EA022956B1 - Method and device for correction and treatment of spinal column - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to medicine, and more particularly to methods and devices for correction and treatment of spinal column and can be used for the preventive care and treatment of spinal column in medical, sporting, spa establishments, among others, and in domestic conditions. According to the invention the method provides for placement of a patient onto support surface comprising a headrest, a back support and a footboard, able to be freely moved in longitudinal direction relative to the back support with a profiled surface with a lumbar area adapted to change inclination angle from the lambar area to feet, wherein the inclination angles of the longitudinal direction of the headrest and the footboard are selected depending on the required for stretching effort values and the character of their distribution along the spinal column, and profiling the back support with the profiled surface with lumbar area is carried out in accordance with patient's column curvature. The device realises said method. The achieved technical results provide improved effectiveness of correction of vertebras relative position, effectiveness of intervertebral disks restoration and operation convenience.

Description

The present invention relates mainly to the field of medicine, and more specifically to methods and devices specifically designed for correction and treatment of the spine and can be used for the prevention and treatment of the spine in medical, sports, sanatorium and other institutions and at home.

A known method and device for correction and treatment of the spine, based on the correction of the spine using a stretching device (see RF patent No. 2220697, 2004). Moreover, according to the invention, a sliding wedge-shaped device is placed between the spinous processes by light indentation and the spinous processes are extended by 2-5 mm by increasing the degree of extension of the device elements. The device includes a wedge-shaped device. The wedge-shaped device is made sliding of two semi-wedges interconnected along the axis, adjacent to each other with flat sides, while the semi-wedges are equipped with handles with a return spring installed between them, providing contact between the semi-wedges.

The disadvantage of this invention is the high invasiveness of the effects on the spine.

According to a first of its aspects, the present invention relates to a method for correcting and treating the spine, comprising placing a patient on a body supporting surface, comprising a head restraint supported in the suboccipital region of the head, with a height and position in accordance with the nature of the curvature of the spine in the cervical region and free movement in the longitudinal direction, and a back support with a profiled surface with lumbar support.

Such a method is described in the patent of the Russian Federation for invention No. 2389467, published May 20, 2010. According to this prior art, the patient is placed on the supporting surface in the form of a profiled dorsal support with an end stop projection from the lower lumbar region and a head restraint, the head is placed on the sub-nape region on the head restraint, the height and position of the headrest is selected in accordance with the nature of the curvature of the spine in the cervical region, while the headrest freely moves in the longitudinal direction relative to the supporting surface and. This method is taken as a prototype of the method for correction and treatment of the spine.

The disadvantage of this prototype is its lack of effectiveness in the correction of the mutual position of the vertebrae and inadequate recovery of intervertebral discs. This is expressed in the impossibility of effectively adjusting the magnitude of the traction forces along the length of the spine. In addition, the disadvantage of this prototype is the inconvenience of operation. In particular, with the help of this prototype it is not possible to quickly ensure adjustment to the patient’s anthropometry at the time of its location on the supporting surfaces. In addition, during the preventive session, you can not change the force of impact on individual sections of the spine.

Based on this original observation, the present invention mainly aims to propose a method for correction and treatment of the spine, allowing at least to smooth out at least one of the above disadvantages. To achieve this goal, the method for correcting and treating the spine is characterized in that the legs are placed on the footboard that can move freely in the longitudinal direction relative to the back support with a profiled surface with lumbar support with the possibility of changing the angle of inclination from the lumbar support to the legs , while the angles of inclination of the longitudinal movement of the headrest and the steps are chosen depending on the magnitude of the effort required for stretching and the nature of their distribution along the spine nick, and the profiling of the back support with a profiled surface with lumbar support is carried out in accordance with the curvature of the back of the patient.

Due to this, it becomes possible to implement the method without first adjusting it to the anthropometry of the patient, which ensures high efficiency of spinal correction and increases ease of use. It also becomes possible to effectively control the distribution of the magnitude of the traction forces along the length of the spine.

