Patent Publication Number: US-2007106192-A1

Title: System and method for treating the spine with light therapy

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a system and method for providing light therapy treatment to a patient&#39;s spine while the spine is placed under tension. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for providing light therapy treatment to a patient&#39;s spine during traction or decompression therapy.  
      Therapists utilize spinal decompression therapy to treat various spinal ailments including herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, posterior facet syndrome, and post surgical pain. Decompression therapy is a derivative of traction-based therapy, whereby the spine is placed into a state of tension by an outside force such as by a therapist manually or by an automated process. The spine is typically held in a continuous state of tension during traction-based therapy. Decompression therapy differs from traction therapy in that the traction applied to the spine is alternated typically between higher and lower sets of tension for predetermined periods of time. In either traditional traction or decompression therapy, spinal tension is typically maintained for periods of 30-minutes or longer.  
      As the spine is placed into a state of tension, the spinal vertebrae are separated in order to allow the intervertebral discs to realign into their proper positions. This action also allows herniated discs time to heal in a non-loaded state. During decompression therapy, interdiscal space is increased methodically for a period of time to promote healing. The increase in interdiscal space allows spinal discal segments to realign, rehydrate and return to a natural size, alleviates pinching of nerve bundles due to misaligned spinal vertebra, and provides a general unloaded state for which an environment for healing can continue. Additionally, nutrient-rich spinal fluid (nucleus pulposa) is drawn to the sites of tension via the pressure drop created by the separation of the vertebrae. This process involves further relaxing the paraspinal muscles, those muscles responsible for contracting the bony spinal vertebra, such that interdiscal space is increased correspondingly so. Para-spinal muscles react involuntarily to the ‘stretching’ of the spine by tensing in opposition to the force. Also, the conscious human patient may voluntarily and/or subconsciously flex the spinal muscles in reaction to tensile forces applied during the traction. Either or both patient reactions degrade the effectiveness of spinal therapy. Decompression therapy can overcome the reactions of the paraspinal muscles and subconscious flexing by cycling the tensile forces throughout the treatment period and thus confusing the paraspinal muscles.  
      Furthermore, therapists utilize light therapy to treat a number of ailments. Light therapy is the use of light sources such as, but not limited to, laser diodes and light emitting diodes (LEDs) to irradiate a region of the patient&#39;s body. The delivery of photon energy to the region is widely known to stimulate biological processes. Photo-biostimulation has been shown to be effective in the treatment of muscle and ligament injuries, inflammations, wounds, burns, chronic ulcerations including diabetic ulcers, deficient circulation, pain, nerve degeneration, eczema, shingles, infection, scars, acne, bone fractures, arthritis, osteo-arthritis, rheumatoidal arthritis, skin grafts, gingival irritation, oral ulcers, dental pain and swelling, cellulitis, stretch marks, skin tone, alopecia areata, trigeminal neuralgia, herpes, zosten, sciatica, cervical erosions, and other conditions.  
      While light therapy has been utilized to treat regions of a patient&#39;s body, conventional light therapy and irradiating devices are not typically used with treatments that articulate the regions to greater expose damaged tissues on a large scale. By incorporating a method for manipulating regions of interest of the patient&#39;s body to increase surface area of the regions exposed to light therapy, therapists are able to accelerate the healing process simply by increasing the photonic energy absorbed by the regions during a single treatment.  
      Therefore, a need exists for a spinal treatment system and method that includes light therapy to treat an injured spine.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Certain embodiments of the present invention include a system for treating the spine of a patient by the application of tension to the spine. The system includes an alignment device secured to the patient, an actuator for producing tensile force, a patient interface device extending from the alignment device to the actuator and configured to apply the tensile force from the actuator to the spine of the patient through the alignment device, and a light therapy device positioned to irradiate a region of interest along the spine in conjunction with the application of the tensile force to the spine.  
