Portable Cervical Traction Sling with Elastic Anchor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cervical traction devices are cumbersome, costly, and potentially injurious, with complex setups that require multiple weights and cumbersome components, and often damage household surfaces, while providing inadequate blood flow and comfort during use.
Innovation Solution
A portable traction device featuring an elongated sling with flexible material that cradles the head, eliminating the need for forehead or chin straps, and using flexible elastic tethers anchored to a fixed object to apply adjustable tensile force, along with integrated speakers and resonant actuators for comfort and muscle massage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If headgear with straps around forehead, head, and chin is used, then cervical traction force is applied, but the device becomes cumbersome, constricting, and may cause temporomandibular disorders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the headgear component entirely from the traction system. Instead of using straps around the forehead, head, and chin, the invention uses a simple chinrest that contacts only the chin area, eliminating the harmful constricting effects while maintaining the necessary traction force application point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the chinrest - that serves as the interface between the user and the traction force. This chinrest is a simple, localized contact point rather than a comprehensive headgear system, mediating the force application in a way that avoids temporomandibular disorders while still achieving cervical traction.
2Force
If weights and pulleys are used to exert tension, then adjustable traction force is achieved, but the device becomes bulky, cumbersome, and complex to set up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional weights-and-pulleys mechanical system with a spring-based tensioning mechanism. The spring element provides the necessary elastic force to pull the chinrest toward the anchor point, eliminating the need for heavy weights, pulleys, and complex rigging while maintaining adjustable traction force capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables force adjustment by changing the spring parameter - specifically, by selecting different spring stiffness values or pre-compression levels. This simple parameter change replaces the complex process of adding or removing weights and reconfiguring pulley systems, making the device both simpler and more adaptable.
3Reliability
If clamps and brackets are attached to doors and furniture, then device installation is achieved, but surface finishes are marred and door functionality is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible anchor strap that can wrap around door handles, railings, or other furniture features. This flexible element distributes pressure over a larger area and conforms to the shape of the anchor point, preventing surface damage while maintaining secure attachment. The strap can be easily positioned and removed without leaving marks or interfering with door closure.
4Use of energy by moving object
If conventional headphones are used during traction, then music playback is achieved, but ear comfort is reduced due to pain from device contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the audio delivery from the traditional in-ear or over-ear headphone dimension to a different spatial arrangement by integrating speakers into the chinrest structure itself. This dimensional change in audio delivery allows music playback without requiring headphones that contact the ears, thereby maintaining ear comfort while preserving the entertainment function.
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
The device provides effective cervical traction with reduced discomfort and injury risk, easier setup, and increased portability, while promoting blood flow and muscle relaxation without damaging household surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The device includes resonant actuators that may correspond in position to cervical muscles of the user. The resonant actuators may vibrate to loosen and/or massage the cervical muscles of the user.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable traction device can include a sling that is sized to cradle a user's head. The sling can be associated with an anchor that is positioned a height above the floor when the portable traction device is in use. A tensile force vector between the anchor and the sling allows for cervical traction. The portable traction device can additionally include one or more flexible straps between the anchor and the sling that can differentially regulate the amplitude of the tensile force vector by stretching.