On its other side, the present invention relates to a device for correction and treatment of the spine, comprising a dorsal support with a profiled surface with a lumbar support and a headrest with the ability to interact with the suboccipital region of the head, installed with the possibility of free movement along inclined guides under the influence of the patient's head weight.

Such a device is described in the patent of the Russian Federation for invention No. 2389467, published May 20, 2010. According to this prior art, in the said patent, the back support is made in the form of a pillow shaped in longitudinal section with a persistent end protrusion from the side of the lower lumbar region of the patient, and the headrest is made to interact with the suboccipital region of the head and is installed with the possibility of free movement in the longitudinal direction along the inclined guides under the action of the weight of the patient’s head, while and the position of the headrest relative to the reference surface is selected according to the nature of the curvature of the spine in the neck and thoracic spine. This device is taken as a prototype device for correction and treatment of the spine.

The disadvantage of this prototype is its lack of effectiveness in the correction of the mutual position of the vertebrae and inadequate recovery of intervertebral discs. In addition to this - 1 022956, the disadvantage of this prototype is the inconvenience of operation. In particular, with the help of this prototype it is not possible to quickly ensure adjustment to the patient’s anthropometry at the time of its location on the supporting surfaces. In addition, during the preventive session, you can not change the force of impact on individual sections of the spine.

The present invention mainly aims to provide a device for correction and treatment of the spine, allowing at least to smooth out at least one of the above disadvantages. To achieve this goal, the device for correction and treatment of the spine is characterized essentially by the fact that the device further comprises a footrest installed with the possibility of free movement along the inclined guides, while the headrest has an adjustment of position relative to the inclined guide, and the back support with a profiled surface with lumbar support has an adjustment of the height of the sag of the profiled surface under the weight of the patient in the thoracic and gluteal regions.

Thanks to this solution, the proposed device allows to provide higher efficiency correction of the mutual position of the vertebrae and the efficiency of the restoration of intervertebral discs. This is due to the fact that the spine is stretched not only due to the headrest and back of the support, but also due to the stretching of the spine from the legs. At the same time, it becomes possible to provide higher efficiency of spinal correction due to additional adjustment of the height of the sag of the profiled surface under the weight of the patient in the thoracic and gluteal regions in the dorsal support with a profiled surface with lumbar support and the presence of adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the inclined guide. The device allows you to change the angle of inclination of the guides of the headrest and footrest, and their ratio determines the nature of traction of the spine (distribution of traction forces along the length of the spine). In various cases of spinal diseases in different people, the localization of injuries of the spine and its painful places requires a different nature of the distribution of traction forces along the spine. Therefore, the proposed device provides a higher efficiency of correction and treatment of the spine in comparison with the prototype.

There is a variant of the invention in which the lengths of the inclined guides of the head restraint and the steps are determined by the anthropometric data of the patient and the required elongation of the patient during the stretching procedure.

Due to these characteristics, the adjustment of the traction forces of the spine can be made while it is on the proposed device.

Thus, in this invention the task is to increase the efficiency of correction of the mutual position of the vertebrae, the efficiency of restoration of the intervertebral discs and ease of use. The problem is solved using the above characteristics.

Other distinguishing features and advantages of the invention clearly follow from the description below for illustration and not being restrictive, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a General view of the device for correction and treatment of the spine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts the location of a patient on a device and stress distribution patterns along the spine according to the invention;

FIG. 3-5 schematically depict various options for adjusting the inclination of the headrest guides, which are determined by the anthropometric data of the patient and the required amount of traction effort from the patient’s head;

FIG. 6-8 schematically depict various options for adjusting the inclination of the footrest guides, which are determined by the anthropometric data of the patient and the required amount of traction effort from the patient’s legs;

FIG. 9 schematically shows the construction of the central part of the device for correction and treatment of the spine according to the invention, top view;

FIG. 10 schematically shows a side view of a structure of a central part of a device for correcting and treating a spine according to the invention;

FIG. 11 schematically depicts a mechanism for adjusting the sagging of the spinal support in the thoracic and gluteal regions according to the invention, side view;

FIG. 12 schematically depicts a head restraint height adjustment mechanism according to the invention.