      Certain embodiments of the invention include a system for treating the spine of a patient by the application of tension to the spine. The system includes an alignment device secured to the patient, an actuator for producing tensile force, a patient interface device extending from the alignment device to the actuator and configured to apply the tensile force from the actuator to the spine of the patient through the alignment device, and a light therapy device. The alignment device is configured to retain the light therapy device such that the light therapy device is positioned proximate a region of interest along the spine and irradiates the region of interest.  
      Certain embodiments of the present invention include a method of treating the spine of a patient. The method includes positioning a light therapy device proximate a region of the body of the patient along the spine, applying tensile forces to the spine to increase separation between discs within the spine, and applying photonic energy from the light therapy device to the region of the body of the patient along the spine where the separation between the discs has been increased in order to increase photonic energy absorption at the region. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a spinal treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric view of a light therapy device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of a spinal treatment system used with the light therapy device of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a spinal treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of a head support system used for spinal treatment according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the head support system of  FIG. 5  used with a light therapy device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
      The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a spinal treatment system  10  used to treat a patient  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention. By way of example only, the spinal treatment system  10  may be a traction or decompression treatment system. The system  10  includes a microprocessor, control system, or computing device  190  having firmware and/or software that operates to utilize and control an actuator  170 . The computing device  190  is configured to interface with a user, such as by use of a monitor and keyboard setup. By way of example only, the actuator  170  may be electronically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or mechanically operated. The actuator  170  is connected to the patient  110  via a patient interface device  120  and harnesses  108  and  198 . The system includes a separate controlling device  194  with an external connector  196  connected to a light therapy device  200 . The controlling device  194  communicates with the main microprocessor or computing device  190  to control the operation of the light therapy device  200 . This system  10  performs traction or decompression treatment by applying cycles of tensile forces from the actuator  170  on the spine  108  of the patient  110  through the interface device  120  in conjunction with the external light therapy device  200 .  
      The patient  110  is positioned on a mechanical apparatus having a flat surface such as a bed or table  100 . The bed  100  includes a head end  104  where the patient  110  lies his or her head and a base end  106  where the patient  110  lies his or her legs and feet. The bed  100  is positioned such that the patient  110  may be easily placed into alignment for treatment with the system  10 . Additionally, the bed  100  may employ arm supports or rails to position the patient  110 . The patient  110  wears an upper harness  108  that secures the upper body of the patient  110  to the bed  100 . The patient  110  wears a lower body harness  198  that is connectable to the patient interface device  120 . Alternatively, the patient  110  may wear any other appropriate securing device that is configured to connect the patient  110  to the interface device  120 . The harness  198  may be connected to the patient interface device  120  through a clip or buckle that may alternately be secured and removed. The interface device  120  is configured to deliver and align tensile forces generated by the actuator  170  through the harness  198  along the spine  108  of the patient  110 . The interface device  120  may be a strap, belt, or cable that is positioned relative to the patient  110  via a patient interface positioning device  140 . The patient interface positioning device  140  may itself be moved to preferred positions by additional actuators.  
      The actuator  170  communicates with, and is controlled directly by, an actuator controller  192  as shown by arrow B. By way of example only the actuator controller  192  is a servo-amplifier  192 . The actuator  170  may be attached to, or connected in line with, an encoder  180  that is capable of communicating motor shaft position and other motor metrics with the servo-amplifier  192 . The servo-amplifier  192  may be capable of calculating any number of motor metrics, including work, position, distance, and rate and communicating those metrics to, and receiving them from, the computing device  190  as indicated by arrow C. The system  10  further includes a tensile force feedback system  160  which engages the interface device  120  between the actuator  170  and the harness  118 . The tensile force feedback system  160  may include a load cell or dynamometer  150  that is positioned in line with the actuator  170  and is configured to provide feedback to the computing device  190  as indicated by arrow A.  
