Lumbar spine compression device

Surgery – Instruments – Chiropractic or osteopathic implement

Patent

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606201, A61F 500

Patent

active

057797331

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/SE95/00581, filed May 24, 1995, and claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of Sweden Application No. 9401793-6, filed May 24, 1994.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for diagnostic purposes to be used in examination of the lumbar spine by computerized tomography and magnetic resonance tomography.
The object of the present invention is to provide a device, the use of which aids in the adequate and reproducible examination of the lumbar spine in connection with computerized tomography and/or magnetic resonance tomography, in particular for the diagnosis of stenoses of the spinal cord canal and nerve structures (spinal stenosis) present therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditionally, the patient is examined using computerized tomography and magnetic resonance tomography in a relaxed supine position, which means that those structures in connection with the spinal cord canal, which are variable (intervertebral disks, ligaments, and small joints), are subject to minimal load. At load, the pressure in, inter alia, the intervertebral disks increases, resulting in a protuberance, which in turn diminishes the space in the spinal cord canal and nerve and vessel structures present therein. Upon examination of the spinal cord canal of the lumbar spine while suspecting spinal stenosis, and using computerized tomography or magnetic resonance tomography, there is a need for being able to load the lumbar spine in the same way as it occurs when standing upright, simultaneously as the patient is placed in a horizontal position.
Prior art patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,581 teaches a device for positioning a patient's shoulders in connection with an X-ray examination of the spine, whereby the upper spinal column is pressed down towards the examination table and thereby makes it possible to obtain a good X-ray picture of the upper vertebrae. In that case a pressure is applied to the spinal column of the patient while lying down via two flexible strings provided with handles for the patient, which strings are arranged around a foot plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,076 relates to a device for placing a patient in an upside down position in order to deload a patient's spinal column.
There is thus a problem to be solved for the examination of the spinal canal of the lumbar spine.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a foot plate of the device according to FIG. 1.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has now surprisingly been shown possible to be able to solve this problem by the present invention which is characterized in that it comprises a garment-like structure such as a waistcoat arranged to be placed around the body of a patient, a foot plate comprising pressure sensors attached to a resting surface, pulling cords arranged between said waistcoat and said foot plate as well as a transmission attached to said pulling cords.
By means of the present invention a controlled load of the lumbar spine can be obtained when the waistcoat is applied around a patient's body and is drawn, using a predetermined force, against said foot plate by means of said pulling/transmission, against which foot plate the patient's feet are positioned, whereby the pressure sensors indicate the pressure/pulling obtained, and thereby the compression of the lumbar spine as desired.
By means of the compression obtained, the space in the spinal canal is reduced and the diagnosis of the spinal stenosis is facilitated and become more safe.
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawing, showing a preferred device of the invention, whereby
FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention, and
FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a foot plate of the devi

REFERENCES:
patent: 3629581 (1971-12-01), Smith
patent: 4202355 (1980-05-01), Loeffler
patent: 4407277 (1983-10-01), Ellison
patent: 4580554 (1986-04-01), Goodley
patent: 4669106 (1987-05-01), Ammerman

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