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US 5,308,359 AGranted
Apparatus and method for producing spinal distraction
AssigneeLossing Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorWallace W. Lossing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides apparatus and method for therapeutically treating an injured spine by lifting and rotating the pelvic area to straighten the lumbar spine and by applying a force to the spine to separate vertebral bodies and to stretch the connective tissue along the spinal cord by relative movement of the body of the patient with reference to a fixed point.
Claims44
Apparatus for treating the spine of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- a carriage;
- means for supporting the patient in a 90/90 position, said means for supporting including a bed;
- means for lifting and rotating the pelvic region of the patient such that the lumbar portion of the spine is straightened, said means for lifting and rotating generally carrying the weight of the pelvic region of the patient while said means for supporting generally carries the remainder of the body weight of the patient;
- and
- means for selectively providing relative substantially translational motion between said means for supporting and said means for lifting and rotating such that a portion of the patient's body weight carried by said means for supporting is transferred from said means for supporting to said means for rotating and lifting and such that the patient's buttocks are raised off said means for supporting, wherein the transferred weight acts as a traction force applied to the spine to therapeutically and selectively elongate the spine;
- wherein said bed includes a head and a foot and said relative substantially translational movement includes movement of said bed along a path in a head to foot direction, said path including a first path segment having a generally downwardly inclined direction.
3 more elements
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said transferred weight is in the range of about two to twelve pounds.
Apparatus for treating the spine of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- a carriage;
- means for supporting the patient in a 90/90 position, said means for supporting including a bed;
- means for lifting and rotating the pelvic region of the patient such that the lumbar portion of the spine is straightened, said means for lifting and rotating generally carrying the weight of the pelvic region of the patient while said means for supporting generally carries the remainder of the body weight of the patient;
- and
- means for selectively providing relative substantially translational motion between said means for supporting and said means for lifting and rotating such that a portion of the patient's body weight carried by said means for supporting is transferred from said means for supporting to said means for rotating and lifting and such that the patient's buttocks are raised off said means for supporting, wherein the transferred weight acts as a traction force applied to the spine to therapeutically and selectively elongate the spine;
- wherein said bed is movably supported by said carriage and said means for lifting and rotating is attached to said carriage and includes:
- an elongate arm pivotally attached at one end thereof to said carriage and extending generally upwardly therefrom;
- a cross-piece attached to the other end of said arm, said cross-piece extending generally horizontally over said bed;
- a harness for encircling the pelvic region of the patient, said cross-piece supporting said harness;
- and
- means for varying the height of said harness relative to said bed;
- wherein said harness is attached to the pelvic region of the patient and the pelvic region of the patient is elevated from and raised above said bed by said means for varying.
9 more elements
Apparatus for treating the spine of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- a carriage;
- means for supporting the patient in a 90/90 position, said means for supporting including a bed;
- means for lifting and rotating the pelvic region of the patient such that the lumbar portion of the spine is straightened, said means for lifting and rotating generally carrying the weight of the pelvic region of the patient while said means for supporting generally carries the remainder of the body weight of the patient;
- and
- means for selectively providing relative substantially translational motion between said means for supporting and said means for lifting and rotating such that a portion of the patient's body weight carried by said means for supporting is transferred from said means for supporting to said means for rotating and lifting and such that the patient's buttocks are raised off said means for supporting, wherein the transferred weight acts as a traction force applied to the spine to therapeutically and selectively elongate the spine;
- wherein said means for lifting and rotating is movably supported by said carriage and includes;
- an elongate arm pivotally attached at one end thereof to said carriage and extending generally upwardly therefrom;
- a cross-piece attached to the other end of said arm, said cross-piece extending generally horizontally over said bed;
- a harness for encircling the pelvic region of the patient, said cross-piece supporting said harness;
- and
- means for varying the height of said harness relative to said bed;
- wherein said harness is attached to the pelvic region of the patient and the pelvic region of the patient is elevated from and raised above said bed by said means for varying;
- and
- wherein said bed includes a head and a foot and said arm is movable along a path relative to said bed in a foot to head direction, said path having a first path segment in a generally upwardly inclined direction.
11 more elements
A method for treating the injured spine of a patient comprising:
- placing the patient in a 90/90 position;
- elevating and rotating the pelvic region of the patient wherein the spine tends to straighten;
- and
- applying a predetermined traction force to said spine to therapeutically treat the spine by selectively transferring body weight to the pelvic region of the patient;
- wherein the body weight is transferred by selectively moving the torso region of the patient downwardly and toward the elevated and rotated pelvic region.
2 more elements
The method of claim 29 wherein the connective tissue in the patient's spine elongates as said predetermined traction force is applied, said traction force declining as the connective tissue elongates.
Apparatus for applying a traction force to the spine of a patient to provide a therapeutic treatment thereof, said apparatus comprising:
- a carriage defining in part a force application path;
- means for supporting the patient in a 90/90 position, said means for supporting being attached to said carriage;
- means for lifting and rotating the pelvic region of the patient such that the spine is straightened, said means for lifting and rotating providing a fixed reference point relative to the patient for application of the traction force, said means including a harness for encircling the pelvic region of the patient;
- and
- actuation means for selectively moving said means for supporting relative to said means for lifting and rotating along said force application path such that said means for supporting is moved relative to said fixed reference point and such that the patient's buttocks are elevated above said means for supporting and such that a traction force is applied to the spine of the patient;
- wherein:
- said means for supporting includes a bed movably supported by said carriage and is movable along said force application path by said actuation means, wherein said bed includes a head and a foot and said bed is movable along said force application path in a head to foot direction, said path including a first path segment having a generally downwardly inclined direction;
- and
- means for lifting and rotating is attached to said carriage.
6 more elements
Apparatus for applying a traction force to the spine of a patient to provide a therapeutic treatment thereof, said apparatus comprising:
- a carriage defining in part a force application path;
- means for supporting the patient in a 90/90 position, said means for supporting being attached to said carriage;
- means for lifting and rotating the pelvic region of the patient such that the spine is straightened, said means for lifting and rotating providing a reference point relative to the patient for application of the traction force, said means including a harness for encircling the pelvic region of the patient;
- and
- actuation means for selectively moving said means for lifting and rotating relative to said means for supporting along said force application path such that the patient's buttocks are elevated above said means for supporting and such that a traction force is applied to the spine of the patient;
- wherein:
- said means for supporting includes a bed, said bed including a head and a foot;
- and
- said means for lifting and rotating is movably supported by said carriage and is movable along said force application path by said actuation means in a foot to head direction, said path including a first path segment having a generally upwardly inclined direction.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.