U.S. patent number 3,667,457 [Application Number 05/004,383] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-06 for orthopaedic apparatus for traction of the spinal column.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Officina Medico-Ortopedica Dott. Giovanni Zumaglini. Invention is credited to Giovanni Zumaglini.
United States Patent |
3,667,457 |
Zumaglini |
June 6, 1972 |
ORTHOPAEDIC APPARATUS FOR TRACTION OF THE SPINAL COLUMN
Abstract
A truss for placing the spine under traction has a pelvic girdle
and an upwardly extending tractor structure at the top of which is
connected a head-supporting structure. The lower part of the
tractor structure has two diverging curved arms which extend from
the patient's back around to the sides of the girdle, where they
are pivoted to the girdle. This allows the patient to bend forward.
Pneumatic cushions on the support for the head are inflated to
adjust the traction force finely. Spring means in the tractor
structure act as shock absorbers. Other articulated joints allow
the patient to nod and turn his head.
Inventors: |
Zumaglini; Giovanni (Turin,
IT) |
Assignee: |
Officina Medico-Ortopedica Dott.
Giovanni Zumaglini (Turin, IT)
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Family
ID: |
11272608 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/004,383 |
Filed: |
January 20, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jan 23, 1969 [IT] |
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50266 A/69 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
602/19;
602/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/024 (20130101); A61H 1/0218 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
1/02 (20060101); A61F 5/02 (20060101); A61h
001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/75,84,87 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,119,904 |
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Aug 1968 |
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EN |
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1,276,078 |
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May 1961 |
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FR |
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897,783 |
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Mar 1945 |
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FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Yasko; J.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Orthopedic apparatus for traction of the spinal column of a
patient, the apparatus comprising in combination a pelvic girdle
shaped anatomically to bear on the body projections of the
patient's pelvis; a tractor structure adapted to extend generally
up the patient's back and connected to the pelvic girdle, the
tractor structure having an upper portion with arms which extend
forward in cantilever fashion to each side of the patient's neck; a
head-supporting structure connected to the forwardly extending arms
and adapted to engage the patient in the chin and the occipital
head zones, the head-supporting structure being connected to the
tractor structure for oscillating movement about an axis permitting
nodding movement of the patient's head; coarse adjusting means
associated with the tractor structure for exerting traction force
on the patient's spine; pneumatic cushions mounted on the
head-supporting structure to bear on the patient's chin and
occipital head regions; and means to inflate the pneumatic cushions
to provide fine adjustment of the traction force, the tractor
structure including a lower portion comprising two symmetrical arms
that are positioned to diverge from the back of the patient and are
pivotally connected to the pelvic girdle substantially at opposite
midpoints of the sides of the girdle for oscillating movement about
a substantially horizontal axis passing through the spinal region
of the patient, thereby allowing the patient to bend forward
without there being any alteration in the traction force exerted on
the spine.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 including elastic shock-absorbing means
provided in the tractor structure.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the tractor structure includes
an intermediate portion positioned to extend centrally up the
patient's back and adjustably connected to the lower portion to
vary the length of the tractor structure and so effect coarse
adjustment of the traction force, the upper portion of the tractor
structure being telescopically connected to the intermediate
portion, spring means being included in the telescopic connection
to provide shock-absorbing action.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the arms of the lower portion
of the tractor structure which are articulated to the pelvic girdle
have pins at their ends and the pelvic girdle has brackets on its
external side surfaces formed with slots which receive such
pins.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the lower portion of the
tractor structure includes a body positioned to be centrally
disposed on the patient's back from which the arms project
divergingly to engage the pelvic girdle, the body having a
cushioned surface to bear on the patient's back.
6. Orthopedic apparatus for traction of the spinal column of a
patient, the apparatus comprising in combination a pelvic girdle
shaped anatomically to bear on the body projections of the
pateint's pelvis; a tractor structure adapted to extend generally
up the patient's back and connected to the pelvic girdle, the
tractor structure having an upper portion with arms which extend
forward in cantilever fashion to each side of the patient's neck; a
head-supporting structure connected to the forwardly extending arms
and adapted to engage the patient in the chin and the occipital
head zones, the head-supporting structure being connected to the
tractor structure for oscillating movement about an axis permitting
nodding movement of the patient's head; coarse adjusting means
associated with the tractor structure for exerting traction force
on the patient's spine; pneumatic cushions mounted on the
head-supporting structure to bear on the patient's chin and
occipital head regions; and means to inflate the pneumatic cushions
to provide fine adjustment of the traction force, the tractor
structure including a lower portion comprising two symmetrical arms
that are positioned to diverge from the back of the patient and are
pivotally connected to the pelvic girdle at points on the sides of
the girdle for oscillating movement about a substantially
horizontal axis passing through the spinal region of the patient,
thereby allowing the patient to bend forward without there being
any alteration in the traction force exerted on the spine, said
tractor structure also including an intermediate portion positioned
to extend centrally up the patient's back and adjustably connected
to the lower portion to vary the length of the tractor structure
and so effect coarse adjustment of the traction force, the lower
portion including guide means in which the intermediate portion is
slidable, and spring-biased tooth means adapted to engage in notch
means in the intermediate portion to lock the intermediate portion
releasably to the lower portion.
