Weakness or Disease of the Vertebra.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 15th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
and Weakness or Disease of the Vertebra.
I, JOSEPH BANKS HILLIARD, of the firm of W. B. Hilliard and Sons, Surgical
Instrument Makers, 65 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises an improved mode and means of
applying extension to the spinal column of children and persons in a direct line or
isolated manner, not interfering with the free motion of the body, for correcting or
curing spinal curvature or other weakness or disease of the vertebra, and which
under two modifications is respectively applicable for patients either in a recumbent
position or while convalescent and able to walk and move about. These improvements
will be more simple and convenient of application requiring no binding or restricting
of the chest or abdomen, and giving a more comfortable and resilient effect and feeling
to the patient, with greater power of movement than has been possible with the
appliances heretofore in use for the said purposes.
Under one arrangement of the improvements suitable for the recumbent position of
the patient in bed or couch, the spinal extension is applied as stated in the direct line
of the spinal column or vertebra between the head and the sacrum, in the following
manner: A short strap secures the head under the chin, jaw bones and occiput,
and is led up preferably on each side to a crossbar above the head. To the centre
of this crossbar is attached by a swivel (to allow of patient turning easily in bed)
an india rubber or spiral spring as a resilient cushion or buffer which prevents any
jar of the spinal cord or vertebra. The other end of this spring is made fast to a
fixed part of the top of the bed at the level of the patient's head. A simple band is
fitted round the pelvis with a flat strap or cord secured over the sacrum. This cord
or strap is led over a pulley at the foot of the bed, and weights hung on it, until the
patient feels comfortable and pain is relieved or removed. A comparatively small
weight of from 2 to 6 pounds is generally found sufficient. When the Surgeon
finds that pain and irritation have been allayed, by wearing this appliance for a period,

page_text: in the recumbent position; the patient may be allowed to sit up or walk about by
applying the second modification or adaptation of these improvements, for effecting
the same direct resilient extension of the spine. This arrangement consists in
dispensing with the weight from the strap over the sacrum and in securing thereto
near the same position a vertical metal socket. Into this socket the lower end of a
metal rod or jury mast slides, so as to oscillate freely. This rod is screwed at the
lower end with a quick pitched or angled thread, and a thumb nut runs on this screw
preferably over a a spiral or hollow rubber spring above the socket. The rod extends
up to the occiput, which rests on a half moon cushion provided for it behind on the
top of the steel bar or mast. A double movable arm sliding on the rod, extends
forward along each jaw under the chin. Across the ends of those two arms a cushioned
strap is extended upon which the chin rests. This movable arm when moved up the rod,
tilts up the chin, and throws the-occiput against the back cushion in which position the
sliding part may be secured by a screw to the vertical rod at the back under the
head. When the head is thus fixed the screw nut at the lower end of the rod over
the spring and socket at the sacrum, is slowly turned by screwing up the rod or mast
until the requisite extension of the spine is arrived at. The small spiral or equivalent
spring in the rod between the nut and the socket gives a resilient action to the rod
and prevents all jar or shock to the spine during movement. The weight of the head
is thus lifted, leaving freedom to rotate and the spasmodic contraction of the spinal
muscles is overcome, leaving the irritated and softened vertebra at perfect rest, for
nature to repair at her leisure. The screw extension in this modification may be fitted
at any other part of the rod instead of at the socket in the band over the pelvis, and
the rod would preferably be shaped approximately to the curvature of the back, but
quite clear of it, leaving the back free to turn without touching the rod. And the
weights and resilient spring in the former modification might be reversed although
preferred to be constructed and used as described.

page_text: and Weakness or Disease of the Vertebra.
