Patent Application: US-92045009-A

Abstract:
a device for assessing the spinal column intends to assess the lateral curvatures and deviations in the spinal column , in a standing position . it can be a non - invasive instrument that allows reproducing the position of each vertebra in the spinal column , from the first cervical vertebra to the first sacral vertebra . the device can include or consist of two parts : a first part designated as body and a second part defined as support . the first part can include or can consist of a vertical piece and several horizontal pieces . each horizontal piece will touch the spinal crest of each vertebra in the spinal column , from the first cervical vertebra to the first sacral vertebra . the support can include or can consist of two pieces : a vertical piece , wherein the instrument &# 39 ; s body vertical piece is fitted and a base whereon the feet of the patient under assessment are placed .

Description:
this device consists of two parts : a first part designated as body and a second part defined as support . the first part consists of a vertical piece ( that fits in the support ) and several horizontal pieces . the vertical piece consists of a ratchet which is attached to a profile , four bars and two support plates on top of these two first structures , wherein the inferior structure also allows fitting in the support . the connection between the two plates and between the ratchet and the profile is made by two spigots . each of these horizontal pieces contact the spinal crests of each vertebra in the spinal column and serve as position indicators , from the first cervical vertebra to the first sacral vertebra . such contact is made by means of a ratchet coupled to two pinions disposed horizontally on a piece with an integral rod . this piece abuts against another piece connecting with the vertical piece of the instrument &# 39 ; s body . such interface is made by means of the bars and ratchet by four openings and a pinion respectively . a milled screw with an horizontal u - shape foil guarantees the attachment of the horizontal piece of the instrument &# 39 ; s body in the vertical piece of the same . the support is composed by two pieces : a base abutting on four feet where the person under assessment places the feet and a vertical piece , wherein the vertical piece of the instrument &# 39 ; s body fits . the later is composed of a rectangular base profile that supports the instrument &# 39 ; s body weight and a horizontal plate with four openings for the connection between the body and the instrument &# 39 ; s support . the present invention will be now explained in detail , reference being made to the enclosed drawings , in which : fig1 shows two partial cross - section views of the entire instrument . the view on the left enhances the represented attachment between the body and the instrument &# 39 ; s support . the view on the right represents the attachment among the rods of the instrument &# 39 ; s body . both views show a frame surrounding the attachments ; fig2 shows two views of the instrument &# 39 ; s support with identification of the horizontal and vertical pieces ; fig3 shows three views of the instrument &# 39 ; s body . the plan view shows the cuts represented in the other views . the cut b - b represents in further detail the ratchet attached to a profile and the attachment thereof to two support plates by means of two spigots inserted in the profile . cut a - a represents in more detail the bars and attachment thereof and still a further view of the profile with the attachment spigots . the vertical piece consists of a ratchet attached to a profile , four bars and still two support plates on top of these two structures , wherein the inferior plate also allows fitting in the support . the connection between the two plates and between the ratchet and profile is made by two spigots . fig4 shows an enlargement of the top of the instrument &# 39 ; s body represented with frames in fig3 ; fig5 shows an enlargement of the attachments represented with frames in fig1 ; fig6 shows three views of the horizontal pieces of the instrument &# 39 ; s body . in the top view the pinion can be seen operating as interface with the ratchet . this pinion is attached , through two nuts , to a thread rod with a handle in one end thereof . the four openings are also shown allowing the horizontal pieces of the instrument &# 39 ; s body to pass through the bars . furthermore , the horizontal ratchet and the two pinions can also be observed on the support piece thereof with a thread rod . the later is attached in the ends thereof by nuts and shows a handle in the farthest end from the bars &# 39 ; passageway . in the three views a screw and a small u - shape plate can be seen ; fig7 shows two views of a piece of the horizontal piece of the vertebra body . reference being made to the drawings , fig1 shows the instrument identifying two main pieces ( 1 and 2 ) and two frames ( 5 ) around the interface and attachment thereof . fig4 shows an enlargement of the elements within those frames . fig2 shows the piece 2 in fig1 divided into pieces 6 and 7 . the patient under assessment places both feet on piece 6 . the later abuts against four pieces 10 , each comprising a tongue thread m 6 on the upper end thereof and being linked by the respective nut 9 which is welded at the bottom face of piece 6 . the interface and support of piece 1 on piece 2 are made by means of piece 7 through piece 8 and profile 9 respectively . the piece 8 has four openings ( 12 ) with a thread groove m 6 being the openings responsible for the said attachment . the piece 1 in fig1 consists of piece 3 and piece 4 in fig1 . the later is represented in fig3 . it consists of four pieces 13 and one piece 14 . the piece 14 consists of the ratchet 21 and profile 