GB907133A - Table for treating patients with spinal complaints - Google Patents

Abstract

907,133. Spinal traction apparatus. RICKENBACH, O. July 6, 1961 [July 6, 1960], No. 24456/61. Class 81 (2). Spinal traction apparatus comprises an upper part 1, which may be raised and lowered relative to a lower part 2 and on which a trunk tilter 5 is pivotal, and a support 44 attached to the lower part which causes the trunk tilter to pivot to an inclined position when the upper part is lowered. A traction stirrup 6, on which a head rest 11, a shoulder rest 9, and a detachable trunk support 14 are mounted, is slidable on the trunk tilter 5 which is pivotal about an axle 6<SP>1</SP> secured to a top frame 24 of the upper part 1. A leg tilter 3 is pivotal about an axle 4 secured to the top frame. The top frame is supported by four vertical racks 25 which mesh with pinions (not shown) which are carried at each end of shafts 30. The shafts 30 are mounted one at each end of an intermediate frame 26. The lower part comprises a bottom frame 28 supported by castors 27 and has four upstanding racks 29 which also mesh with the pinions. The shafts and pinions are rotated by movement of a slide 34 in the intermediate frame 26, the slide being connected to chains 32 which pass over sprockets 31 on the shafts. The slide is secured to a cylinder 36 in which a piston which is rigidly secured to the intermediate frame is slidable. When oil under pressure is supplied to the cylinder by a pump 70, the cylinder and slide move to rotate the shafts and pinions and thus raise the upper racks and top frame of the upper part into working position. Discharge of oil from the cylinder permits the movement of these parts to be reversed by the weight of the upper part 1 so that the top frame and upper racks are lowered. The trunk tilter is connected by support members 43 to the lower frame so that as the top frame is raised the trunk tilter assumes a horizontal position and as the top frame is lowered into a position in which the patient may easily mount the device the trunk tilter assumes an inclined position. For applying traction to the spine or the neck when the upper part is in raised position, the patient is secured to the traction stirrup by either a belt 16 attached to the trunk support 14 or a head harness 19. A tang 53 on the traction stirrup is then engaged with one of several tangs 52 on a traction slide 46 which is slidable in the upper frame 24. On supplying oil under pressure from the pump 70 through a fixed piston-rod (Fig. 4, not shown), to the piston cylinder (Fig. 4, not shown) on which the traction slide is mounted, the slide is moved to apply traction to the patient. A weight 55 connected to the slide 46 returns the slide to inoperative position when the cylinder is discharged. Oil is supplied to and discharged from the cylinders under the control of members 62, 63, 64 mounted in a control desk 61 at one side of the apparatus. A manual switch 68 enables the patient to cut off the traction if he desires.