Harness for working animal – Miscellaneous
Patent
1994-07-22
1996-04-16
Swiatek, Robert P.
Harness for working animal
Miscellaneous
606237, A61F 500
Patent
active
055071350
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns an apparatus for treating spinal disorders of an animal particularly those of a horse, said apparatus comprising fixing means such as a strappable harness or belts suited for mounting the apparatus on the animal's back and a fork-shaped element acting on the back.
Horses in particular are subject to spinal disorders. Such disorders are typically evidenced as a certain type of limping and changes in the gait. The horse may shorten its gait, poorly distributes the weight on its legs or hesitate to flex its back when running in the bends. A spinal disorder lowers the horse's performance.
The horse's spine has above and below strong, large muscles that may rupture in motion. The spine is formed by vertebrae whose processes rise higher from the spine as can be felt by moving a hand over the horse's back along points where the tips of the processes are thicker. Adjacent vertebral processes can cause compression of nerves leaving the sacral canal through the intervertebral foramina, whereby pain occurs at the flexing of the back. Due to the thickness of the spinal muscles, conventional radiographic examination of the spine fails to provide sharp images even if the horse is anaesthetized. The radiographic examination reveals only major changes such as fractures and ruptures, not any lesser changes in the vertebrae themselves.
Spinal disorders are conventionally treated by rest, and occasionally, by drugs administered to the horse. Small changes in the vertebrae can possibly be mended surgically to relieve compression on the nerve roots. In the case of a chronic disorder in the region of the sacrum and ileum, rest will be of little help; rather, the horse should be rehabilitated by a stepwise more arduous schedule of training, thereby strengthening the rear trunk muscles supporting the spine. Obviously, a great number of different approaches are available for treating spinal disorders with varying results.
It is an object of the present invention to achieve an apparatus suited for treating a certain category of spinal disorders. These disorders include those causing muscular tension and spasms. The apparatus serves to the end of relaxing such muscular tensions. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the fork-shaped element is adapted movable in a direction essentially perpendicular to the animal's back and that the apparatus further incorporates a rotatable element with which the fork-shaped element is rotated about the axis essentially perpendicular to the back and is simultaneously pressed against the back.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the rotatable element comprises manually rotatable lever arms connected to the fork-shaped element.
Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, for the purpose of moving the fork-shaped element with respect to the apparatus in the direction perpendicular to the spine, a metal rod is connected to the fork-shaped element so as to be movable within a pipe incorporated in the device and, for the purpose of transferring the rod toward the spine, said metal rod is complemented with a mechanism triggerable by a quick-release latch after the transfer operation.
A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the fork-shaped element is rotatable by means of the metal rod about the rod axis oriented perpendicular to the animal's back.
The apparatus according to the invention can be applied for treating the following objects: cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, atlas, axis, etc. Treatment by the apparatus relieves nerve rami from compression and muscles from tension; the treatment enhances blood circulation and removes stresses imposed on articulating facets and lamina, thus allowing the tissues to recover rapidly from loads caused by incorrect posture. Further, the apparatus can be used for applying manipulating treatment on tens of acupuncture, shiatsu and other sensitive points communicating widely around th
REFERENCES:
patent: 845558 (1907-02-01), Lee
patent: 1747702 (1913-02-01), Gilbert
patent: 1759514 (1930-05-01), Loose
patent: 2447698 (1948-08-01), Haberer
patent: 2593624 (1952-04-01), Stevens
patent: 2835247 (1958-05-01), Stabholc
patent: 2970592 (1961-02-01), David
patent: 3926182 (1975-12-01), Stabholz
Gronberg Pauli
Karppinen Hannes
Kubovcik Ronald J.
Swiatek Robert P.
LandOfFree
Apparatus for treating spinal disorders of an animal particularl does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for treating spinal disorders of an animal particularl, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for treating spinal disorders of an animal particularl will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-317909