Spinal Decompression Seat With Load-Sensed Upright Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal decompression devices require excessive force, often 50% of body weight, to overcome frictional forces, are costly, and pose medical risks, especially for at-home use, particularly for those lacking strength or with contraindications.
Innovation Solution
A spinal decompression system that allows decompression in a seated or upright position using a gentler force, adjustable to 10-30% of body weight, with a load cell to measure and adjust the applied load, and can be mounted on various structures without modification, including doors, walls, or ceilings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If standard spinal decompression devices are used in supine position, then spinal decompression can be achieved, but excessive force (50% of body weight) is required to overcome frictional forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional supine position approach by enabling decompression in an upright seated position. This inversion eliminates the need to overcome frictional forces between the body and surface, allowing decompression force to be applied directly to the spine through the seat without requiring excessive force from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the frictional force component from the decompression process by removing the supine position requirement. By taking out the need to overcome surface friction, the system allows decompression to occur with minimal user effort, reducing the force requirement from 50% of body weight to a much smaller fraction.
2Reliability
If standard decompression machines are used, then spinal decompression is achieved, but the devices are extremely complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of spinal decompression from complex machine systems. By removing the need for complicated mechanical structures and expensive components, the invention achieves decompression through a simple upright seat design that leverages body weight and minimal auxiliary forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex decompression machines with an affordable, simple upright seat structure. This substitution maintains decompression effectiveness while dramatically reducing device cost and complexity, making the system accessible for home use.
3Force
If inversion tables are used for decompression, then spinal decompression can be achieved, but there are multiple significant medical contraindications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion in a safe manner by using an upright seated position rather than head-down inversion. This approach maintains the beneficial decompression effect while eliminating the medical contraindications associated with head-down inversion tables, making it suitable for a broader population.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter from head-down inversion to upright seated position. This parameter change maintains the decompression force effectiveness while fundamentally altering the safety profile, removing medical contraindications related to blood flow patterns and dizziness.
4Force
If devices requiring active force application are used, then decompression can be achieved, but individuals lacking strength cannot sustain the required force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to serve itself by using the user's own body weight as the primary decompression force. Instead of requiring the user to actively generate decompression force, the system automatically utilizes gravity and body weight to achieve the desired spinal decompression effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent counteracts the need for active force application by allowing gravity and body weight to provide the decompression force. The upright seated position enables the system to work against the user's weight naturally, eliminating the need for strength-based active participation.
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
Provides affordable, safe, and effective spinal decompression at home or in professional settings, reducing the need for active force application and medical visits, while decreasing spinal tension and frequency of healthcare visits.
Implementation Method 1
A load cell is disposed in the load path to sense an applied load applied by the working portion
Data Source
AI summary
A spinal decompression system comprising an anchor portion and a working portion operatively coupled to the anchor portion. The anchor portion is adapted to anchor the spinal decompression system to a mechanical ground. The anchor portion comprises an anchor strap. The spinal decompression system comprises a pair of arm supports to support a user's arms in a raised position. The pair of arm supports are operatively coupled to the anchor strap to form a load path from the pair of arm supports to the anchor strap. A load cell is disposed in the load path to sense an applied load applied by the pair of arm supports. The pair of arm supports have an adjustable height to adjust the spinal decompression system to apply a desired load to the users arm to unload at least a portion of the user's bodyweight.