GB2103935A - Spinal support system - Google Patents

Abstract

A spinal support system comprises one or more inflatable pillows (2, 10, 16) which can be located between various regions of a user's spinal column and a fixed support member (26). Means (8, 32, 34, 36, 38) are provided to enable controlled continuous inflation and deflation of the or each pillow by a source of fluid under pressure whereby the continuous movement of the or each pillow results in gentle and controlled mobilisation of the spine, which, at the same time is held within the parameters of good posture. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spinal support system This invention relates to a system for supporting the human spinal column to prevent, reduce or relieve back pain.

The fully-developed human spinal column comprises a thoracic region below which is the lumbar region and above which is the cervical region. The latter two regions of the spinal column take the greatest strain during normal bodily activities, particularly in ali standing and sitting positions. Accordingly these are the regions of the spinal column which cause most problems, particularly by way of arthritic and allied conditions.

Many attempts have been made over the years to provide relief for the pain resulting from back problems, most of such attempts relying upon the provision of rigid, static supports for the back. In the case of chairs, the supports typically comprise shaped protruding padded areas on the backs of the chairs, the provision of a variable angle and/or a variable height to the sitting plafforms of the chairs, the provision of head restraints and so on.

When lying, it is usually recommended to do so on a hard, flat surface. The effect upon the spine as a whole of such supports is very dubious.

In the field of therapy, many varied approaches have been made. For example, spinal braces can be worn, disc material can be surgically removed, or the protruding disc can be absorbed by enzyme therapy. The range of therapy appears limitless, from acupuncture to faith healing. Back care is lacking in cohesion and is a conglomerate of manipulation, scalpel cuts, corsets or injections depending upon the patient's wishes and upon the patients advisors.

Prophylaxis or prevention, on the other hand, is hardly touched upon in modern medicine apart from the use of static supports and the teaching of lifting techniques to workers in heavy industry.

According to the present invention there is provided a system for supporting a spinal column, comprising at least one inflatable pillow adapted to be located between the spinal column, in particular the lumbar region thereof, and a fixed support member, a source of fluid under pressure for connection to said pillow, and means for controlling the supply of fluid from said source to the pillow whereby said pillow can be continuously inflated and deflated in a predetermined controlled manner.

It will thus be appreciated that the continuous movement of the pillow as it inflates and deflates whilst reacting between the fixed support member, typically the back of a chair, and the spinal column results in a gentle and controlled mobilisation of the spine whilst at the same time holding it within the parameters of good posture.

More than one such pillow may be provided, for example one for the cervical region of the spinal column and one for the lumbar region of said column, together with a pair of ischial-gluteal pillows one for under each buttock/thigh.

Conveniently the source of fluid under pressure comprises an air pump feeding to the pillows through air valves, one associated with each pillow. The control means for the pump and air valves may be electronic in nature and may be such as to enable, by appropriate switching, concurrent or consecutive inflation and deflation of the various pillows at the same or different rates to the same or different maximum pressures.

By way of examples only embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figs. 1 a, 1 b and 1 C illustrate cervical, lumbar and ischial/gluteal pillows according to the invention respectively; Fig. 2 shows the pillows of Fig. 1 in position on a user; Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show means for controlling inflation and deflation of pillows according to the invention, and Fig. 4 shows a lumbar pillow mounted on a belt for attachment to the body.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 a shows a cervical pillow 2 comprising an inflatable body portion 4 of a flexible, airtight material such as rubberised synthetic cloth the working surface of which is generally concave to receive thereon the neck of a user. The portion 4 of the pillow can be connected by way of a hose 6 to a source of fluid under pressure, typically an air pump 8 (Fig. 3b) in such a way that said portion 4 can be inflated and deflated at a controlled rate and to a predetermined maximum pressure.

Fig. 1 b shows a lumbar pillow 10 comprising an inflatable body portion 12 the material of which is the same as that of the cervical pillow and the working surface of which is of generally semicylindrical shape for engagement with the lumbar region of a spinal column. A hose 14 permits attachment of the pillow 10 to the pump 8.

The ischial/gluteal pillow referenced 1 6 in Fig.

1 C comprises a substantially wedge-shaped inflatable body portion 1 8 superimposed upon the rear region of which is a substantially annular portion 20 which may or may not be inflatable, a hose 22 extending from the portion 1 8 for attachment thereto of the pump 8. The annular portion 20 is shaped to receive thereon the buttock of the user with the body portion 1 8 under the thigh of said user.

Fig. 2 shows the pillows in use on a couch 24 with the user in a semi-recumbent position, although it is to be emphasised that said pillows can be used on virtually any conventional chair with the user in a generally upright sitting position.

However, referring to Fig. 2, the pillows 2, 10 are positioned on the inclined back 26 of the couch to support the neck region and lumbar region respectively of the user's spinal column, a pair of pillows 1 6 being positioned on the platform 28 of the couch, one under each buttock/thigh.

