# Patent

## Title
Pneumatic joint separator for lower body alignment

## Abstract

An exercising device includes a frame and is configured for placement on a floor and having a top surface, along with a first inflatable bladder disposed for directly bearing against lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae of a user's spine in a first direction and a second inflatable bladder disposed for directly bearing against the mid-lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae of the spine in a second direction. The adjacent inflated bladders provide diverging forces against the user's spine and thereby cause stretching and longitudinal aligning of the spinal vertebrae while promoting fluid imbibition throughout the vertebrae and discs. An adjustable body strap attachment is secured through the frame in non-fixed relationship within a hollow portion. The body strap is attached to an elongate stirrup strap which engages slidably on the user's feet/legs for exercising pulling force aligned from the legs and lower body to the spine.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an exercising device directed at alignment of the lower body and spinal vertebrae. More specifically, the present invention relates to the apparatus and methods for decompressing the spinal vertebrae using the pulling forces of the lower body, leg muscles, and abdominal muscles to urge and correct aberrant spinal vertebrae postures.
The spinal column is a bony column forming the main structural support of the skeleton of a human being and it consists of bony vertebrae linked by flexible joints and held together by ligaments and flexible gelatinous discs of cartilage. The spinal column of an adult human being consists of thirty-three vertebrae in which the last nine of these are fused to form the sacrum and the coccyx at the back of the pelvis. The 24 movable vertebrae are the 7 cervical (neck), 12 dorsal, and 5 lumbar. The vertebrae form a column for the skeleton and the arches are positioned so the space enclosed is an effective tube or canal. This houses and protects the spinal cord and within it the spinal fluid circulates. Without the seepage of fluids into the spinal column, the discs will further dehydrate, which may result in further loss of mobility, crippling, and even nerve damage. Thus, nutrient transport of fluids surround the spinal column is important in maintaining spinal health. It is known that the spine has a number of curvatures along the sagittal plane, namely, the cervical and lumbar curvatures in which the spine is convex toward the front of the body and the dorsal and sacral curvatures in which the spine is convex toward the back of the body. These alternating curves provide strength and balance to the body and are essential to allowing a person to walk upright. The lumbar and cervical curves of the spine normally define forward curves of about 35 to about 45 degrees whereby weight is distributed relatively evenly on individual vertebral surfaces and discs.
In individuals with lost or reversed cervical and lumbar spinal curves due to injury, illness, genetic predisposition, habitual microtrauma or simply poor posture, the weight of the body bears forwardly on the soft, non-bony intervertebral discs, inhibiting fluid transfer and causing the discs to wear, dehydrate and degenerate. Over time, these individuals exhibit a significant loss of natural joint movement. Lack of natural movement in the spine over time causes a reduction in the imbibition of nutrient rich fluids that normally lubricate and maintain flexibility of the spine. Without this seepage of fluids into the spinal column, the discs will further dehydrate, which may result in further loss of mobility, crippling and possible nerve damage. It is further noted that the intervertebral discs' indigenous vascular fluid supply disappears at approximately 20 years of age. Thus, active nutrient transport of fluids surrounding the spinal column is particularly important to maintaining spinal health of adults.
In addition to spinal traction devices which are well known for stretching the spine longitudinally in order to restore lost mobility, devices have been developed for either passively or actively restoring the normal curves of the spine to prevent the disabling effects of lost or impaired curvature mentioned hereinabove. An example for at home use device includes a Method and Portable Apparatus for Spinal Adjustment disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US2003/0130696 to Hurd. In this device, a user employs the effects of gravity combined with simple leverage over a convex rigid surface to adjust the user's spine. Another example of a passive device includes, for example, the Spinal Column Correction Device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,310 to Hsein. In this device, a user is strapped to a series of raised supports that define what the normal curvatures of the spine should be. According to the inventor, the weight of the user's body will bear against the raised supports to correct abnormal curvature in the spine.
An example of a useful device that actively exercises the abdominal muscle and spine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,085 to Graham entitled Rocking Vectored Pneumatic Joint Separator Inflatable Cervical Traction and Exercising Device, this patent being incorporated by this specific reference herein. An abdominal muscle and spine-exercising device in accordance with the invention generally includes a frame having a top surface and a bottom surface. A first arched projection is disposed in the top surface along with a first inflatable bladder disposed on the first arched projection for directly bearing against lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae of a users spine in a first direction. A second inflatable bladder is disposed on the first arched projection for directly bearing against the mid-lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae of the spine in a second direction. The first and second directions are divergent along a sagittal plane of the user in order to enhance an elliptical curve in the thoraco-lumbar/lumbo-sacral spine. A second arched projection is disposed on the bottom surface for enabling the frame and bladders to be rocked by the user in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the frame. This rocking action provides exercise for the abdominal, low-back and pelvic muscles while the spine is inflated into an elliptical shape.
