Patent · US Expired

Therapeutic traction apparatus with monitoring circuit means

US4432356A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
20References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 5, 1980
Grant dateFeb 21, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 5, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61H2001/0233
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to statically or intermittently apply a traction force to the body of a patient for therapeutic purposes. The apparatus includes a novel control means for cyclically reversing the direction of rotation of the wind-up drum upon predetermined minimum and maximum forces being present in the tension cord, and wherein the actual tension in the cord is monitored by a control circuit which provides an electrical output which is linearly proportional to the tension. The output signal is fed to a comparator circuit, where it is compared with independently selectable signals representing minimum and maximum tension forces, to control the wind-up and wind-down of the cord on the drum. The tension monitoring control circuit, and the controls for selecting the minimum and maximum forces, each incorporate a transducer, and a monitoring circuit is provided for detecting the failure of any one of the transducers and thereby precluding the continued operation of the drum in the wind-up direction to a dangerous force level.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.