      The computing device  190  may be configured to communicate with the servo-amplifier  192 , and the actuator  170 , to monitor and correct as needed the resultant tensile force and motor metrics applied by the actuator  170  from the servo-amplifier  192 . The computing device  190  may also be configured for use with a user interface system which communicates and deciphers the user&#39;s commands. This interface allows the user to structure treatment parameters. By way of example, all tension-producing and delivery apparatus are contained within a tower  130  located in such a position relative to the patient  110  so as to maximize tensile force delivery, and the tower  130  may include a user interface, such as a keyboard and monitor, for a technician to communicate with the system through the computer  190 .  
      The light therapy device  200  may be located either in the bed  100  or in the lower harness  198  or upper harness  108 . The light therapy controller  194  is connected to an external light therapy apparatus wire harness  196  that can be connected to the light therapy device  200 . The light therapy controller  194  may include a microprocessor or computing components that communicates metrics and power to the light therapy device  200 . Alternatively, the light therapy device  200  may contain a sufficient power source and controlling mechanism to operate independently of any external devices or may be operated wirelessly by a remote control. Upon activation, the light therapy device  200  irradiates the exposed portions of the patient&#39;s back during traction or decompression to provide bio-stimulation to the spine  108 .  
      In operation, traction or decompression treatment begins by positioning the patient  110  correctly onto the bed  100 . The patient  110  is outfitted with the lower harness  198  such that the patient  110  is connected to the patient interface device  120 , and the harness  198  is configured to apply tensile forces generated by the actuator  170  to the spine  108  of the patient  110 . The patient  100  is outfitted with the upper harness  118  to secure the upper body of the patient  110  to the bed  100 . The configuration of the harnesses  118  and  198  allows the lower part of the patient&#39;s body to extend in line with the patient interface device  120  while the patient&#39;s upper body is anchored to the bed  100 . The operator of the traction or decompression system  10  may use the patient interface system to select the proper treatment parameters for the traction or decompression therapy. Furthermore, the operator may communicate with the computing device  190  utilizing software and/or firmware. The computing device  190  and controller  192  then activate the actuator  170 , which applies tensile forces to the interface device  120  and thus to the patient&#39;s spine through the harness  198 .  
      The operator may also use the patient interface system to select a light therapy program for the patient during traction or decompression therapy. The light therapy program is communicated to the computing device  190  which in turn communicates the commands or program to the light therapy controller  194 . The light therapy device  200  is then activated and irradiates the region of the patient&#39;s spine that is being treated with tensile forces.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric view of the light therapy device  200  of  FIG. 1 . The light therapy device  200  is a flexible, conforming plate  204  having side walls  206  and top and bottom surface  208  and  212 . The plate  204  includes an array of light sources  210  along the top surface  208 . The supporting plate  204  may be made of flexible or inflexible materials, and/or conforming and stretchable materials. The plate  204  may additionally be water-resistant and may be configured to react to the patient&#39;s body heat. By way of example only, the plate  204  may be made of materials such as neoprene rubber or a gel-pad, which can provide water-resistant or waterproof properties while providing shape altering properties. The plate  204  is sufficiently thick to house the light sources  210  and may be hollow such that the light sources  210  are electrically and structurally interconnected within the plate  204 .  
      The light sources  210  are configured to provide light and may be, by way of example only, laser diodes or light emitting diodes. The light sources  210  may be linked within the plate  204  by wires or by a flex circuit, for example. Alternatively, the light sources  200  may be contained in a single header, or multiple distributed headers, and the output of the light sources  200  may be routed through the top surface  208  of the plate  204  via conduits such as fiber optics or light pipes such that light is distributed to desired areas along the patient&#39;s body. The light sources  210  may be connected via an electrical network in series, such that all light sources  210  may be activated or deactivated simultaneously. Alternatively, the light sources  210  may be networked into groups or clusters, or activated individually, depending upon the desired irradiation pattern. A distributed system of light sources  210  along the top surface  208  may be beneficial by applying greater optical energies in one area than in another area in order to accommodate thermal differences across the light therapy device  200  due to heat generated by the light sources  210  or by the patient&#39;s body.  