Another useful device that actively exercises the normal lordotic, i.e. forward, curves of a spine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,226 to Graham entitled Inflatable Cervical Traction and Exercising Device, this patent being incorporated herein by this specific reference. In the Graham patent, a device is disclosed which utilizes an inflatable bladder for actively forcing the cervical spine into a forward semi-circular curve. This exercising of the spine promotes fluid imbibition through the spinal vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,586 to Graham provides for a device and method for maintaining spinal health which utilizes a dual action air chamber defining multiple vectors of force to be applied to a spine, particularly to the lumbar spinal region this patent being incorporated herein by this specific reference. The device gradually lifts and separates the vertebrae in a manner that surpasses the effectiveness and comfort of conventional traction devices and passive spinal correction devices using a frame for aligning the upper spine.
U.S. Pat. Application 2007/0293796 is incorporated herewith by reference, to Graham provides a leg carrier slidably disposed in a conventional manner on a table for providing pelvis translation. In order to prevent or control twisting of the lower body, knee fenders may be fixed to the leg carrier. A lumbar sacral unit disposed on the support table between the cervical device and carrier is provided for enhancing an elliptical arch in the users' lower spine. The lumbar sacral unit is also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,713,841, 5,569,176, and D508,565 by Dr. Graham and are incorporated herewith by specific reference in their entirety.
The present invention provides for a combination leg muscle, abdominal muscle and spine-exercising device utilizing the vectoring of the earlier Graham work and further providing for apparatus capable of exercising, decompressing, and aligning the lower body and leg muscles while the spinal vertebrae are pneumatically molded into the accepted elliptical configuration of the thoraco-lumbar/lumbo-sacral spine to the legs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in accordance with the present invention, a leg muscle, abdominal muscle, and spinal exercise device generally is provided for redefining curvature to the lumbar/sacral spine and for manipulating the spine and intervertebral discs with decompression force from the lower body. This device generally comprises a means for manipulating and redefining the curvature of the spine and a frame.
Specifically, the means for manipulating and redefining the curvature of the spine includes a top surface along with a first inflatable bladder disposed for directly bearing against lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae of a users spine in a first direction. A second inflatable bladder is disposed for directly bearing against the mid-lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae of the spine in a second direction to enhance the lower body strength and curve in spine. The adjacent inflated bladders, or alternately inflated bladders, provide diverging forces against the user's spine and thereby cause stretching and longitudinal aligning of the spinal vertebrae while promoting fluid imbibition throughout the vertebrae and discs. Thus, initially, the inflated first bladder may lift the thoracic-lumbar spinal vertebrae while the inflated second bladder may lift the lumbar-sacral spinal vertebrae thereby manipulating and redefining the semi-elliptical curvature in the spine.
More specifically, a body strap attachment for encompassing the user's body and securing the frame connects to an elongate stirrup strap member having a proximal end and a distal end. Preferably, the body attachment connects two ends of a strap, for example by means of a buckle, for adjustably securing the frame against the user's lumbar region.
The elongate stirrup strap member having a proximal end attached to the body strap attachment thereby connecting to the user's spine and frame, and a distal end attached to a stirrup for encompassing the user's feet/legs to enable decompression force from the lower body to the spine. Alternatively, the elongate stirrup strap member may include an attachable pressure gauge for measuring the decompression force exerted by the feet/legs on the lower body. A handheld monitor communicates with the pressure gauge for the user to monitor applied decompression or exercise force.
Even more specifically a stirrup attachment engagable by the user's feet/legs is provided for enabling pulling force from the legs and lower body to the spine. This stirrup attachment further enables the user to exercise the leg muscles while decompressing the thoraco-lumbar/lumbo-sacral spinal vertebrae which are pneumatically molded by the inflated bladders into the accepted elliptical configuration. Thus the spinal vertebrae are urged and molded into the natural elliptical alignment, the joints are lubricated and aligned, and the lower body muscles including the legs, abdominal, lower-back, and pelvic muscles are stretched and exercised.
Alternatively, the exercise device adapted for the user to exercise and strengthen the lower body muscles the proximal end is attached to the body strap attachment without the frame spine for enabling decompression pulling force aligned from the legs and lower body to the spine.
The device described hereinabove is suitable for performing a method for decompressing the spine and for exercising the lower body muscles, leg muscles, abdominal muscles, comprising the steps of:

