APPARATUS FOR TREATING BACK AILMENTS

Abstract: An apparatus for treating back ailments comprises a support means (10) for supporting a patient; belts (19, 26) for encircling the chest and pelvis respectively of the patient; tension or pulling means (17) connected to the belt (26) for the pelvis or chest of the patient; and a readily moveable carrier means (14) for supporting the pelvis or chest of the patient. The readily moveable carrier means (14) is arranged to execute, simultaneously with or independently of a translatory movement, rotary movement in the horizontal plane and/or a skewing or distorting movement about an axis in the longitudinal of the carrier means (14), in accordance with a programme previously decided for the patient. Rotary movement is arranged to take place about a vertical axis between the carrier means (14) and a means (13) for supporting the small of the back, preferably located at the second vertebra of the patient, counted from the pelvis region. The means for supporting the small of the back is provided with a pressure sensing means (40) and is arranged to be controlled vertically in dependence upon the pressure sensed by the pressure sensing means (40).

Description: APPARATUS FOR TREATING BACK AILMENTS Technical Field -The present invention relates to 'apparatus for treating back ailments. The apparatus is of the kind which incorporates support means for supporting a patient in a horizontal, lying posi¬ tion; a first tension take-up means arranged to pass around the pelvis area of the patient, ten- sioning means connected to the first tension take- up means or to a second tension take-up means arranged to pass around the chest area of the patient; and a readily moveable carriage means arranged for movement relative to said support means and intended to support the pelvis of the patient. Background Art Apparatus are known for treating people with back ailments by means of traction and torsion. One such known apparatus includes a rotatably arranged support for the patient's chest and head; a raiεable and lowerable support means arranged for rotation about its axis and intended for supporting the small of the back of a patient; and a longitudinally displaceable support means for supporting the pelvis and legs of the patient. Another known apparatus includes head/chest supports; means for supporting the small of the back, the pelvis and the legs of a patient, with the leg support means arranged for repeated rotary movement in a vertical direction and the means for supporting the small of the back and the pelvis being arranged for rotary movement about a horizontal axis irrespective of the move- -ment of the leg support means. Although these and other similar apparatus permit certain control¬ led relative movement between the pelvis area and chest area of a patient, there is still a need for apparatus which are more flexible in operation and which can be adapted more readily to the individual requirements of different patients undergoing treatment. Disclosure of the Invention When using an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention the back of a patient can be treated three-dimensionally in a controlled fashion, namely by traction, torsion about a vertical axis and distortion about a horizontal access , and treatment can be carried out without requiring the patient to be moved. The treatment should initially be carried out once a cay, to be later followed by a more gentle traction mode over a longer period of time and while resting, for example during the night. The apparatus can be designed so that the patient hiπ-self. is able to carry out each in¬ dividual movement manually and in a controlled fashio , in accordance with the doctor's orders. In accordance with a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the means for supporting the small of the back auto¬ matically protects the back from being over¬ strained and the loin part of the back from being wrongly angled when the patient is subjected to traction. The characterizing features of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention are OMPI set forth in the following claims. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying sche- matic drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view in perspective of an apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 illustrates a tension force take- up means incorporated in the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 3 illustrates in smaller scale parts of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 as seen from the side, with the axes of rotation also illustrated, Figure 4 is a side view of an apparatus according to the invention having pressure- sensing means , and Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of part of the apparatus illustrated in Figure -i. Preferred Embodiment of the Invention The apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 com¬ prises support means 10 for supporting a patient in a horizontal, lying position and having arranged thereon a head support 11, back support 12, means 13 for supporting the small of the back, pelvis support means 14 and leg support means 