The device for correction and treatment of the spine contains a back support 1 with a profiled surface with lumbar support, a head restraint 2 with the possibility of interaction with the suboccipital region of the head and installed with the possibility of free movement along inclined guides 3 of the head restraint under the influence of the patient's head weight, a footrest 4, installed with the possibility of free moving along the inclined guides 5 of the steps (see Fig. 1 and 2). Lumbar support on the dorsal support 1 is formed due to sagging in the thoracic and gluteal regions while maintaining support in the lower back.

- 2 022956

The design of the central part of the device: two sidewalls 6 are connected by cross members - head 7, foot 8 and central. The central cross member consists of two rods 9 and 10, clamps 11, in which an adjusting bolt 13 is installed through the pressed nut 12, which serves to tension the bands 14 on which the back supports 15 are installed (see Figs. 9, 10, 11). Each of the tapes 14 forms a closed ring covering the cross-beams 7 and 8. The upper part of the ring extends above the rods 9 and 10, and the lower part of the ring covers the adjusting rod 16. Screwing the adjusting bolt 13 allows the adjusting rod 16 to be lowered, while the entire tape 14 is stretched. The resistance to back pressure of the patient, which lies on the device, increases. In FIG. 10 shows a plot of weight distribution 17 along the length of the spine and a profile line of the back of the patient 18, in accordance with which the spinal supports 15 are moved under the influence of the weight of the patient. When the patient is on the device for correction and treatment of the spine, the tape 14 occupies a lower position 19 in accordance with the curvature of the spine. Each of the dorsal supports 15 is attached to the tape 14 using trapezoidal (parallelogram mechanisms) 20.

The headrest 2 has the ability to freely move along the guide 3 using the rollers 21, which are inserted into the grooves 22 of the longitudinal guide 3 of the headrest. The rollers are mounted on the base 23 of the head restraint, connected directly to the head restraint 2 using the adjusting bolts 24 with the adjusting nuts 25. In a similar way, the device for the free movement of the step 4 along the inclined guides 5 of the step is made.

A device for correction and treatment of the spine works as follows. The back support with a profiled surface with lumbar support is adjusted, namely, the height of the sag of the profiled surface under the weight of the patient in the thoracic and gluteal regions is adjusted. This occurs by screwing in the bolt 13 and lowering the adjusting cross member 16. In this case, the tape 14 is pulled, the total steepness of the bend 19 decreases, and the pressure on the lower back also decreases. Efforts from the side of the head and legs meet less resistance in the lumbar region. If the patient is heavy, then screw the bolt 13, increase the resistance to sag. If the patient, for example, a child, then unscrew the bolt 13.

Further, using the adjusting nuts 25, the height of the head restraint is adjusted depending on the necessary forces acting on the patient's spine and in accordance with the nature of the curvature of the spine in the cervical region.

The patient lies on the device face up, so that the maximum deflection in the lower back is above the central cross member. Depending on the anthropometry of the patient, the head restraint 2 is moved along the guide 3 so that the head receives support in the suboccipital region, and the footrest 4 is moved along the guide 5 so that the shin rests comfortably and comfortably on it. The required values of the patient’s traction forces and their distribution along the spine in the procedure are adjusted by changing the values of the rolling angles of the guides of the headrest 3 and the footboard 5. The tensile forces shown by arrows in FIG. 2. During the session, you can change their size and nature by adjusting the angles of inclination of the guides of the headrest 3 and the steps 5. (as shown in Fig. 3-8).

Adjustment can be made using electromechanical drives, which are not shown in the figures.

In accordance with the proposed invention made a prototype device for correction and treatment of the spine. The proposed method for correction and treatment of the spine was tested on a prototype device manufactured by Center for Medical and Biomechanical Projects LLC (MBP-Center LLC).

