Patent ID: 7144380

Claim:
A method of incrementally applying traction comprising the steps of: providing a spring chamber having a body surrounding a first spring contained therein, said spring chamber connected to a ratcheting pulley operably coupled by a tether to a harness at a first end of the body with said ratcheting pulley located intermediate the harness and the spring chamber; said tether has a free end portion; securing a second end of the body, said second end opposite said first end, to a support; placing the harness on an appropriate location on a patient; removing slack from the tether intermediate the ratcheting pulley and the harness; applying tension to the tether, wherein the patient pulls on the free end portion of the tether to incrementally apply traction at a desired location to the patient through the harness with the ratcheting pulley at least assisting in incrementally shortening the tether intermediate the ratcheting pulley and the harness at a distance thereby at least assisting in incrementally increasing tension applied to the patient, and the ratcheting pulley retaining the tether at the distance without continued application of tension to the tether by the patient.