Abstract:
An inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device includes at least one cervical vertebrae cell, a head cell connected to the at least one cervical vertebrae cell, an electric inflation portion and a control portion. The method includes a preparing step, a setting inflation processes step, an inflating step, and a completion step. One or more cervical vertebrae cells are inflatable and positioned between a support position and an operation position to support and rehabilitate the user&#39;s neck. The head cell is provided to support the user&#39;s head. So, the cervical vertebrae cells can support the user&#39;s head and neck with rehabilitation functions. The head cell is an auxiliary for support the user&#39;s head. It is easy to carry. This invention could be remote controlled. It contains the far infra-red heating function. In addition, there is a pose balance feature.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device and a method for using the device. 
         [0002]    [1] The cervical vertebrae cells can support the user&#39;s head and neck with rehabilitation functions. 
         [0003]    [2] The head cell is an auxiliary for support the user&#39;s head. 
         [0004]    [3] It is easy to carry. 
         [0005]    [4] This invention could be remote controlled. 
         [0006]    [5] It contains the far infra-red heating function. 
         [0007]    [6] There is a pose balance feature. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A conventional s used to protect the cervical vertebrae and which includes a steel frame coated with soft pad. However, the conventional cervical collar makes the user to feel uncomfortable. A portable cervical vertebrae traction device is developed and shown in  FIG. 16  and generally includes a frame  92  which is fixed to a wall and a cable  93  goes around the frame  92  and one end of the cable  93  is connected with a weight  94  and the other end of the cable  93  is connected with a strap  95 . The user  91  puts his/her chin  913  on the strap  95  so that the cervical vertebrae can be pulled by the weight. 
         [0009]    Nevertheless, the conventional one has many drawbacks listed as follows. The portable cervical vertebrae traction device cannot be used for the user who wears the conventional cervical collar. The treatment cannot be done by a periodically and automatically inflation member. In addition, there are no inflation members to support the cervical vertebrae and the device cannot be controlled by a wireless device. 
         [0010]    The present invention intends to provide an inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device and a method for using the device to improve the shortcomings of the above-mentioned device and method. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The object of the present invention is to provide an inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device and a method for using the device. In which, the cervical vertebrae cells can support the user&#39;s head and neck with rehabilitation functions. The head cell is an auxiliary for support the user&#39;s head. It is easy to carry. This invention could be remote controlled. It contains the far infra-red heating function. In addition, there is a pose balance feature. 
         [0012]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention is provided. The present invention relates to an inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device and comprises at least one cervical vertebrae cell for mounting a neck of a user and having a contact area for being in contact with the neck. The at least one cervical vertebrae cell is positioned between at least one support position and at least one operation position. A head cell has a contact surface and is connected to the at least one cervical vertebrae cell. The head cell is positioned between an auxiliary support position and an auxiliary adjusting position. The contact surface supports the user&#39;s head and adjusts height of the head when the user lies down. An electric inflation portion inflates or deflates the at least one cervical vertebrae cell and the head cell. A control portion controls the electric inflation portion. 
         [0013]    The method for using the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device comprises a preparing step; a setting inflation processes step; an inflating step; and a completion step. 
         [0014]    The present invention further comprises a heat unit, an audio unit, at least one orientation detection unit and a wireless unit so as to provide warming feature, audio instruction feature, pose balance feature and remote-controlled feature. 
         [0015]    The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  shows the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device and the wireless remote control portion of the present invention 
           [0017]      FIG. 1B  shows the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device and the control portion with wire of the present invention 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows that the cervical vertebrae cells deflated; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows that the cervical vertebrae cells are mounted to the user&#39;s neck; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows cervical vertebrae cells each have a heat unit; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows the first way of the use of the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  shows the second way of the use of the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows the user&#39;s pose is not tilt when wearing the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows the user&#39;s pose is tilted when wearing the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  shows that the orientation detection unit on the cervical vertebrae cells and the user&#39;s body tilts an angle; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  shows the block diagram of the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  shows the operation processes of the first action of the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  shows the operation processes of the second action of the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  shows the operation processes of the third action of the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  shows the operation processes of the fourth action of the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  shows the flow chart of the method of the present invention, and 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  shows the conventional portable cervical vertebrae traction device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  2 ,  3  and  5 , the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device of the present invention comprises at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  for mounting the neck  911  of a user  91 , and the at least one cervical vertebrae has a contact area  11  which is in contact with the neck  911 . The at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  is positioned between at least one support position P 1  and at least one operation position P 2  to support and rehabilitate the user&#39; s cervical vertebrae. 