Description
This invention relates to orthopedic apparatus for traction of the
spinal column of a patient, useful in all cases in which ambulatory
traction of the spine is prescribed, such as in the treatment of
cyphosis, cyphoscoliosis, rarefying or condensing osteitis and
sequela thereof, somatic and disk arthrosic processes, diskpathy,
specific and inflammatory processes of the spine, fractures,
dislocations and the like.
The invention refers particularly to orthopedic apparatus for such
purposes comprising a pelvic girdle shaped anatomically to fit the
patient and adapted to rest on the body projections of the pelvis,
a tractor structure having shaped upright members extending up the
back of the patient and projecting forward in cantilever fashion to
each side of the patient's neck, a head-supporting structure
adapted to engage the chin and occipital head regions of the
patient, and means to tension the tractor structure by reaction on
the pelvic girdle.
Apparatuses of this type have been proposed in which the tractor
structure is connected adjustably to the rear of the pelvic girdle,
while the head-supporting structure is connected to the tractor
structure by means permitting tilting or rotation of the head.
Such apparatuses are far more comfortable than traditional braces
which have forward supports extending down the patient's chest.
However, they oblige the patient to keep the upper part of his
torso rigid and do not permit him to bend forward.
The invention sets out to improve known apparatus of the
above-mentioned type to increase its comfort to the patient and to
allow him an increased freedom of movement; and in particular to
allow the patient to bend forward without there being any change in
the traction force exerted on the spine.
Broadly, the invention provides an apparatus in which a tractor
structure extends generally up the patient's back and is connected
between a pelvic girdle and a head-supporting structure, the
tractor structure including a lower portion having two symmetrical
arms which are articulated to the sides of the pelvic girdle for
oscillating movement about a horizontal axis passing through the
patient's spinal region to permit the patient to bend forward
without altering the traction force exerted on his spine.
Other objects and features of the invention will be clear from the
following description of an embodiment thereof, reference being
made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an orthopedic apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a simplified view in plan of a pelvic girdle used in the
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectioned view on an enlarged
scale along the line III--III in FIG. 1, illustrating a detail of
that Figure;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on an enlarged scale
along the line IV--IV in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is another longitudinal section on an enlarged scale along
the line V--V in FIG. 4.
The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a pelvic girdle 1
formed by a truss anatomically shaped to fit closely on the
patient's pelvis, and comprises a tractor structure, the lower
portion 30 of which has two symmetrical diverging arms 31 which
embrace the pelvic truss and are secured thereto by means of an
articulated connection allowing their relative pivotal movement
along a horizontal axis to permit the patient to bend forward.
For this purpose each arm 31 has its end portion bent towards the
girdle and comprising a pivot portion 32 followed by an enlarged
head. The pivot portion 32 formed on the end portion of each arm 31
extends through one of a plurality of parallel slots 33 extending
in the direction of the height of the girdle 1, cut in a shaped
bracket 34 fastened to the girdle. The width of the slots 33 is
smaller than the diameter of the enlarged head of the pivot portion
32, but each slot is enlarged at its end facing the upper edge of
the girdle to allow mounting of the pivots 34 arranged at
diametrically opposite zones of the outer surface of the girdle 1.
The two arms 31 bend rearwardly and upwardly and are connected at
their upper ends to a body formed of a pair of parallel plates 36,
36' and having two tubular guides 35 arranged parallel to each
other in a substantially vertical direction. The guides 35 and
connected to each other by a lower cross-bar 37. The plate 36'
faces towards the back of the patient and as best seen in FIG. 4,
is provided with a yielding cushion 38 to support the patient's
back.
The two pivot portions 32, by means of which the lower portion 30
of the tractor structure is articulated to the pelvic truss 1, are
arranged along a horizontal axis A--A corresponding to the axis
about which the patient's spine flexes when the patient bends from
the waist. The tractor structure can thus oscillate freely about
this axis to allow the patient to bend forward without altering the
force exerted by the tractor structure on his spine. The
alternative slots 33 allow the apparatus to be fitted correctly to
different patients.