      The light therapy device  200  includes a wire harness  220  with a connector  230  extending from the plate  204 . The connector  230  is connectable to a power source/controller in order to provide power and data to the light therapy device  200  via the wire harness  220 . For example, the harness  220  may communicate data such as intensity, frequency, on/off time, thermal data and pressure to the light therapy device  200  from a controller. By way of example only, the harness  220  may be connected to the external connector  196  of the controlling device  194  of  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the light therapy device  200  may contain a power source and sufficient controlling mechanisms such that the light therapy device  200  can operate independent of an external controlling device or can be operated by wireless control. The wire harness connector  230  may be a flex circuit, a bundle of electrical wires, or may be a bundle of fiber optic connections. Where the wire harness  220  includes fiber optics, the connector  230  may itself contain light source(s) that are situated adjacent to the fiber optic wire harness  220  and inject photonic energy for delivery to the plate  204 , which in turn directs the irradiating energy into regions of interest along the spine of the patient. One benefit of utilizing light sources  210  within the connector  230  and piping the light via fiber optics to regions of interest along the spine is the avoidance of excessive local heating that comes with positioning light sources  210  directly at or near the region receiving light therapy.  
      In operation, the light therapy device  200  is positioned under the spine  108  of the patient  110  for use with the traction or decompression treatment system  10  of  FIG. 1 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the light therapy device  200  is positioned beneath the lumbar spine to irradiate the lumbar spine during traction or spinal decompression treatment. The bottom surface  212  of the light therapy device  200  is positioned on the bed  100  and the top surface  208  is proximate the spine of the patient  110 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of a spinal treatment system  300  used with the light therapy device  200  of  FIG. 2 . The patient  110  is positioned on the bed  100  and within a lower body harness  310  that has been adapted to deliver traction or spinal decompression forces for treatment of the lumbar spine  108 . By way of example only, the harness  310  is a textile harness. The lower body harness  310  is secured to the lower body of the patient  110  and is connected to the patient interface device  120 . By way of example, the patient interface device  120  is a strap. The patient interface device  120  is in turn connected to a traction or decompression treatment system such as the system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The lower body harness  310  applies the forces delivered by the patient interface device  120  to the lower body while the upper body of the patient  110  is secured to the bed  100  and is rendered immobile during the traction or decompression treatment.  
      The lower body harness  310  includes a compartment  320  that is specifically designed to receive and retain the light therapy device  200  of  FIG. 2  in such a position as to allow irradiation of the extended lumbar spinal segments  108  during traction or spinal decompression treatment. The wire harness connector  220  of the light therapy device  200  extends outside of the textile harness  310  for connection to a light therapy controlling system. Alternatively, the light therapy device  200  may be independently powered and/or wirelessly operated. The light therapy device  200  may be shaped and/or configured to conform to the contours of the patient&#39;s lumbar spine  108 . The textile material of the lower body harness  310  allows the lower body and light therapy device  320  to flex within the harness  310  and compartment  320 , respectively. The compartment  320  of the lower body harness  310  may have an opening located below where the lumbar spine  108  is positioned such that the light therapy device  200  directly contacts the skin of the patient  110  at the lumbar spine  208 . Alternatively, the compartment  320  may include a clear barrier having sufficient spectrometric transmission qualities to allow for irradiating light  330  of the light therapy device  200  to pass through to the skin of the patient  110  along the lumbar spinal segments  108 . The textile harness  310  and accompanying light therapy device  200  flex and contract with the forces of the traction or decompression treatment system such that the light therapy device  200  remains positioned under the lumbar spine  108  to irradiate the lumbar spine  108  with photonic energy  330  during the treatment.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a spinal treatment system  400 . By way of example only, the system  400  may be a traction or decompression treatment system. The therapy system  400  includes many of the same components and operates similarly to the system  10  of  FIG. 1 . The system  400  includes a microprocessor or computing device  490  that utilizes and controls an actuator  470 . The computing device  190  is configured to interface with a user, such as by use of a monitor and keyboard setup. The actuator  470  may communicate and be controlled directly by an actuator controller  492  that communicates with the computing device  190 . The actuator  470  may be attached to or in line with an encoder  480  that is capable of communicating motor shaft position and other motor metrics with the controller  492 . The controller  492  may be capable of calculating and/or communicating any number of motor metrics including work, position, distance, and rate to the computing device  490 . Additionally, tensile force feedback systems  460  including a load cell or dynamometer  450  may be located within the region and in line with the actuator  470  for providing feedback to the computing device  490 . The computing device  490  communicates with the controller  492  and/or the actuator  470  and monitors and corrects the resultant tensile force and motor metrics of treatment.  
