Pelvic Floor Sound Detection via Elastic Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional detecting devices for pelvic floor muscle exercise are limited by the need for contact with the body, making them inconvenient to use when wearing clothing, potentially inaccurate, and not suitable for detecting low frequencies generated by muscle contractions, especially when the pelvic floor muscle is located internally.
Innovation Solution
A sound detecting device with an elastic sound receiving membrane, a sound collecting chamber, a support ring, a microphone, and an electric circuit board that uses skin muscle weight pressure to maintain contact with the skin or clothing, amplifying low frequencies generated by pelvic floor muscle contractions and relaxations, and transfers data via Bluetooth to a smart device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional detecting devices use electrodes or inserting type devices to detect pelvic floor muscle exercise, then detection can be performed, but the device requires contact with the human body making it inconvenient to use when wearing clothing and potentially causing infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based detection system (electrodes or inserting devices) with an acoustic detection system using a microphone and sound collecting chamber. This substitution eliminates the need for direct body contact while maintaining detection capability, as the microphone can detect muscle contraction sounds through clothing without requiring physical insertion or adhesion to the body.
2Measurement precision
If a stethoscope with hard plastic plate is used to collect sounds, then sound collection is possible, but it cannot detect low frequencies generated by pelvic floor muscle contractions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic sound receiving membrane instead of a hard plastic plate. This flexible membrane can effectively transmit low frequency vibrations from pelvic floor muscle contractions to the microphone, unlike rigid materials that filter out such frequencies. The elastic membrane serves as an acoustic coupling element that preserves low frequency energy while maintaining device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sound receiving element from rigid (hard plastic) to flexible (elastic membrane), enabling the detection of low frequency vibrations. Additionally, the sound collecting chamber increases the sensitivity of the microphone by providing acoustic amplification, allowing detection of subtle muscle contraction sounds that would otherwise be below the detection threshold.
3Reliability
If electrodes or inserting devices are used for detection, then detection function is provided, but the operation requires private places and may cause infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based detection mechanisms with a non-contact acoustic detection system. The microphone detects muscle contraction sounds through the elastic membrane and sound collecting chamber without requiring insertion into or contact with body cavities, thereby eliminating infection risk while maintaining detection functionality.
4Reliability
If conventional detecting devices require body contact, then detection can be performed, but the device cannot be used when wearing outfits or skirts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes direct body contact detection with acoustic detection that can penetrate through clothing materials. The elastic sound receiving membrane and sound collecting chamber form an acoustic coupling system that can detect muscle contraction sounds through outfits or skirts, enabling detection in public settings without requiring removal of clothing.
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
Enables precise detection of pelvic floor muscle vibrations without the need for electrodes or insertion, allowing for convenient use anywhere and reducing the risk of infection, while providing ergonomic operation and accurate feedback through a smart device application.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic sound receiving membrane (4), disposed in the main body and located at the opening of the sound collecting chamber
Implementation Method 2
a sound collecting chamber (3), disposed in the main body and used for amplifying and collecting sounds
Implementation Method 3
the elastic sound receiving membrane is downwardly pressed through the pressure supplied by the skin muscle weight
Data Source
AI summary
A sound detecting device for pelvic floor muscle exercise includes: a main body, having a base seat; a sound collecting chamber, having an opening; an elastic sound receiving membrane, disposed in the main body and located at the opening; a support ring, disposed at a top end of the main body, arranged at a periphery of the elastic sound receiving membrane and corresponding to an outer periphery of the opening; a microphone, disposed at a bottom end of the sound collecting chamber; and an electric circuit board, disposed on the base seat, used for providing a wave filtering function and an amplifying function, connected to the microphone, and connected to at least one smart device installed with an application program (APP) through a Bluetooth device. As such, low frequencies generated when the pelvic floor muscle is relaxed or contacted can be amplified and precisely collected.