Tests of the prototype device showed the following possibilities for distributing tensile forces along the spine, depending on the settings for the headrest, footrest and spinal support with a profiled surface with lumbar support:

when the guides of the head restraint and the footrest are tilted, when they are installed horizontally (see Figs. 3 and 6), the spine is stretched only at the expense of the elements under the back, only in the contact zone of these elements with the back, almost uniform small elongation, the footrest and headrest do not interfere traction.

when tilting the guides of the headrest and footrest with small angles of inclination of the guides of the footrest and headrest (see Figs. 4 and 7) - low traction along the entire spine.

when tilting the headrest guide with a small rolling angle and a significant angle of inclination of the guide footrest (see Fig. 4 and 8) - the zone of maximum traction in the lumbar and lumbosacral region.

when tilting the headrest guide with a large rolling angle and the footrest guide with a slight tilt angle of the footrest guide (see Figs. 5 and 7) - lowering the head restraint guide requires compensation for the height of the head restraint relative to its guide - the zone of maximum extension of the spine in the cervical and thoracic sections.

when tilting the guides of the head restraint and the footrest with significant angles of inclination of both the guiding footrest and the head restraint (see Figs. 5 and 8) - the compensated height of the head restraint,

- 3 022956 strong extension of the spine along its entire length.

In addition, all these adjustments were made during the preventive session, when the patient was located on the proposed device.

Thus, in this invention the objectives are achieved - increasing the efficiency of correction of the mutual position of the vertebrae, the efficiency of restoration of the intervertebral discs and ease of use.

A device for correction and treatment of the spine can be manufactured at enterprises producing medical equipment. A method and device for correcting and treating the spine can be applied in adult and children's clinics and hospitals, as well as in other medical and preventive institutions, sanatorium-resort institutions, institutions for the disabled, nursing homes, fitness centers, beauty and health centers, kindergartens, schools, universities, as well as at home.

Claims (3)

CLAIM 1. A method of correction and treatment of the spine, in which the patient is placed on a supporting surface supporting him, while the patient’s back is placed on the dorsal support with a profiled surface with lumbar support, and the patient’s head is placed on the headrest with support in the suboccipital region of the head, correction and treatment are performed the patient’s spine due to the stretching of the patient’s spine by moving the headrest relative to the dorsal support, characterized in that the stretching of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine the leg can be produced by placing the legs of the patient’s legs on the footboard, which is able to freely move relative to the dorsal support with a profiled surface with lumbar support, while the stretching of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine is corrected due to the smooth stepless change in the angle of the footrest when placing the patient on the back the support corrects spinal tension due to the stepless stepless regulation of the profiling of the spinal support with a profiled surface with lumbar support means of adjusting the height of the sag, which is made in the form of an adjusting bolt, tensioning the tape by means of the adjusting cross member, elements of the back support are installed on the tapes, each of the tapes forming a closed ring covering the cross members, which together with the sidewalls form the frame of the back support, correct tension cervical spine due to stepless stepless adjustment of the angle of inclination of the headrest. 2. A device for correcting and treating the spine for implementing the method according to claim 1, comprising a back support with a profiled surface with a lumbar support and a headrest with the ability to interact with the suboccipital region of the head, mounted to freely move along the inclined guides of the head restraint under the influence of the weight of the patient’s head, characterized in that the device further comprises a footboard installed with the possibility of free movement along the inclined guides of the footboard, and the inclined side the curling steps have means for infinitely steplessly adjusting the angle of inclination of the footrest guides, the headrest having means for infinitely steplessly adjusting the position of the headrest relative to the inclined headrest guides, and the back support with a profiled surface with lumbar support has means for infinitely variable adjusting the height of the sag of the profiled surface under the patient’s weight, and adjusting the sag height of the profiled surface of the dorsal support is made in the form of reg of the alignment bolt, tensioning the tapes by means of the adjusting cross member, the back support elements are installed on the tapes, each of the tapes forming a closed ring covering the cross members, which together with the sidewalls form the back support frame. 3. The device for correction and treatment of the spine according to claim 2, characterized in that the means of stepless stepless adjustment of the position relative to the inclined guides of the head restraint is made in the form of adjusting bolts and nuts, providing movement of the head restraint, on which the patient’s head is located, relative to the base of the head restraint.