Patent ID: 6974427

Claim:
A spinal and soft tissue mobilizer device for physical therapy and mobilization of the areas about the spine, and the facet joints of the spine of a human user, comprising: an elongate rod having a longitudinal axis and opposed outer ends; a pair of handles mounted on respective said opposed outer ends of said rod; an elongate generally spool-shaped segmented roller assembly rotatably mounted on said rod between said handles, said roller assembly having a reduced diameter mid-portion and a pair of laterally opposed generally teardrop-shaped outer end segments at opposite ends thereof each having a larger diameter outer facing spherical end; bearing means on said rod disposed between inner facing ends of said handles and said outer facing spherical ends of said generally teardrop-shaped outer end segments, whereby said segmented roller assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis of said rod relative to said handles and said rod; said reduced diameter mid-portion comprising a pair of lateral roller segments, each having laterally opposed first and second ends of a smaller diameter that curve inwardly and upwardly into a larger diameter annular center portion, said first ends of said lateral roller segments disposed in face to face relation; and said generally teardrop-shaped outer end segments each having a truncated smaller diameter end disposed in face to face relation with a said smaller diameter second end of a respective one of said lateral roller segments that curves outwardly and upwardly into its said larger diameter outer facing spherical end; said larger diameter annular center portions of said lateral roller segments being laterally spaced apart by said first ends thereof a sufficient distance to straddle the vertebrae of the spine of the user and said first ends thereof are of sufficiently smaller diameter so as not to contact the vertebrae of the spine; and said larger diameter of each of said teardrop-shaped outer end segments being sufficiently greater than said larger diameter annular center portions of said lateral roller segments and disposed a sufficient distance laterally outward therefrom to engage the lateral rib cage area the user; such that upon application of pressure and relative movement between the back along the spine and lateral rib cage area of the user, said annular center portions of said lateral roller segments straddle the user's spine and vertebrae without direct contact with the vertebrae and said larger diameters of said teardrop-shaped end segments engage and apply pressure to the user's lateral rib cage area, back muscles and underlying tissue for mobilization of the areas about the spine and the facet joints of the spine, and relative movement between the user's upper torso and said teardrop-shaped end segments applies pressure to the lateral rib cage area and consequent flexure of the ribs causes articulation and flexing of the thoracic vertebrae.