      The system  400  also includes a separate controlling device  494  with an external connection  496  for a light therapy device  600  ( FIG. 6 ). The controlling device  494  communicates with the main computing device  490  such that the operator can control light therapy through the computing device  490 . The system  400  is substantially enclosed in a tower  430 . The system  400  is used to perform traction or decompression treatment of the cervical spine  435  of the patient  110  in conjunction with the external light therapy device  600  embedded within a patient head adapter  410 .  
      The system  400  includes a bed or table  100  that has a patient head adapter  410  positioned thereon at the head end  404  of the bed  100  to receive the head  405  of the patient  110 . Additionally, the bed  100  may employ arm supports or rails to position the patient  110 . The head adapter  410  is configured to provide a preferable distribution of forces to the patient&#39;s head  405 , for example along the occipital lobes of the head  405 . The patient  110  is connected to the electromechanical actuator  470  via a patient interface device  425  extending from the head adapter  410 . The patient interface device  425  and head adapter  410  deliver and align the tensile forces generated by the electromechanical actuator  470  to the cervical spine  435  of the patient  110 . The interface devices  425  may include a strap or cable that is positioned relative to the patient  110  via a patient interface positioning device  440 . The positioning device  440  may itself be moved to preferred positions by additional electromechanical actuators. The head  405  of the patient  110  is kept in line with the tensile forces delivered by the interface device  425  by the patient head adapter  410 . The patient head adapter  410  is configured to hinge or rotate relative to the bed  100  and in line with the patient interface device  425 . The head adapter  410  is a conforming head support that is slidably connected to a head support platform  415 . The platform  415  hinges about a stationary base of the bed  100  proximate the head end  404  of the bed  100  and at the region of the base of the neck. By way of example only, the platform  415  hinges proximate the C7/T1 cervical spinal location of the cervical spine  435 . The head support platform  415  may be connected to the tower  430  via a connection point or block  420  that is raised and lowered in conjunction with the patient positioning device  440 . As the connection block  420  is raised or lowered, the platform  415  rotates with respect to the bed  100  and cervical spine  435  accordingly.  
      In operation traction or decompression treatment on the cervical spine  435  of the patient  110  begins by positioning the patient  110  correctly onto the bed or table  100  with the patient&#39;s  405  head in the head adapter  410 . The body weight of the patient  110  is sufficient to anchor the body of the patient  110  while the patient&#39;s head  405  is allowed to extend within the head adapter  410 . The head adapter  410  is configured to receive and retain a light therapy device underneath the patient&#39;s neck at the cervical spine  435  such that the device delivers therapeutic irradiation to the neck along the extended cervical spinal segments  435 . The operator of the traction or decompression system  400  may use the patient interface system to select the proper treatment parameters for the traction or decompression treatment. The operator may also enter data or treatment profiles for light therapy through the patient interface system to the computing device  490  in order to activate and control the light therapy controller  494 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the head adapter  410  used with the traction or decompression system  400  of  FIG. 4 . The head adapter  410  is used to secure the head  405  of the patient  110  during treatment and comfortably and effectively deliver traction or decompression forces to the cervical spine  435  of the patient  110 . This head adapter  410  includes a conformable head support  520  at a top end  525  of the head adapter  410  that sufficiently positions the patient&#39;s neck  540  for traction or decompression treatment with the system  400  of  FIG. 4 . The head support  520  may be made of a material such as injection molded urethane foam, rubber foam, foam with gel integrals, plastic of a comfortable nature, or any material that substantially cradles the patient&#39;s head  405  and neck  540  in a comfortable manner. Patient comfort with regards to cervical traction or decompression treatment is essential because of the added obstacle of para-spinal muscle contraction due to the psychological claustrophobia caused by the head adapter  410 . The head support  520  includes a bowl  515  and arch  530  that receive the patient&#39;s head  405  and follow the shape of the patient&#39;s head  405  and the natural line of the neck  540 . Because the morphology of human head and neck structures differs among patients, it may be preferable that the conforming head support  520  be detachable from the head adapter  410  and that various sizes of conforming head supports  520  be interchangeable for use on the head adapter  410 .  
