Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Skeletal traction applicator
Patent
1997-12-10
2000-08-15
Apley, Richard J.
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Skeletal traction applicator
606243, 606242, A61M 100
Patent
active
061028827
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a physiotherapy apparatus of the type used for the treatment of articular rigidity by means of passive mobilizations, through the application of controlled mechanical traction forces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Some known physiotherapy apparatuses present a table, similar to a stretcher, which has a displaceable part, for example for applying traction axially to the cervical and lumbar column of a patient.
There also exist specific apparatuses for the treatment of certain joints, such as the knee.
The known apparatuses nevertheless have the disadvantage of being rather unversatile, for they can be used only for some specific applications. This makes it difficult to amortize their cost, especially in the case of relatively small treatment facilities, which have to have a whole range of apparatuses of this type. Moreover, not all the mobilization movements are covered by the known apparatuses, and many of said movements have to be carried out manually. Another disadvantage associated with known apparatuses is the absence of reliable systems for controlling the force and the traction cycles which are applied to the patient, while also permitting adaptation to each specific case.
The above-mentioned apparatuses also have the disadvantage that it is not always possible to secure the parts of the patient's body in an optimum manner, and it can therefore occur that, for example, the traction is not limited to the joint to be treated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to resolve the aforesaid disadvantages, by means of a physiotherapy apparatus which is highly versatile and permits treatment of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae, hip, shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle, simply by displacing the position of some members of the apparatus, and which at the same time permits reliable, adjusted control of the traction cycles and can adapt them to the specific needs of each patient.
In accordance with these objectives, the physiotherapy apparatus of the invention for the treatment of articular rigidity comprises a table on which the patient is placed, made up of a static board and a moving board, with said moving board being displaceable towards and away from the static board, and means for applying a traction force between parts of the patient's body; and it is characterized in that the said moving board is mounted in such a way that it can also rotate about a horizontal axis, between a horizontal position and an inclined position, and about a vertical axis, between two end positions which are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the table, and in that the said means for applying a traction force between parts of the patient's body include at least one traction cord and a system of pulleys with which said cord is associated in order to apply the traction to a joint of the patient in a desired direction.
According to one characteristic of the invention, the moving board comprises: a lower base attached to a horizontal bar, which can rotate with respect to some supporting uprights of the table, such that the board rotates between said horizontal and inclined positions; an upper plate, which can rotate with respect to said lower base about an axis perpendicular thereto, in order to effect rotation between said two symmetrical end positions; and a pair of guides, fixed to said upper plate, upon which the moving board can be displaced towards and away from the board.
Preferably, the apparatus is provided with elastic means which tend to keep the moving part in a symmetrical position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the table and close to the fixed board.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the static board is made up of a first end member articulated around a first horizontal axis, a fixed second end member, a first intermediate member articulated around a second horizontal axis parallel to the first axis and a second intermediate member articulated around a third horizontal axis parallel to the first and second
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Apley Richard J.
Yu Justine R.
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