Physical Therapy Apparatus for Self-Administered Soft Tissue Manipulation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing soft-tissue manipulation of a user'"'"'s back and neck soft-tissues, the apparatus comprising,a generally elongated working member extending from a first end portion to a second end portion and including a first longitudinally elongated surface, the first surface including first and second protuberances, each of said protuberances extending a first lateral direction from a remainder of said first surface, to a respective distal-most contact surface, the contact surfaces each being longitudinally spaced from a center of said member by a distance selected at between about 0.5 and 5 cm,a pair of longitudinally elongated strap members, each said strap member having a first end coupled towards an associated one of said first and second end portions, and a second end adapted for coupling said apparatus to a support,said working member and said strap members having an overall longitudial length selected to permit said user to effect relative contacting movement between said user'"'"'s soft-tissues and the contact surface of said first and second protuberances, with said second ends of said strap members coupled to said support and said user standing in a generally rearwardly inclined position leaning in a direction away from said support.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for performing soft-tissue manipulation of a user'"'"'s spinal discs, and other back, neck and glutei soft-tissues includes a rigid or semi-rigid working member having at least one operational side surface for engaging contact with target soft-tissues and to which are secured a pair of straps. The operational side surface is provided with design form features configured to produce a therapeutic effect on the target soft-tissues when in contact therewith, and which may include recesses, projections or other protuberances. The working member and straps have an overall longitudinal length selected to enable the apparatus to be positioned partially encircling a user'"'"'s body with the straps secured to a support. The length enables the user to stand or sit in a rearward inclined position, leaning backwardly to effect relative bearing contact between the target soft-tissues and the operational surface of the working member.
39 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing soft-tissue manipulation of a user'"'"'s back and neck soft-tissues, the apparatus comprising,
a generally elongated working member extending from a first end portion to a second end portion and including a first longitudinally elongated surface, the first surface including first and second protuberances, each of said protuberances extending a first lateral direction from a remainder of said first surface, to a respective distal-most contact surface, the contact surfaces each being longitudinally spaced from a center of said member by a distance selected at between about 0.5 and 5 cm, a pair of longitudinally elongated strap members, each said strap member having a first end coupled towards an associated one of said first and second end portions, and a second end adapted for coupling said apparatus to a support, said working member and said strap members having an overall longitudial length selected to permit said user to effect relative contacting movement between said user'"'"'s soft-tissues and the contact surface of said first and second protuberances, with said second ends of said strap members coupled to said support and said user standing in a generally rearwardly inclined position leaning in a direction away from said support.
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17. A physical therapy apparatus for performing soft-tissue manipulation of a user'"'"'s back and neck soft-tissue, the apparatus containing,
a working member comprising a generally elongated member body extending from a first end portion to a second end portion, the body including, a first operational side including first and second protuberances, each of said protuberances extending laterally outwardly from a remainder said first side to a respective distal-most contact surface, the contact surfaces being spaced from each other and a center portion of said body by a distance selected at between about 1 and 7.5 cm, a second operational side including a boss, the boss being spaced towards said center portion and extending laterally outwardly from a remainder of said second side to a distal-most end, first and second strap members, each of said strap members having a first end coupled towards an associated one of said first and second end portions, and a second end adapted for coupling said apparatus to an apparatus support, said working member and said first and second strap members having an overall length selected to permit said user to stand or sit in a generally rearwardly inclined position leaning in a direction away from said support and effect relative sliding contact between said user'"'"'s back and neck soft-tissues and said body when the second ends of the strap members are coupled to said support.
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20. A physical therapy apparatus for manipulating a user'"'"'s neck, back and glutei soft tissues, the apparatus comprising,
a soft tissue manipulating member comprising a generally elongated member body extending from a first end portion to a second end portion, the body including, a first operational side including first and second protuberances, each of said protuberances extending in laterally outwardly from a remainder said first side to a respective distal-most contact surface, the contact surfaces comprising a laterally elongated surface and being spaced from each other and a center portion of said body by a distance selected at between about 1 and 7.5 cm, said first operational side further comprising a pair of generally concave portions, each of said concave portions interposed between a respective one of said first and second protuberances and said first and second end portions, a second operational side including a boss, the boss being spaced towards said center portion and extending laterally outwardly from a remainder of said second side to a distal-most end, said distal-most end comprising semi-spherical surface and further includes a resiliently deformable elastomeric layer, first and second strap members, each of said strap members having a first end coupled towards an associated one of said first and second end portions, and a second end adapted for coupling said apparatus to an apparatus support, said soft tissue manipulating member and said first and second strap members having an overall length selected to permit said user to stand in a generally rearwardly inclined position leaning in a direction away from said support and effect relative sliding contact between said user'"'"'s back muscles and said body when the second ends of the strap members are coupled to said support.
Specification