FR2570274A1 - Apparatus for relaxation, intervertebral extension, lymphatic drainage and modifying the gravitational resistance to the circulation of blood - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises an inclinable plane 6 on which the subject lies, pivoting around an axis 4, 5 resting on a stand 1 and fitted with a lifting means constituted by an articulated hydraulic jack disposed beneath the said inclinable plane, controlled by an incorporated hydraulic pump 10 which is manoeuvered manually by a lever 8, the rod 12 of the jack being designed to hydraulically lock at any position on its travel, via an attached means for automatic control of the hydraulic circuit for returning the fluid to the reservoir not under pressure. A foot clamp unit 15 fitted with tubes 16, 17 covered with a material 18 which ensures comfort, holds the feet of the subject during use of the apparatus.

Description

 The present invention relates to reluxation devices, intervertebral elongation, lymphotic drainage and modification of gravitational resistance to blood circulation.

 We already know such devices, using the body's own weight to determine a progressive elongation of the spine by decompressing the intervertebral spaces and described in French patents No. 1602919, 2211856, 2324283 and American patent No. 3716230.

 These devices are generally difficult to handle and some are even potentially dangerous for the user. They use, in fact, the integral action of gravity, gifts of the cases where a simple fraction of it would be more than sufficient. It is generally difficult to obtain the locking of the apparatus in a determined position and, even when there is a possibility of adjustment, this acts in a simply discontinuous manner.

 There are also traction devices but, in general, the patient does not have the possibility of measuring the force exerted himself.

 The object of the apparatus according to the invention is to overcome these drawbacks.

 According to a first embodiment, the device comprises a tilting plane on which the subject stretches. This plon is articulated around an axis integral with a base and moved by a lifting means constituted by an articulated hydraulic cylinder, controlled by an incorporated hydraulic pump, operated manually by a lever and the rod of which is intended to lock hydraulically at any point in the race by means of an auxiliary means for controlling the hydraulic circuit for returning the fluid to the reservoir.

 According to a second embodiment of the invention, the lifting means is a jack comprising a quadruple of bevel gears driving a screw-nut assembly, mounted on telescopic tubes.

The advantages presented by the apparatus according to the invention are as follows:
- The device achieves, by progressive stretching, the decompression of the intervertebral discs.

 - It is very easy to maneuver - pure pumping, by means of a single multifunctional lever, ensuring at the same time the rise, the descent and the blocking in any position of the race.

 - Any risk of trauma is completely eliminated because - the user regulates himself, at will, the operating force always quite low.

 - It presents absolute security, no risk of inadvertent tilting of the base.

 - The rise takes place in a fairly slow way, which allows the blood circulation to adapt to the change of orientation compared to the horizontal starting position.

 - The descent, although a little faster, takes place regularly and without any brutality.

The invention is described in detail in the following text, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and in which
- Figs. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an apparatus, the lifting means of which is a hydraulic cylinder;
- Fig. 3 shows an example of a hydraulic diagram of the control of the lifting cylinder of FIG. 1-;
- Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the detail of an annex means for controlling the locking valves of the rod of the jack;
- Figs. 9 and 10 show a variant of apparatus according to the invention, equipped with a lifting means with a gear system and screw-nut.

 Figs. 1 and 2 show, seen in elevation and from the side, an example of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. It has a base (t) comprising two lateral crosspieces (2, 3) provided with articulations (4, 5) around which pivots a plate called tilting plane (6), shown in inclined position (7) in phantom.

 Said tilting plane (6) is moved by means of a lever (8) acting on a lifting means constituted by a hydraulic cylinder (9) comprising, at its lower end, a hydraulic pump (10) articulated on integral bearings of the base and supporting a shaft (11) on which the operating lever (8) is wedged. The rod (12) of the jack (9) is articulated in (13) in a yoke under the said tilting plane (6J, which rests, at rest, on gossip (14) of the base (1). tilting (6) will be described later.

 To allow the user to be kept on the table, there is provided, fixed on the "high" part of said tilting plane (6), a footrest (15) constituted by a block support two tubes (16, 17) covered with an envelope (18) of foam, felt or any other material ensuring sufficient comfort for the maintenance of the feet. The block (15) is fixed to a hinge (19) articulated at (20) at the bottom of said tilting plon (6), so that it can be retracted after use and kept below, as shown in mixed lines, for example by means of a ferrite (20) cooperating with a soft iron plate (21).

 To take account of the different sizes of users, the position of the toe clip can be made adjustable, for example by means of a slide provided with notches or holes in which a complementary positioning piece secured to the block (15) is engaged. .

 To allow action on the cervical spine, provision has been made, in place of the toe block (15), for attaching a chin rest. This chin strap could also be hung directly on the foot strap (15).

