Patent US4457108A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4895363A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4895363A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Set of parts and methods for testing and/or strengthening pelvic floor muscles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-08-30
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Granted: 1990-01-23
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Expires: 2008-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of devices (10) each have identical size and shape, but are of graded weights. A device is inserted into the vagina of a subject, and if the pelvic floor muscles (12) are capable of retaining that weight, the device is replaced by a heavier one. The heaviest that can be retained is a measure of a pelvic floor muscle strength, and the muscles can be exercised by retaining the device for a predetermined time, such as 15 to 20 minutes per day.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanislav Plevnik
- 👤 Marko Stular
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:20
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B23/00; A63B23/20; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/22; A61B5/224; A61B5/227; A63B21/00; A63B21/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of testing pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set , the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of testing pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set , the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the resting strength of the pelvic floor muscles is determined by the subject not exerting voluntary holding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the active strength of the pelvic floor muscles is determined by the subject exerting voluntary holding.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of exercising pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set , the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength, and retaining the device whose weight is just capable of being supported by exerting voluntary holding for a predetermined time.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of exercising pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set , the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength, and retaining the device whose weight is just capable of being supported by exerting voluntary holding for a predetermined time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined time is 15-20 minutes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of testing pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set, each of said devices being formed from the least two materials having different densities, the proportion of each material being varied between devices in said set, the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of testing pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set, each of said devices being formed from the least two materials having different densities, the proportion of each material being varied between devices in said set, the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of exercising pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set, each of said devices being formed from at least two materials having different densities, the proportion of each material being varied between devices in said set, the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength, and retaining the device whose weight is just capable of being supported by exerting voluntary holding for a predetermined time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of exercising pelvic floor muscles utilizing a set of parts comprising a plurality of exercise devices each having a substantially identical size and shape and having a fixed volume such that each of said devices can be fully inserted into the vagina of a human subject, each of said exercise devices in said set having a weight different from each of the other exercise devices in said set, each of said devices being formed from at least two materials having different densities, the proportion of each material being varied between devices in said set, the method comprising: fully inserting one of the devices and checking whether the pelvic floor muscles can support the device; if so, replacing the device with a heavier device, and if not, replacing the device with a lighter device; and repeating the above steps until one of the devices is just capable of being supported, the weight of that device providing an indication of the pelvic floor muscle strength, and retaining the device whose weight is just capable of being supported by exerting voluntary holding for a predetermined time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-22 | 1993-07-24 | 1994-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-22 | 1997-07-24 | 1998-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-22 | 2001-07-24 | 2002-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |