ORTHOPAEDIC APPARATUS FOR TRACTION OF THE SPINAL COLUMN

• US 3,667,457 A
• Filed: 01/20/1970
• Issued: 06/06/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Giovanni Zumaglini
• Original Assignee: Giovanni Zumaglini
• Inventors: Zumaglini, Giovanni
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yasko, J.
• Application Number:
  US05/004,383
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 128/75,84,87
• 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 1/0218 Drawing-out devices suspension devices for supporting the patient in upright walking or standing position A61H3/008; orthopedic devices for non-surgical treatment A61F5/01; stretching fractured limbs A61F5/04

Abstract

A truss for placing the spine under traction has a pelvic girdle and an upwardly extending tractor structure at the top of which is connected a head-supporting structure. The lower part of the tractor structure has two diverging curved arms which extend from the patient'"'"''"'"'s back around to the sides of the girdle, where they are pivoted to the girdle. This allows the patient to bend forward. Pneumatic cushions on the support for the head are inflated to adjust the traction force finely. Spring means in the tractor structure act as shock absorbers. Other articulated joints allow the patient to nod and turn his head.

Claims

1. Orthopedic apparatus for traction of the spinal column of a patient, the apparatus comprising in combination a pelvic girdle shaped anatomically to bear on the body projections of the patient'"'"''"'"'s pelvis;

a tractor structure adapted to extend generally up the patient'"'"''"'"'s back and connected to the pelvic girdle, the tractor structure having an upper portion with arms which extend forward in cantilever fashion to each sidE of the patient'"'"''"'"'s neck;

a head-supporting structure connected to the forwardly extending arms and adapted to engage the patient in the chin and the occipital head zones, the head-supporting structure being connected to the tractor structure for oscillating movement about an axis permitting nodding movement of the patient'"'"''"'"'s head;

coarse adjusting means associated with the tractor structure for exerting traction force on the patient'"'"''"'"'s spine;

pneumatic cushions mounted on the head-supporting structure to bear on the patient'"'"''"'"'s chin and occipital head regions; and

means to inflate the pneumatic cushions to provide fine adjustment of the traction force, the tractor structure including a lower portion comprising two symmetrical arms that are positioned to diverge from the back of the patient and are pivotally connected to the pelvic girdle substantially at opposite midpoints of the sides of the girdle for oscillating movement about a substantially horizontal axis passing through the spinal region of the patient, thereby allowing the patient to bend forward without there being any alteration in the traction force exerted on the spine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including elastic shock-absorbing means provided in the tractor structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the tractor structure includes an intermediate portion positioned to extend centrally up the patient'"'"''"'"'s back and adjustably connected to the lower portion to vary the length of the tractor structure and so effect coarse adjustment of the traction force, the upper portion of the tractor structure being telescopically connected to the intermediate portion, spring means being included in the telescopic connection to provide shock-absorbing action.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the arms of the lower portion of the tractor structure which are articulated to the pelvic girdle have pins at their ends and the pelvic girdle has brackets on its external side surfaces formed with slots which receive such pins.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the lower portion of the tractor structure includes a body positioned to be centrally disposed on the patient'"'"''"'"'s back from which the arms project divergingly to engage the pelvic girdle, the body having a cushioned surface to bear on the patient'"'"''"'"'s back.

6. Orthopedic apparatus for traction of the spinal column of a patient, the apparatus comprising in combination a pelvic girdle shaped anatomically to bear on the body projections of the pateint'"'"''"'"'s pelvis;

a tractor structure adapted to extend generally up the patient'"'"''"'"'s back and connected to the pelvic girdle, the tractor structure having an upper portion with arms which extend forward in cantilever fashion to each side of the patient'"'"''"'"'s neck;

a head-supporting structure connected to the forwardly extending arms and adapted to engage the patient in the chin and the occipital head zones, the head-supporting structure being connected to the tractor structure for oscillating movement about an axis permitting nodding movement of the patient'"'"''"'"'s head;

coarse adjusting means associated with the tractor structure for exerting traction force on the patient'"'"''"'"'s spine;

pneumatic cushions mounted on the head-supporting structure to bear on the patient'"'"''"'"'s chin and occipital head regions; and

means to inflate the pneumatic cushions to provide fine adjustment of the traction force, the tractor structure including a lower portion comprising two symmetrical arms that are positioned to diverge from the back of the patient and are pivotally connected to the pelvic girdle at points on the sides of the girdle for oscillating movement about a substantially horizontal axis passing through the spinal region of the patient, thereby allowing the patient to bend forward without there being any alteration in the traction force exerted on the spine, said tractor structure also including an intermediate portion positioned to extend centrally up the patient'"'"''"'"'s back and adjustably connected to the lower portion to vary the length oF the tractor structure and so effect coarse adjustment of the traction force, the lower portion including guide means in which the intermediate portion is slidable, and spring-biased tooth means adapted to engage in notch means in the intermediate portion to lock the intermediate portion releasably to the lower portion.