Therapeutic device

Claim 2

A therapeutic device for applying generally radial and/or axial force components to selective portions of an animate body comprising, a generally open, yokelike frame, abutment means disposed adjacent opposed ends of said frame, resilient means coacting with one of said abutment means to maintain said abutment means in predetermined pressure engagement with the portions of said body, a selectively adjustable means operably coacting with said frame and with one of said abutment means for adjusting the pressure applied by said abutment means, traction means coaCting with said frame to apply a traction force to the portions of said body through said abutment means, said abutment means including a first pin assembly mounted on and adapted for relative axial movement with respect to said frame, and a second pin assembly mounted on and adapted for selective adjustable movement with respect to said frame, and said resilient means being in the form of a leaf spring connected at one end to said frame and at its opposite end adapted to receive said first pin assembly for maintaining a pressure engagement with the portions of said body.

Claim 3

A therapeutic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said pin assemblies includes pin members projecting inwardly from said frame in a general direction toward one another.

Claim 4

A therapeutic device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pin member of said normally moveable pin assembly is operably connected to one end of said leaf spring, and said leaf spring coacts with said frame to normally urge said pin member inwardly in a direction toward said other pin member.

Claim 5

A therapeutic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first pin assembly being normally moveable with respect to said frame, and said second pin assembly being normally adjustably fixed with respect to said frame.

Claim 6

Therapeutic device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the pin member of said normally adjustably fixed pin assembly is selectively adjustable with respect to the pin member of said normally movable pin assembly to regulate the transverse distance between said pin assemblies to control pressure applied by said pin members to said body.

Claim 7

A therapeutic device in accordance with claim 1, including calibration means operably associated with one of said pin assemblies and said frame for automatically regulating the pressure exerted by said pin assemblies upon actuation of the other of said pin assemblies.

Claim 8

A therapeutic device for applying an axial traction force to the lengthwise dimension of the body of a patient to straighten strained muscles and/or maintain injured vertebrae in generally immobile, aligned relation comprising, a unitary, generally open yokelike frame adapted to be fitted about and supported on the cranial portion of a patient''s head, abutment means disposed adjacent the opposed sides of said frame adapted for engagement with the opposed sides of the head of the patient, traction means connected to said frame to apply a generally axial traction force to said muscles and/or said vertebrae through said abutment means upon application of pressure to said traction means, said abutment means including a first pin assembly adapted for engagement with one side of the patient''s head and a second pin assembly adapted for engagement with the opposite side of the patient''s head, said first pin assembly including an elongated pin member having a sharp end point for biting securement with the patient''s skull disposed through an aperture in said frame and having an integral flange disposed inwardly of said end point being normally moveable in an axial direction with respect to said frame, said second pin assembly including an elongated pin member being normally threadably fixed with respect to said frame, said pin members both projecting inwardly from said frame in a general direction toward one another for engagement with the cranial portion of the head of the patient, a resilient spring member operably disposed around the pin member of said first pin assembly and in biasing relation between said frame and said flange for urging its respective pin member in a direction toward said other pin member to maintain pressured engagement with the head of the patient, and the pin member of said second pin assembly being selectively adjustable for movement in a direction toward said other pin member for regulating the transverse distance therebetween both of said pin members to apply a predetermined pressure oN the patient''s head when applying a traction force to said device.

Claim 9

A therapeutic device for applying an axial traction force to the lengthwise dimension of the body of a patient to straighten strained muscles and/or maintain injured vertebrae in generally immobile, aligned relation comprising, a unitary, generally open yokelike frame adapted to be fitted about and supported on the cranial portion of a patient''s head, abutment means disposed adjacent the opposed sides of said frame adapted for engagement with the opposed sides of the head of the patient, traction means connected to said frame to apply a generally axial traction force to said muscles and/or said vertebrae through said abutment means upon application of pressure to said traction means, said abutment means including a first pin assembly adapted for engagement with one side of the patient''s head and a second pin assembly adapted for engagement with the opposite side of the patient''s head, said first pin assembly including an elongated pin member having a sharp end point for biting securement with the patient''s skull disposed through an aperture in said frame and having an integral flange disposed inwardly of said end point being normally moveable in an axial direction with respect to said frame, said second pin assembly including an elongated pin member being normally threadably fixed with respect to said frame, said pin members both projecting inwardly from said frame in a general direction toward one another for engagement with the cranial portion of the head of the patient, a resilient spring member operably disposed around the pin member of said first pin assembly and in biasing relation between said frame and said flange for urging its respective pin member in a direction toward said other pin member to maintain pressured engagement with the head of the patient, and the pin member of said second pin assembly being selectively adjustable for movement in a direction toward said other pin member for regulating the transverse distance therebetween both of said pin members to apply a predetermined pressure oN the patient''s head when applying a traction force to said device.