I, JOSEPH BANKS HILLIARD, of the firm of W. B. Hilliard and Sons, Surgical
Instrument Makers, 65 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :--
My said Invention has reference to and comprises an improved mode and means
of applying extension to the spinal column of children and persons in a direct
line or isolated manner, not interfering with the free motion of the body, for
correcting or curing spinal curvature or other weakness or disease of the vertebra,
and which under two modifications is respectively applicable for patients either in a
recumbent position or while convalescent and able to walk, sit upright or move
about. These improvements will be more simple and convenient of application
requiring no binding or restricting of the chest or abdomen, and giving a more
comfortable and resilient effect and feeling to the patient, with greater power of
movement than has been possible with the appliances heretofore in use for the said
purposes.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 shows a back view of the patient as lying in the recumbent position
on an iron bed-stead, as fitted with one modification or arrangement of my improve-
iments for correcting spinal curvature, as suitable for this position of the patient
allowing perfect freedom of the legs and to some extent of the turning of the body.
Figures 2 to 5 show the parts of the appliances separate to a larger scale than in
the general view Figure 1. Figures 6 and 8, show the trunk and head of a patient
in the vertical position as fitted with the modification of my improvements, as
suitable for the correction of curvature of the spine when the patient is in a con-
valescent state, and able to sit up or walk about. And Figures 7, 9, and 10 show the
parts of this vertical arrangement of the improved appliances detached or separately
and to a larger scale.
-
Referring particularly to Figure 1 and the detail views Figures 2 to 5 of these
Drawings Under this arrangement of the improvements suitable for the recum-
bent position of the patient in bed or couch, the spinal extension is applied as stated
in the direct line of the spinal column between the head H and the sacrum S to
correct the spinal curvature in the following manner :- -A short strap a round the
head under the occiput, (or under the chin or jaw bones as shown dotted in at a" in
Figure 2) preferably round the head from occiput to forehead as shown at a in

page_text: f
Figures 1 and 2 and detached in Figure 3, so as to give freedom to the jaws and
ears. Straps a', al, are led up from the strap a preferably on each side of the head
and hooked to a short crossbar 6 above the head. To the centre of this cross bar b
is attached by a swivel hook at 61 (to allow of patient turning easily in bed) an
india-rubber or spiral spring c as a resilient drawing cushion, (or buffer in some
arrangements), which prevents any jar of the spinal column or vertebra, shown to a
large scale in Figures 4 and 4 A. The straps a from the headstrap a may go
direct to the swivel b¹ without the crossbar b, the swivel in that case being pre-
ferably fitted on the end of the spring c. This spring c may be in the form of a
spring salters balance with a pointer and divided plate outside its case to show what
force of traction is being exercised on the patient in the line of the spiral column,
as shown at c¹ in Figure 4. The other end of this spring c may be made fast by a
cord d, to a rail at the head of the bed at B at the level of the Patient's head. A
simple preferably soft cotton or linen, band e is fitted round the pelvis buckled at e!!
in front and with a flat strap or cord e secured at the back over the sacrum S as
shown detached.in Figure. 5. This cord or strap el is attached to a cord f led over
a pulley secured at F to a rail at the foot of the bed, and a weight or weights f¹
hung to this cord equal to the strain desired to be put on the Patient until the pain
is relieved or. removed. A comparatively small weight of from 2 to 10 pounds is
generally found sufficient. When the Surgeon finds that pain and irratation have
been allayed, by wearing my improved appliance for a period, in the recumbent
position; the Patient may be allowed to sit up or walk about by applying my second
modification or adaptation of these improvements shown in Figures 6 to 10 for
effecting the same direct resilient extension of the spine in the upright position of the
body. This arrangement consists in dispensing with the strap e and cord and
weight, over the sacrum S, and preferably in making the band E of a more rigid
material than shown e in Figures 1 and 5, such as poroplastic, felt, or other firm
substance laced also in front at e¹ as shown detached in Figure 7 and to a large scale
in Figure 10, and having fitted on the back over the pelvis a vertical metal socket g fitted
with spiral rubber or other equivalent buffer spring g above it steadied by the
bow strap g. Into this socket g and spiral spring g' the lower end of a light rigid
strong metal wire, or rod, or jury mast a slides, with regulating tension milled
nut on its lower screwed end, so as to reciprocate or oscillate freely in a vertical
direction within the socket and spring 9, g
This rod h is screwed at the lower end
within the socket and spiral spring 9, 9, with a suitable screw thread fitted with the
thumb nut to regulate the resilient tension of the spring g' on the rod h. This
rod extends straight up the back as shown in Figures 7 and 9 and is bent to the
natural shape of the back and neck in profile as shown respectively in Figures 6
and 8, and extends up to the occiput at h, which rests on a half moon cushion h
secured on it at the top of the steel bar or mast h. A double movable or bow arm i is
fitted to slide on the rod h by a socket at the back of the neck, with a pinching
screw ¹ to secure it in any desired position, and extends forward along each jaw
under the chin as shown in Figures 6 and 7. On or across the two front ends of
these two arms i, cushions or a strap j is extended, upon which the chin rests. The
bow arms and strap j are shown more particularly in Figure 7. This movable
armi, when moved up the rod ½ tilts or bears up on the chin, and throws the
occiput H against the back cushion h¹ in which position the back sliding part of the
bow arms is secured by a screw to the vertical rod hat the back under the head.
