US32013A - Charles f - Google Patents

Description

PAEENT nnron CHARLES F. TAYLOR, OF J,\'E\"V YORK, N.

APPARA'IU'S FOR REDUCING SPINAL GURV'IURE.

Spcification of Letters Patent N0. 32,013, dated April 9, 1861.

T0 all whom vlt may concern:

Be itknown that I*, CHARLES F. TAYLOR, of' New York, in the county of New York ancl State of New York, l1ave invented an Apparatus for Reclucing Spinal Curvatures, the oonstruction ancloperation of which I have described in the following spe iification and illustrated in its acconlpanying drawings With suflicient clearness to enable oo1npetent and skilful workmen in the arts to Which it pertains or is 1nost nearly allied to malte and use my invention.

My said invention is for apparatus to aicl in the reduction of spinal curvatures, ancl consists in first, What I term an eccentric couch constructed in the manner hereinafter described, by rneans of which tl1e patient is enabled to place hin1self in a state of repose in such a position as to force apart the narrow eclges, and press together the wicle edges of. the joints of the bones of the vertebra, thus reducing the curvature und creating or restoring a tendenoy of the parts, to their normal position, this lateral correction being however subject to adjustment so as to conform to the necessity of the case and the conforrnation of tl1e patient. Second, an appendage to this couch hereinafter describecl, by Which the weight of the heacl is made to aicl in the recluction of the curvature by exerting a pressure upon the shoulcler which is upon the sa1ne sicle with the outside of the curvature, ancl a 001- responcling force in drawing up tl1e shoulcler upon the insicle 01: the curve.

In the accompanying clravvings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of what I term the eccentric couch, and also represents the figure of a person reclining upon it. tion is illustrated by a plane and dotted line. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the appenclage to the eccentric couch by Which the pressure is exerted upon the shoulcler on.the

sicle of the person corresponding with the outsicle sicle of the curvature ancl a corresponcling extensional force exertecl under the opposite shoulcler.

The eccentric couch consists simply of a fiat cushioned bench l, With two posts 2, 2, about thirteen inches high, three inches Wide, and one foot apart, which posts are placecl at each end of the couch as shown in the drawinp;s straps 3, 3, being suspendecl from the top of one post to the top of the one opposite, ancl made acljustable by bucklos or otherwise in such a manner that the The operaare made for tl1e convenience of allowing the bench to always occupy a position near the Wall, ancl still be adapted to the treatment of ourvatures in opposite directions. It can be 1nacle single if preferred. The head rest 4, is attachecl to a bar 5, which may be slid longituclinally in a socket or brackets upon the unclerside of the bench l, and the rest 4,

passes through a mortise in the enol of the bar 5, ancl is provided with holes by means of which and a pin 6, the heightof the rest 4, may be acljustecl.

T0 aiol the action of the couch in reclucing the curvature, I have co'ntrived the improve- 1nent shown 1nore clearly in Fig. 4, though it and its application are represented in Fig. l.

It consists of a round rod of iron 7, bent into sl1ape as shown in Fig. 4, in such a manner as to fit lt to pass uncler the arm in the mitlclle, where lt is cushionecl, ancl is provided with a strap 8, to rest upon the shoulder opposite to that underwhich the cushionecl portion is placecl, anol a the ends of the rool 7, and may be slid outward or inwarcl a short distance, as the parts are there parallel. The patient being located upon the couch upon the side 011 Which the outer side of the curvature is located, rests the part opposite th e curvature upon the straps 3, which have been previously adjusted, as represented ancl as the patient lies in that position, the weight of the body upon one sicle, and o1: the head and shoulclers upon the other, tend strongly to recluce the vertebral column to its normal position as will be apparent from an inspection of tl1e illustration contained in the drawings. T0 aid in this operation, by cornpressing tl1e joints in the outer portion of the curve together, distending the inner portion of the vertebral colu1nn I generally have the patient emplov the improve1nent shown in Fig. 2, alreacly describecl, the action of Which is pe1l1aps alreacly sufiiciently apparent. T0 prevent the heacl froin clescencling too far, the pad 01 heacl rest 4, is properly adjusted, as representecl in the drawings.

Having thus fully describecl my said inpad 9,'is placeol upon vention, and the manner in Which it is'to be n1ade available, I claim as the improvemeis which compose it,

l. The combination of the bench l adjustable supports 3, ancl adjustable pad 0r strap 4, substantially as described, and in such a manner as to accomplish the purpose sei: forth.

2. The head rest represented in Fig. 4,

constict(ad as described, by which the 10 CHAS. F. TAYLOR.

VVitnesses:

H. JAMES VVEST0N, T110s. P. HOW.

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