US2984238A - Adjustable head traction device - Google Patents

Description

y 6, 1961 H. B. AXTELL ETAL 2,984,238

ADJUSTABLE HEAD TRACTION DEVICE Filed June 24, 1957 Meow A'LQXEM INVENTORS.

United States Patent ADJUSTABLE HEAD TRACTION DEVICE Filed June 24, 1957, Ser. No. 667,487

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-75) This invention relates to a device for providing a stretching force to the human body by aid of a sling disposed beneath the lower jaw of the user.

Traction devices of this general character are now well-known. Traction treatment, utilizing a force to stretch the spinal column, especially the cervical region, is indicated to prevent permanent spinal injuries as a result of sudden snapping of the head. Such accidental sharp jolts are often encountered in automobile or train accidents, and may result in serious complications unless the patient is adequately treated.

The common neck traction devices now known, utilize quite complex harness elements, inclining pulleys, ropes, weights and springs, and some sort of a bracket to be anchored to a door, or a headboard, or the like.

It is one of the objects of this invention to improve, in general, such traction devices.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to utilize a traction device without requiring that a harness or support be applied to a bed, door or doorway; instead, it may be rendered operative by utilizing a chair or other seat, upon which the patient is seated; or it can be so arranged as to be strapped to the body of the patient.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device of this character that can be folded to form a compact package, and so easy to assemble and use that patients can and will use it more frequently for better results.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a simple method of cyclically varying the degree of tension applied to the cervical spine and muscles.

It is still another object of this invention to make it possible to adjust the force of tension in a simple manner.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device incorporating the invention, shown in use on a patient;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, showing the manner in which the traction force may be adjusted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the ties that may be utilized for anchoring the device to a chair or other seatproviding article, or that may be held in place by the weight of a patient on the ties; and

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Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, of a modified form of the device, in which belts or straps are used to hold the apparatus in place upon the body of a patient.

A patient 1 is shown as seated upon a seat 2, shown in this instance as having legs 3 and optionally a back 4. Other forms of seats may, of course, be utilized.

In order to provide traction, the head of the patient is shown as accommodated in a sling structure 5 suspended from a flexible element 6, such as a cord or strap. This flexible element at its upper end is afiixed to one end of an arm 7, in any one of a number of notches 7. This arm is pivoted in any desired manner, as by the aid of a pivot screw 8 to the top of an upright rod or column 9. This rod 9 may be solid or formed of hollow material, and in two sections joined by a coupling 10. In this way, the device can be taken apart for compact carrying. The notches 7 make it possible to adjust the degree of tension to be applied by the device. If desired, a spring scale 19 may be incorporated in element 6 for measuring the amount of traction in pounds exerted on the patients spine and muscles.

In order to form a support for the pivot 8, a cap structure 11 may be provided.

The lower end of the rod 9 is provided with a base 12 of rubber or the like, adapted to rest upon the seat 2, and thereby to support the column 9 upon the seat. Also joined to the bottom of the rod 9 are a plurality of straps 13. These straps 13 may be disposed upon the seat 2 so that the weight of the body of the patient 1 may serve to restrict movement of the rod 9 when desired. Alternatively, these straps 13 may be utilized to be tied around the back legs 3 so as to provide a restraint upon the movement of the rod 9.

In order to provide an upward tension along the element 6, use is made of a resilient member 14. This member 14 may be in the form of a rubber band or a. tension spring, or the like. Its upper end is appropriately anchored by the aid of a yoke 15 to the left-hand end of the pivoted arm 7, as by the aid of any one of the apertures 7a. The lower end of the resilient member 14, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with a hook member 16 formed of wire. This hook member carries a washer-like element 17. These two elements are joined by passing the hook member through an opening 18 in washer 17, eccentrically located with respect to the axis of the washer. This element 17 is shown as an apertured disk or washer, the central aperture being slightly larger than the diameter of the rod or pipe 9. Accordingly, when a tension is exerted by member 14 upon the element 17, there is a force cocking this disk or washer 17 to the gripping position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The force of member 14 is exerted via arm 7, upon the cord 6, and thence upon the sling 5.

If it is desired further to adjust the tension exerted by the member 14 and thereby to adjust the traction force, the element 17 is moved lengthwise along the rod 9, and then released.

In order cyclically to vary the force of the traction, the patient 1 may move cyclically by leaning forward and then back. The forward position is indicated by the phantom line of Fig. 1. When the patient 1 bends forward, he carries with him the rod 9 through the pull on element 6. The rod 9 bends or leans forward on its bottom end 12 as a pivot. The body of the user, however, upon bending forward, pivots on the hip bones near the center of seat 2. Since these two pivot pointsbottom of rod 9 and hip bones of userare spaced apart, the arc described by the top of column 9 as it leans forward, becomes lower, relative to the arc described by the .top of .sling.5 worn by vthenser as .heleans .forward. This relative change allows arm 7 to be pulled downward at its left-hand end opposite to user by the tension in resilient element 14, decreasing the effective length :of ;resilient element :14 and thus-.itstension. As the userleanslback again, .the reverse of this action takesplace andlthe tension is increased.

In the form of :the invention illustrated 'inFig. .5 a .beltpr strap .20, .carryinga socketZl, is used instead of the ties 13. The belt.20 can .be attached to any conwenient ;part of the body abovethe waist, including the the arm on one side of the pivotal mounting; means for applying a tension force on the sling, including a re silient member joined at one-end to the arm on the opposite side of the pivotal mounting from said head sling; and an apertured disk carried by the other end of the member and passing over .thecolumn, said member exerting a force on the disk such as to cock it with respect to the column :to form an adjustable anchor between the column and the member.

References Cited-in the 'fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,633,124 Yellin Mar. 31, 1953 2,714,885 Uhland Aug. 9, 1955 2,808,049 Graham Oct. 1, 1957 2,813,527 Cook Nov. 19, 1957 2,815,022 Krumm .Dec. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,783 France June 12, 1944

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