15. Arranged on the back support is a second tension force take-up neans (belt) 19 which is only partly shewn and which, during treatment, is fixedly arranged relative the support means 10 and intended to pass around the chest region of the patient. The -means 13 for supporting the small of the back is vertically displaceable and arranged for movement in the horizontal plane. The pelvis support means 14 has the form of a carriage-like means arranged for movement relative the support means 10 with but slight friction, and is intended to support the pelvis region of the patient. Connected to the pelvis support is a first tension force take-up means (belt) which is not shown in the Figure and which is arranged for movement, to- gether with the pelvis support means, relative to the support means 10 and intended to pass around the pelvis region of the patient. The pelvis support 14 is also provided with a separate, cupped upstanding support 141. Con- nected to the first tension force take-up means is a pulling means 17 , which is indicated in Figure 1 by two pulling lines and which is intended to move the first tension take-up means relative the support means 10. When drawing in the means 17, the carriage-like means 14 is imparted a translatory movement; when the pulling force is interrupted, the means 14 is returned to its starting position by means of a spring (not shown) arranged in the support means 10. The aforementioned movements are shown by arrows A,B. Arranged on the right-hand side of the apparatus, so as to be conveniently reached by a patient lying on said apparatus, is an opera- ting unit 18 comprising a crank 181, gear levers 182-184, and instruments lc5 and 187 for dis¬ closing the traction force, and the angles of twist or rotation and distortion respectively. The operating or control unit can be swung out, so as to be readily accessible to a doctor or therapist. When the lever 182 is moved to a lower position and the crank 181 turned clock- wise, the lines 17 are drawn in and the tension or pulling force exerted can be read-off the instrument 185, within the range of about O-lOOkp. The pelvis support means (the carriage) 14 and the leg support means 15 are mounted on a support beam which can be rotated about a ver¬ tical axis. The beam support, and therewith also the pelvis suport means 14 and leg support means 15, is rotated by moving the lever 183 to a lower position and turning the crank 181; the extent to which rotation has been effected, either to the right or to the left, can be read-off from the instrument 186 within an angular range of about 0-20°. The means 13 for supporting the small of the back is arranged so as to partially accom- pany the aforementioned rotary movement in the horizontal plane, i.e. will move within an angular range of 0-10° to the right or to the left. . The pelvis support means (the carriage) 14 and the leg support means 15 are also mounted on a frame arranged to execute a istorsion move¬ ment about its longitudinal axis. The pelvis support means and the leg support means are skewed by moving the lever 185 to a lower position and turning the crank 181; the extent to which skewing is effected in direction N0-SV or NV-SO within a range of - about 0-30° can be read-off from instrument IS7. The means ' 13 for supporting the small of the back does not accompany this movement, although the means 13 can be adjusted to the position of the .back owing to the fact that the upper part of said means 13 is constructed so as to yield. Pre¬ ferably, the surface of the means 13 for sup¬ porting the small of the back is covered with a friction-reducing material, such as Teflon, so as to be relatively friction free against the small of the patient's back. The (imaginary) vertical axis about which the aforementioned rotary movement takes place is suitably located between the pelvis support 14 and the means 13 for supporting the small of the back. More specifically, the various means should be adjusted so that the axis of rotation is located approximately in the vicinity of the second vertabra, counted from the pelvis area. The (imaginary) distorsion or skewing axis about which the aforementioned skewing movement takes place suitably coincides with a concentric axis through three vertabrae of the patient located nearest the pelvis. When mention is made in the aforegoing of a horizontal plane, vertical axis etc., the point of departure is taken with a patient lying horizontally in a "recumbant" position. Should, for some reason or other, the patient be placed in a slightly twisted position, the aforementioned terns must be given a somewhat different meaning, although there should be no difficulty in understanding -what is actually meant. These facts have been taken into consideration by incorporating the word "substantially" in the claims. In order for treatment of a patient on the aforedescribed apparatus to have full ef ect, it is important that the pelvis portion of the patient is pressed effectively against the carriage-like means 14, thereby ensuring that it accompanies the translatory, twisting and skewing movements carried out by said carriage- like means. To this