Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Skeletal traction applicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2001-07-10
Pothier, Denise (Department: 3764)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Skeletal traction applicator
C602S036000, C602S032000, C602S035000, C606S241000, C606S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258050
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Diseases and injuries of the vertebral column are a common cause of morbidity. Treatment for diseases and injuries of the vertebral column, particularly for ruptured vertebral disks, includes rest, physical therapy, pharmacotherapy and surgery. Another common treatment is the application of traction to distract the vertebrae adjacent to the ruptured disk to relieve pressure created by the ruptured disk material.
A myriad of devices has been developed to apply traction to a patient's vertebral column. Disadvantageously, however, most of these devices are either complex or cumbersome, or require trained healthcare personnel to place the device on the patient. Further, most traction devices tend to be uncomfortable to use overnight as they restrict natural movement during sleep.
Therefore, there remains a need for a device for applying traction to the vertebral column which does not require trained healthcare personnel to place on and to remove. Further, there remains a need for a device for applying traction to the vertebral column which can be worn comfortably while sleeping.
SUMMARY
In one embodiment, the present invention is a vertebral traction device for applying traction to the cervical vertebral column. The device comprises a support having a top end, a bottom end, a front side and a back side; a bed attachment cable having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the bed attachment cable is attached to the support at or near the bottom end of the support; a tension provider having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the tension provider is attached to the support; and a harness attachment cable having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the harness attachment cable is attached to the tension provider at or near the distal end of the tension provider, and where the distal end of the harness attachment cable has a long axis. The device further comprises a head harness comprising at least one belt and a belt attachment cable, where the belt attachment cable has a first end and a second end, and where the first end and the second end are connected to the at least one belt; and a belt attachment cable connector slidably attached to the belt attachment cable. The device further comprises a swivel connected to the belt attachment cable connector and to the harness attachment cable, where the swivel allows the head harness to rotate freely about the long axis of the distal end of the harness attachment cable.
In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a board structure. In another preferred embodiment, the top end of the support is rounded and smooth. In another preferred embodiment, the bottom end of the support is flat. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the support comprises a foot member attached at or near the bottom end of the support. The support can comprise an enclosure connected to the back side for enclosing the tension provider.
In another preferred embodiment, the bed attachment cable has a distal end and the distal end of the bed attachment cable comprises a clip for reversibly attaching the distal end of the bed attachment cable to the bed attachment cable at a point proximal to the distal end of the bed attachment cable. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tension provider is a spring. In another preferred embodiment, the distal end of the harness attachment cable passes from the back side of the support to the front side of the support.
The device can also comprise a harness attachment cable connector, where the swivel is connected to the harness attachment cable by the harness attachment cable connector. The belt attachment cable connector can be attached to the belt attachment cable by a pulley.
The present invention also includes a method for applying traction to the cervical vertebral column of a patient reclining on a bed. The method comprises providing a device according to the present invention; attaching the bed attachment cable to the frame of the bed; harnessing the head of the patient by the at least one belt; connecting the belt attachment cable to the harness attachment cable connector through the swivel; and positioning the patient on the bed at a distance from the top end of the support to cause the tension provider to stretch, thereby transmitting tension through the harness attachment cable and head harness, and thereby placing traction on the cervical vertebral column. In a preferred embodiment, connecting the belt attachment cable to the harness attachment cable connector through the swivel further can comprise attaching the swivel to a harness attachment cable connector connected to the harness attachment cable.
The present invention additionally includes a method for applying traction to the cervical vertebral column of a patient reclining on a bed. The method comprises placing a head harness around a patient's head where the head harness is connected to a swivel; attaching the swivel to a tension provider at the head of the bed; and allowing tension to transmit from the tension provider through the swivel to the head harness, thereby causing traction to the cervical vertebral column of the patient.
The present invention further includes a vertebral traction device for applying traction to the cervical vertebral column. The device comprises a support having a top end, a bottom end, a front side and a back side; a bed attachment cable having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the bed attachment cable is attached to the support at or near the bottom end of the support; a tension provider having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the tension provider is attached to the support; a harness attachment cable having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the harness attachment cable is attached to the tension provider at or near the distal end of the tension provider, and where the distal end of the harness attachment cable has a long axis; a head harness comprising at least one belt and a belt attachment cable, where the belt attachment cable has a first end and a second end, and where the first end and the second end are connected to the at least one belt; and a belt attachment cable connector slidably attached to the belt attachment cable, and connected to the harness attachment cable. In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a board structure. In another preferred embodiment, the top end of the support is rounded and smooth. The bottom end of the support can also be flat. The support can comprise a foot member attached at or near the bottom end of the support. The support can comprise an enclosure connected to the back side for enclosing the tension provider. In a preferred embodiment, the bed attachment cable has a distal end and where the distal end of the bed attachment cable comprises a clip for reversibly attaching the distal end of the bed attachment cable to the bed attachment cable at a point proximal to the distal end of the bed attachment cable. In another preferred embodiment, the tension provider is a spring. In a yet another preferred embodiment, the distal end of the harness attachment cable passes from the back side of the support to the front side of the support. The device can additionally comprise a swivel connected to the belt attachment cable connector and to the harness attachment cable, where the swivel allows the head harness to rotate freely about the long axis of the distal end of the harness attachment cable. The device can further comprise a harness attachment cable connector, where the swivel is connected to the harness attachment cable by the harness attachment cable connector.
The present invention also includes a method for applying traction to the cervical vertebral column of a patient reclining on a bed comprising providing a device according to the present invention; attaching the bed attachment cable to the frame of the bed; encircling the head of the patient by the at least one belt; connecting the belt attachment cable to the harne
Farah, M.D. David A.
Pothier Denise
Sheldon & Mak
LandOfFree
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