 Figs. 3 to 8 show the control mode of the lifting cylinder of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

 In Fig. 3, there is shown a simplified example of a hydraulic diagram for controlling the jack (V) by means of a hydraulic pressure supplied by a hydraulic pump (P) operated monumental by means of a lever (8). When the lever (8) is operated according to the stroke from O to 1, Fig.

5, the non-return valves (C2) and (C3) open.

 For the descent of the tilting plane (6) under the action of the weight (Q) of the user, the controlled valves (C4, C5) are opened by means of a cam control means (CA1, CA2 ), Fig. 4, wedged on a shaft (11) supported by bearings (25, 26) integral with the base (1). An eccentric (27), also integral with the shaft (11), acts on a roller (28) mounted in a yoke on a rod (29) integral with the piston (30) of the pump (31), the said rod (29 ) being returned by a compression spring (32) to moint the roller (28) in contact with the eccentric (27).

 In Fig. 6, an exemplary embodiment of the controlled non-return valves (C4, cs) has been shown, constituted by a cylinder (34j in which a p-piston (35) moves, under the action of a pusher (36) maintained in contact with a cam (CAl, CA2) by means of a compression spring (37).

 The profile of the cams (CA1, CA2) for controlling the valves (C4) and (C5) is identical; it is shown in FIG. 7.

The rest position of the lever (8) corresponds to the cylindrical part (38) of the cam. When the lever (8) moves to position 1, the pump (P) delivers a displacement in the chamber (40) of the jack; the non-return valve (C2) opens and lets flow from the differential chamber (41) of the jack, a volume equal to that of the displacement of the pump introduced into the chamber (40). The non-return valves (C1, C2, C3) act normally.

 If we stop, in any position, the rise of the tilting plane, under the action of the weight (Q) the valve (C3) is closed, as well as the valve (C2), and the cylinder rod is immobilized, so his position, in a very safe way.

 To carry out the descent maneuver, it suffices to pull the lever (8) from position 0 to position O. This has the effect of rotating the lobe (39) of the cams (CA1, CA2) which move the pushers (36). servo valves (C4) and (C5) whose piston (35) unmasks the orifices for passage of the fluid which flows slowly towards the reservoir (R), until the tilting plane (6) rests on its stops (14), Fig. î.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a variant of means of lifting the tilting plane on a lighter device than that of FIG. 1. It comprises a metal frame (54), pure example in welded tubes, provided with a joint (55) around which the tilting plane (42) pivots. Said lifting means (43), shown diagrammatically on a larger scale in FIG. 10, comprises two telescopic tubes (44, 45), articulated in yoke, on the one hand in (46) on the frame (54), and on the other hand in (47) under the tilting plane (42). It comprises a pair of bevel gears (48, 49), the gear (48) being integral with an operating crank (50) rotating in bearings of the tube (44), and the gear (49) being
Solid with a screw (si) cooperating with a nut (52) solid with the second tube (45) on which the tube (44) slides. When the user is in place on the tilting plunger t42), the feet engaged in the colerpieds, he turns the crank in the appropriate direction to operate the tilting plane (42). The. friction forces in the tubes and on the gears are such that the inclined position is maintained with sufficient security that it is necessary to use an additional blocking means.

Claims (6)

 1) Apparatus for relaxation, intervertebral elongotion, lymphatic drainage and modification of the gravitational resistance to the blood circulation, in which a tilting plane, on which the subject lengthens, is articulated around an axis resting on a base and equipped with a lifting means, characterized in that said means for lifting the tilting plane is an articulated hydraulic cylinder, placed under said tilting plane, controlled by an incorporated hydraulic pump, operated manually by a lever , and whose rod is designed to lock hydraulically at any place cie the race, for the intermediary of an annex means of slaving of the hydraulic circuit of return of the fluid to the tank without pressure.  2) Device according to 1, characterized in that the auxiliary means for controlling the hydraulic circuit comprises a first non-return valve (C5), located on the return circuit of said cylinder, and a second non-return valve (C4) arranged on the return circuit from the jack to the tank, cooperating with a means of servo-control of the said valves intended to open them simultaneously to allow the slow descent of the piston of the jack, when the tilting plane returns to the horizontal, (C2) and (C5) were closed during the ascent of said tilting plane.  3) Device according to 1, characterized in that the lifting means is a jack comprising a couple of bevel gears (48, 49), driving a screw-nut assembly, each mounted on a tube, the two tubes slide one in the other and being articulated i 'under one said tilting plon and the other at the base of the base.  4) Apparatus according to 1 characterized in that it comprises toe clips constituted by a block (15) articulated and retractable under said read tilt, and in that the feet of the user are held on each side of said block , between two fixed rods covered with a thickness of a sufficiently flexible and comfortable material.  5) Device according to 1 and 4, characterized in that the so-called toe clips are mounted adjustable in position, on an articulated slide allowing retraction.  6) Apparatus according to 1 and 3, characterized in that it includes a chin @ ière fixed in place of the wedges-pleds.