HARNESS NECK TRACTION

HARNAIS DE TRACTION DU COU

English Abstract

Harness Neck Traction device is a carry-on neck traction mechanism which
delivers
traction force to cervical spine by exerting forces into opposite directions;
on one end
onto the shoulders through the harness and on the opposite end onto the sub-
occipital
through the sub-occipital brace. The force is produced through use of nut and
bolt
mechanism. By turning the bolt one way the nut is forced upwards and thus
exerts
pressure on the sub-occipital brace producing traction force onto the neck.

Claims

Claims:
1. Neck Harness Traction device is manually operable and the only carry-on
neck
traction device that enables one to apply the traction force and treat neck
pain and
neuromuscular pain that has resulted from degenerative changes of the spine.
2. Harness Neck Traction device enables one to have neck stretched while
sitting or
standing; it means that while one has treatment and benefits of neck traction
one
can be relatively active and thus greatly extend the length of treatment time
and
increased the benefits of the traction force.
3. None to date neck traction devices have the capability to be carried on
shoulders
and deliver neck traction while one is reading, writing or typing, working in
the
kitchen, or plying piano for example but the Harness Neck Traction device
which
permits one to do all of the above activities while receiving the benefits of
the
traction force to the neck simultaneously.

Description

CA 02467787 2004-08-18
Gomizelj, Benjamin Application No.: 2,467,77
139 Eden Place Title: Harness Neck Traction
Burlington, Ontario
I3AItl~TESS hlECK Tl~rCTI~1~T
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a mechanism that will deliver mechanical traction force to a
person's neck who has been suffering with degenerative disc disease, "pinched
nerve",
cervical spinal joint inflammation, and spinal stenosis. This mechanical
traction device
differs from other cervical traction devices in its ability to be carried on
shoulders while
delivering traction enabling the person to be physically active.
Any other available neck traction device requires a person undergoing the
treatments to
be either seated or in lying position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The inventor is a physical therapist who has been treating neck-shoulder pain
syndrome for many years; mechanical neck traction devices have been of immense
value
as an adjunct to the treatment protocols when treating neck-shoulder pain.
On many occasions neck traction devices that are widely available on the
market
have been prescribed to patients to be used at home. All to date manufactured
mechanical
electrical or hydraulic neck traction devices require a person to either sit
in a chair or lie
down for the duration of the treatment. That is so because the traction force
exerted onto
the head comes from a electrical, mechanical or hydraulic source that is
attached to either
the traction bed or to the overhead console to which the traction source is
fastened. That
most times presents a problem and poor compliance of the patient; time is the
most
precious commodity we possess.
With this in mind I constructed a neck traction device that can be carried on
shoulder and thus used while one is doing simple house chores or even office
work. The
length of the traction treatment has tlhus been extended greatly. In the
clinical setting it is
usually applied for 15 to 20 minutes primarily because of the limitation of
the equipment
and time that patient has for each treatment.
Cervical traction is widely used to relieve the pain in the neck directly by
unloading the
degenerated and irritated cervical "facet joints" ~~hich are subject to
degeneration largely
due to cervical discs thinning. Cervical discs thinning or degenerative disc
disease, as it is
widely known, is a phenomenon that takes place in everyone as we age. The
degenerated
disc sometimes bulges out, compressing on neural structures of the spinal cord
or on the
exiting nerve roots. The traction force relieves pressure o~ the cervical
discs giving them
the opportunity to replenish the fluid. The degree and the onset of
degeneration vary from
person to person depending on genetics, gender, occupation, and injuries just
to name a
few factors.
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CA 02467787 2004-08-18
Indirectly the DDD (degenerative disc disease) and subsequent inflammation
(irritation)
of the facet joints of the cervical spine can produce irritation of the nerve
roots (usually
inflammatory in nature) which result in so called "referred pain" into the
shoulder, elbow
or wrist area.
The person is able to place the device on without anyone's assistance and has
complete control over the traction force. The device does not use under chin
harness
unlike some other home traction devices, and thus does not cause unnecessary
strain on
the TMJ (tempo-mandibular joint); common complaint when using home use over-
head
neck traction with the strap under the chin is the jaw joint pain.
DESCIZIBTION OF THE DEVICE
The core of the device is two metal tubes (picture #1) either round but better
yet
of a square profile, one fitting snuggly into the other.
The outside tube has a harness (picture #2) attached to it which is placed on
the back in
similar fashion as the knapsack. The inner tube is bent (picture #3) and
follows the
contour of the shoulders and neck. On its upper end it has a strap (picture
#4) that is used
to secure the device to the forehead, just below is the thermoplastic molded
brace (picture
#5) that snuggly fits to the sub-occipital area of the patient's neck-head
area.
The bottom part of the inner tube ha.s a nut (picture #6) affixed to it. The
screw (picture
#7) which is sitting in the inside of the outer tube pushes, when turned
(picture #8) with
the external force (rotation), the inner tube upwards, applying the traction
force to the
base of the head. The outer tube is by the same force forced downward thus
spreading the
same force to the shoulders through the shoulder harness. The amount of
traction force is
directly proportional to the number of turns of the screw in counter clock-
wise direction.
The device immobilizes the neck and head and prevents mobility into flexion
and
extension as well as rotation when delivering traction force to the neck;
however one is
able to walk around, sit and use hands and shoulders in a functional manner.
Page 2 of 2