GB1326201A - Therapeutic tables - Google Patents

Abstract

1326201 Traction tables UNIVERSAL MEDICAL RESEARCH Inc 24 July 1970 [24 July 1969] 35958/70 Heading A5R [Also in Division H2] A spinal-traction table comprises a surface for supporting a patient in a supine position, rails extending longitudinally under said surface and supporting carriages 36, 37, and preferably also a carriage 38, Fig. 3, reciprocable therealong, means 23 for connecting carriage 36 to the patient's head and means 24 for connecting carriage 37 to his feet, means for imparting movement to carriages 36, 37 to apply traction, and each carriage 36, 37 carrying means for reacting to the traction forces applied to stop the respective carriage when a predetermined force is attained. Pairs of spaced rollers 137 are provided on carriage 38 for massaging the patient's back. Carriages 36 and 37 are substantially identical, carriage 37, for example, comprising an arbor 52, Fig. 5, rotatable by a reversible motor unit 61, Fig. 3, and engaging a cord 53 having its ends secured to fixed points on the table so that rotation of arbor 52 causes movement of carriage 37. The cord 53 also passes over pulleys 55, 57 in a lever 72 pivotally mounted on carriage 37 by a shaft 71 and urged by springs to rotate clockwise as seen in Fig. 5. Operation of motor unit 61 to apply traction causes lever 72 to rotate anticlockwise when the patient's body begins to resist motion of the carriage until a plunger on a first limit-switch on lever 72 is actuated by contact with a first abutment on carriage 37 to stop motor unit 61. The first abutment comprises an eccentric cam rotatable by a reversible motor which also adjusts a potentiometer connected to a panel meter calibrated in pound of traction applied, adjustment of the cam adjusting the traction force applled. A second limit-switch on lever 72 engages a second abutment to limit movement of carriage 37 in the direction to relieve tracttion. A solenoid-operated brake-band acts to hold the carriage in position when the motor unit is stopped. One or both carriages 36, 37 may be controlled alternatingly to apply and relieve traction or to hold the applied traction for a preset time. The carriage 38, Fig. 8, is oscillated to and fro by a motor-drive arbor 126 and a cord 129 in a similar manner to carriages 36, 37, the extent of movement being determined by adjustable stops which change over a reversing switch for the motor of arbor 126, which switch is carried on carriage 38. The rollers 137 are supported on a cradle 133 pivotally mounted on the carriage 38, cradle 133 be moved vertically by means of a motor unit 149 driving a shaft 146 to which is secured an arm 142, pivoted to a resiliently telescopic member 141, 143 pivoted to cradle 133. Shaft 146 is connected to a potentiometer coupled to a panel meter calibrated in terms of the pressure applied to the patient's back by rollers 137. An unbalanced vibrator motor 231 is mounted on carriage 38. The table includes a flexible top-covering below the patient and above the carriages and rollers 137. A controlled heater may be located below the covering.