The pump 8 is actuated, said pump and its control mechanism being arranged to inflate gently the portions 4, 12, 18 of the pillows over a period of, typically. 40 seconds and then to deflate said portions over a similar period, this cycle of inflation and deflation continuing as required or desired. The timing of the inflation and deflation of the various pillows relative to one another is chosen to suit particular requirements.For example the lumbar pillow could be inflated and deflated in synchronism with alternate inflation and deflation of the two ischialigluteal pillows, or, alternatively, one ischial;gluteal pillow could be inflated, followed by inflation of the lumbar pillow and the other ischial;gluteal pillow, the first ischial/gluteal pillow then being deflated followed by deflation of the other two pillows. The latter arrangement would allow lateral as well as antro posterior movement of the spine. The cervical pillow could be introduced as and when necessary.

The gentle inflation and deflation of the various pillows provides kinetic support for the stressful regions of the spinal column whilst at the same time gently mobilising said regions thereby preventing slouching into positions causing stress to the body. It will be appreciated that the constant movement or manipulation of the spinal column is in direct contast to the established static supports and is such as to prevent the stiffness. swelling, ache or pain that can ensue after release of a joint from an extended period of immobility.

Fig. 3b shows air control means for the inflation and deflation of the pillows 10, 16, from which it can be seen that the pump 8, the speed of which can be controlled by a speed control 30, feeds to each pillow through a common pressure control device 32 and a series of air valves 34, 36, 38 for the pillow 10 and the two pillows 1 6 respectively, each air valve having a pressure release mechanism associated therewith. The pump 8 may be powered by, for example, a 6 volt or 12 volt car battery or by mains electricity as shown in Fig. 3a, a preferred pump supplying 3 to 5 litres of air per minute at 3 psi.

Fig. 3c is a schematic circuit diagram of the electronic frequency control means for the pump 8 and air valves 34, 36, 38 which is adjustable or switchable to enable: a variable rate of inflation/deflation by variation of the pump speed; a variable maximum pressure to the pillows by appropriate control of the device 32; a variable timing of the inflation/deflation cycles; variation in the sequence of inflation/deflation of the pillows by means of a switchable inflation logic.

In Fig. 3c, reference numerals 40, 42 and 44 indicate a square wave generator, a 7-stage binary divider and a logic select switch respectively, said switch having first and second positions 1, 2, while air valve solenoids are indicated at 46, 48 and 50 associated with the lumbar pillow 10, the first ischial/gluteal pillow 1 6 and the second ischial/gluteal pillow 1 6 respectively. In Fig. 3c X = +26 and Y 27.

Figs. 3d land ii show air valve logic tables for the switch 44 in positions 1 and 2 respectively in which tables: A lumbar pillow 10 B first ischial/gluteal pillow 1 6 C e second ischial/gluteal pillow 16 'I' inflation '0' deflation With the logic select switch 44 in position 1, the above described deflation of pillow 10 in synchronism with alternate inflation of the two pillows 1 6 occurs.

Position 2 of the logic select switch results in said inflation of the first pillow 1 6 followed by inflation of pillow 10 and the second pillow 16, then deflation of the first pillow 1 6 followed by deflation of pillow 10 and the second pillow 1 6.

The pillows 2, 10 may incorporate straps, studs or Velcro fastenings which enable them to be slipped over or otherwise secured to the back of a chair or the like to be retained in the correct position for appropriate support of a user's spinal column. Alternatively, the lumbar pillow 10 may be mounted on the outer surface of the rear extent of a flexible belt 40 as shown in Fig. 4 which can be strapped round the user's waist to locate the pillow 10 for reaction between the user and the back of a chair or the like. In the event of there being no counter-resistant surface present i.e.

no chair back - the belt 40 could be reversed so that the pillow reacts between the spinal column and the belt rather than between the belt and a fixed surface. Other modifications and variations from the above-described and illustrated arrangements will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Thus there is provided a system for alleviating static pain in the spinal column and which reduces or eliminates the need for active mobility in most static postural situations. The pillows can be maintained in the correct positions to support the spinal column no matter how the body might slump from a preferred sitting, recumbent or semirecumbent position. The system as a whole can be provided with sufficient variables to allow easy adjustment to accommodate every possible build of back/neck.

In use, the pillows of the invention support the stressful areas of the spine whilst providing continual mobility, enabling back pain to be alleviated no matter how poor the posture or the support.

As well as reacting against the spinal column, pillows as described could be used to mobilise and/or support other parts of the body such as the arms and legs.

Claims (8)

1. A system for supporting a spinal column comprising at least one inflatable pillow adapted to be located between the spinal column and a fixed support member, a source of fluid under pressure for connection to said pillow, and means for controlling the supply of fluid from said source to the pillow whereby said pillow can be continuously inflated and deflated in a predetermined controlled manner.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 and comprising an inflatable pillow for supporting the cervical region of the spinal column and an inflatable pillow for supporting the lumbar region of said column.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 together with a pair of inflatable ischial/gluteal pillows one for under each buttock/thigh.

4. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the source of fluid under pressure comprises an air pump feeding to the or each pillow through one or more air valves associated with said pillow(s).

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 in which electronic control means are provided for the pump and the air valves, said control means being switchable to provide concurrent or consecutive inflation and deflation of the pillows at the same or different rates to the same or different maximum pressures.

6. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which an inflatable pillow for supporting the lumbar region of the spinal column is mounted on a flexible belt for strapping round a user's waist.

7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the or each pillow is provided with releasable means for enabling attachment to the fixed support member.

8. A system for supporting a spinal column substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.