Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Orthopedic bandage – Skeletal traction applicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-02-20
Yu, Mickey (Department: 3733)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Orthopedic bandage
Skeletal traction applicator
C602S033000, C602S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190345
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Diseases and injuries of the lower back are a common cause of morbidity. Treatment for diseases and injuries of the lower back, 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 lower 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 lower 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 lower vertebral column which can be worn comfortably while sleeping.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a vertebral traction device for applying traction to the lower vertebral column. The device comprises a support having a top end, a bottom end, a front side and a back side. The device further comprises 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. The device also comprise a tension provider having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the tension provider is attached to the support. The device further comprises 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, where the distal end of the harness attachment cable has a long axis. The device also comprises a harness comprising a 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 belt. The device further comprises a belt attachment cable connector slidably attached to the belt attachment cable; and a swivel connected to the belt attachment cable connector and to the harness attachment cable. The swivel allows the 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 support comprises a foot member attached at or near the bottom end of the support. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the support comprises an enclosure connected to the back side for enclosing the tension provider. In another preferred embodiment, 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. Further, the device can comprise a harness attachment cable connector, where the swivel is connected to the harness attachment cable by the harness attachment cable connector.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the belt attachment cable connector is attached to the belt attachment cable by a pulley.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for applying traction to the lower vertebral column of a patient reclining on a bed. The method comprises, first, providing a device according to the present invention. Then, the bed attachment cable is attached to the frame of the bed and the waist of the patient is encircled by the belt such that the belt attachment cable is between the patient's legs. Further, the belt attachment cable is connected to the harness attachment cable connector through the swivel; and the patient is positioned 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 harness, and thereby placing traction on the lower vertebral column.
In a preferred embodiment, connecting the belt attachment cable to the harness attachment cable connector through the swivel further comprises attaching the swivel to a harness attachment cable connector connected to the harness attachment cable.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for applying traction to the lower vertebral column of a patient reclining on a bed. The method comprises placing a harness around a patient's waist where the harness is connected to a swivel and where placing the harness results in the swivel being between the patient's legs. Then, the swivel is attached to a tension provider at the foot of the bed; and tension is allowed to transmit from the tension provider through the swivel between the patient's legs to the harness, thereby causing traction to the lower vertebral column of the patient.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a vertebral traction device for applying traction to the lower vertebral column. The device comprises a support having a top end, a bottom end, a front side and a back side. The device further comprise 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. The device also comprises a tension provider having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end of the tension provider is attached to the support. The device further comprises 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, where the distal end of the harness attachment cable passes from the back side of the support to the front side of the support, and where the distal end of the harness attachment cable has a long axis. The device also comprises a harness comprising a 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 belt; and a belt attachment cable connector slidably attached to the belt attachment cable by a pulley.
In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a board structure. In another preferred embodiment, the support comprises a foot member attached at or near the bottom end of the support. In yet another preferred embodiment, the support comprises an enclosure connected to the back side for enclosing the tension provider.
In another preferred embodiment, 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 yet another preferred embodiment, the tension provider is a spring.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device additionally comprises a swivel connected to the belt attachment cable connector and to the harness attachment cable, where the swivel allows the harness to rotate freely about the long axis of the distal end of the harness attachment cable. In another particularly preferred embodiment, the device additionally comprises a harness attachment cable connector, where the swivel is connected to the harness attachment cable by the harness attachment cable connector.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for applying traction to the lower vertebral column of a patient reclining on a bed. The method comprises providing a device according to the present invention. Then, the bed attachment cable is attached to the frame of the bed. Then, th
Farah David A.
Pothier Denise
Sheldon & Mak
Yu Mickey
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