      The head adapter  410  also includes occipital horns  550  on opposite ends of a bottom end  535  of the head adapter  410 . The occipital horns  550  define a channel therebetween that receives the patient&#39;s neck  540  and are positioned to engage the occipital lobes  585  of the patient  110  at occiput contact surfaces  580 . The horns  550  may be made of any number of conformable, flexible materials such that the patient&#39;s occipital lobes  585  are comfortably engaged by the horns  550 . Thus, the patient&#39;s head  405  is secured within the head adapter  410  between the head support  520  and the occipital horns  550 .  
      The conformable head adapter  410  is secured to a head support platform  500  that rides on table slides  510 . By way of example only, the table slides  510  may be rectangular planes supported by thin ball bearing rails. The head adapter  410  is configured to slide in a direction longitudinally aligned with the patient&#39;s neck  540  along the platform  500 . The head adapter  410  is configured to travel a sufficient distance to adequately extend the cervical spine  435  for traction or decompression treatment. The table slides  510  are able to travel several inches in the direction of tensile force applied to the head adapter  410 , and the table slides  510  secure the head adapter  410  to the head support platform  500 . The conformable head support  520  and table slide elements  504  also contain an eyehook  560  that is configured to be attached to a patient interface device  570  which is connected to a traction or decompression treatment system such as the system shown in  FIG. 4  that delivers tensile forces to the cervical spine  435 .  
      The head support platform  500  is connected to a stationary base  502  by a hinge  504  at a region of the base  502  proximate the C7/T1 cervical spinal location of the patient&#39;s neck  540 . By rotating the platform  500  about the hinge  504  in the direction of arrow A, the conformable head adapter  410  and table slide elements  504  likewise are rotated upwards in the direction of arrow A, flexing the cervical spine  435  to a preferred alignment for traction or decompression treatment and improving patient comfort. The head adapter  410  positions the neck  540  into a convex position relative to the stationary base  502 . Alternatively, the head adapter  410  may be attached to the bed  100  of  FIG. 4  instead of the stationary base  502  or the stationary base  502  may be connected to the bed  100 , such that the rotated head adapter  410  positions the neck  540  of the patient  110  into a convex position relative to the bed  100 . Furthermore, the patient head adapter  410  may be attached to the bed  100  and to the connection block  420  ( FIG. 4 ) of the tower  420  ( FIG. 4 ) located behind the patient&#39;s head  405 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the connection block  420  may be operated to move upward in the direction of arrow B to rotate the head adapter  410  in the direction of arrow A and thus lift the patient&#39;s head  405  relative to the hinge  504  ( FIG. 5 ) located near the base (C7/T1 spinal vertebral location) of the patient&#39;s neck  540  ( FIG. 5 ) such that the patient&#39;s neck  540  is in a convex position relative to the head support  520  ( FIG. 5 ). A light therapy device may be positioned underneath this convex region of the patient&#39;s neck  540  to provide light therapy to the cervical region  435  of the spine during traction or decompression treatment.  
      Returning to  FIG. 5 , in operation, once the patient&#39;s head  405  is secured in the head adapter  410  and, if necessary, the head adapter  410  is rotated about the hinge  504  to a desired location, the traction or decompression system  400  ( FIG. 4 ) is activated. The patient interface device  570  applies tensile forces to the head adapter  410 , pulling the head adapter  410 , and the patient&#39;s head  405 , in the direction of arrow C to decompress the cervical spine  435 . As in various massage and chiropractic modalities, tensile forces are applied to the patient&#39;s head  405  and neck  540  through the occipital lobes and occiput bony structures  585  of the human head, which are engaged by the occipital horns  550  as the head adapter  410  is pulled in the direction of arrow C. The occipital structures  585  provide a surface upon which the forces can be applied to the patient  110  while the patient remains in relative comfort.  
      One consideration in applying the tensile forces to the occipital lobes and bones  585  is the size and shape of the patient&#39;s jaw bone and the patient&#39;s ability to open and close his/her mouth for communication during treatment. For example, certain patients may exhibit such conditions as Temporal Mandible Joint (TMJ) disorder. In such cases, the occiput structures  585  must be positioned against the occiput horns  550  such that jaw function is maintained and the patient can communicate during treatment. The occiput horns  550  must be sufficiently tall and conforming to provide resistance against the occiput structures  585  while not exceeding such height as would bring the occiput horns  550  into contact with the patient&#39;s jaw. The occiput contact surfaces  580  that contact the occiput structures  585  must additionally be both conforming and rigid, such that the contact surface  580  make firm contact against the bony structures  585  during traction or decompression treatments.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the head support system of  FIG. 5  used with a light therapy device  600 . The light therapy device  600  includes a curved clear housing  620  carrying light sources  630 . By way of example only, the light sources  630  are laser diode modules. The light therapy device  600  is positioned within the head adapter  410  underneath the convex alignment of the patient&#39;s neck  540 . An air gap  625  extends between the housing  620  of the light therapy device  600  and the patient&#39;s neck  540 . Any number of laser diode or light emitting elements  630  might be contained within the housing  630 . The light sources  630  are arrayed across the housing  620 , and the housing  620  may include various optical shapes such as lenses to collimate or diverge irradiation  640  from the light sources  630  depending on the precise configuration of the light sources  630  and intended target zone of the neck  540 . Alternatively, the housing  620  need not be clear. In operation, the light therapy device  600  passes photonic energy  640  from the lighting elements  630  through slits or an opening in the head adapter  410  to the neck  540  and extended cervical spinal elements  435  of the patient  110 . The light therapy device  600  may be configured to be permanently assembled within the head adapter  410  or to be removed from a compartment within the head adapter  410 . Alternatively, the light therapy device  600  may be configured to be used separate from the head adapter  410 . By way of example only, the head adapter  410  may be configured to be positioned on top of the light therapy device  600  and have an opening along the bottom thereof to allow photonic energy to pass from the light therapy device  600  to the neck  540 .  
      The light therapy device  600  includes a flexible wire harness connection  635  that is connected to an outside controlling device that may provide power and data to the light therapy device  600 . For example, the controlling device may communicate light intensity, frequency, on/off time, and thermal information to the light therapy device  600 . Alternatively, the light therapy device  600  may include sufficient power sources and controlling mechanisms to operate independently and/or may be controlled by a wireless control device. Additionally, the wire harness connection  635  may be a flex circuit, wire bundles, or possibly fiber optic and light source couplings which deliver optical energies to the neck  540 .  
