Cervical Traction Carriage Track for Fast Tension Angle Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cervical traction assemblies have limited adjustability and changing tension angles is time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable cervical traction assembly with a rope angle adjustment carriage that includes a track engagement member with locked and unlocked configurations, allowing for easy adjustment along a guide track, and can be mounted directly to a mount support member for quick attachment and varied tension angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional cervical traction assemblies are used with fixed mounting, then the structure is simple and stable, but the adjustability of tension angles is limited and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of tension anglesVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the carriage can move along the guide track to change tension angles. The carriage includes engagement members that can be positioned at different locations along the track, allowing the tension angle to be dynamically adjusted between -45 to 75 degrees while maintaining structural stability through the fixed track and carriage assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The traction assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a fixed mount support member, a movable carriage with engagement members, and a guide track. This segmentation allows the carriage to be independently adjusted along the guide track while the mount support member remains fixed, providing adjustability without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If traditional cervical traction assemblies require manual adjustment of angles, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the time required for angle changes is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of angle adjustmentVSAvoidtime for changing tension angles

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track is pre-configured with multiple engagement member positions at predetermined locations along the track. These pre-positioned engagement members correspond to specific tension angles, allowing the carriage to be quickly positioned at desired angles without requiring complex measurement or calculation during adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The carriage includes self-aligning engagement members that automatically engage with the guide track at predetermined positions. The mechanism allows the user to simply move the carriage to the desired position and release the engagement members, which then automatically snap into place at the correct angle, eliminating the need for complex adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the carriage is freely movable along the guide track, then angle adjustment is flexible, but the stability during operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motion for carriageVSAvoidcarriage stability during traction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track acts as an intermediary structure between the mount support member and the carriage. It provides a fixed reference framework that guides the carriage movement while maintaining stability. The engagement members interact with the guide track through precise geometric constraints, allowing smooth movement while ensuring stable positioning at each angle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the carriage being freely movable without constraints, the design inverts the approach by providing a constrained path (guide track) that inherently stabilizes the carriage. The carriage is designed to move along the pre-defined guide track geometry, which provides both the necessary range of motion and inherent stability through the fixed track structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20250387284A1Adjustable cervical traction assemblies for person support apparatuses

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 ALLEN MEDICAL SYST INC

AI summary

A cervical traction assembly for use with a patient support apparatus includes an adjustment carriage track member including a connecting bracket assembly that releasably connects to a mount support member of the patient support apparatus. The adjustment track member includes a track body including a pair of opposing sidewalls that are spaced-apart from each other to define an elongated channel therebetween. Each sidewall includes a guide track that extends along a length of the respective sidewall. A rope angle adjustment carriage is located within the channel. The rope angle adjustment carriage includes a first track engagement member that is received by one of the guide tracks of one of the sidewalls and a second track engagement member that is received by another of the guide tracks of another of the sidewalls. The first track engagement member has a locked configuration that inhibits movement of the rope angle adjustment carriage.