Patent ID: 7108671

Claim:
A low-cost, light weight portable lumbar traction device for home use by a patient comprising: a support structure having a longitudinal axis; a carriage slidable along a portion of the support structure parallel to the longitudinal axis, the carriage including a restraining mechanism adapted to releasably restrain a portion of a patient's body to the carriage; a pneumatic traction force generating apparatus comprising at least one pneumatic chamber and at least one air inlet, the pneumatic traction force generating apparatus operatively coupled to both the carriage and the support structure to move the carriage relative to the support structure when the at least one pneumatic chamber is in a pressurized state, the pneumatic traction force generating apparatus adapted to maintain a generally static traction force for a period in excess of 10 minutes when in the pressurized state without additional pressurized air being supplied; a hand pump operated by the patient fluidly connected to the at least one pneumatic chamber for injecting pressurized air into the at least one pneumatic chamber, the hand pump being capable of injecting at least 138 kPa (20 psi) of pressure into the pneumatic chamber; and a pressure relief mechanism operated by the patient adapted to release pressure from the at least one pneumatic chamber.