driving assembly drives the rocking rod 34 to reciprocate through the gear assembly. The rocking rod 34 and the second connecting plate 35 are rotatably connected. The second driving member 31 and the gear assembly are both disposed on the base plate 10. The rocking rod 34 is an adaptive telescopic rod. The second connecting plate 35 is used for detachable connection with the base plate 41. For example, Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the second driving component 31 controls the swing rod 34 to swing back and forth through the drive gear assembly, thereby driving the second connecting plate 35 to swing back and forth. When the second connecting plate 35 is connected and fixed to the seat support 40, it can drive the seat support 40 to swing back and forth, thereby driving the buttocks of the mother to swing left and right.

[0035] In some embodiments, the leg support mechanism 50 includes a foot pedal 51, a calf support 52, and a thigh support 53. The calf support 52 is fixed to the heel of the foot pedal 51, and the thigh support 53 is rotatably connected to the upper end of the calf support 52. A third driving member for controlling rotation is disposed between the thigh support 53 and the calf support 52. For example, Figures 1 to 3As shown, when using this device, the mother places her feet on the foot pedal 51, her calves rest on the calf support 52, and her thighs align with the thigh support 53. With the support of the leg support mechanism 50, the mother can perform a standard squatting motion. The third drive unit controls the rotation between the thigh support 53 and the calf support 52 according to the mother's leg position, ensuring they fit snugly against her legs. The third drive unit is a cylinder 26, one end of which is fixed to the calf support 52. The piston rod of the cylinder 26 is connected to the thigh support 53. Extending the piston rod changes the angle between the thigh support 53 and the calf support 52. Both the calf support 52 and the thigh support 53 are lined with a sponge layer, which is then covered with a dermal layer for added comfort. In order to make the calf support 52 more adaptable to the length of the mother's calf, the calf support 52 can be set as an elastic element. After the mother's legs are placed in the leg auxiliary mechanism 50, the calf support 52 will be compressed according to the length of the calf, adaptively adjusting to match the mother's body, so as to make the mother more comfortable.

[0036] In some embodiments, the calf support 52 is disposed perpendicular to the footrest 51, which is placed on the ground and has a counterweight at its bottom. For example, Figure 2 As shown, the calf support 52 is perpendicular to the foot pedal 51, which can support the mother's calves, making it easier for her thighs to bend, making her body more stable, and making it easier to complete hip swaying and squatting movements, thus achieving a better state for labor induction.

[0037] In some embodiments, the sides of the back support 42 and the hip support 43 away from the base plate 41, and the sides of the calf support 52 and the thigh support 53 away from the base plate 41, are all covered with a sponge layer and an air cushion layer. For example, Figure 2 As shown, the air cushion layer is used to adaptively support and lift the mother's buttocks, making the mother more comfortable.

[0038] In some embodiments, a control module 60 and a voice module 61 are also included. The control module 60 is used to control the first drive member 21, the second drive member 31, and the third drive member. The voice module 61 is integrated inside the substrate 10 and is used to play music or rhythm to guide the mother's movements. For example, Figure 3As shown, a control module 60 and a voice module 61 are mounted on the substrate 10. The control module 60 is a simple PCL control module that can control the power supply and usage of the first drive unit 21, the second drive unit 31, and the third drive unit, as well as the cylinder 26. The voice module 61 uses a small speaker and only needs to be equipped with voice guidance and music for the mother's labor guidance. The voice module 61 can be activated by voice. When the mother performs squatting or hip-swaying movements, it plays music and voice guidance to help her breathe, relax, and thus improve the labor induction effect.

[0039] In a specific embodiment, the device can incorporate a sensor module and connect to a display module, integrating a strain sensor and a blood oxygen monitoring unit to detect the intensity of uterine contractions, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen level of the mother in real time, and display these parameters in real time through the display module.

[0040] After production begins, the surface area can be optimized according to ergonomic requirements.

[0041] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device, characterized in that, include: A substrate, wherein a squatting mechanism and a swinging mechanism are provided on one side of the substrate; A seat support is used to support the buttocks of a postpartum woman. The bottom of the seat support is detachably fastened to the squatting mechanism or the rocking mechanism. The squatting mechanism is used to move the seat support up and down in coordination with the postpartum woman's uterine contractions, and the rocking mechanism is used to move the seat support back and forth in coordination with the postpartum woman's uterine contractions. A leg support mechanism, located at the lower part of the seat support, is used to support and guide the bending of the mother's thighs.

2. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The seat support includes a base plate, a back support, and a hip support. The back support and the hip support are rotatably connected. The base plate and the back support are connected by a first elastic telescopic rod. The base plate and the hip support are connected by a second elastic telescopic rod. The base plate is detachably connected to the squatting mechanism or the rocking mechanism.

3. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 2, characterized in that: One end of the first elastic telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the base plate, and the other end of the first elastic telescopic rod is ball-jointed to the back support part; one end of the second elastic telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the base plate, and the other end of the second elastic telescopic rod is ball-jointed to the hip support part.

4. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The squatting mechanism includes a first driving member, a lead screw, a slider, and a first connecting plate. A vertically arranged groove is provided on the base plate. The slider is slidably disposed in the groove and is threadedly connected to the lead screw. The first driving member is used to drive the lead screw to rotate. The slider is connected to the first connecting plate, and the first connecting plate is used to be detachably connected to the base plate.

5. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The slider and the first connecting plate are adaptively slidably connected by a sliding component. The sliding component includes a sliding rod and two hydraulic chambers. The two hydraulic chambers are disposed in the first connecting plate. The two ends of the sliding rod are slidably connected in the hydraulic chambers respectively. The two hydraulic chambers are interconnected by a pipe.

6. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The swing mechanism comprises a second driving component, a gear assembly, a swing rod, and a second connecting plate. The second driving component drives the swing rod to reciprocate through the gear assembly. The swing rod and the second connecting plate are rotatably connected. Both the second driving component and the gear assembly are mounted on the base plate. The swing rod is an adaptive telescopic rod. The second connecting plate is detachably connected to the base plate.

7. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The leg support mechanism includes a foot pedal, a calf support, and a thigh support. The calf support is fixed to the heel of the foot pedal, and the thigh support is rotatably connected to the upper end of the calf support. A third drive component for controlling rotation is provided between the thigh support and the calf support.

8. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The calf support is perpendicular to the foot pedal, which is placed on the ground and has a counterweight at its bottom.

9. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise aid device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The back support and hip support on the side away from the base plate, as well as the calf support and thigh support on the side away from the base plate, are all covered with a sponge layer and an air cushion layer.

10. The uterine contraction-responsive maternal exercise assistive device according to claim 9, characterized in that: It also includes a control module and a voice module. The control module is used to control the first drive unit, the second drive unit, and the third drive unit. The voice module is integrated inside the substrate and is used to play music or rhythm to guide the mother's movements.

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