Patent ID: 8657774

Claim:
A spinal decompression device for use with a patient and an anchor object, the device comprising: a first load line including an anchor attachment end and a first inline end, the anchor attachment end being sized and configured to be attachable in a terminating manner to the anchor object; a second load line including a head attachment end and a second inline end, the head attachment end being sized and configured to attach to a head of the patient; an elastomeric member disposed between and attached to the first and second inline ends, the elastomeric member having a significantly lower linear elastic modulus than each of the first and second load lines; an effective tension length segment of the device being collectively defined by those portions of the first load line, the elastomeric member and the second load line that are in tension when opposing forces are applied to the anchor attachment end and the head attachment end to place the first load line, the elastomeric member and the second load line in tension; and an adjustment element in communication with the effective tension length segment sized and configured to adjust the tension in the effective tension length segment.