SPINAL CORRECTION METHOD AND DEVICE

Spinal correction comparable to that achieved through mastery of the specific upper spinal correction procedure may be produced through the simple application of harmonic vibrations and light long axis traction to the spine. Accordingly, complex spine correction may be achieved through a relatively simple procedure, apt for automation. During the procedure the patient may be placed in a supine position and the patient's head supported. The patient's head may be elevated and/or positioned forward with respect to the rest of the body. Light long axis traction is then induced along the spine. During the induction of traction, vibrations are applied to the spine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Utilizing a very sophisticated system of specific upper spinal correction a small segment of chiropractors successfully achieve therapeutic spinal correction. Successfully practicing the specific upper spinal correction procedure entails delivering an extremely light, accurately placed force to the upper cervical spine to return the head, neck and spine to their normal orthogonal anatomical relationship. The location, direction and magnitude of the forces applied are generally determined by exacting X-ray analysis. Accordingly, precision X-ray alignment and accurate patient placement for X-rays are critical for successful specific upper spinal correction. After the required direction and amplitude of the force required is determined from X-ray analysis, the patient's head must be properly positioned and the force must be accurately applied with respect to both direction and amplitude. The complexity of specific upper spinal correction makes it difficult to learn and even more difficult to master.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Spinal correction comparable to that achieved through mastery of the specific upper spinal correction procedure may be produced through the simple application of harmonic vibrations and light long axis traction to the spine. Accordingly, complex spine correction may be achieved through a relatively simple procedure, apt for automation. During the procedure the patient may be placed in a supine position and the patient's head supported. The patient's head may be elevated and/or positioned forward with respect to the rest of the body. Light long axis traction is then induced along the spine. During the induction of traction, vibrations are applied to the spine.

Directing the patient to lie down or otherwise placing the patient in a supine position helps the muscles along the spine to relax, lessening forces exerted on the spine by muscle guarding. During normal movement, joints, ligaments and/or muscles along the spine transmit signals to the central nervous system in response to being stretched. In response to stretch signals, the central nervous system directs muscles to contract to resist stretching of the spine. During daily activities these autocorrect signals assist in maintaining balance, posture and/or coordinated movement. However, stretch triggered autocorrect signals can also contribute to misalignment of the spine and can act against efforts to return the spine to proper alignment. Accordingly, in some instances it may be advantageous to lessen muscle guarding by having the patient relax in a supine position.

It may also be advantageous to avoid the induction of muscle guarding during correction. Avoiding muscle guarding can be accomplished by inducing light long axis traction along the spine. Light long axis traction applied to the spine in some instance may be below the threshold that would induce firing of neurological receptors in joints, ligaments and muscles in response to stretching. In some instances light long axis traction induced along the spine may be less than therapeutic traction. Accordingly, long axis traction of 27 pounds applied to the neck may be sufficient in some embodiments. In other instances, long axis traction of 12-13.5 pounds may be sufficient. Measuring the caudal force applied to the head may be done to monitor the amount of the traction.

Light long axis traction induced along the spine may, in some instances, provide a force urging the spine towards proper alignment. The ability of light long axis traction to urge the spine toward alignment may be enhanced by supporting the head equally on both lateral occipital regions of the skull. Additionally, during the induction of light long axis traction inferior movement of the skull may be inhibited.

Inducing light long axis traction may be accomplished by placing the patient in an inclined supine position so that traction is provided by the force of gravity. The use of gravity to supply light long axis traction may permit the spine to be consistently pulled in an exact direction. In some instances, the patient may find it more comfortable to have his head elevated above his feet.

Having the patient lay flat on his back on a tilted surface may be sufficient, in some instances, to induce light long axis traction along the spine. When so positioned, especially when inferior movement of the head is inhibited, the resulting light long axis traction may induce the spine to slide down the incline and into alignment, like a crooked rope being pulled straight. In some instances, movement of the spine down the incline may be assisted by the patient's tissue located between the spine and the inclined surface. The tissue may provide a surface of reduced friction along which the spine may move. Thus, in some instances, the spine may float upon underlying tissue and slide down the incline into alignment.

