(19) & (11) EP 2 098 209 A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 09.09.2009 Bulletin 2009/37 A61H 21/00 (2006.01) A61H 39/04 (2006.01) (21) Application number: 09153839.7 (22) Date of filing: 27.02.2009 (84) Designated Contracting States: (71) Applicant: Takashima, Jiro AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR Houston, TX 77055 (US) HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (72) Inventor: Takashima, Jiro Designated Extension States: Houston, TX 77055 (US) AL BA RS (74) Representative: Giovannini, Francesca et al (30) Priority: 03.03.2008 US 41501 Osha Liang 32, avenue de l’Opéra 75002 Paris (FR) (54) Prostate massage apparatus (57) An apparatus for massaging a prostate includes ually reducing diameters distal to the head portion; and a body having a substantially ellipsoid shape and sized a retainer bar joined the body at one end of the neck to fit in a rectum through a sphincter, wherein the body portion to form a substantially T-shaped structure, where- comprises a head portion and a neck portion, wherein in the retainer bar comprises two contact points for con- the head portion is configured to contact the prostate tacting a first acupressure point, which is located in the through the rectum wall when inserted in the rectum, and perineum region between the anus and the scrotum, and wherein the neck portion has a tapered section with grad- a second acupressure point, which is located about mid- way between the anus and the lower end of the coccyx. EP 2 098 209 A1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 2 098 209 A1 2 Description [0007] U.S. Patent No. 2,478,786, issued to H. M. Smallen, describes a prostate gland massaging imple- BACKGROUND OF INVENTION ment that is operated by hand. This implement includes a lever having an interior handle which constitutes a pow- Field of the Invention 5 er arm to extend down in front of the abdomen and a substantially horizontal portion extending under the groin [0001] The present invention relates to apparatus for and offset laterally to avoid the genital organs. The im- preventing and treating prostate abnormalities, including plement has an upwardly and forwardly bent posterior benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. More portion which forms the work arm. This work arm extends particularly, the present invention relates to devices for 10 into the rectal passage to bear against the frontal wall massaging the prostate gland. thereof adjacent the prostate gland. The bent portion be- tween the horizontal and the posterior portions serves Background Art as a fulcrum point against the front wall of the rectal open- ing when the implement is subject to pivotal movement [0002] Prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine 15 around this point. glad that is part of the male reproduction system in mam- [0008] The inventor of the present application has in- mals. Common prostate abnormalities include benign vented several prostate massaging devices, as disclosed prostate hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate can- in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,797,950; 5,861,000; 6,589,193; cer. BPH is a condition with enlarged prostate gland, of- 6,802,850; and 7,211,059; and published U.S. Patent Ap- ten occurs in older men. Severe BPH can cause urination 20 plication Nos. 2002/0040200; 2004/0158182; and difficulties due to the enlarged prostate pressing against 2005/0266048. These devices are operated by the con- the urethra. BPH can be treated with medication or with traction of the sphincter muscles, without the need of surgery that removes part of the prostate. hand operations. FIGs. 1 and 2 illustrate two of such de- [0003] Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. vices. There are different forms of prostatitis. Acute prostatitis 25 [0009] As shown in FIG. 1, a device for prostate mas- and chronic bacterial prostatitis may be treated with an- sage has a generally rod-shape body comprising a head tibiotics, while chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, which ac- portion 112 designed to contact the prostate through the counts for about 95% of prostatitis diagnoses, may be rectum, a neck portion 123, and a retainer portion 114. treated with a variety of modalities, including α-adrener- The neck portion 123, having gradually reducing diame- gic blockers, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and anti- 30 ters from the head portion 112, is designed to allow con- histamines. traction of the sphincter muscle to push the device up- [0004] Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis may lead to flu- ward to massage the prostate. The retainer portion 114, id build up in the prostate, resulting in a congested pros- which joins the neck portion 123 at the bend 121 to form tate. One treatment for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis a generally C-shape, is designed to prevent