Percussing chiropractic device having adjustable spring force

• US 4,669,454 A
• Filed: 01/07/1985
• Issued: 06/02/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Desray Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Desray Incorporated
• Inventors: Shamos, Desmond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamb, Tonya Eckstine
• Application Number:
  US06/689,436
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 128/54, 128/61, 128/69, 273/69, 173/91, 173/119, 173/120, 173/121
• US Class Current: 606/238
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation

Abstract

A spring-loaded, impact-type chiropractic device especially useful for repositioning a cervical vertebra in the spinal column of a patient. The device includes a tubular casing having an anvil structure at one end and a spring-biased hammer mounted in the tubing. An elongated spindle is connected to the hammer for drawing the hammer away from the anvil into a loaded position in which the spring is compressed. A releasable detent mechanism is provided which holds the hammer in the loaded position or, when released, allows the hammer to strike the anvil. Preferably, the casing includes two telescopically-interfitted tubular portions and one or more hammer-biasing springs; adjustment of the tubular portions relative to each other determines the amount of compression of the springs with the hammer in the loaded position. With the anvil structure adjacent the back of a patient, the device allows the chiropractor to precisely regulate the amount of impacting force transmitted to the patient'"'"'s back and to accurately direct the blow to reposition a vertebra.

Claims

1. A chiropractic device adapted for striking a blow to a cervical vertebra of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, tubular casing having a vertebra engaging nose at the forward end thereof;

hammer means slidably disposed within the casing between a first position, in which a portion of the hammer is proximate the nose and a second position with the hammer remote from the nose;

spring means operably coupled to the hammer and casing for biasing the hammer towards the first position;

detent means for releasably holding the hammer in the second position and operable for releasing the hammer to allow the hammer to strike the nose;

the casing including first and second, tubular, telescopic portions and means for adjustably coupling said portions to vary the longitudinal dimension of the casing to vary the bias force of the spring means;

a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumscribing grooves along the outer surface of the innermost telescopic portion;

a compressible spigot at one end of the outermost portion adjacent said grooves and having a radially-inward extending clip; and

a sleeve engaging the spigot operable for inwardly compressing the spigot and inwardly projecting the clip to project the clip into one of the grooves to telescopically lock said portions relative to each other.

2. A chiropractic device comprising:

a support member having an elongated tubular casing including a tubular forward portion telescopically interfitted with a tubular rear portion, said support member having an impacting nose and an anvil, the impacting nose being adapted for positioning adjacent a vertebra of a patient;

a hammer operably disposed within and coupled to the support member for slidable movement along the member between a first position, in which the hammer abuts the anvil, and a second position with the hammer remote from the anvil;

biasing means operably disposed within and coupled to the hammer for biasing the hammer from the second position towards the first position;

releasable detent mechanism for holding the hammer in the second position, the mechanism being operable for releasing the hammer to allow the hammer to strike the anvil and transmit a vertebra moving force to the impacting nose; and

releasable coupling means for adjustably connecting the forward and rear portions for longitudinal displacement relative to each other, said coupling means comprising

a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumscribing grooves along the outer surface of the forward portion,

a compressible spigot at one end of the rear portion and having a radially-inward extending clip,

a sleeve positionable on the spigot for inwardly compressing the spigot and inwardly projecting the clip, such that with the sleeve removed from the spigot the front and rear portions are telescopically adjustable and with one of the grooves disposed adjacent the clip, positioning the sleeve on the spigot compresses the spigot and projects the clip into the one groove to lock the front and rear portions relative each other.

3. The chiropractic device according to claim 2, said casing having the anvil connected at one end thereof and a cap coupled at the other end.

4. The chiropractic device according to claim 3, said biasing means comprising one or more helical springs mounted in the casing between the hammer and the cap.

5. The chiropractic device according to claim 4, including an elongated spindle connected to the hammer and extending through the cap, the spindle being longitudinally shiftable for positioning the hammer in the second position with the spring compressed.

6. The chiropractic device according to claim 2, said biasing means including one or more springs received in the tubular rear portion whereby the positioning of the front and rear portions relative to each other determines the amount of biasing potential force available.

7. The chiropractic device according to claim 2, said detent mechanism being coupled to the casing and pivotable for releasably engaging the hammer when the hammer is in the second position.