In addition to light long axis traction, vibrations applied to the spine may induce movement of the spine in the direction of induced light long axis traction. Accordingly, in some instances the combination of light long axis and vibrations applied to the spine may induce corrective force. If the patient is placed at an incline such that the force gravity supplies light long axis traction, then the spine may be pulled into perfect alignment. Vibrations may be applied for any length of time. With some patients, a five to eight minute application of light long axis traction and vibrations to the spine may be sufficient. In some instances, vibrations may be applied to multiple regions of the spine simultaneously. Accordingly, simultaneous movement and alignment of multiple regions of the spine may be induced. In some instances, the vibrations may be applied to the spine through surface supporting the patient. In other instances, vibrations may be applied to specific regions and/or points along the spine. For example, vibrations may applied the transverse process of C-1, the posterior aspect of C-1, the skull, the cervical region, the thoracic region, and the lumbar region. Sequential application of vibrations to various regions and/or locations of the spine may induce sequential movement and alignment. In some instance it may be desirable to induce harmonic vibrations along the entire spine and/or in one or more specific regions of the spine.

The vibrations applied to the spine may be a progressed from a low frequency to a high to frequency. Progressing the vibration across a frequency range may, in some embodiments, permit the induction of harmonic vibrations within each region of the spine. In some instances the vibrations applied to the spine may be between approximately 5 and approximately 85 Hertz.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a light long axis traction spinal correction device100which may be used to practice the above procedure is shown inFIG. 1. Correction device100comprises base101supporting table top102. Pivot joint103connects table top102to the base101. Head support104on table top102supports a patient's head in an elevated position. Vibration element105in contact with table top102induces vibrations within table top102which are applied to the patient's spine.

As show inFIG. 1, a patient lies supine on table top102. The patient's head is supported by head support104. In some embodiments, head support104may be configured to support the patient's head equally on both lateral occipital regions of the skull behind the mastoid bone. In some embodiments, a head support104may prevent inferior movement of the head. Inferior movement of the head may be prevented by strap115associated with head support which secures the patient's head to head to support104.

In combination or the alternative, head support104may include a clam clamp400.FIG. 4depicts an embodiment of clam clamp400having a bottom401matching the inward slope of the lower portions of the back of the head. The upper half402of the clam clamp400may be configured to extend over the patient's forehead and hook over the upper portion of the eye orbit, without pushing on the eye. Clam clamp400may be motorized or manually set. In some embodiments a force limited may be included to limit the force applied by clam clamp400.

In some embodiments, a patient may be provided with a release the patient could actuate to release the head restraint associated with head support104. In combination or the alternative, head support104may be configured to release the patient's head if traction applied to the neck exceeds a predetermined limit.

In some embodiments, head support104may comprise cephaled adjustment mechanism106permitting the patient's head to be positioned forward with respect to the body along arc107. In combination or the alternative, head support104may comprise vertical adjustment mechanism108permitting raising and lowering of the patient's head above table top102. A variety of adjustment mechanisms may be utilized in association with head support102to elevate and/or position the patient's head forward. The adjustment mechanisms associated with head support104of correction device100comprise vertical rail109and a horizontal rail110along which head support104may slide. Screws111and112secure head support104in position along rails109and110, respectively.

After the patient lays supine on table top102with his head supported by head support104, light long axis traction is induced along the spine by placing table top102at an incline, as shown inFIG. 2. The amount of traction applied may be measured and/or calculated. Protractor113measuring the angle of incline of table top102may permit the amount of tract induced along the spine to be calculated from the patient's weight. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, protractor113may be associated with pivot joint103. In combination or the alternative, protractor113may be associated with table top102and/or otherwise positioned to measure the incline of table top102. In some embodiments, the incline of table top102may be limited to12degrees.

In combination or the alternative to calculating traction from the incline of table top102, a traction force meter associated with head support104may permit the amount traction applied along the spine to be measured.

While table top102is inclined, vibrations are generated within table top102by vibration element105. The vibrations generated within table top102are applied to the patient's spine. Accordingly, during the induction of light long axis traction vibrations generated by vibration element105are transferred through table top102into the patient's spine. When transferring vibrations to the patient's spine, vibrating table top102moves up and down with respect to the patient's spine. As vibrating table top102moves upward it exerts an increasing force against the patient Likewise, as vibrating table top102moves down the force exerted against the patient decreases. The maximum force exerted against the patient by the upward movement of table top102is referred to as the force amplitude of the vibrations. In some embodiments, the force amplitude of the vibrations applied to the spine may be between approximately 0.2 and approximately 2.0 pounds.