    (a) providing a frame attachable against the user's spine with first and second bladders disposed on a top of said frame and a rocker projection disposed on a bottom of said frame;
    (b) inflating a bladder bearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae and inflating another bladder bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae in order to create traction and spinal arc in the lower spinal region and to stretch lower body muscle groups, leg muscles;
    (c) inflating and exhausting alternatively the bladder bearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar with the bladder bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae;
    (d) encompassing the user's waist/lumbar region and securing the frame with a body strap attachment;
    (e) connecting the body strap attachment to an elongate stirrup strap attached to tension gauge for monitoring decompression force and attached to a stirrup for encompassing the user's feet/legs;
    (f) engaging slidably the user's feet/legs into the stirrup for enabling stress aligned from the legs and lower body to the spine;
    (g) creating aligned decompression forces between the leg muscles and lower abdominal muscles by pulling the stirruped legs/feet in a direction away from the spine away from the spine to decompress, urge, and align the spinal vertebrae;
    (h) monitoring the tension gauge with a handheld monitor and controlling the decompression forces between the leg muscles and lower abdominal muscles and repeating the exercising force to strengthen the lower body, spine, and legs.


Alternatively, the device described hereinabove is suitable for performing a method, in accordance with the present invention, for exercising the lower body, legs, and spine to enable and promote lower body and spinal alignment, comprising the steps of:

    (a) encompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal vertebrae region and securing the frame with a body strap attachment
    (b) connecting the body strap attachment to an elongate stirrup strap attached to tension gauge for monitoring decompression force and attached to a stirrup for encompassing the user's feet/legs;
    (c) engaging slidably the user's feet/legs into the stirrup for enabling stress aligned from the legs and lower body to the spine;
    (d) creating aligned decompression forces between the leg muscles and lower abdominal muscles by pulling the stirruped legs/feet in a direction away from the spine away from the spine to decompress, urge, and align the spinal vertebrae;
    (e) monitoring the tension gauge with a handheld monitor and controlling the decompression forces between the feet/leg muscles and lower abdominal muscles and repeating the exercising force to strengthen the lower body, spine, and legs.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more readily understood in light of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lower body and spinal exercise device in accordance with the present invention, including a frame having two inflatable bladders disposed thereon, a pair of handheld pumps for bladder inflation, a body attachment attached to a stirrup strap, a tension gauge, and an attached stirrup for feet/legs.
FIG. 2 illlustrates a perspective view of the top side of the lower body and spinal exercise device positioned for use in accordance with FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the bottom side of the lower body and spinal exercise device positioned for use in accordance with FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the device in accordance with the invention showing the inflatable bladder disposed on a frame, connected to flexible pump tubing, hollow and slot portions of the frame, and a body strap attachment interconnected to the frame slots and to the elongate stirrup strap.
FIGS. 5-6 illustrate perspective top views of the body strap attachment which encompasses the user's spinal region, an elongate stirrup strap, and a stirrup. FIG. 5 illustrates the stirrup as an attachable looped band while FIG. 6 illustrates the stirrup as a partitioned annulus (ring) for aligning and supporting the feet and the lower body.
FIGS. 7-8 illustrate the use of the lower elongate stirrup strap member including an optionally attachable tension gauge for measuring the decompression force and a handheld monitor for communication with the tension gauge. FIG. 7 illustrates the user in a relaxed position and FIG. 8 illustrates the user in the extended lower body position applying decompression force to the spine and inflated bladders against the user's spine to expand and redefine the curvature in the spine.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference to FIGS. 1-4 there is shown a leg muscle, abdominal muscle, and spinal exercise device 10 which includes a frame 14 having a top surface 16 and a bottom surface 18. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the top surface 16 includes a concave surface 20 and, as best seen in FIG. 3 a bottom surface 18.
The frame 14 structure is preferably molded in suitable lightweight plastic for enabling interconnection of the two inflatable bladders 32, 34 to the top surface 16. As best seen in FIG. 4, the concave surface 20 of the frame 14 includes a hollow portion 22 and slotted 24, 26 portions for enabling interconnection the air bladders 32, 34 and interconnection of the body strap attachment 70.
With reference to FIG. 2, the inflatable bladders 32, 34 carried by the frame 14 are defined by an upper 32 and a lower portion 34 which are disposed proximate a center of the frame top surface 16. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the air bladders 32, 34 are pneumatically inflated and deflated through the use of hand held pumps 40, 42 or bulbs, respectively through flexible tubing 46, 48 lines and fittings 52, 54 coupled to the bladders 32, 34 on the frame top surface underside 60.
As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inflatable bladders 32, 34 disposed on the frame concave top surface 16 bear directly against the user's spine while frame 14 supports the user's body contour 62. FIG. 7 shows the user at rest in an aligned position for exercise. FIG. 8 shows the user applying longitudinal alignment force 66 and enhanced spinal arc 68 created upon inflation 36 of the upper bladder 32 bearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae and upon inflation of a lower bladder 34 bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae. The arrangement of the frame 14 and bladders 32, 34 is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,906,586 and 7,060,085 to Graham which are to be incorporated herewith in their entirety for describing suitable bladders for use with the present invention and their position.
As seen in FIGS. 1-4, a body strap attachment 70 may be fitted through corresponding slots 24, 26 in the top surface 16 of the frame and fastened in a suitable manner. Two ends of the body strap attachment 70, shown in FIGS. 1-3, may include a buckle 72 on one end and a buckle fitting 74 on the other end for adjustably securing the body strap 70 and the frame 14 to the contour of the user's waist/lumbar spinal region 62, In an alternative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, the user may detach the frame 14 and use the body strap attachment 70 without the frame 14 or inflatable bladders 32, 34.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, there is shown an elongate stirrup strap member 80 having a proximal end 82 and a distal end 86. Both ends of the elongate stirrup strap member 80 include at least one loop for fastening the proximal end 84 to the body strap attachment 70 and another loop for fastening the adjustable distal end 88 to the stirrup 78. As best seen in FIG.3 the elongate stirrup strap member 80 include at least one loop for fastening the proximal end 84 to the body strap attachment and is engaged with the bottom surface of the frame 18. FIG. 5 illustrates a stirrup 100 as a slidably looped band 102 attached to the loop stirrup strap distal end 88. FIG. 6 illustrates the stirrup 100 as annulus 104 attached to the adjustable stirrup strap distal end 88. As best seen in FIG. 8, the annulus 104 stirrup is shown with a partition 106 and a support for each foot 90 which aligns each leg 92 with the pelvis and spine while applying decompression force 94 to the spine.
With specific reference to FIGS. 7-8, in an alternative embodiment, a removable tension gauge 110 is coupled to the stirrup strap 80. A handheld monitor 112 communicates 114 with the tension gauge 110 thereby enabling the user to simultaneously view the tension measurement on the handheld monitor 112 while applying decompression tension force 94 from the feet 90 and legs 92 to the spine. The tension gauge 110 and handheld monitor 112 enabling the user to simultaneously view the tension measurement may be of a conventional design. FIG. 7 illustrates the user in a relaxed longitudinal aligned 64 position and FIG. 8 illustrates the user in the extended lower body position applying decompression force 94 to the spine and applying longitudinal stretching force 66 with inflated bladders 32, 34 against the spine.
Although there has been hereinabove described a specific abdominal muscle and spine-exercising device in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

## Claims

1. A leg muscle, abdominal muscle, and spinal exercise device adapted for imparting curvature to the lumbar or sacral spine of a user and for manipulating the spine and intervertebral discs with decompression force, said device comprising:
a frame for placement on a floor and having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface configured to rest upon the floor, wherein the top surface and bottom surface are in a spaced apart relationship forming a hollow portion therebetween;
an inflatable bladder carried by the top surface of the frame, said bladder defined by an upper and lower portion, inflation of said bladder directly against the user's spine causing said bladder to expand and define a substantially semi-elliptical configuration thereby manipulating and redefining the curvature in the spine;
a body strap attachment passing through the frame in non-fixed relationship and partially disposed within the hollow portion for encompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal region and securing said frame;
an elongate stirrup strap member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end attachable to the body strap attachment thereby connecting to the user's spinal region, wherein the proximal end is adapted to be disposed behind the user's spinal region; and
a stirrup attachable to the stirrup strap distal end for enabling the user's feet or legs to apply decompression force from the lower body to the spine.

2. The device in claim 1 wherein said body strap attachment comprises two ends of a strap for adjustably securing the frame against the user's thoracic-lumbar-sacral spinal region.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein both ends of the elongate stirrup strap member include at least one loop for fastening the proximal end to the body strap attachment and another loop for fastening the distal end to the stirrup for enabling pulling forces from the lower body to the spine.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the stirrup includes a rigid foot opening for enabling the user to align the legs or feet with the pelvis and spine.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongate stirrup strap member includes a tension gauge for measuring the decompression force exerted by the feet or legs on the lower body, spine, and frame.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a handheld monitor in communication with the tension gauge for enabling the user to monitor applied decompression or exercise force.

