Patent ID: 8540656
Filing Date: 2013-09-24
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A traction apparatus for applying traction to a forearm and hand to facilitate the reduction of a fractured distal forearm and for holding the forearm and hand in an optimal position of traction, ulnar deviation, pronation and flexion following reduction of the fracture and during an application of a cast, comprising: a support assembly, said support assembly comprising a traction tower, said traction tower comprising a vertically oriented columnar support with a first support bar across an upper end of said vertically oriented columnar support, and with said first support bar having a first end and a second end, and with said first end of said first support bar comprising a first pulley with a pulley support bracket, and with said pulley support bracket comprising an opening of predetermined shape, and with said second end of said first support bar comprising a second pulley, and with said first and second pulleys supporting an elongate flexible suspension means, said elongate flexible suspension means comprising a rope or cable, and with said elongate flexible support means comprising a first end and a second end, and with said first end of said elongate flexible suspension means attached to said traction apparatus, and with said second end of said elongate flexible suspension means attached to a variable weight, and with a second support bar spaced apart from said first support bar, said second support bar comprising a means for restraining an upper arm, said means comprising a restraining cuff, and with said traction apparatus comprising a finger gripping device, said finger gripping device comprising a plurality of soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments positionable adjacent to a base of fingers to be placed therein, said plurality of soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments variably tensionable towards a base of a plurality of fingers by an elongate cantilevered spring means, said elongate cantilevered spring means comprising a scissor-shaped arrangement of elongate blades with a central pivot, and with said plurality of soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments positioned at one end of said elongate blades, and with scissor-shaped eye rings positioned at the opposite end, and with a locking ratchet between said elongate blades, and with said elongate cantilevered spring means, said locking ratchet means and said plurality of soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments rotatably affixed to an elongate base plate, said elongate base plate comprising an elongate rigid plate with a first end and a second end, and with a centrally positioned longitudinal axis thereby enabling a compressive force directed towards a base of said fingers, and with an elongate cantilever spring means comprising a first end and a second end, and with said first end of said elongate cantilever spring affixed to said elongate base plate and with said second end of said elongate cantilever spring means comprising a plurality of soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments, and with said elongate cantilever spring means with said soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments positionable between a base of an index and middle fingers, enabling said base of said fingers to be compressed and gripped by means of said plurality of soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments at said ends of said elongate blades of said scissor-shaped cantilever spring means, and with said elongate base plate comprising an elongate outrigger extension, said elongate outrigger extension comprising a first end and a second end and with a centrally positioned longitudinal axis between said first and second ends, and with said first end of said elongate outrigger extension rotatably affixed to said elongate base plate approximately midway between said first and second ends of said elongate base plate, with said longitudinal axis of said elongate outrigger extension positionable at approximately right angles to said centrally positioned longitudinal axis of said elongate base plate, and with a resulting positionability enabling the use of said traction apparatus with right or left forearms, and with said second end of said elongate outrigger extension comprising a thumb traction device loosely fastened to said second end of said elongate outrigger extension, said thumb traction device comprising soft-surfaced crescent-shaped segments positioned at approximately parallel ends of a coil spring, said coil spring providing a compressive force directed towards a base of a thumb, said compressive force enabling a base of a thumb to be gripped, and with said approximately parallel ends of said coil spring comprising offsets at a mid\\-point of said approximately parallel ends, said offsets comprising pinch grips, and with said elongate outrigger extension also comprising an elongate adjustable suspension arm, said elongate adjustable suspension arm comprising an elongate tubular rod with a first end and a second end, and with said first end rotatably fastened to a toothed sprocket, said toothed sprocket comprising a toothed disc with a truncated flattened edge and a central opening, and with said truncated flattened edge of said toothed sprocket fixed to said elongate outrigger extension at a location approximately mid-way between said first end and said second end of said elongate outrigger extension, thereby enabling a traction force directed from said location to cause a wrist to be deviated toward an ulnar side of said wrist, and with said elongate adjustable suspension arm also comprising an internal shaft with a spring-loaded tooth, said spring-loaded tooth positioned at said first end of said elongate suspension arm and with said spring-loaded tooth enabling said elongate adjustable suspension arm to engage with said toothed sprocket, thereby enabling a changing and variation of a position of said elongate adjustable suspension arm on said toothed sprocket, thereby enabling a fractured wrist to be positioned and held in varying degrees of flexion while in traction, and with said second end of said elongate adjustable suspension arm comprising a trigger means, said trigger means enabling said spring-loaded tooth to engage or disengage with said toothed sprocket, and with said second end of said elongate adjustable suspension arm fastened to a locking swivel by means of a universal joint, said locking swivel enabling rotation of said elongate adjustable suspension arm relative to an attached elongate non-rotatable rotation control rod, and with said rotation control rod comprising an elongate rod with a square cross-section, and with said non-rotatable rotation control rod comprising a first end and a second end, and with said first end of said rotation control rod rigidly attached to said locking swivel, and with said first end of said rotation control rod also comprising a means for the attachment of said elongate flexible suspension means such as a rope or cable, said means for attachment comprising an eyelet, and with said second end of said rotation control rod positioned within said opening of predetermined shape in said pulley support bracket, and with said pulley support bracket enabling translation but not rotation of said rotation control rod in said opening of predetermined shape in said pulley support bracket, thereby enabling a forearm to be positioned and held in an optimal position of pronation, and with said elongate flexible suspension means extending from said attachment to said first end of said rotation control rod, through said first pulley and through said second pulley to a variable weight, and with a palmar tail plate, said palmar tail plate comprising a rigid elongate plate with a first end and a second end, and with the said first end of said palmar tail plate slidingly and lockably attached to said first end of said elongate base plate by means of a clamping knob, said palmar tail plate slightly curved and adjustable enabling said palmar tail plate to conform to a palmar surface of a hand, and with a volar forearm pressure blade, said volar forearm pressure blade comprising an elongate semi-flexible blade means, a first end and a second end, and with said first end of said volar forearm pressure blade rotatably attached to said second end of said palmar tail plate, said volar forearm pressure blade enabling diffuse pressure to be exerted on a volar surface of a distal forearm, with a resulting flexion of a wrist area, whereby said traction apparatus enables the reduction of fractures of a distal radius and holds a forearm and wrist in the optimal position of traction, flexion, pronation, and ulnar deviation, thereby enabling the application of a closely fitting cast.