The combination of the induced light long axis traction and vibrations applied to the spine through table top102induces the spine to slide down the incline of table top102and into alignment, like a crooked rope being pulled straight. In some embodiments, movement of the spine into alignment may be facilitated by leg support114on table top102. Positioning leg support114beneath the patient's knees may remove resistance to movement from the patient's leg. Leg support114may be a cushion, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3depicts an alternative embodiment of a light long axis traction spinal correction device. Table top102of light long axis traction spinal correction device300depicted inFIG. 3is balanced about pivot joint103. Balanced about pivot joint103, table top102may be inclined with reduced effort. The incline of table top102of device300may be measured by a protractor associated with table top102.

Device300comprises spine supports301on table top102. Adjusting the vertical placement of spine supports301allows support of the patient in a supine position with the spine curved as in the standing position. The vertical placement of spine supports301may be adjusted using vertical adjustment mechanisms associated with spines supports301. Movement of the spine during correction may be enhanced in some embodiments with rollers and/or slides incorporated into spine supports301.

In addition to spine supports301, device300supports the patient in a supine position with leg supports114. Adjusting the vertical placement of leg supports114may permit the patient to be supported in a supine position with their legs positioned with respect to the spine as if in a standing position. The vertical placement of leg supports114may be adjusted using vertical adjustment mechanism associated with leg supports114. Movement of the legs during correction may be enhanced in some embodiment with rollers and/or slides incorporated into leg supports114.

In addition to supporting the patient in a supine position, head support104and/or spine supports301may transfer vibrations to the spine. The vibrations applied to the spine by head support104and/or leg supports301may be generated by vibration element105in contact with table top102. Accordingly, in some embodiments vibrations generated by vibration element105may be transferred through table top102, up supports104and/or201and into the patient's spine.

In combination or the alternative, head support104and/or at least one spine supports301may be associated directly with individual vibration elements. Vibrations generated by vibrations elements could then be transferred directly from supports104and/or301to the patient's spine. In some embodiments, a vibration element may be positioned at the portion of head support104and/or at least one spine supports301contacting the patient. In such embodiments, vibrations generated would be applied directly to the patient's spine.

Device300depicted inFIG. 3incorporates vibration elements105atop of head support104and spin supports301. In some embodiments force meters may be associated with head support104and spine supports301for measuring the force amplitude of the vibrations applied to the spine at head support104and spine supports301. In combination or the alternative, fore meters measuring the force amplitude of vibrations applied to the spine may associated with base101and/or table top102. In some embodiments, a force meter measuring the force amplitude of the vibrations may be a transducer.

In some embodiments a computer with software may interface with the spinal correction device. The software may accept as input patient data, reference previous treatment data and determine recommended treatment parameters. The software may then, in some embodiments, display the recommended treatment parameters to the clinician who sets the correction device accordingly. In combination or the alternative, the software may set the correction device to all or some of the recommended parameters by controlling the vibration element and/or incline of the table top.

The patient data inputted into the software may include age, weight, body type, gender and/or various physiological measurements. The accepted physiological measurements may include height, postural measurements such as standing weight difference, pelvic rotation, fixed point deviation, leg length inequality, uneven shoulders and/or head tilt, and/or x-ray measurements such as atlas lateral displacement, lower cervical angle, C2 rotation and/or atlas rotation.

The recommended treatment parameters may include the incline of the table top, force amplitude of the applied vibrations, frequency of the applied vibrations and/or duration of treatment.

Previous treatment data may include patient data, treatment parameters and/or outcome data such post treatment physiological measurements.

In determining recommended treatment parameters, the software may compare inputted patient data to previous treatment data. In some embodiments, the comparison entails searching and selective previous treatment data matching one or more elements of patient data, such as weight. The software may then output and/or set the correction device to all or some of the treatment parameters associated with the returned previous treatment data. In some situations it is possible the software may identify multiple previous treatment data matching the patient data. In such situations, the software may select the previous treatment data best matching the patient data. In combination or the alternative, the recommend treatment parameters may the mean, median and/or other mathematical representation of the previous treatment data associated with the returned previous treatment data.

A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is also provided for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.