Biofeedback device for an incontinent person
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsDonald C. Roe, Peter Coles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biofeedback device for predicting an impending elimination of bodily waste in an incontinent person includes a sensing element in contact with an area of a user so as to detect electrical activity of a sphincter muscle associated therewith and a signaling element operatively connected to the sensing element that provides a signal upon an occurrence of a predetermined electrical activity for the sphincter muscle. The biofeedback device is able to predict an impending elimination of bodily waste for an incontinent person, as well as assist the incontinent person in achieving a contraction of his/her sphincter muscle.
Claims59
A biofeedback device, comprising:
- (a) a sensing element in contact with an area of a user so as to detect electrical activity of a sphincter muscle associated therewith;
- and
- (b) a signaling element operatively connected to said sensing element that provides a signal upon an occurrence of a predetermined electrical activity for said sphincter muscle.
A method of predicting an impending elimination of bodily waste in an incontinent person, comprising the following steps:
- (a) identifying a specified electrical activity for a sphincter muscle of said incontinent person correlating to a contraction thereof;
- (b) monitoring electrical activity of said sphincter muscle;
- and
- (c) determining whether said specified electrical activity occurs for said sphincter muscle.
A method of assisting an incontinent person in achieving a contraction of his/her sphincter muscle, comprising the following steps:
- (a) identifying a specified electrical activity for said sphincter muscle correlating to an impending elimination of bodily waste;
- (b) monitoring electrical activity of said sphincter muscle;
- (c) determining whether said specified electrical activity for said sphincter muscle has occurred;
- and
- (d) providing a signal upon occurrence of said specified electrical activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.