         [0034]    A head cell  20  has a contact surface  21  and is connected to the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10 . The head cell  20  is positioned between an auxiliary support position P 3  and an auxiliary adjusting position P 4 . The contact surface  21  supports the head  912  of the user  91  and adjusts height of the head  912  of the user  91  when the user  91  lies down as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0035]    An electric inflation portion  30  is used to inflate ( FIG. 1A ) or deflate ( FIG. 2 ) the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  and the head cell  20 . 
         [0036]    A control portion  40  controls the electric inflation portion  30  to proceed the actions of inflating or deflating the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  and the head cell  20 . 
         [0037]    The at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  includes three cells which are C-shaped cells and each have a positioning member  12  located at en opening thereof. The positioning member  12  is a loop-and-hook member including a first part  121  and a second part  122 , so that the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are secured on the neck  911  of the user  91 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the electric inflation portion  30  comprises an inflation unit  31  which is a motor so as to inflate or deflate the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  and the head cell  20 . A motor control module  32  controls the motor of the inflation unit  31  and a pressure detection module  33  detects pressure in the at least at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  and the head cell  20 . The result of the detection is transferred to the control portion  40  which controls the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  and the head cell  20  and the head cell  20  to be inflated or deflated. 
         [0039]    The control portion  40  comprises a power unit  41  which includes batteries providing power to the control portion  40 . A control circuit  42  has at least one processing unit  42 A, a random access memory (RAM)  42 B, and a read only memory (ROM)  42 C. The control circuit  42  controls the control portion  40  to control the inflation portion  30 . An input unit  43  inputs at least one control signal  431  to the control circuit  42  and is a human-machine interface. A display unit  44  displays the control signal  431  from the input unit  43 . 
         [0040]    The at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  has at least one orientation detection unit  13  connected thereto which is a mercury switch ( FIG. 9 ) and detects an tilt angle of the user  91  if the angle reaches the critical angle and submits a warning signal to the control portion  40 . 
         [0041]    A heat unit  50  includes multiple heating members  51  which are far infra-red members. A temperature detection module  52  detects temperature transferred to the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  from the multiple heating members  51  and submits a signal to the control portion  40  to control the multiple heating members  51 . An audio unit  60  includes an audio control module  61  and a speaker  62  so as to generate audio signals. A wireless unit  70  includes at least one wireless submitting member  71  and a wireless receiving member  72 . 
         [0042]    The present invention may perform the following modes: 
         [0043]    1. Cervical vertebrae support mode. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 11 , the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are mounted to the user&#39;s neck  911  and the control processes are input via the input unit  43  of the control portion  40  by way of wireless way as shown in  FIG. 1A  or wired way as shown in  FIG. 1B . The electrical inflation portion  30  inflates the cervical vertebrae cells  10  by preset pressure and the pressure detection module  33  detects pressure in the cervical vertebrae cells  10  to judge the pressure reaches the critical value or not (may be cooperated with the audio unit  60 ). If the value reaches the critical value, then the inflation action is stopped. The contact areas  11  support the user&#39;s neck  911  when in the support position P 1 . The cervical vertebrae cells  10  are deflated when not in use. 
         [0044]    2. Cervical vertebrae rehabilitation mode. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 12 , the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are mounted to the user&#39;s neck  911  and the periodically inflating processes are input via the input unit  43  of the control portion  40 , the inflation portion  30  is then activated to inflate the cervical vertebrae cells  10 . The pressure detection module  33  detects pressure in the cervical vertebrae cells  10  to judge the pressure reaches the critical value or not (may be cooperated with the audio unit  60 ). If the value reaches the critical value, then the inflation action is stopped. The cervical vertebrae cells  10  are deflated after a pre-set period of time, and then to inflate again. By the repeated inflating and deflating actions, the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are positioned between the support position P 1  and operation position P 2 . The user&#39;s chin  913  is moved between the relax point X 1  and push point X 2 , wherein a height “L” is defined between the points X 1  and X 2 . Accordingly, the user&#39;s body swings an angle θ while the head  912  is stationary. 
         [0045]    3. Pillow adjustment mode. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are mounted to the user&#39;s neck  911  and the control processes are input via the input unit  43  of the control portion  40 , the electrical inflation portion  30  inflates the head cells  20  to assist the position change between the auxiliary support position P 3  and auxiliary adjusting position P 4 . The user&#39;s head  912  is comfortably supported and the neck  911  is adjusted to be well supported to obtain a good sleep. 
         [0046]    4. Far infra-red heating mode. As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  13 , the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are mounted to the user&#39;s neck  911  and the control processes are input via the input unit  43  of the control portion  40 . The heating members  51  of the heat portion  50  are activated to generate proper heat to the user&#39;s neck  911  to have physical treatment to the user&#39;s neck. 