the device is the prostate massage. Some urologists believe that 35 from completely slipping into the rectum and also to con- the most effective treatment for such prostatitis is for the tact the perineum-groin area, thereby forcing the head doctor to massage the prostate at regular intervals. How- portion 112 to contact the prostate. ever, such massages can be difficult to obtain because [0010] FIGs. 2A and 2B show another prostate mas- it often requires frequent visits by the patients to doctor’s saging device invented by the present inventor, illustrat- offices, which is associated with considerable expense 40 ing the location of the device in the rectum 24 before and inconvenience. Therefore, there is a need for devices (FIG. 2A) and after (FIG. 2B) sphincter muscle 26 con- that would allow an individual to carry out his own pros- traction. As the device is pushed up by the sphincter 26 tatic massage. contraction, the head portion 42 presses against the [0005] Since prostate is located proximate the anus, prostate 28, as shown in FIG. 2B. When the sphincter various devices that can contact prostate gland through 45 muscles 26 relax, the device will slide downward, result- rectal wall have been devised in the art. For example, ing in less compression of the prostate, as shown in FIG. U.S. Patent No. 4,542,753, issued to Brenman et al., dis- 2A. Therefore, repeated contraction and relaxation of the closes an apparatus having electrodes and circuitry for sphincter muscles can produce the desired massage of generating electrical signals to stimulate prostate gland the prostate without using a hand. and erectile tissue, after the device is disposed in the 50 [0011] These prior art devices provide convenient rectum. ways to massage a congested prostate. [0006] U.S. Patent No. 5,404,881, issued to Cathaud However, there remains a need for improved prostate et al., describes a trans-rectal probe made of a flexible massage devices. self-supporting polymer material. The flexibility of the pol- ymer material enables it to comply with the shape therein, 55 SUMMARY OF INVENTION making it possible to achieve safe and reliable positioning of an instrument for detection or therapeutic treatment of [0012] One aspect of the invention relates to apparatus an organ (such as prostate) through the rectum. for massaging a prostate. An apparatus in accordance 2 3 EP 2 098 209 A1 4 with one embodiment of the invention includes a body to the retainer bar and the body portion flexibly jointed having a substantially ellipsoid shape and sized to fit in with the retainer bar. a rectum through a sphincter, wherein the body compris- [0023] FIG. 7 shows several variations and modifica- es a head portion and a neck portion, wherein the head tions of the prostate massaging apparatus in accordance portion is configured to contact the prostate through the 5 with embodiments of the invention, illustrating various rectum wall when inserted in the rectum, and wherein shapes of the bodies and retainer bars that may be used the neck portion has a tapered section with gradually with embodiments of the invention. reducing diameters distal to the head portion; and a re- [0024] FIG. 8 shows an illustration of a sectional view tainer bar joined the body at one end of the neck portion of a lower portion of a human body, illustrating the loca- to form a substantially T-shaped structure, wherein the 10 tions of the two acupressure points. retainer bar comprises two contact points for contacting [0025] FIG. 9 shows a diagram illustrating a prostate a first acupressure point, which is located in the perineum massaging apparatus in use. region between the anus and the scrotum, and a second acupressure point, which is located about midway be- DETAILED DESCRIPTION tween the anus and the lower end of the coccyx, wherein 15 the head portion and the two contact points are config- [0026] Embodiments of the invention relates to pros- ured such that they can contact the prostate, the first tate massage apparatus that rely on sphincter muscles acupressure point, and the second acupressure point si- to provide the massage action, i.e., converting the multaneously. sphincter’s contraction and relaxation actions to an up- [0013] Another aspect of the invention relates to meth- 20 and-down motion of the device in the rectum to massage ods for massaging a prostate. A method in accordance the prostate. In addition, the apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes providing with embodiments of the invention can provide pressure a device configured to contact the prostate, a first acu- in the perineum region and a region midway between the pressure point located in the perineum region between anus and the lower end of the coccyx (tail bone) to pro- the anus and the scrotum, and a second acupressure 25 duce acupressure therapeutic effects to stimulate these point located about midway between the anus and the areas for therapeutic purposes.