Therapeutic apparatus and method

Claim 3

A therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head within said first chamber, sealing means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, said sealing means being effective to sealingly engage the patient''s head in a manner defining a band-like path passing about the forehead of the patient''s head and extending therefrom and about the sides and rear of the patient''s head, means for variably providing a pressure differential across said sealing means when said patient''s head is in sealing engagement with said sealing means, and additional means sensitive to travel of the patient''s head in a direction more inwardly of said first chamber, said additional means being effective when said patient''s head has moved inwardly past a preselected relativE position to increase the magnitude of the pressure within said first chamber and thereby limit the magnitude of said pressure differential across said sealing means.

Claim 4

A therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head within said first chamber, sealing means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, said sealing means being effective to sealingly engage the patient''s head in a manner defining a band-like path passing about the forehead of the patient''s head and extending therefrom and about the sides and rear of the patient''s head, means for variably providing a pressure differential across said sealing means when said patient''s head is in sealing engagement with said sealing means, and additional means sensitive to travel of the patient''s head in a direction more inwardly of said first chamber, said additional means being effective when said patient''s head has moved inwardly past a preselected relativE position to increase the magnitude of the pressure within said first chamber and thereby limit the magnitude of said pressure differential across said sealing means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2, and further comprising a base, means for supporting the patient, and means operatively connected to said housing for adjusting the position of said housing relative to said patient support means, and thus to the patient''s head.

Claim 6

Apparatus such as that recited in claim 3, wherein said patient supporting means comprises a platform connected to said base so as to be tiltable from a more nearly horizontal position to an inclined position.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2, and further comprising additionally means forming a second variable-volume vacuum chamber communicating with said housing.

Claim 8

Apparatus such as that recited in claim 2, wherein means is provided for controlling the pressure in said first chamber.

Claim 9

Apparatus such as that recited in claim 6, wherein said pressure control means includes means for at times bleeding said pressure.

Claim 10

Apparatus such as that recited in claim 6, wherein said pressure control means is constructed to control said pressure automatically under certain conditions of operation of said apparatus.

Claim 11

Apparatus such as that recited in claim 8, wherein said automatic control is constructed so as to be operative when said pressure reaches a predetermined value.

Claim 12

Apparatus such as that recited in claim 8, wherein said automatic control is constructed so as to be operative in response to a physical act of the patient.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sealing means comprises a hollow, inflatable, elastomeric torus, said apparatus including means for controllably inflating said torus.

Claim 14

A therapeutic apparatus for tractor therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head, means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, means for variably providing a pressure differential across said seal, a base, means for supporting the patient, adjusting means operatively connected to said housing for adjusting the position of said housing relative to said patient support means and thus to the patient''s head, said adjusting means comprising a fluid piston having a member fixed thereto and extending laterally therefrom, continuous resilient compressible wall means sealably secured to said member and to the side of said housing opposite said opening thereby providing a variable volume second sealed chamber, and means for communicating said second chamber with said first chamber.

Claim 15

A therapeutic apparatus for tractor therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head, means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, means for variably providing a pressure differential across said seal, a base, means for supporting the patient, adjusting means operatively connected to said housing for adjusting the position of said housing relative to said patient support means and thus to the patient''s head, said adjusting means comprising a fluid piston having a member fixed thereto and extending laterally therefrom, continuous resilient compressible wall means sealably secured to said member and to the side of said housing opposite said opening thereby providing a variable volume second sealed chamber, and means for communicating said second chamber with said first chamber.

Claim 16

Apparatus such as that recited in claim 12, wherein said means for providing said pressure differential comprises a vacuum pump, and conduit means connecting said pump to one of said chambers.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13, and further comprising means for controlling the pressure in said first chamber, said means for controlling the pressure in said first chamber comprises means for controlling the maximum vacuum produced by said pump.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said pump comprises a pump exhaust passage, and wherein said means for controlling maximum pump vacuum comprises means for varying the back pressure in said pump exhaust passage.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means for varying said back pressure comprises a constrictable elastomeric sleeve disposed in said exhaust passage, and variable fluid pressure supply means for applying external pressure on said sleeve to constrict said sleeve to a degree determined by the magnitude of said fluid pressure.

Claim 20

A therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head, means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, means for variably providing a pressure differEntial across said seal, a base, means for supporting the patient, and adjusting means operatively connected to said housing for adjusting the position of said housing relative to said patient support means and thus to the patient''s head, said patient support means comprising a platform supported on said base by means providing a sealed compressible control chamber of which said platform forms the upper wall, whereby the volume of said control chamber varies inversely with the patient''s weight on said platform and the pressure in said control chamber varies directly with the patient''s weight on said platform.

Claim 21

A therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head, means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, means for variably providing a pressure differEntial across said seal, a base, means for supporting the patient, and adjusting means operatively connected to said housing for adjusting the position of said housing relative to said patient support means and thus to the patient''s head, said patient support means comprising a platform supported on said base by means providing a sealed compressible control chamber of which said platform forms the upper wall, whereby the volume of said control chamber varies inversely with the patient''s weight on said platform and the pressure in said control chamber varies directly with the patient''s weight on said platform.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for providing said pressure differential comprises a vacuum system including a vacuum pump connected by a first main conduit so as to evacuate said first chamber, a second branch conduit connected between said vacuum system and atmosphere, said branch conduit including a valve controlled in response to the weight on said platform, said valve being closed when the patient''s full weight is on said platform and open to bleed said vacuum when the patient is suspended by his head off the platform to a predetermined degree.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said branch conduit communicates by a restricted passage with said control chamber and said vacuum bleed valve comprises an elastomeric sleeve sealably secured at its ends in said branch conduit with said restricted passage positioned intermediate said sealed ends of said sleeve, whereby increased pressure due to a decreased volume of said control chamber by the patient''s weight is transmitted through said restricted passage to constrict said sleeve and close said branch conduit.

Claim 24

A therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head, means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, means for variably providing a pressure differential across said seal, a base, means for supporting the patient, adjusting means operatively connected to said housing for adjusting the position of said housing relative to said patient support means, and thus to the patient''s head, said patient supporting means comprising a platform connected to said base so as to be tiltable from a more nearly horizontal position to an inclined position, and said platform comprising a frame on which the patient can lie, said frame being freely slidable on said platform toward said first chamber.

Claim 25

A therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, comprising a housing forming a first chamber having an opening to receive the upper portion of the patient''s head, means for providing a seal between the patient''s head and said housing, means for variably providing a pressure differential across said seal, a base, means for supporting the patient, adjusting means operatively connected to said housing for adjusting the position of said housing relative to said patient support means, and thus to the patient''s head, said patient supporting means comprising a platform connected to said base so as to be tiltable from a more nearly horizontal position to an inclined position, and said platform comprising a frame on which the patient can lie, said frame being freely slidable on said platform toward said first chamber.

Claim 26

Therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, said apparatus comprising a base, a platform tiltable on said base, means for tilting said platform, a patient support frame freely moveable lengthwise on said platform, means for adjusting the free position of said frame on said platform, housing means tiltable with said platform formed to provide a vacuum chamber, said housing having an opening for receiving therein a portion of the patient''s head when the patient is reclined on said frame, means for providing a pneumatic seal between said housing and the patient''s head, means for adjusting said housing with respect to said platform and means for evacuating said chamber.

Claim 27

Therapeutic apparatus for traction therapy of a human patient, said apparatus comprising a base, a platform tiltable on said base, means for tilting said platform, a patient support frame freely moveable lengthwise on said platform, means for adjusting the free position of said frame on said platform, housing means tiltable with said platform formed to provide a vacuum chamber, said housing having an opening for receiving therein a portion of the patient''s head when the patient is reclined on said frame, means for providing a pneumatic seal between said housing and the patient''s head, means for adjusting said housing with respect to said platform and means for evacuating said chamber.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 21, and further comprising means for anchoring the lower extremities of a patient reclining upon said frame to said platform.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said housing is mounted so as to be movable in directions toward and away from said platform on and separately from said housing adjusting means.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 23, and further comprising means for varying the rate of decrease of volume of said second vacuum chamber.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 23, and further comprising means forming a second variable volume vacuum chamber having a movable common wall with said housing whereby evacuation of said second vacuum chamber casues said common wall and thus said Housing to move away from said platform thereby applying a traction force to the patient.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said last named means is a variable inflatable wall of said second chamber.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 21, and further comprising means provided for at times automatically bleeding said vacuum in said housing.