Inflatable Lordotic Bladder for Dynamic Spinal Decompression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spinal decompression devices lack the ability to dynamically adjust to a patient's specific lumbar and thoracic spine posture, which can limit the effectiveness of spinal decompression treatments.

Innovation Solution

The integration of an inflatable lordotic support bladder within the treatment bed of the spinal decompression device, allowing for adjustable fill pressure to accommodate a patient's unique spinal posture and promote optimal spinal elongation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed morphology treatment bed is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate patients with different spinal postures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different spinal posturesVSAvoidtreatment bed structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment bed incorporates an inflatable lordotic support bladder that can dynamically change its shape and support characteristics by adjusting inflation pressure, allowing the bed to adapt to different spinal postures and patient needs rather than maintaining a fixed morphology

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameter of the treatment bed by inflating or deflating the bladder, which modifies the bed's morphology and support properties to match the patient's specific spinal alignment requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the treatment bed is made rigid for structural stability, then manufacturing is easier, but it cannot promote spinal elongation and muscle relaxation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinal decompression effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment bed construction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment bed uses a pneumatic inflatable bladder system to provide adjustable lordotic support, replacing rigid structural elements with a flexible pneumatic mechanism that can be inflated to the appropriate pressure to promote spinal elongation and muscle relaxation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If the treatment bed morphology is customized for each patient, then treatment effectiveness improves, but setup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidbed configuration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows rapid customization of treatment bed morphology by adjusting the inflation pressure of the bladder through a control system, enabling quick adaptation to different patient spinal postures without time-consuming manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables healthcare providers to customize the treatment bed morphology, ensuring patient safety and promoting relaxation of paraspinal muscles through controlled spinal elongation.

Implementation Method 1

The inflatable lordotic support bladder is inflated as set forth herein, to accommodate a patient's specific lumbar and thoracic spine posture as presented at the specific time of treatment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS20250032298A1Spinal decompression device with active lordotic support

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 EXCITE MEDICAL OF TAMPA BAY LLC

AI summary

A spinal decompression device allowing for dynamic adjustment of the application of pressure and support to the apex of lordosis of a patient during treatment. The device incorporates an inflatable lordotic support bladder positioned and oriented to apply an adjustable and variable degree of support and pressure to the apex of lordosis of the patient's spine during spinal decompression according to a predefined treatment protocol or real-time dynamic adjustment under the control of a medical provider or patient. In certain embodiments, the device may recall settings for a patient based on prior treatment. In other embodiments, the treatment may be adjusted based on biofeedback.