      Returning to  FIG. 4 , in operation, traction or decompression treatment on the cervical spine  435  of the patient  110  begins by positioning the patient  110  correctly onto the bed or table  100  with the patient&#39;s  405  head in the head adapter  410 . The body weight of the patient  110  is sufficient to anchor the body of the patient  110  on the table  100  while the patient&#39;s head  405  is allowed to be moved and extended within the head adapter  410 . The head adapter  410  is configured to receive and retain the light therapy device  600  ( FIG. 6 ) underneath the patient&#39;s neck at the cervical spine  435  such that the device  600  delivers therapeutic irradiation to the neck along the extended cervical spinal segments  435 . Once the patient  110  is positioned on the table  100  and in the head adapter  410 , the head support  520  ( FIG. 5 ), table slide elements  510  ( FIG. 5 ), and head support platform  500  ( FIG. 5 ) can be rotated about the hinge  504  ( FIG. 5 ) for purposes of arranging the patient  110  in a comfortable position and positioning the patient&#39;s neck in the preferred position for treatment. The operator of the traction or decompression system  400  may use the patient interface system to select the proper treatment parameters from the computing device  490  for the traction or decompression treatment. The operator may also enter data or treatment profiles for light therapy through the patient interface system to the computing device  490  in order to activate and control the light therapy controller  494 .  
      When the operator instructs the computing device  490  to execute the user&#39;s selected treatment profiles and/or light therapy schedules, the servo-amplifier  492  activates the electromechanical actuator  470  to apply tension to the patient interface device  425  and thus the head adapter  410  in accordance with the selected treatment program. The head adapter  410  applies tension to the cervical spine  435  of the patient  110  through the occipital lobes as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 5 . The program may include low and high tension plateaus above 40 pounds, and may also include any number of traction or decompression treatments. Additionally, the computing device  490  may also activate the light therapy module  494  and communicate the light therapy parameters designated by the user to the light therapy device  600  ( FIG. 6 ) via the light therapy wire harness  496  and connector  635 . The light therapy device  600  irradiates the neck at the cervical spine  435  as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 6 . The light therapy module  494  may communicate metrics from the light therapy device  600  with the computing device  490  for adjustment of light therapy metrics during the traction or spinal decompression treatment. By way of the system  400 , photonic energies may be delivered to the extended cervical spine  435  as the cervical spine  435  is stretched and articulated by the traction or decompression therapy, thus increasing the opportunity for improved absorption of the optical energies and improving the healing of the cervical spine  435 .  
      In an alternative embodiment, a light therapy device may be used with any number of other different methods and systems of traction, decompression, or spinal elongation therapy, including manual spinal treatment, and may be used on different regions of the spine or other regions of the human body. The light therapy device can have any number of different sizes and/or shapes to accommodate the manner in which it is used with the regions of interests and with harnesses, the head adapter, or other alignment and restraining devices. Alternatively, the light therapy device may be located in or on the table itself or may be manipulated manually about the regions of interest during spinal elongation therapy.  
      The light therapy device is not limited to use only with elongation or stretching treatment for the spine and neck of a patient. Alternatively, the light therapy device may be configured for use with treatments that elongate or increase space between bones and/or tissue at other joints or regions of the human body. By way of example only, the light therapy device may be used with stretching or elongation treatments used at the elbow, wrist, knee, ankle or shoulder of a patient. The joint may be articulated in the course of therapy to increase or extend the area at the joint or regions, and the light therapy device is used to irradiated the exposed joint or region.  
      The system and method of the different embodiments provides several advantages over conventional traction or decompression therapy systems. By using a light therapy device in conjunction with traction or decompression therapy on a specific region of the spine, the system is able to articulate the region of the spine for increased exposure to the healing effects of light therapy. Specifically, increasing interdiscal space by way of traction or decompression therapy increases exposure of regions of a patient&#39;s spine to light therapy. Increased treatment area exposure results in increased photonic energy absorption, which in turn results in accelerated healing benefits related to the exposure. Thus, the patient benefits by having two therapies at once and also by an increased recovery time. Additionally, the head adapter allows the operator to position and adjust the patient&#39;s head and neck such that the patient is comfortable during treatment and that the patient&#39;s neck is in the best position for treatment. The head adapter also maintains the patients neck aligned in the direction of the applied tensile forces. The head adapter also applies the tensile forces to the head and neck through the occipital lobes in order to maximize the effect of the treatment and to maintain the patient&#39;s comfort during the treatment. Also, the head adapter may be used with or without the light therapy device.  
      While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.