Orthosis and method for cervical mobilization

• US 8,251,934 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Research Incorporated (Bonutti IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bonutti Research Incorporated (Bonutti IP LLC)
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/953,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 602 17- 19, 602 32- 36, 128/DIG.23
• US Class Current: 602/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/02 Orthopaedic corsets arm-rests for use as writing aids B43L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/055 Cervical collars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/23 Cervical collars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method of using a neck brace to move a neck of a person or stabilize the neck includes connecting a vest of the neck brace to a torso of a person. A support member of the neck brace is connected to the vest. A chin support of the neck brace is connected to a chin of the person. Force is applied between the support member and the chin support to move the chin support relative to the support member. A cam member of the neck brace guides movement of the chin support relative to the support member.

Claims

1. A device for treating a spine of a patient, comprising:

a support member configured to be connected to a torso of a patient;

a neck support for engaging at least a portion of a neck of the patient;

an actuator mechanism for distracting a spine of the patient relative to the torso by moving the neck support relative to the support member; and

a control operatively connected to said actuator mechanism to adjust distraction of the spine,

wherein said actuator mechanism is operable by the patient.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control includes at least one knob rotatably mounted to said actuator mechanism.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator mechanism includes at least one gear connected to said control, said at least one gear operative to distract the spine when said control is actuated.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control is adjustable when said device is worn by the patient and said control is operable based on patient feedback.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator mechanism moves the spine with a composite force, the composite force having a first component and a second component orthogonal to the first component.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein at least a portion of said actuator mechanism is extendable in a generally superior direction relative to said support member;

and wherein said actuator mechanism is tiltable forward and backward about an axis aligned substantially in a medial-lateral orientation.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said neck support includes a chin support for engaging at least a portion of a chin of the patient, said chin support operatively connected to and moved by said actuator mechanism.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator mechanism is selectively actuatable to flex and extend the neck of the patient.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator mechanism is movable to a first position, said first position stretching the neck of the patient, and is movable to a second position, said second position further stretching the neck of the patient.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said neck support includes a back portion configured to engage the neck of the patient proximate a base of a skull of the patient.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein a strap secures said back portion adjacent to the neck.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said support member is configured to engage a shoulder of the patient.

39. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control moves said neck support relative to said actuator mechanism to distract the spine.

53. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the spine is progressively stretched.

13. A device for treating a spine of a patient, comprising:

a torso support configured to engage a torso of a patient;

a back portion configured to engage at least a portion of a neck of the patient;

an actuator mechanism mounted to said torso support;

at least one arm operatively connecting said actuator mechanism and said back portion; and

a knob connected to said actuator mechanism to adjust distraction of a spine of the patient.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said actuator mechanism includes at least one gear configured to adjust a distance between said torso support and said back portion upon rotation of said knob.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said actuator mechanism includes a shaft interposing said knob and said at least one gear.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said actuator mechanism is configured so that rotation of said knob in a first direction increases the distance between said torso support and said back portion;

and wherein said actuator mechanism is configured so that rotation of said knob in a second direction decreases the distance between said torso support and said back portion.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein said actuator mechanism is pivotally mounted to said torso support.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein said actuator mechanism is operative to prevent a force applied to said at least one arm from causing rotation of said knob.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said actuator mechanism includes a base link including an internally threaded opening engaged with a screw, said base link coupled to said at least one arm and said screw operatively coupled to said knob, said actuator mechanism thereby preventing the force applied to said at least one arm from causing rotation of said knob.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein said torso support engages a shoulder of the patient.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein said back portion is adjustably mounted to said at least one arm.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein said knob is operative to cause at least one of flexion and extension of the spine of the patient while controlling a distance between said torso support and said back portion to adjust distraction of the spine of the patient.

23. The device of claim 13, wherein said back portion is configured to articulate the neck of the patient into a slightly flexed position prior to distracting the spine of the patient.

45. The device according to claim 13, wherein said knob is rotatable to move said back portion relative to said actuator mechanism.

46. The device according to claim 13, wherein said knob is rotatable to control a distance between said torso support and said back portion.

47. The device according to claim 13, wherein said knob is configured to resist movement between said torso support and said back portion.

54. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the spine is progressively stretched.

