A treatment bench

Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment bench comprising a stand (1) which has mounted thereon a bench-section (2) which can be swung relative to the stand about a horizontal pivot shaft (6). The pivotal bench-section carries a foot-rest (4) at its one end and a patient-­ reclining surface (3) substantially at its other end. The patient-reclining surface (3) is connected by means of suspension links (8) to a frame-part (9) attached to the pivotal bench-section (2), and the suspension links (8) are pivotally connected to the frame-part (9) and to the reclining surface (3).

Description: The present invention relates to a treatment bench of the kind which is intended particularly, but not exclusively, for the treatment of persons suffering from back ailments by so-called autotraction. Treatment benches of this kind include a stand or frame structure which has mounted thereon a bench-section which can be swung relative to the stand about a pivot shaft which extends substantially horizontally to the stand. This pivotal bench-section carries a foot-rest at its one end and a patient-reclining surface at its other end. The pivotal bench-section can be swung about the horizontal shaft from an initial position in which the foot-rest faces essentially downwards and the patient-reclining surface faces upwards, to a position in which the head of a patient positioned on the bench is lower than the patient's feet and in which the foot-rest is located above the horizontal shaft and the patient-reclining surface is located beneath said shaft. The treatment bench may be adjustable solely to a position in which the patient hangs substantially vertically while supported by his feet. In those instances when such a treatment bench is used solely to subject a patient lying on the patient-reclining surface to traction forces under the action of his own weight and the patient is thus not suspended by his feet, considerable friction will be generated between the patient's back and the patient-reclining surface, which counteracts stretching of the patient, as for example disclosed in FR-A-2 430 223. Treatment benches of this kind are known in which the patient-reclining surface has the form of a board which is mounted on wheels such as to enable the board to be displaced along a frame which forms part of the aforesaid pivotal bench-section and therewith, through the mobility of the board, enable the patient to be stretched, by transferrence of the frictional forces from the region between the patient's back and the board to a location between the board and the frame. The object of the invention is to provide an improved treatment bench of the aforesaid kind in which the patient-reclining surface is configured in a manner more suitable for the treatment of such patients. This object is achieved with a treatment bench constructed in accordance with the present invention and having the characteristic fesatures set forth in the following claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a non-limiting embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates schematically and in side view a treatment bench which is provided with a patient-reclining surface according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates schematically and in side view solely the pivotal section of the bench, with the pivotal bench-section shown in the same position as in Figure 1; and Figure 3 illustrates schematically and in side view the pivotal section subsequent to being swung to a position in which the patient-reclining surface is located beneath the foot-rest. Thus, there is illustrated in Figure 1 a treatment bench which includes a stand 1 on which there is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the stand a section 2 which carries a patient-reclining surface 3 on one end thereof. Attached at the other end of the section 2 is a foot-rest 4 which coacts with a locking device 5 which functions to secure the feet of a person lying on the surface 3. The bench-section 2, and therewith also the surface 3, can be pivoted about a substantially horizontal pivot shaft 6, so as to swing the foot-rest 4 from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to a position, e.g. the position shown in Figure 3, in which the patient lies with his feet pointing upwards and held securely by the locking device 5, so that the patient's spine will be stretched in an appropriate manner. In accordance with the invention, the patient-reclining surface 3 is attached by means of suspension links 8 to a frame-part 9 which is mounted rigidly on the pivotal bench-section 2. The patient-reclining surface 3 may consist of a single board or slab which is connected to the frame-part 9 by means of the suspension links 8, or may alternatively comprise a plurality of sections, as shown in Figure 3, where each section is connected to the frame-part 9 by respective suspension links 8. The suspension links 8 are pivotally connected to the frame-part 9, the patient-reclining surface 3, being located beneath the frame-part 9. Because the suspension links are pivotally mounted, the links will constantly strive to take a substantially vertical position and consequently the links will be effective in displacing the patient-reclining surface 3 in relation to the frame-part 9, when the pivotal bench-section is swung about the horizontal shaft 6. When there is no one on the reclining surface 3, the surface will be displaced readily such that the links 8 will always take an essentially vertical position when the pivotal bench-section is swung around the shaft 6. When a person positions himself so that his feet rest on the foot-rest 4 and secures his feet by means of the locking device 5 and releases a brake mechanism 7, said person is able to swing the pivotal bench-section about the horizontal shaft 6, so that he lies substantially upside down on the bench. The person can adjust his position as desired, by means of the brake mechanism. Because the suspension links 8 are pivotally connected to the frame-part 9, the patient-reclining surface 3 will also be displaced relative to frame-part 9 with a patient resting on said surface, when the pivotal bench-section 2 is rotated about the horizontal shaft 6, such that the spine of the patient will be placed in traction, due to the fact that the reclining surface 3 strives to increase the distance from the foot-rest 4, although in this case the links 8 will not be able to adopt a fully vertical position, because of the weight exerted by the person resting on the surface 3. On the other hand, the spine of the person resting on the reclining surface 3 will be stretched to the maximum possible extent, i.e. to the same extent as when the person concerned is suspended solely by his feet, although in this case the person rests on the reclining surface 3. As before mentioned, the patient-reclining surface 3 may comprise a plurality of sections, each being pivotally journalled to the frame-part 9 by respective suspension links 8, in the aforedescribed manner. These sections may have mutually different configurations, so as to afford the best support for the body of the person lying on the surface 3. For instance, the sections may be configured particularly to support the lumber region and hind-quarters of the person lying on the reclining surface.

Claims: A treatment bench comprising a stand (1) which has mounted thereon a bench-section (2) which can be swung relative to the stand about a pivot shaft (6) which extends substantially horizontally to the stand, and which bench-section carries a foot-rest (4) at its one end and a patient-reclining surface (3) substantially at its other end, characterised in that the patient-reclining surface (3) is connected by means of suspension links (8) to a frame-part (9) attached to the pivotal bench-section (2), and in that the suspension links (8) are pivotally connected to the frame-part (9) and to the patient-reclining surface (3). A treatment bench according to claim 1, characterised in that the patient-reclining surface is suspended by said links (8) so as to be located beneath said frame-part (9). A treatment bench according to claim 2, characterised in that the patient-reclining surface (3) comprises a plurality of sections each connected separately to the frame-part (9) by means of respective suspension links (8). A treatment bench according to claim 3, characterised in that the different sections of the patient reclining surface (3) have mutually different configurations such as to afford appropriate support to different parts of the body of a person resting on said surface.

Inventors: MORIN HANS, MORIN, HANS
Applicants: BACK DOC SALES LTD OY, OY BACK DOC SALES LTD
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A61H1
IPC codes: A61H1