Pelvic Floor Biofeedback Device for Self-Administered Muscle Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse require medical supervision and do not allow for personalized adaptation of muscle exercises, limiting their effectiveness and accessibility for self-administration.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device with sensors captures EMG signals from the pelvic floor and abdominal areas, providing biofeedback through visual and acoustic displays, enabling users to perform exercises independently and adapt them based on individual conditions, with initial medical guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical supervision is required for muscle exercise training, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements biofeedback by capturing EMG signals from pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles, processing these signals to determine exercise performance quality, and providing real-time visual and acoustic feedback to guide users. This automated feedback mechanism replaces medical supervision while maintaining treatment effectiveness through objective measurement and guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing users to independently perform muscle exercises with automated guidance. The electronic device autonomously captures EMG signals, evaluates exercise performance, provides feedback, and adapts exercise parameters without requiring medical personnel presence, making treatment accessible at home.
2Device complexity
If exercise parameters are standardized, then treatment protocol simplicity is improved, but adaptability to individual conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts exercise parameters based on real-time EMG signal analysis. It automatically adjusts exercise intensity, duration, and type according to the user's muscle activation patterns and performance, transitioning from static standardized protocols to dynamic personalized treatment while maintaining systematic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes exercise parameters (intensity, duration, frequency) based on processed EMG data and user response. It automatically modifies treatment parameters to optimize effectiveness for each user's condition, combining standardized protocol framework with personalized parameter adaptation.
3Measurement precision
If manual evaluation of muscle exercises is used, then measurement precision is improved, but time consumption and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical evaluation by medical personnel with automated electronic evaluation. EMG sensors objectively measure muscle activity, and electronic processors automatically analyze signals to evaluate exercise performance, eliminating subjective human assessment while maintaining or improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary automated evaluation system between the user and treatment outcome. The electronic device acts as a mediator that objectively measures EMG signals, processes data, and provides evaluation feedback, replacing the need for direct medical personnel involvement in continuous monitoring.
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
This solution allows users to effectively strengthen pelvic floor muscles at home, improving incontinence treatment outcomes by providing personalized exercise feedback and data analysis, facilitating remote monitoring and progressive exercise adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic device associated with sensors (generally electrodes) is used for capturing and processing EMG signals relating to an area to be treated and to abdominal activity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method with biofeedback for training muscles of the pelvic floor, applicable to the treatment of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and prolapse of pelvic organs, using a portable electronic device for capturing, by means of sensors, EMG signals relating to abdominal activity and the area to be treated during muscle exercises, said device providing results visually and/or acoustically, the method comprising: placing a vaginal or rectal sensor (10) and two sensors (11) in the lower abdominal area, performing exercises working the muscles of the pelvic floor, providing evaluation of the exercises performed and storing results. The user places the sensors herself, the device evaluating the correct placement of the sensors indicating to the user that the suitable position has been reached through said acoustic and/or visual means, and performing a step prior to the exercises for acquiring muscle tone.