22 . both are drilled in five points . in ratchet 21 , this opening ( 23 ) has a box ( 24 ) so that the head of the screw ( 25 ) remains below the recess line ( below the teeth ). this screw m 6 ( din 912 ) will be screwed in a nut ( 26 ) nailed in profile 23 . each piece 13 has a groove m 6 thread opening ( 27 ) in each upper and lower face , wherein the screw ( 28 ) shall be screwed passing through pieces 15 and 16 . the two pieces 17 inserted in profile 22 direct piece 14 into position which together with the pieces 13 is attached to the two pieces 15 and 16 . the pieces 17 have a thread m 6 opening ( 29 ) similarly to pieces 13 with a screw ( 30 ) also passing through 15 and 16 . those two pieces have several openings with boxes represented by 18 , 19 and 20 in fig3 . the openings 20 are wide relatively to the screws m 6 under use ( similar to the ones previously described ) and have an oval box ( 31 ) for the screw head ( 30 ) in order to allow adjusting the position of piece 14 . they exist in piece 15 with the box in the lower face and in the piece 16 with the box in the upper face . the openings 19 have the typical tolerance for the passing of screws ( 34 ) similarly to the ones described above . each one of them comprises two boxes : one box ( 32 ) housing the screw head and another box ( 33 ) housing the end of piece 13 . in piece 15 , the box 32 is placed at the lower face and box 33 is placed at the upper face . in opposition , piece 16 comprises the box 32 at the upper face and box 33 at the lower face . the holes 18 exist mainly in piece 15 , since they outline the connection interface between the body and the instrument &# 39 ; s support , together with openings 12 of piece 9 in fig2 . the later receives screws ( 36 ) which pass through piece 15 . in this , the box ( 35 ) for each screw is placed in the upper face thereof . all boxes and screws are represented in fig4 and 5 . one of the plural position indicators , piece 4 , in fig1 is represented in fig6 . in this figure pinions 38 and ratchet 37 are depicted . the later has a funnel form at its end being the contact point with the person under assessment . the movement is actuated by pinions 38 and the position of the ratchet 37 determines one of the position coordinates of the point intended to determine . these three pieces are supported by piece 39 and they are attached on the upper side by slab 40 and two screws m 3 ( 41 ) embossed therein . the later are screwed in two thread openings m 3 , passing through the rotation axis of pinions 38 and along a small vertical tube ( 42 ) that maintains the position thereof . the ratchet 37 besides being delimited by pinions and slab 40 , is also delimited by a wall ( 43 ) of piece 39 , allowing the first to move mainly in the traction direction which is imposed by the pinions 36 . the piece 39 abuts against piece 44 and has an opening ( 45 ), transverse to the length thereof , the central third being threaded m 3 ( 46 ). the thread rod m 3 ( 47 ) passes through such opening and is retained in piece 44 . it passes through holes 48 and 49 and is attached in the most medial end by a cap nut 50 and a bush 51 , serving as a cover , and in the most lateral end thereof by a nut system ( 52 )/ counter - nut ( 53 ) and a bush ( 54 ). in such end there is further a small handle ( 55 ) glued to the rod . the rotation of the handle promotes the rotation of the thread rod 47 , serving as an integral rod of piece 4 , that , being attached at its ends , actuates the movement on piece 39 . this piece is laterally delimited sidelong by the two profiles 56 that fit in two areas of piece 39 which are lowered ( 57 ) and maintain the position thereof in the normal directions to the rotation axis of the thread rod , or integral rod . these profiles are attached to piece 44 by means of four screws m 3 ( 58 ) built - in in the profiles , the piece 44 having four thread openings m 3 ( 59 ). the first has a scale which allows defining the position of piece 39 , which in its turn allows determining a further coordinate for the position of the point intended to define . finally , the third coordinate is obtained by moving piece 3 over piece 4 , both in fig1 , such being made by the passage of the piece 44 through pieces 13 in fig3 through openings 60 in fig7 and by the pinion roll 61 in fig6 on ratchet 14 and along box 62 in fig3 . this pinion is in a thread rod m 6 ( 63 ), inserted in opening 64 of piece 44 and being attached by two nuts 60 screwed therein . both are lowered in height and width such that they do not contact the teeth in ratchet 14 . this rod has a cap nut 66 , serving as a cover , at one end and a milled nut 67 at the other end which is attached to the counter - nut 68 ( screwed together ) acting as a handle and controlling the movement at the vertical axis . when screwed in the thread opening m 6 ( 69 ) of piece 44 , the pressure of piece 70 on the slab 71 , both illustrated in fig6 , against the piece 14 in fig3 guarantees retaining the position of piece 3 on piece 4 , both illustrated in fig1 . the piece 70 is similar to the handle referred to above , consisting of a milled nut 72 screwed in a thread rod m 6 ( 73 ) and against a counter - nut 74 . the product allows assessing dysfunctions or pathologies in the spinal column , as well as the efficiency degree of rehabilitation programs . it can be applied in any population and situations , including children , adolescents , pregnant women , adults and seniors . it is a product that can be used by health care credential professionals . harrison et al ( 2005 ) sagittal skin contour of the cervical spine : interexaminer and intra examiner reability of the flexicurve instrument . journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics . vol 28 , 7 ; 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