Or the head may be fixed by a buckle band h round the forehead proceeding from
two fixed arms " extending from the top of the rod h at the occiput pad h', as seen
in Figure 8 thus dispensing with the sliding arms i under the chin as shown in
Figures 8 and 9. When the head is thus fixed, the hand screw nut at the lower
end of the rod over the spring g¹ and socket g at the sacrum S, is slowly turned
by screwing up the rod or mast until the requisite extension of the spine is arrived at:
The small spiral or equivalent spring g' in the rod h between the nut g² and the
socket g gives
a resilient or buffer action to the rod h and prevents all jar or shock
to the sping during the movement of the patient. The weight of the head. His

page_text: g
thus lifted, leaving freedom to rotate in the socket 9 if required and the spasmodic
contraction of the spinal muscles is overcome, leaving the irritated and softened
vertebra at perfect rest, for nature to repair at her leisure. The screw extension g³,
in this modification may be fitted at other parts of the rod instead of at the
socket 9, in the band over the pelvis, although this is preferred as shown and
described, and the rod h would preferably be shaped approximately to the curvature
of the back, but quite clear of it, leaving the back free to turn without touching the
rod h see Figures 6 and 8. And the weights or resilient spring c, in the former
modification might be reversed that is either fitted at the head or feet of the patient
although preferred to be constructed and used as described.
The extending movement of the rod ŉ may be effected by telescopic or other slides
acted on by contracting or extending springs of rubber or spirals. Rotation may
be prevented in special cases by fitting the rod square or polygonal into a corre
spondingly shaped socket g. The whole rod h, from the occiput pad h¹ might be in
the form of a strong spiral spring adjusted by a short screw rod and thumb nut at the
socket g of the waist band e although this arrangement is not preferred to the rigid
rod described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. The construction or general arrangement and combination of the parts of
appliances for correcting spinal curvature and curing weakness or disease of the
spinal column or vertebra by applying the spinal extension in the direct line of
the spinal column between the head and the sacrum, substantially as berein
described and distinguished, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The correcting of spinal curvature and curing of weakness or disease of
the spinal column or vertebra by applying the spinal extension in the direct line of
the spinal column between the head H, and the sacrum S by appliances consisting of a
short strap a, a, all, under the chin, jaw bones and occiput, or round the head H
from occiput to fore-head, said strap a, a', all, being connected to a spiral, india-
rubber or equivalent spring c, c¹ fixed to the bed to act as a resilient cushion and
a band e round the pelvis connected by a strap or cord e¹, f, over a pulley F, with
weights f¹, hung on to it to give the disired traction, all substantially as and in the
manner herein described in reference to and shown particularly in Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
Third. The correcting of spinal curvature and curing of weakness or disease of
the spinal column by applying the spinal extension in the direct line of the spinal
column between the head H, and the sacrum S by appliances consisting of a vertical
metal socket 9 carrying a rigid rod or wire or jury mast h, with tension screw and
resilient spring g', ³, said rod or jury mast h, extending from occiput pad h¹ to
pelvis, and either with or without the double movable arm i under the chin, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in
Figures 6 to 10, of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In appliances for correcting spinal curvature, the use of a limp or elastic
bande or E round the pelvis for supporting a vertical socket g and extension rod /,
with resilient spiral or equivalent spring g₁, substantially as herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
1000
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.