Patent GB-1187011-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Therapeutical Traction Apparatus.
Inventor: HAMBLY TREVAN
IPC: A61H1/02
Filed: 1966-02-17
Abstract: 1,187,011. Surgical traction apparatus; stretchers. WIGGINLOFT Ltd. 23 March, 1967 [17 Feb., 1966; 6 May, 1966]. Nos. 6905/ 66 and 20265/66. Headings A5R and A5X. Therapeutic traction apparatus comprises an open-centred frame having a size and shape such as to define a .treatment area for receiving a patient, a patient-contacting harness consisting of a first harness .part attached to one end of the frame and a second harness part attached to the other end of the frame, and traction applying means for separating the two parts of the harness. As illustrated in Figure 1, .the traction apparatus comprises a rectangular frame 1 made of for example tubular stainless steel and consisting of two opposing end sections 2 and two intermediate sections 3 interconnected by telescopic joints 4; pippins 9 and a plurality of co-operating pip-pin holes 10 enable the length of the frame to be adjusted and the frame to be dismantled for example for transportation. If desired, the end sections also may be provided with similar adjustable and separable telescopic joints. A first harness part 5, for attachment to the thoracic region of a patient, is connected directly to one end section of the frame; a second harness part 6, for attachment to the pelvic region of a patient, is connected via ring 11, strap 12, traction applying means 7. and strap 13 to the other end section of the frame. Each harness part is located by positioning loops 8 mounted on the end sections of the frame; buckles 5a, 6a enable each harness part to be adjusted to the size of the patient. The apparatus may further include a flexible web of material which spans the frame thereby to form a bed for the patient and effectively to convert the apparatus into a stretcher; as illustrated in Figure 2, the flexible web is in the form of a sleeve 39 of plastics material, for example nylon mesh, which sleeve fits over and is detachable from the frame. The apparatus may further include patient-retaining straps 42 which may be located by positioning loops 8a mounted on the telescopic joints; the sleeve may be formed with slots through which the positioning loops, pass thereby to retain the sleeve on the frame. Portions 40, 41 of the harness parts may be provided with additional straps (not shown) for passing around the intermediate sections of the frame thereby to locate the harness parts. The apparatus may be provided with detachable legs which either may be provided with wheels or may be adapted for fitting to snow runners; the legs may be provided by inflatable bags or balls adapted to be strapped to the frame. The traction applying means may comprise a coarse adjustment assembly (operated by lever 22) for taking up slack in the harness parts, a fine adjustment assembly (operated by lever 30) for applying traction force to the patient via the harness parts, an indicator (not shown) for registering the value of the applied traction force, and quick release means (not shown) for releasing immediately the applied fraction force. Figures 3 and 4 (not shown) illustrate one form of traction applying means the detailed construction of which is fully described in the Specification.