FR2758260A3 - Lumbar traction apparatus for treatment of chronic lumbar problems - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus consists of a tripod which is stabilised by three strips at its base and a star-shaped component at its tip, where it has a supporting assembly for a hook and upper and lower pulleys, and a ratchet locking mechanism for a cord passing round the pulleys. The lower pulley is connected to a cylindrical cushion which has buckles at its two ends for attaching the straps of a pelvic belt. The tripod is additionally equipped with a traction measuring instrument which can be situated on top of the tripod, between the star-shaped component and the upper pulley, or between the lower pulley and the cushion.

Description

FOLDABLE AND PORTABLE VERTEBRAL TRACTION DEVICE
LUMBAR
The present invention relates to a portable vertebral traction device for the lumbar region, using the force of gravity to do this.

 Traditionally mechanical and electrically powered, existing vertebral traction systems are installed by the clinician and require expensive and imposing equipment. They also exert a longitudinal force, in the body axis and thereby discard all the benefit of a vertical or oblique traction.

 The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks. In fact, according to a first characteristic, it includes a self-supporting aluminum tripod, supporting by a fastening hook a system of rope and pulleys, connected at the bottom to a cylindrical cushion on which the patient's legs will rest. The latter then has a pelvic girdle, attached laterally to the cylindrical cushion. Lying on the back, the pelvic strap adjusted on the front by two straps, the knees placed flat on the cylindrical cushion and the legs resting on it, the clinician by pulling on the rope will raise the pelvis and the lower limbs, this to a height before locking the system using the upper brake. The tripod has at its top a traction measuring device connected through the star piece to the pulleys.

According to particular embodiments
- the traction measuring device can be placed between the star piece and the pulleys.

 It can also be inserted between the cylindrical cushion and the lower pulleys.

 - the cylindrical cushion can support a double horizontal plate to support the legs and feet.

 - the pelvic strap may be narrower for lumbar support and positioning in lumbar extension.

 - the lateral straps of the strap can be graduated in cm for better precision of the patient's installation.

 - the pelvic strap can be reinforced laterally in its upper part for better grip at the iliac crest.

 - the rope-pulley system can be replaced by an electrically driven pulley connected to a battery or mains.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
- Figure 1 shows the traction unit as a whole, open
- Figure 2 shows it closed, for less bulk;
- Figure 3 shows the pelvic support laid flat and the cushion attachment system
- Figure 4 shows a variant of the measuring device, adding support for legs and feet adjusted on the cylindrical cushion.

 With reference to the drawing Fig. 1, the device comprises an aluminum tripod (1), stabilized at its base by three aluminum strips directed at the center of the tripod (2), and joined at its top by a star steel piece having in its inner face an element U-shaped (3); to which is connected by two hooks a metal piece framing the four central pulleys (4) driving the rope.

 Laterally, the device comprises a rope locking system (5), made of plastic and crescent-shaped, composed of a circular and toothed part allowing with its opposite element the jamming of the rope. The multiplied system of the rope passing through the four upper and lower pulleys ends in a piece of rope (6) on which the patient or practitioner will pull to raise the cushion assembly. The lower pulleys are framed by the same metal part (7), the two hooks being this time connected to the cylindrical cushion (8) by a reverse U-shaped element. This is reinforced in its central part by a metal axis in inverted T, which will serve as support for popliteal support. The foam cushion is covered with a removable fabric envelope to allow easy washing. On the lateral faces of the cushion, two straps terminated by loops (9) allow the attachment of the pelvic support with which the patient is provided, to the traction system. Finally, the upper part of the tripod has above the star piece a traction measurement scale (10), graduated in kilograms or on a scale from zero to ten, to allow easy measurement of the traction exerted. This balance will measure according to the force imparted by the cylindrical cushion assembly, lower limbs and pelvis, to the tension spring connecting the measuring frame to the attachment hook.

 Figure 2 shows the tripod closed at its base, the three lower strips folding inside, upwards, at the same time as the three feet meet. This closing system makes the device portable, compact and space-saving, therefore easy to move and store.

 Figure 3 shows the pelvic girdle (11) which the patient will need to have, which is laid flat. It is made of woven plastic, strapped to the front by two click clack plastic buckles (12), adjustable in length. At the back of the pelvic girdle, two thin straps (13) hang down and will attach to the loops of the cylindrical cushion.

 In FIG. (4), according to a variant, the traction measuring frame (10) will be located between the star part above (3) and the metal part provided with pulleys below (4).

 According to another variant not illustrated, this measuring frame can be inserted between the lower pulleys (7) and the cylindrical cushion (8). On the other hand, a leg support element (14) can be added to the cylindrical cushion; flat in shape, it ends on one side with a concave circular downward in order to follow the contour of the cylindrical cushion and thus rest on it, using the weight of the legs as a stabilizing element.

 By way of example, the tripod will have dimensions of the order of 111 cm in height, for a spacing base of 107 cm. Closed, the device will measure 125 cm in length.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended for chronic lumbar problems.

Claims (5)

 1. Device for performing lumbar traction, characterized in that it comprises a tripod (1) stabilized at its base by three strips (2) and at its top by a star element (3), the assembly supporting a hook continued by a set of upper (4) and lower (7) pulleys, a gear wheel locking system (5) for the rope (6) passing through the pulleys, this set of pulleys being connected at its lower part to a cylindrical cushion (8 ) terminated at its sides by two attachment loops (9), the top of the tripod supporting a traction measuring scale (10) connected in the star element to the hook, a pelvic strap (11) being adjusted on the front by loops (12), this strap containing at the upper part of the straps (13) which will be connected to the attachment loops (9) of the cushion.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the traction measuring device (10) is arranged between the star element (3) and the upper hook (4).  3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the traction measuring device (10) is arranged between the lower hook (3) and the cylindrical cushion (8).  4. Device according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cylindrical cushion (8) supports a plate (14) for the support of the legs divided in its horizontal part and winding around the cylindrical cushion (8), The whole supporting itself by the weight of the legs exerted on the platform.  5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pelvic strap (11) comprises posterior straps (13) marked from centimeter to centimeter to improve the precision of the assembly.