To the lower portion 30 of the tractor structure is connected an
intermediate portion 39 comprising two parallel uprights 40,
adapted to bear slidably in the tubular guides 35 of the lower
portion 30, such uprights being provided on their mutually facing
surfaces with a series of equidistant notches 41, adapted to
co-operate with a ratchet-and-pawl-type mechanism having stop teeth
42 fulcrumed to pivots 43 mounted between the two plates 36 and
36'. The teeth 42 are biased outwards by elastic means, comprising
in the embodiment illustrated a single leaf spring 44 bent to
U-shape, and engage in the notches 41 of the two uprights 40.
This mechanism allows adjustment of the position of the
intermediate portion 39 of the tractor structure with respect to
the lower portion 30, allowing coarse adjustment of the traction
force exerted on the spinal column.
To increase the traction, the intermediate part 39 is pulled
upwards relatively to the lower part 30, this movement being
permitted by the ratchet action of the teeth 42. To decrease the
traction, the free upper ends of the leaf spring 44 are gripped and
drawn together to disengage the teeth 42 from the notches 41. The
uprights 40 can then be moved downwards, being locked in a new
position as soon as the free ends of the spring are released to
return the teeth 42 outwards.
To the intermediate portion 39 of the tractor structure is
connected an upper portion 47 of the structure, comprising two
symmetrical shaped arms 48 whose upper ends 48a project forward in
cantilever fashion to both sides of the neck of the patient and
carry a supporting structure for the head, as will be described
later.
The lower ends of the two arms 48 each have a cylindrical extension
48b engaged slidably in a tubular guide 46 which forms part of the
intermediate structure 39 and is carried on an extension of an
upright 40. A cross-bar 45 is located immediately below the guides
46.
In the interior of each tubular guide 46 is arranged a relatively
stiff spring 49 bearing against a collar 50 on the arm 48 which is
slidable in the guide. This construction forms an elastic
telescoping connection between the intermediate portion 39 and the
upper portion 47 of the tractor structure. The spring has the
function of absorbing shocks a jars which the patient is liable to
experience when walking or climbing stairs or the like.
The head-supporting structure 10 is connected to the upper ends 48a
of the arms 48. Each end 48a has a bracket 8 attached to it, the
structure 10 being articulated for movement about a horizontal axis
X--X to the brackets 8 by means of screw-threaded pins 9. The
structure 10 comprises a shaped plate 11 to support the occipital
head zone of the patient, and another shaped plate 12 to support
the chin. On the plates 11 and 12 are mounted pneumatic cushions 13
and 14 forming air chambers and being connected by means of tubes
15 and 16 to a sphygmomanometer device by which the air cushions
are inflated with air under pressure. This device comprises a ball
pump 17 and a pressure gauge 18, and valve means of a known type
for closing the air chambers to the atmosphere and releasing air
from them. The pump is easily accessible to the patient and is
easily manipulated by him.
The chin plate 12 is fixed to the forward ends 10a of two tubular
side members, and the occipital plate 11 to the rear ends 10b of
the same members. Joint members 10c provided with adjusting screws
connect the structure 10 to the brackets 8, the adjusting screws
allowing the apparatus to be properly fitted and adjusted on the
patient.
The apparatus is fitted by fastening the pelvic girdle 1 and
head-supporting structure 10 on him while the tractor structure is
slack and the cushions 13 and 14 are uninflated. A preliminary
coarse adjustment of the traction force is made by displacing the
intermediate portion 39 of the tractor structure relatively to the
lower portion 30 in the manner described earlier. Fine adjustment
is made by inflating the pneumatic cushions 13 and 14 by means of
the pump 17. The springs 49, being stiff, yields only by a
negligible extent during adjustment of the traction force.
The axis X--X about which the head-supporting structure can
oscillate coincides substantially with the natural axis of nodding
movement of the head, so that flexo-extension of the head is
permitted to the patient and does not alter the value of the
traction force exerted on his spine.
Between the upper portion 47 of the tractor structure and the
head-supporting structure 10 there might also be interposed means
(not illustrated) to allow the patient to turn his head about a
vertical axis, and so increasing his freedom of movement still
further.
Because of the features described above, and in particular the
novel articulation of the tractor structure to the pelvic girdle
and the use of an elastic tractor structure, the comfort of the
apparatus is enhanced and it may be worn for long periods of
treatment. Since the pump 17 is readily accessible to the patient,
he is able to adjustments of the traction force himself, without
being reliant on others.
* * * * *