Patent ID: 8211046

Claim:
A method for generating traction on a limb comprising the steps of: providing a traction generating apparatus comprising a proximal limb support member, a traction generating member, and a distal limb support member in a first, uninflated configuration; wrapping the proximal limb support member and the distal limb support member around limb sections on opposite sides of a break in a bone of the limb, when the proximal limb support member and the distal limb support member are in their first, uninflated configuration; inflating the proximal limb support member to provide friction between the proximal limb support member and the limb, while the traction generating member remains uninflated and no traction is being generated on the limb; inflating the distal limb support member to provide friction between the distal limb support member and the limb, while the traction generating member remains uninflated and no traction is being generated on the limb; and inflating the traction generating member disposed between the proximal limb support member and the distal limb support member, wherein inflation of the traction generating member causes one or more undulations in the traction generating member to straighten out generating a length increase of the traction generating member along a longitudinal axis of the limb.