Vaginal probe and method
AssigneeMedoc Ltd.
InventorsEhud Gafni, Aharon Cohen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vaginal probe, and method of use is disclosed for stimulation of the nerves of the vagina with the purpose of testing their reaction to stimuli in the hope of defining, and treating sexual dysfunction in women. One embodiment of the invention (20) includes a shaft (22) adapted to be inserted into the genetalia of a human female. The shaft (22) includes a stop (24), presented as a thickening of the shaft (22). The probe (20) includes at least one stimulation area (26, 28) defined on a portion of the shaft (22) so that only a selected portion of the genetalia is stimulated. The shaft (22) may have sensors for measuring the reaction of the nerves to stimulation, and the stimulation areas (26, 28) may stimulate the nerves of the vagina using temperature, vibration, electricity, and/or pressure.
Claims116
A vaginal probe system, comprising:
- a shaft having a diameter of between 20 and 32 mm and adapted for insertion at least 5 mm into a human female genitalia;
- and
- a stimulator comprising at least one stimulation area, said stimulation area being defined on only a portion on the shaft, said stimulator being configured to selectively stimulate nerves in only a portion of the genitalia corresponding to said stimulation area, so that the stimulation remains local and does not spread substantially beyond the stimulation area.
A vaginal probe system, comprising:
- a shaft adapted for insertion at least 5 mm into a human female genitalia;
- a vibration stimulator comprising at least one stimulation area;
- a user input for receiving feedback on said vibration from said female;
- and
- a controller adapted to control said vibration in accordance with an interactive nervous testing protocol that uses user input from said input.
A vaginal probe system, comprising:
- a shaft adapted for insertion at least 1 mm into a human female genitalia;
- a stimulator comprising at least one stimulation area, said stimulation area being defined on only a portion on the shaft, said stimulator being configured to selectively stimulate nerves in only a portion of the genitalia corresponding to said stimulation area, so that the stimulation remains local and does not spread substantially beyond the stimulation area;
- and
- a pressure control mechanism operative to urge said area against said portion, at a desired controlled pressure level.
A system according to claim 49, wherein said protocol is adapted to take into account an arousal level of said patient as a result of said stimulation.
A method for assessing a sensitivity of a female genitalia, comprising:
- contacting a portion of said genitalia with a localized stimulator at a desired contact pressure;
- activating said stimulator at least once to selectively stimulate said portion;
- and
- determining at least one threshold of nervous sensitivity of said portion based on a patient response to said stimulation.
A method for assessing a sensitivity of a female genitalia, comprising:
- contacting at least portion of said genitalia with a stimulator;
- activating said stimulator at least once to stimulate at least said portion;
- and
- determining at least one threshold of nervous sensitivity of said portion based on an autonomous response to said stimulation.
A vaginal probe system, comprising:
- a shaft having a diameter of between 20 and 32 mm and adapted for insertion at least 5 mm into a human female genitalia;
- and
- a stimulator comprising at least two electrical stimulation areas, said stimulation areas being defined on only a portion on the shaft, limited in both axial and circumferential extent, said stimulator being configured to selectively stimulate nerves in only a portion of the genitalia defined by said two stimulation areas to be limited in both axial and circumferential extent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.