US3669102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthopedic traction apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-06-09
•
Granted: 1972-06-13
•
Expires: 1989-06-09
Abstract
Abstract Traction apparatus for externally splinting the cervical spine to effect fixation thereof. The apparatus is characterized by providing adjustment of the height, tilt, rotation and anterior and posterior position of the patient''s head while affording no or only minor inconvenience during anterior or posterior surgical procedures while the traction apparatus is in position on a patient. The traction apparatus includes a skull-gripping mechanism adapted to grip a patient''s skull and thereby be fixedly related thereto, a platform or device supporting the skull-gripping mechanism and being inter-connected therewith so as to positively locate one with respect to the other and prevent relative translational and rotational displacements thereof, a plurality of struts interconnecting the platform and a body jacket positioned about a patient, and means for adjusting the lengths of the struts so as to select the magnitude of the tensile stress imparted through the platform and skull-gripping mechanism to the cervical spine of a patient equipped with such body jacket and having such mechanism secured to his skull.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman M Harris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/04; A61F5/05; A61F5/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
In traction apparatus for externally splinting the cervical spine to effect fixation thereof, skull-gripping mechanism having a large skull-receiving opening and being equipped at a plurality of angularly spaced locations with adjustable skull engaging members adapted to be moved into and held in respectively adjacent areas of a skull positioned within said opening to grip such skull and thereby fixedly relate the same to said mechanism, a device supporting said mechanism for angular displacement relative thereto about an axis extending through said opening generally along the cervical spine of a patient having his skull therewithin, structure interlocking said mechanism and device so as to prevent relative translational displacements therebetween along such axis, a foundation member adapted to be supported by the patient''s torso, a plurality of struts each adapted to be supported at one end portion thereof on said foundation member and at its other end portion being adapted to be connected to said device, certain of said struts being located for disposition on the front side of the patient''s torso and certain other of said struts being located for disposition on the rear side thereof, means for adjusting the length of at least certain of said struts so as to select the tensile stress imparted thereby through said device, mechanism and skull engaging members to the cervical spine of a patient equipped with such foundation member and having the skull attached to said mechanism by means of said skull engaging members, said mechanism being supported by said device for angular adjustments along the arc of a circle generally circujacent said skull-receiving opening, and means for locking said mechanism to said device when in adjusted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
In traction apparatus for externally splinting the cervical spine to effect fixation thereof, skull-gripping mechanism having a large skull-receiving opening and being equipped at a plurality of angularly spaced locations with adjustable skull engaging members adapted to be moved into and held in respectively adjacent areas of a skull positioned within said opening to grip such skull and thereby fixedly relate the same to said mechanism, a device supporting said mechanism for angular displacement relative thereto about an axis extending through said opening generally along the cervical spine of a patient having his skull therewithin, structure interlocking said mechanism and device so as to prevent relative translational displacements therebetween along such axis, a foundation member adapted to be supported by the patient''s torso, a plurality of struts each adapted to be supported at one end portion thereof on said foundation member and at its other end portion being adapted to be connected to said device, certain of said struts being located for disposition on the front side of the patient''s torso and certain other of said struts being located for disposition on the rear side thereof, means for adjusting the length of at least certain of said struts so as to select the tensile stress imparted thereby through said device, mechanism and skull engaging members to the cervical spine of a patient equipped with such foundation member and having the skull attached to said mechanism by means of said skull engaging members, said mechanism being supported by said device for angular adjustments along the arc of a circle generally circujacent said skull-receiving opening, and means for locking said mechanism to said device when in adjusted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The traction apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said struts is equipped with means including a universal joint enabling the struts to be angularly adjusted relative to said device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The traction apparatus of claim 1 in which the device and mechanism are in substantially the same plane oriented at right angles to the axis of the skull receiving opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The traction apparatus of claim 1 in which the skull gripping mechanism is mounted on the upper side of said device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
255 words
In traction apparatus for externally splinting the cervical spine to effect fixation thereof, skull-gripping mechanism having a large skull-receiving opening and including attachment structure providing a plurality of apertures at angularly spaced locations about said opening, at least certain of said apertures being equipped with adjustable skull engaging members adapted to be moved into and held in respectively adjacent areas of a skull positioned within said opening to grip such skull and thereby fixedly relate the same to said mechanism, a device supporting said mechanism for angular displacement relative thereto about an axis extending through said opening generally along the cervical spine of a patient having his skull therewithin, structure interlocking said mechanism and device so as to prevent relatiVe translational displacements therebetween along such axis, a foundation member adapted to be supported by the patient''s torso, a plurality of struts adapted to be supported at one end portion thereof on said foundation member and at their other end portion connected to said device, means for adjusting the length of at least certain of said struts so as to select the tensile stress imparted thereby through said device, mechanism and skull engaging members to the cervical spine of a patient equipped with such foundation member and having the skull attached to said mechanism by means of said skull engaging members, said skull-receiving opening being supported by said device for angular adjustment along the arc of a circle generally circumjacent said skull-receiving opening, and means for locking said mechanism to said device when in adjusted position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
255 words
In traction apparatus for externally splinting the cervical spine to effect fixation thereof, skull-gripping mechanism having a large skull-receiving opening and including attachment structure providing a plurality of apertures at angularly spaced locations about said opening, at least certain of said apertures being equipped with adjustable skull engaging members adapted to be moved into and held in respectively adjacent areas of a skull positioned within said opening to grip such skull and thereby fixedly relate the same to said mechanism, a device supporting said mechanism for angular displacement relative thereto about an axis extending through said opening generally along the cervical spine of a patient having his skull therewithin, structure interlocking said mechanism and device so as to prevent relatiVe translational displacements therebetween along such axis, a foundation member adapted to be supported by the patient''s torso, a plurality of struts adapted to be supported at one end portion thereof on said foundation member and at their other end portion connected to said device, means for adjusting the length of at least certain of said struts so as to select the tensile stress imparted thereby through said device, mechanism and skull engaging members to the cervical spine of a patient equipped with such foundation member and having the skull attached to said mechanism by means of said skull engaging members, said skull-receiving opening being supported by said device for angular adjustment along the arc of a circle generally circumjacent said skull-receiving opening, and means for locking said mechanism to said device when in adjusted position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |