US4845987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cervical muscle exercising and testing apparatus
Assignee: WANAMAX VENTURES Inc A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1988-08-12
•
Granted: 1989-07-11
•
Expires: 2008-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are provided for exercising and/or testing the cervical muscles and nerves. The apparatus includes a seat, a shoulder stabilizing assembly, and an assembly for positioning a pressure transducer in proximity to the patient's head. The positioning assembly includes a ring which supports the transducer. The ring is pivotable about a pair of different axes to allow all cervical muscle groups to be tested. The transducer is movable radially within the ring and can be locked in position adjacent the head of the patient. The stabilizing assembly includes restraining members which are either rigid in construction, or in the form of belts, or a combination of belts and rigid parts. An exercise or testing program may be conducted by restraining the patient's shoulders while he applies pressure to the transducer with his head. In this manner, muscles outside the cervical groups will not be recruited during the exercise program or test.
Inventors
- 👤 F. Scott Kenneth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/22; A61B5/224; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S482/00; Y10S482/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for exercising or testing cervical muscles comprising: a transducer positioning member; a transducer positioning ring, said transducer positioning member being mounted to said transducer positioning ring; means for pivotably moving said transducer positioning ring about a first axis; and means for pivotably moving said transducer positioning ring about a second axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for exercising or testing cervical muscles comprising: a transducer positioning member; a transducer positioning ring, said transducer positioning member being mounted to said transducer positioning ring; means for pivotably moving said transducer positioning ring about a first axis; and means for pivotably moving said transducer positioning ring about a second axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for adjusting the vertical position of said transducer positioning ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first axis is substantially perpendicular to said second axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a pressure transducer mounted to said transducer positioning member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a plunger slidably mounted to said transducer positioning member and extending within said transducer positioning ring, said pressure transducer being secured to said plunger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a column, a support pivotably mounted to said column, said transducer positioning ring being pivotably mounted to said support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 including means for slidably mounting said support to said column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said support has a generally U-shaped configuration including a pair of opposing arms extending away from said column, said transducer positioning ring being positioned between said opposing arms and pivotably mounted thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 including a seat assembly mounted to said column.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 including a shoulder stabilizing assembly mounted to said column beneath said support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer positioning member is slidably mounted to said transducer positioning ring.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for exercising or testing cervical muscles comprising: a seat; means for stabilizing the shoulders of a person seated upon said seat, said stabilizing means including first restricting means for preventing either shoulder from moving up or down and second restricting means for preventing either shoulder from moving forward or backward; and means for mounting a pressure sensing transducer adjacent to the head of a person seated upon said seat.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for exercising or testing cervical muscles comprising: a seat; means for stabilizing the shoulders of a person seated upon said seat, said stabilizing means including first restricting means for preventing either shoulder from moving up or down and second restricting means for preventing either shoulder from moving forward or backward; and means for mounting a pressure sensing transducer adjacent to the head of a person seated upon said seat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 including a column, said seat, said stabilizing means and said mounting means being secured to said column.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said stabilizing means includes a pair of rods extending forwardly with respect to said column.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 including adjustment means for adjusting the vertical positions of said forwardly extending rods.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 including a downwardly projecting rod extending from each of said forwardly extending rods and a chest restraining member extending downwardly from each of said forwardly extending rods.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 16 including means for adjusting the distance between each of said respective downwardly projecting rods and said chest restraining members on each of said forwardly extending rods.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 including means for adjusting the lateral distance between each of said forwardly extending rods.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claims 12 wherein said mounting means includes a transducer positioning ring and a transducer positioning member mounted to said ring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said transducer positioning member is slidably mounted to said ring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 19 including means for pivotably moving said ring about a first axis and means for pivotably moving said ring about a second axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 19 including a pressure transducer mounted to said transducer positioning member, and means for moving said pressure transducer radially with respect to said ring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 including a pressure transducer mounted to said mounting means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said mounting means includes a transducer positioning ring, said pressure transducer being slidably mounted to said ring, and means for pivotably moving said transducer positioning ring about a first axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 24 including means for pivotably moving said transducer positioning ring about a second axis.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of determining the force exerted by a cervical muscle group comprising the steps of: seating a person; restricting the person's shoulders from moving up, down, forwardly or rearwardly; and positioning a pressure transducer adjacent the person's head, whereby the person's cervical muscles are substantially isolated from the other muscles of the person such that pressure exerted by the person against the pressure transducer is substantially entirely due to the contraction of a cervical muscle group.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of determining the force exerted by a cervical muscle group comprising the steps of: seating a person; restricting the person's shoulders from moving up, down, forwardly or rearwardly; and positioning a pressure transducer adjacent the person's head, whereby the person's cervical muscles are substantially isolated from the other muscles of the person such that pressure exerted by the person against the pressure transducer is substantially entirely due to the contraction of a cervical muscle group.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 26 wherein said person is seated such that his feet are suspended.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3752144A
Cited
US4161946A
Cited
US4337780A
Cited
US4702108A
Cited
US4732381A
Cited
US4732038A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |