Patent ID: 7445608

Claim:
An ambulatory spinal unloading apparatus configured to provide a desired amount of traction force to a spine of a patient and to absorb an intermittent and/or unexpected shock and/or vibration, with the traction force provided via a plurality of lifter assemblies, comprising: a vest that comprises an upper orthotic belt; a lower orthotic belt; a residual cushioning device; and the plurality of lifter assemblies; wherein the plurality of lifter assemblies each comprising a worm gear turning a threaded rod or a piston actuated fluidic lifting device that independently expands or retracts to control distance between the orthotic belts to provide the traction force to a spine of a patient, and each of the lifter assemblies further comprises a residual cushioning device wherein the residual cushioning device comprises a spring and/or damper, that independently provides a desired residual cushioning effect by compression of a spring and/or damper to thereby absorb an intermittent and/or unexpected shock and/or vibration, wherein the spring and/or damper is effective to provide the residual cushioning for the rod or for the piston actuated fluidic lifting device in a deactivated state.