Ambulatory spinal unloading method and apparatus

Abstract

An ambulatory spinal unloading method and apparatus are implemented by first defining a set of desired human characteristics and/or parameters and then implementing an ambulatory traction and cushioning apparatus structure based on the set of human characteristics/parameters to achieve a desired minimum level of residual cushioning, without restrictively binding any portion of a user's thorasic region, upon deactivating the biasing force applied to the associated apparatus tensioning and/or compression mechanism(s).

1 . A spinal unloading apparatus comprising: 
 a biased spinal unloading mechanism; and    an unbiased spinal unloading mechanism, wherein the unbiased spinal unloading mechanism is configured in combination with the biased spinal unloading mechanism, to provide a desired residual cushioning effect without restrictively binding any portion of a user's thorasic region, in the absence of a bias applied to the biased spinal unloading mechanism.    
   
   
       2 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the biased spinal unloading mechanism comprises at least one pressurized chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one pressurized chamber comprises a compressible solid, fluid or gas filled chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pressurized chamber further comprises at least one piston operational to bias the compressible solid, fluid or gas.  
   
   
       5 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one piston comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       6 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the unbiased spinal unloading mechanism comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       7 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one spring is constructed of material selected from the group consisting of metal, and elastomeric material.  
   
   
       8 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the unbiased spinal unloading mechanism comprises elastomeric material configured to provide a desired residual cushioning effect in the absence of a biasing force applied to the biased spinal unloading mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastomeric material is configured in response to a user's selected body characteristics.  
   
   
       10 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the selected body characteristics comprise at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of height, weight, percent of body fat, a plurality of desired circumferential measurements, relative location of any human anomaly of interest, period of time in traction, amount or percent of body weight to be subjected to spinal cushioning apparatus, and desired traction levels.  
   
   
       11 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the unbiased spinal unloading mechanism is further configured without trial and error testing to provide a desired residual cushioning effect in the absence of a bias applied to the biased spinal unloading mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . A spinal unloading apparatus comprising: 
 means for unloading a user's spine in response to a biasing force; and    means for providing a desired level of residual spinal unloading, without restrictively binding any portion of a user's thorasic region, in the absence of a biasing force applied to the biased spinal unloading mechanism.    
   
   
       13 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the means for unloading a user's spine in response to a biasing force comprises at least one pressurized chamber.  
   
   
       14 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one pressurized chamber comprises a compressible solid, fluid or gas filled chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one pressurized chamber further comprises means for biasing the compressible solid, fluid or gas.  
   
   
       16 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for biasing the compressible, solid, fluid comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       17 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing a desired level of residual spinal unloading comprises at least one spring.  
   
   
       18 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one spring is constructed of material selected from the group consisting of metal, and elastomeric material.  
   
   
       19 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing a desired level of residual spinal unloading comprises elastomeric material configured to provide a desired residual cushioning effect in the absence of a biasing force applied to the means for unloading a user's spine in response to a biasing force.  
   
   
       20 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the elastomeric material is configured in response to a user's selected body characteristics.  
   
   
       21 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the selected body characteristics comprise at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of height, weight, percent of body fat, a plurality of desired circumferential measurements, relative location of any human anomaly of interest, period of time in traction, amount or percent of body weight to be subjected to spinal cushioning apparatus, and desired traction levels.  
   
   
       22 . The spinal unloading apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the means for providing a desired level of residual spinal unloading in the absence of a biasing force applied to the biased spinal unloading mechanism, is further configured without trial and error testing, for an end user.  
   
   
       23 . A method of configuring a spinal unloading apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting at least one desired body characteristic;    configuring a biased spinal unloading mechanism to accommodate the at least one selected desired body characteristics; and    configuring an unbiased spinal unloading mechanism to accommodate the at least one selected desired body characteristic such that the unbiased spinal unloading mechanism provides a desired level of residual cushioning, without restrictively binding any portion of a user's thorasic region, in the absence of a bias applied to the biased spinal unloading mechanism.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the least one desired body characteristic is selected from the group consisting of height, weight, percent of body fat, a plurality of desired circumferential measurements, relative location of any human anomaly of interest, period of time in traction, amount or percent of body weight to be subjected to spinal unloading apparatus, and desired traction levels.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the step of configuring an unbiased spinal unloading mechanism is implemented without trial and error testing to accommodate the at least one selected desired body characteristic such that the unbiased spinal unloading mechanism provides a desired level of residual cushioning in the absence of a bias applied to the biased spinal unloading mechanism.