Hinged Vaginal Device for Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for strengthening the pelvic floor musculature in women often fail to accurately recruit the desired muscles, leading to asymmetry and dysfunction, and do not provide optimal stabilization or comfort, as they typically promote flat closure rather than vertical closure, which limits stability and can cause bladder and urethral irritation.
Innovation Solution
A device with elongated, semi-round arms connected by resilient members and a hinged handle, designed for customizable insertion into the vagina, allowing for adjustable diameter and resistance to promote both horizontal and vertical vaginal closure, strengthening the three distinct layers of the pelvic floor musculature without overpowering weaker muscles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If flat closure devices are used, then device simplicity is improved, but vaginal stability is worsened (limits stability by nearly 66%)
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs curved, semi-circular arms that conform to the natural cylindrical curvature of the vaginal canal, enabling vertical closure along the longitudinal axis rather than flat closure. This curved geometry allows the device to engage with the vaginal walls in a manner that preserves stability while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If outward-angled devices are used, then ease of insertion is improved, but pelvic stabilization is worsened (promotes outward pushing movement instead of upward inward contraction)
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of angling the device outward from the cervix, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the arms to converge upward and inward toward the cervix. This inverted geometry directs the closing force along the natural longitudinal axis of the vaginal canal, promoting upward inward contraction that stabilizes the pelvic floor rather than outward pushing that causes irritation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customizable adjustable devices are used, then adaptability to user needs is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates adjustable components including variable arm lengths, interchangeable resilient members with different resistance levels, and modulateable angles. These dynamic adjustment capabilities allow the same basic device structure to adapt to different user needs, anatomical variations, and therapeutic goals without requiring multiple entirely different device designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively strengthens the pelvic floor musculature by allowing for precise muscle contraction and relaxation, reducing vaginal gapping, improving stability, and enhancing functional activities without causing irritation, suitable for various user needs and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
resilient members between. The semi-round arms are connected at a hinged joint to a handle having two semi-round sections. In use, the device is inserted into a vagina, and force is exerted on the arms, thereby compressing the resilient members and bringing the arms closer together along their longitudinal axes.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinged vaginal strengthening device has three points of resistance along its length, which correspond with the three layers of pelvic musculature. The device is inserted into a vagina and compressed by the pelvic floor musculature, in accordance with various regimens to achieve goals such as decreasing vaginal gap or overcoming painful intercourse. The device is of various dimensions, thereby allowing a user to progress through multiple steps to achieve their goal of increasing or decreasing their vaginal space, as well as increasing muscle tone.