end, the first tension take-up means (the belt) is of particular design, see Figure 2. The member 26 of the illustrated embodiment includes a belt 260, which passes around the pelvis area of a patient, a first wheel or roller 261 attached to the belt 260, a second wheel or roller 262 attached to the •carriage-like means 1 , a third wheel or roller 263 arranged to be connected to the pulling means 17, and an endless belt, strap or the like 264 which connects the three wheels or rollers, the first wheel or roller 261 being located between the second (262) and the third (263) wheels or rollers at a level which is substantially higher than the second wheel or roller 262. The third wheel or roller 263 is connected to one of the lines 17. .On the other (hidden) side of the belt 260 there is provided corresponding wheels or rollers and endless belts or straps, these units being arranged in a corresponding manner and connected to the other line 17. This arrangement ensures that the pelvis of the patient will be effectively pressed downwardly and forwarcly onto and against the upstanding support 141 when the lines 17 are pulled in or ter.sioned, thereby to accompany the various movements of the pelvis support means 14. A certain retaining effect between the ches /back of the patient and the means 13 for supporting the small of the back also contributes to the aforesaid action. Figure 3 is a side view of an apparatus according to the invention, illustrating the support means 10 and the leg supports 11-14. The aforementioned imaginary vertical axis is identified by references V-V, while the imagi- nary horizontal axis is identified by references H-H. By, for example, suitable cradle construc¬ tion, the horizontal axis H-H can be adapted to the characteristics of the backs of different patients (whether the small of the back is high or low, etc.). The described apparatus has the following mode of operation. It is assumed that a doctor has prepared a suitable programme for the patient. The chest belt 19 and the pelvis belt 26 are laid out on the back support means 12 and the pelvis support means 14 respectively, the latter being locked in a normal, starting position. The patient lies down on the support means 11-15, and first tightens the belt 2c and then the belt 26, suitably by means of a crank arrangement arranged to manipulate a roller beneath the back support means 12, whereafter the patient begins with a traction ncve-en , by turning the - 9 - crank 181 until the instrument 185 shows the traction force ordained by the doctor. (Activa¬ tion of the crank 181 breaks the locking of the support means 12). After a given length of time has passed, the patient can continue, in the previously described manner, with a rotary move¬ ment or a distortion or skewing movement,.possi¬ bly in combination with traction. The apparatus can also be provided with means for applying heat and/or vibrating the small of the back, via the support means 13. These functions are also controlled from the control unit 18 by means of separate devices, and are time controlled. The apparatus illustrated in Figure 4 is provided with a pressure sensing means 40 of known type, for sensing the pressure of the means 13 for supporting the small of the back, generated by a patient lying on the units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. The means 13 for supporting the small of the back is rotatably connected through a ball joint to the end 141 of the carriage-like means 14 facing the main end of the apparatus, while the other end 132 of said support means 13 rests against a vertically moveable support plate 41. This support plate can be raised and lowered in dependence upon the aforementioned pressure, and optionally also in relation to a giver., individual pro- gramme for the patient undergoing treatment. Figure 5 illustrates a modification of the apparatus illustrated in Figure . In this embodiment, the means 13 for supporting the small - 10 - of the back comprises a hollow container filled with pressure medium, liquid or gas, and the pressure means 50 comprises a valve provided with lines 501, 502 for passing pressure medium to the support means 13 and to a magazine 52 for pressure medium, and a control-signal con¬ nection 503 to a pump unit 53. The pump unit 53 is provided with an outlet line 531 passing to the support means 13, and an input line 532 passing to the magazine 52. The pressure means 50 is arranged to control the flow of medium to (via members 532, 53, 531) and from (via members 501, 50, 502) the means for supporting the small of the back, in dependence upon the pressure sensed and optionally also in dependence upon a pre-deter ' mined pressure-time programme. In addition to a further development of the invention, in addition to the aforemen¬ tioned control function, the pressure means 50 and the pump unit 53 are also arranged to super¬ impose a pressure component, so as to obtain a vibratory effect, optionally in conjunction with the supply of heat, so that the pressure medium is heated at the temperature suitable for the patient. In accordance with another modification in accordance with the invention, the back support