Ambulatory cyclic traction device

• US 20040077982A1
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMER Technology Limited (AMER International Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: AMER Technology Limited (AMER International Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Reinecke, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/024 having pressure pads connected in a frame for reduction or correction of the curvature of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0292 for the spinal column A61H1/0218 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors

Abstract

In one embodiment, an ambulatory cyclic traction device includes two support belts configured to be positioned about a user'"'"'s body and one or more lifting mechanisms coupled between the support belts, the one or more lifting mechanisms adapted to apply a decompressive force to a portion of the user'"'"'s body between the support belts. A control system is operable to automatically cause the one or more lifting mechanisms to cyclically apply the decompressive force to the portion of the user'"'"'s body through the support belts when the support belts are positioned about the user'"'"'s body, such that the decompressive force is applied for a predetermined time interval during each of a series of traction cycles.

Claims

1. An ambulatory cyclic traction device, comprising:

two support belts configured to be positioned about a user'"'"'s body;

one or more lifting mechanisms coupled between the support belts, the one or more lifting mechanisms adapted to apply a decompressive force to a portion of the user'"'"'s body between the support belts; and

a control system coupled to the one or more lifting mechanisms and operable to cause the one or more lifting mechanisms to cyclically apply the decompressive force to the portion of the user'"'"'s body through the support belts when the support belts are positioned about the user'"'"'s body, such that the decompressive force is applied for a predetermined time interval during each of a series of traction cycles.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the user'"'"'s body comprises a portion of the user'"'"'s spine.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time interval is a user-specified desired time interval.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the number of traction cycles in the series is user-specified.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

each lifting mechanism comprises a fluidic lifting mechanism; and

the control system is operable to supply a fluid to pressurize each lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to cyclically apply the decompressive force.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the control system is operable to maintain a pressure in each lifting mechanism during each traction cycle within a predetermined pressure range defined by a lower threshold and an upper threshold, the control system operable to supply additional fluid to the lifting mechanism in response to the pressure in the lifting mechanism falling below the lower threshold, the control system operable to reduce fluid pressure in the lifting mechanism in response to the pressure in the lifting mechanism rising above the upper threshold.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the control system is operable to maintain a pressure in each lifting mechanism during each traction cycle within a predetermined pressure range about a user-specified desired pressure level.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the user-specified desired pressure level is adjustable during use of the device.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the control system comprises a pump operable to supply the fluid and one or more valves operable to control the amount of fluid supplied to the one or more fluidic lifting mechanisms.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein a plurality of lifting mechanisms are coupled in series to the valve.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the one or more lifting mechanisms comprise four lifting mechanisms; and

the control system comprises a first valve for controlling the amount of fluid supplied to a first set of two lifting mechanisms and a second valve for controlling the amount of fluid supplied to a second set of two lifting mechanisms.

13. The device of claim 5, wherein the control system further comprises a pressure control coupled to a processor, the pressure control and the processor operable to work in conjunction with one another to control a pressure in the lifting mechanism.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the control system further comprises a pressure transducer associated with the lifting mechanism, the pressure transducer and the processor operable to work in conjunction with one another to maintain the pressure in the lifting mechanism within a predetermined pressure range.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the control system further comprises a timer, the timer and the processor operable to work in conjunction with one another to maintain the pressure in the lifting mechanism within the predetermined pressure range for the predetermined time interval associated with a traction cycle.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a common adjustment strap coupled to each of the support belts and operable to substantially simultaneously adjust the support belts in substantially the same amount about the user'"'"'s body.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one support belt comprises a canting mechanism coupling opposing portions of the support belt and operable to allow the opposing portions to rotate about associated pivots to allow the support belt to conform to the user'"'"'s body and to synchronize the movement of the opposing portions of the support belt such that movement of one portion upward or downward requires movement of the other portion upward or downward in a substantially equivalent amount.

7. The device of Clam 5, wherein the predetermined pressure range is a user-specified desired pressure range.

18. An ambulatory traction device, comprising:

two support belts configured to be positioned about a user'"'"'s body;

a plurality of fluidic lifting mechanisms coupled between the support members, the lifting mechanisms adapted to apply a decompressive force to a portion of the user'"'"'s body through the support belts when the support belts are positioned about the user'"'"'s body; and

a control system coupled to the lifting mechanisms and operable to cause the lifting mechanisms to cyclically apply the decompressive force to the portion of the user'"'"'s body through the support belts when the support belts are positioned about the user'"'"'s body, such that the decompressive force is applied for a predetermined time interval during each of a series of traction cycles, the control system comprising;