         [0047]    5. Pose balance mode. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 14 , when the pose control processes are input via the input unit  43  of the control portion  40 . If the user suddenly changes his/her pose as shown in  FIG. 8  wherein the head  912  tilts too much, the orientation detection unit  13  is suddenly changed its position from the balance position P 5  to a tilt position P 6  as shown in  FIG. 9 , the orientation detection unit  13  tilts an angle θ2 and generates a rotational angle in X axis (or Y axis or Z axis). The change is sent to the control portion  40  to be calculated, it the change is so significant and over the critical value, an audio warning message is generated to remind the user  91  to adjust the pose to prevent falling. 
         [0048]      FIG. 15  shows the method for using the inflation type cervical vertebrae rehabilitation device, and comprises the following steps: 
         [0049]    A preparing step  81 : preparing at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10 , a head cell  20  connected to the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10 , an electric inflation portion  30  and a control portion  40 , the at least one cervical vertebrae having a contact area  11  in contact with the neck  911 , the head cell  20  having a contact surface  21  and connected to the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10 , the electric inflation portion  30  being controlled by the control portion  40  so as to inflate or deflate the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  and the head cell  20 ; 
         [0050]    A setting inflation processes step  82 : the control portion  40  having an input unit  43  to selectively demand the electric inflation portion  30  to inflate at least one of at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  and the head cell  20 ; 
         [0051]    An inflating step  83 : 
         [0052]    (a) A periodically inflating cervical vertebrae cell step  831 : the electric inflation portion  30  inflating the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  by the input unit  43  of the control portion  40  so that the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  is positioned between at least one support position P 1  and at least one operation position P 2 . The user&#39;s chin  913  is moved between the relax point X 1  and push point X 2 , wherein a height “L” is defined between the points X 1  and X 2  as shown in  FIG. 5 , such that the user&#39;s body swings an angle  0   1  while the head  912  is stationary; 
         [0053]    (b) An inflating the head cell step  832 : the electric inflation portion  30  inflating or deflating the head cell  20  by the input unit  43  of the control portion  40  so that the head cell  20  is positioned between at least one auxiliary support position P 3  and at least one auxiliary adjusting position P 4 , the contact surface  21  adapted to support the head  912  of the user  91  and adjust height of the head  912  of the user  91  when the user lies down as shown in  FIG. 6 , and 
         [0054]    A completion step  84 : removing the at least one cervical vertebrae cell  10  from the user  91 . 
         [0055]    During the inflating step  83 , the following modes are obtained: 
         [0056]    (c) An assistance step  833  and the assistance step  833  may have the three modes: 
         [0057]    Cervical vertebrae support mode: 
         [0058]    When the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are inflated by the pre-set pressure by the electric inflation portion  30 , and the pressure detection module  33  detects the pressure in the cervical vertebrae cells  10  to judge the pressure reaches the critical value or not (may be cooperated with the audio unit  60 ). If the value reaches the critical value, then the inflation action is stopped. The contact areas  11  support the user&#39;s neck  911  when in the support position P 1 . 
         [0059]    Far infra-red mode: 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  13 , the cervical vertebrae cells  10  are inflated so that the contact areas  11  contact the user&#39;s neck  911  and the control processes are input via the input unit  43  of the control portion  40  so that the heating members  51  of the heat portion  50  are activated to generate proper heat to the user&#39;s neck  911  to have physical treatment to the user&#39;s neck. 
         [0061]    Pose balance mode: 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 14 , when the pose control processes are input via the input unit  43  of the control portion  40 . If the user suddenly changes his/her pose as shown in  FIG. 8  wherein the head  912  tilts too much, the orientation detection unit  13  is suddenly changed its position from the balance position P 5  to a tilt position P 6  as shown in  FIG. 9 , the orientation detection unit  13  tilts an angle θ2 and generates a rotational angle in X axis (or Y axis or Z axis). The change is sent to the control portion  40  to be calculated, it the change is so significant and over the critical value, an audio warning message is generated to remind the user  91  to adjust the pose to prevent falling. 
         [0063]    The advantages and functions of this invention can be summarized as follows. 
         [0064]    [1] The cervical vertebrae cells can support the user&#39;s head and neck with rehabilitation functions. 
         [0065]    [2] The head cell is an auxiliary for support the user&#39;s head. 
         [0066]    [3] It is easy to carry. 
         [0067]    [4] This invention could be remote controlled. 
         [0068]    [5] It contains the far infra-red heating function. 
         [0069]    [6] There is a pose balance feature. 
         [0070]    While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.