24. A neck brace comprising:

a head support configured to engage at least one of a chin of a patient and a neck of the patient;

a torso support configured to connect to a torso of the patient;

an actuator mechanism mounted to said torso support;

at least one arm extending generally superiorly from sa id actuator mechanism and connected to said head support; and

a knob connected to said actuator mechanism, said knob rotatable by the patient to move said at least one arm relative to said actuator mechanism.

25. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein said head support includes at least one back portion shaped to conform to at least a portion of the neck of the patient proximate a base of a skull of the patient.

26. The neck brace of claim 25, wherein said head support extends generally posteriorly from said at least one arm to said back portion along at least one side of a head of the patient.

27. The neck brace of claim 25, wherein said head support includes a chin support shaped to conform to a chin of the patient.

28. The neck brace of claim 24, further comprising a pivot connection pivotally connecting said actuator mechanism relative to said torso support, said pivot connection oriented generally in a medial-lateral direction.

29. The neck brace of claim 24, further comprising a pin slidably positioned within a slot defined by said torso support, said pin coupling said actuator mechanism to said torso support.

30. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein said knob is operative to increase a distance between said torso support and said head support upon rotation of said knob in a first direction and operative to decrease the distance between said torso support and said head support upon rotation of said knob in a second direction, the second direction opposite the first direction.

31. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein said at least one arm includes an upper end positioned generally opposite said actuator mechanism;

and wherein said head support is slidably adjustably mounted to said upper end of said at least one arm.

32. The neck brace of claim 31, further comprising at least one clamp selectively inhibiting sliding adjustment of said head support relative to said upper end of said at least one arm.

33. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein said torso support is configured to releasably engage an anterior portion of the torso of the patient.

34. The neck brace of claim 24, further comprising at least one strap configured to releasably couple said torso support to the torso of the patient.

35. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein increasing the distance between said head support and said torso support elongates at least a portion of a spine of the patient.

36. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein increasing the distance between said head support and said torso support reduces pressure in at least a portion of a spine of the patient.

37. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein increasing the distance between said head support and said torso support distracts at least a portion of a spine of the patient.

38. The neck brace of claim 24, wherein adjusting the distance between said head support and said torso support at least one of flexes and extends at least a portion of a spine of the patient.

55. The neck brace according to claim 24, wherein at least a portion of a spine is progressively stretched.

40. A device for treating a spine of a patient, comprising:

a support member configured to be connected to a torso of a patient;

a neck support for engaging at least a portion of a neck of the patient;

an actuator mechanism for distracting a spine of the patient relative to the torso, said actuator mechanism comprising at least one gear; and

a control operatively connected to said actuator mechanism, said control actuatable by the patient to operate said at least one gear to adjust distraction of the spine.

41. The device according to claim 40, wherein said control comprises a knob rotatably mounted to said actuator mechanism.

42. The device according to claim 41, wherein said knob is rotatable to move said back portion relative to said actuator mechanism.

43. The device according to claim 41, wherein said knob is rotatable to control a distance between said torso support and said back portion.

44. The device according to claim 41, wherein said knob is configured to resist movement between said torso support and said back portion.

56. The device according to claim 40, wherein at least a portion of the spine is progressively stretched.

48. A device for treating a spine of a patient, comprising:

a torso support configured to engage a torso of a patient;

a back portion configured to engage at least a portion of a neck of the patient;

an actuator mechanism mounted to said torso support, said actuator mechanism comprising at least one gear;

at least one arm operatively connecting said actuator mechanism and said back portion; and

a knob rotatably connected to said actuator mechanism to adjust distraction of a spine of the patient, said knob rotatable by the patient to move said at least one gear to adjust a distance between said torso support and said back portion.

49. The device according to claim 48, wherein rotation of said knob in a first direction increases the distance between said torso support and said back portion and rotation of said knob in a second direction decreases the distance between said torso support and said back portion.

50. The device according to claim 48, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises:

a base link coupled to said at least one arm, said base link defining an internally threaded opening; and

an externally threaded screw rotatably positioned with said opening and operatively coupled to said knob, said actuator mechanism thereby preventing a force applied to said at least one arm from causing rotation of said knob.

51. The device according to claim 48, wherein said knob is rotatable to cause at least one of flexion and extension of the spine of the patient while controlling the distance between said torso support and said back portion.

52. The device according to claim 48, wherein said back portion is configured to articulate the neck of the patient into a flexed position prior to distracting the spine of the patient.