a pump operable to supply a fluid through one or more conduits to the lifting mechanisms;

a valve associated with the conduits and operable to control the amount of fluid supplied through the conduits to the lifting mechanisms;

a pressure control operable to set a desired pressure level in the lifting mechanisms;

a timer operable to set the predetermined time interval; and

a processor associated with the pump, valve, pressure control, and timer, the processor operable to control the pump and the valve in response to input from the pressure control and timer to maintain a pressure in the lifting mechanisms during each traction cycle within a predetermined pressure range about the desired pressure level.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the control system further comprises a pressure transducer associated with each lifting mechanism operable to detect the pressure in the lifting mechanism and communicate the pressure to the processor as input for use in maintaining the pressure in the lifting mechanism within the predetermined pressure range.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the control system further comprises a memory coupled to the processor, the memory operable to store historical information concerning operation of the device.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein:

each support belt comprises a pair of front belts coupled to a back belt; and

the device further comprises a common adjustment strap coupled to both support belts and operable to substantially simultaneously adjust both support belts in substantially the same amount about the user'"'"'s body.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein at least one support belt comprises a canting mechanism coupling opposing portions of the support belt and operable to allow the opposing portions to rotate about associated pivots to allow the support belt to conform to the user'"'"'s body and to synchronize the movement of the opposing portions of the support belt such that movement of one portion upward or downward requires movement of the other portion upward or downward in a substantially equivalent amount.

23. A method for treating a portion of a user'"'"'s body, comprising:

positioning two support belts about the user'"'"'s body, one or more lifting mechanisms being coupled between the support belts, the one or more lifting mechanisms adapted to apply a decompressive force to the portion of the user'"'"'s body through the support belts when the support belts are positioned about the user'"'"'s body; and

using a control system coupled to the one or more lifting mechanisms to cause the one or more lifting mechanisms to cyclically apply the decompressive force to the portion of the user'"'"'s body through the support belts when the support belts are positioned about the user'"'"'s body, such that the decompressive force is applied for a predetermined time interval during each of a series of traction cycles.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the portion of the user'"'"'s body comprises a portion of the user'"'"'s spine.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined time interval is a user-specified desired time interval.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the number of traction cycles in the series is user-specified.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein:

each lifting mechanism comprises a fluidic lifting mechanism; and

the control system supplies a fluid to pressurize each lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to cyclically apply the decompressive force.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the control system maintains a pressure in each lifting mechanism during each traction cycle within a predetermined pressure range defined by a lower threshold and an upper threshold, the control system supplying additional fluid to the lifting mechanism in response to the pressure in the lifting mechanism falling below the lower threshold, the control system reducing fluid pressure in the lifting mechanism in response to the pressure in the lifting mechanism rising above the upper threshold.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the control system maintains a pressure in each lifting mechanism during each traction cycle within a predetermined pressure range about a user-specified desired pressure level.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the user-specified desired pressure level is adjustable during use of the device.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the control system comprises a pump operable to supply the fluid and one or more valves operable to control the amount of fluid supplied to the one or more fluidic lifting mechanisms.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a plurality of lifting mechanisms are coupled in series to the valve.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein:

the one or more lifting mechanisms comprise four lifting mechanisms; and

the control system comprises a first valve for controlling the amount of fluid supplied to a first set of two lifting mechanisms and a second valve for controlling the amount of fluid supplied to a second set of two lifting mechanisms.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the control system further comprises a pressure control coupled to a processor, the pressure control and the processor operating in conjunction with one another to control a pressure in the lifting mechanism.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the control system further comprises a pressure transducer associated with the lifting mechanism, the pressure transducer and the processor operating in conjunction with one another to maintain the pressure in the lifting mechanism within a predetermined pressure range.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the control system further comprises a timer, the timer and the processor operating in conjunction with one another to maintain the pressure in the lifting mechanism within the predetermined pressure range for the predetermined time interval associated with a traction cycle.

38. The method of claim 23, further comprising using a common adjustment strap coupled to each of the support belts to substantially simultaneously adjust the support belts in substantially the same amount about the user'"'"'s body.

39. The method of claim 23, further comprising using a canting mechanism coupling opposing portions of a support belt to allow the opposing portions to rotate about associated pivots to allow the support belt to conform to the user'"'"'s body and to synchronize the movement of the opposing portions of the support belt such that movement of one portion upward or downward requires movement of the other portion upward or downward in a substantially equivalent amount.

29. The method of Clam 27, wherein the predetermined pressure range is a user-specified desired pressure range.