AMBULATORY TRACTION DEVICE FOR CERVICAL PROBLEMS

• US 3,795,243 A
• Filed: 01/29/1973
• Issued: 03/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph R.L. Miller
• Original Assignee: Joseph R.L. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Joseph R. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yasko, J.
• Application Number:
  US05/327,565
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 128/75,87,84,DIG.23
• US Class Current: 602/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/055 Cervical collars

Abstract

A traction device is supported on padded cross members across the upper chest and back connected by arches over the shoulders. An inverted U-shaped assembly is secured to the arches at one end and extends to its transverse crosspiece above and closely spaced from the head. A sling support member is pendantly secured to the center of the crosspiece by means including a swivel. A sling is secured to either end of its support and includes a first flexible member passing beneath the chin and a second flexible member passing behind the head adjacent the nape of the neck. The inverted U-shaped assembly includes telescoping, substantially vertical members at either side with adjustable spring means for biasing the crosspiece upward and the swiveled connection to the sling support includes screw-and-nut means for varying the upward bias of the base portion. The connection of the ends of the Ushaped assembly to the arches may include means for adjustably inclining the assembly forwardly or backwardly.

Claims

1. A traction device for supporting the head of an ambulatory patient having cervical problems, comprising:

a torso-contacting portion having a padded chest contacting bar and a padded back contacting bar connected at each side by an over-the-shoulder arch member, an inverted U-shaped assembly having a leg at each side connected at the bottom to a respective arch member, the upper ends of the legs being connected by a crosspiece adapted to be narrowly spaced above the head, a transverse sling support bar pendantly supported from the center of the crosspiece, an eyebolt having its eye around the support rod and its threaded shank extending throUgh a hole in the crosspiece, a nut and locknut adjustably securing the eyebolt in place, a sling including an under-the-chin pad and a back-of-the-neck pad pendantly supported at each side from the respective ends of the support rod, each leg of the U-shaped assembly including a rod portion secured to an arch member and a tube portion connected to the crosspiece, the tube portion having an enlarged shield tube secured to the lower end thereof, the rod portion being telescopically received in the tube portion, a coil spring within the shield tube and around the rod portion, and a pressure tube around the rod portion having its upper end adapted to engage and compress the spring against the lower end of the tube portion, the lower end of the pressure tube being secured to a collar adapted to be adjustably secured to the rod portion for adjusting the compression of the spring.

2. The traction device defined in claim 1 wherein the sling comprises tubular pads of soft flexible material supported from the support rod at each side by a cord looped around the support rod and passing successively through the tubular pads in a continuous loop having its ends secured together adjacent the support rod.

3. The traction device defined in claim 1 wherein the rod portion of each leg of the U-shaped assembly comprises a lower portion secured to an arch member and having a disk portion at its upper end, the disk portion having a serrated face facing the serrated face of a similar disk portion at the lower end of an upper rod portion telescopically received in the tube portion of the leg, a screw extending transversely and axially through a hole in the disk portions, and a wing nut cooperating with the screw for forcing the serrated surfaces of the disk portions together, whereby the forward and back inclination of each leg may be adjusted.