means 12 a be moveably arranged, while the pelvis support means 14 (previously referred to as readily moveable carriage means) are fixedly arranged. In this case, the pulling or tension means 17 is instead connected to the back support means 12, i.e. traction is now effected directly OMPI - 11 - in the chest portion of the patient. This means, however, when distorting the back of a patient about a horizontal axis, the back support means 12 and the means 13 for supporting the small of the back must be skewed together relative the back support means 14, which is now f xed, so that the treatment is still concentrated on the first three vertabrae (lowest) of the patient's spine. • Many modifications are conceivable within the scope of the following claims. For example, the apparatus according to Figure 4 can be modi¬ fied by arranging beneath the means 13 for sup¬ porting the small of the back a moveable, wedge- like member, the position of which horizontally can be controlled in dependence upon said pressure. In this way, the support means 13 abutting the inclined surface of the wedge-like member is imparted a pressure, adapted to suit the patient. It has been found extremely important in respect of the treatment programme to correctly correlate traction, torsion and distortion with the control of the height of the means for sup- porting the small of the back, so that the pressure against said means is the correct pressure for the treatment in process. This pressure may be constant (which in itself may require adjustment to the height of the support means 13) or may vary in accordance with a pre¬ determined programme, which programme may, in turn, be selected individually for a special patient or may be intended for a group of - 12 - patients exhibiting a number of similar back deficiences. It is only by means of this com¬ bined treatment that a realistic basis for the treatment can be obtained, where it is known what manipulations must be carried out and carrying out these manipulations at the correct location and at the correct time. The apparatus according to the invention enables such treatment to be carried out in practice in an efficient manner.

Claims: - 13 - C A I S 1. Apparatus for treatment back ailments, com¬ prising; a support means (10) for supporting a pati¬ ent in a horizontal, lying position; a first tension force take-up means (26), arranged to pass around the pelvis of the patient: a second tension force take-up means (19), arranged to pass around the chest of.the patient; pulling or tension means (17) connected to one of the two tension force take-up means (e.g. the means 26) and arranged to move the same rela¬ tive the support means (10); a readily moveable carriage means (14) arranged for movement relative with the support means (10), with but slight friction, and in¬ tended to carry either the pelvis or chest of the patient and exhibiting a high degree of friction against the associated tension force take-up means (e.g. the means 26) , and a moveable means (13) for supporting the small of the back, characterized in that, the readily moveable carriage means (14) is arranged to execute, simultaneously with or independently of translatory movement relative the support means (10), rotary movement substantially in the horizontal plane and/or a skewing or distorting movement about an axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the carriage means (14), in accordance with a pre¬ determined programme; - 14 - and in that the means (13) for supporting the small of the back, said means being provided with a pressure-sensing means (40) for sensing the pressure against said means (13), is arranged to be guided in its vertical movement in dependence upon said pressure. 2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, charac¬ terized in that the readily moveable carriage means is intended for the pelvis of the patient and is arranged to execute rotary movement about a substantially vertical axis located between said carriage means (14) and the means (13) for supporting the small of the back located ad¬ jacent said means (14). 3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, charac¬ terized in that the readily moveable carriage means (14) is arranged to execute a skewing or distorting movement about a substantially hori¬ zontal axis. 4. An apparatus according to Claim 1, charac¬ terized in that the readily moveable carriage means (14) is intended to support the chest of the patient and is arranged to execute rotary movement about a substantially vertical axis located between a fixed carrier means (14) , intended for supporting the pelvis of the patient, and the means (13) for supporting the small of the back located adjacent the fixed means (14). 5. An apparatus according to Claim , charac- terized in that the readily moveable carriage means (14) is arranged, together with the means (13) for supporting the small of the back, to execute skewing or distorting movement about a substantially horizontal axis OMPI

Inventors: LUNDBLAD LEIF, LUNDBLAD, LEIF
Applicants: LUNDBLAD LEIF, LUNDBLAD, LEIF
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A61H1
IPC codes: A61F5, A61H1