7. A method for exercising and decompressing the lower body muscles, leg muscles, abdominal muscles and spine, comprising the steps of:
providing a frame with first and second bladders disposed on a top projection of said frame, said top projection of said frame disposed on a bottom of said frame, the frame comprising a hollow portion between the top projection and bottom of said frame;
inflating a bladder bearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae and inflating another bladder bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae in order to create traction and spinal arc in the lower spinal region and to stretch lower body muscle groups, leg muscles;
inflating and exhausting alternatively the bladder bearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar with the bladder bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebra, while engaging the feet or legs in a stirrup to decompress, urge, and align the spinal vertebrae;
encompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal vertebrae region and securing the frame with a body strap attachment, the body strap attachment passing through the frame in non-fixed relationship and partially disposed within the hollow portion;
connecting the body strap attachment to an elongate stirrup strap attached to a tension gauge for monitoring decompression force and attached to the stirrup for encompassing the user's feet or legs, where the elongate stirrup strap is disposed behind the user;
engaging slidably the user's feet or legs into the stirrup;
creating aligned decompression forces between the leg muscles and lower abdominal muscles by pulling the stirruped legs or feet in a direction away from the spine to decompress, urge, and align the spinal vertebrae.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising monitoring the decompression forces between the leg muscles and lower abdominal and repeating the pulling of the stirruped legs or feet in the direction away from the spine to strengthen the lower body, spine, and legs.

9. An improvement for a leg muscle, abdominal muscle, and spinal exercise device adapted for imparting curvature to the lumbar or sacral spine of a user and for manipulating the spine and intervertebral discs with decompression force, said device comprising:
a frame for placement on a floor and having a top surface and a bottom surface, the frame comprising a hollow portion between the top and bottom surface;
an inflatable bladder carried by the frame, said bladder defined by an upper and lower portion, inflation of said bladder directly against the user's spine causing said bladder to expand and defines a substantially semi-elliptical configuration thereby manipulating and redefining the curvature in the spine, the improvement comprising:
a body strap attachment passing through the frame in non-fixed relationship and partially disposed within the hollow portion for encompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal region and securing said frame;
an elongate stirrup strap member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end attachable to the body strap attachment thereby connecting to the user's spinal region, wherein the proximal end is adapted to be disposed behind the user's spinal region; and
a stirrup attachable to the stirrup strap distal end for enabling the user's feet or legs to apply decompression force from the lower body to the spine.

10. The device in claim 9 wherein said body strap attachment comprises two ends of a strap for adjustably securing the frame against the user's thoracic-lumbar-sacral spinal region.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein both ends of the elongate stirrup strap member include at least one loop for fastening the proximal end to the body strap attachment and another loop for fastening the distal end to the stirrup for enabling pulling forces from the lower body to the spine.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the stirrup includes a rigid foot opening for enabling the user to align the legs or feet with the pelvis and spine.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the elongate stirrup strap member includes an attachable tension gauge for measuring the decompression force exerted by the feet or legs on the lower body, spine, and frame.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a handheld monitor, communication with the tension gauge for enabling the user to monitor applied decompression or exercise force.

15. A method for exercising and decompressing the lower body muscles, leg muscles, abdominal muscles and spine of a user, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a frame with first and second bladders disposed on a top projection of said frame disposed on a bottom of said frame, the frame comprising a hollow portion between the top projection and bottom of the frame;
inflating a bladder bearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae and inflating another bladder bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae in order to create traction and spinal arc in the lower spinal region and to stretch lower body muscle groups, leg muscles;
inflating and exhausting alternatively the bladder bearing against the lower thoracic and upper lumbar with the bladder bearing against the middle lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebra, an improvement comprising:
encompassing the user's thoracic-sacral spinal vertebrae region and securing the frame with a body strap attachment passing through the frame in non-fixed relationship and partially disposed within the hollow portion;
connecting the body strap attachment to an elongate stirrup strap attached to a tension gauge for monitoring decompression force and attached to a stirrup for encompassing the user's feet or legs, where the elongate stirrup strap is disposed behind the user;
engaging slidably the user's feet or legs into the stirrup;
creating aligned decompression forces between the leg muscles and spinal joints by pulling the stirruped legs or feet in a direction away from the spine to decompress, urge, and align the spinal vertebrae; and
monitoring the decompression forces between the leg muscles and lower spine, pelvis or abdomen and repeating the exercising force to strengthen the lower body, spine, and legs.