Apparatus and method for spinal alignment therapy
A treatment apparatus for providing spinal compensation therapy may include a base structure configured to support a patient lying in a supine position on the treatment apparatus, and an incrementally configurable adjustment assembly configured to modify the base structure between an initial configuration, an intermediate configuration, and a target configuration. The initial configuration may define spinal curves generated based on initial patient parameters associated with evaluation of the patient to define a first increment in progress toward the target configuration, and the intermediate configuration may define modified spinal curves relative to the initial configuration to define a second increment in the progress toward the target configuration.
1. A treatment apparatus for providing spinal compensation therapy, the apparatus comprising:
a base structure, the base structure being configured to support a patient lying in a supine position on the treatment apparatus; and
an incrementally configurable adjustment assembly operably coupled to the base structure, the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly being adjustable between an initial configuration, an intermediate configuration, and a target configuration,
wherein the initial configuration of the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly defines spinal curves generated based on initial patient parameters associated with an evaluation of the patient to define a first increment in progress toward the target configuration,
wherein the intermediate configuration of the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly defines modified spinal curves relative to the initial configuration to define a second increment in the progress toward the target configuration,
wherein the target configuration of the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly defines modified spinal curves relative to the intermediate configuration to define a third and final increment in the spinal compensation therapy,
wherein the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly comprises:
a first pivotable member, the first pivotable member being supported by a first pivot support operably coupled to the base structure,
a second pivotable member, the second pivotable member being supported by a second pivot support operably coupled to the base structure,
a first adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the first pivotable member, the first pivotable member being pivotable about a first pivot point via the first adjustment mechanism, and
a second adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the second pivotable member, the second pivotable member being pivotable about a second pivot point via the second adjustment mechanism,
wherein the first and second pivotable members each comprise an entirely arcuate perimeter such that the first and second pivotable members define respective first and second curves at a top surface of the base structure that engage the patient,
wherein the first, second and third increments each correspond to respective different first and second curves based on a selected angle of a plurality of predefined angles of the first and second pivotable members, and
wherein the first and second pivot points are disposed at an end of the first and second pivotable members, respectively.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base structure is divided into regions corresponding to sacrum, lumbar, thoracic, cervical and occiput regions of a spine of the patient, and
wherein the first pivotable member is disposed at the lumbar regions and the second pivotable member is disposed at the cervical region.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pivot supports are movable longitudinally along the base structure.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein delineations are provided at the first and second adjustment mechanisms to aid in positioning the first and second pivotable members at respective desired settings.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second adjustment mechanisms comprises a lockable slider configured to pivot the first and second pivotable members to the selected angles of the plurality of predefined angles that correspond to the first, second and third increments of the spinal compensation therapy.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second adjustment mechanisms comprises a locking dial comprising:
an inner gear ring having inner gear teeth; and
an outer gear ring having outer gear teeth,
wherein the locking dial is configured to rotate the first and second pivotable members to one of the plurality of predefined angles based on a stage of the spinal compensation therapy,
wherein the inner gear ring is axially translatable relative to the outer gear ring between a rotatable position in which the inner gear ring is offset from the outer gear ring, and a locked position in which the inner gear ring is engaged with the outer gear ring, and
wherein in the rotatable position, the inner gear ring is rotatable relative to the outer gear ring.
7. A method for providing spinal compensation therapy for a patient, the method comprising:
receiving baseline data comprising initial patient parameters;
evaluating the baseline data to determine a treatment plan comprising at least an initial configuration, an intermediate configuration, and a target configuration for a configurable treatment apparatus; and
defining parameters for the configurable treatment apparatus according to the initial configuration, the intermediate configuration, and the target configuration along with corresponding periods of time over which the patient is directed to lie in a supine position on the treatment apparatus,
wherein the configurable treatment apparatus comprises:
a base structure configured to support the patient lying in the supine position; and
an incrementally configurable adjustment assembly operably coupled to the base structure, the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly being adjustable between the initial configuration, the intermediate configuration, and the target configuration,
wherein the initial configuration of the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly defines spinal curves generated based on initial patient parameters associated with an evaluation of the patient to define a first increment in progress toward the target configuration,
wherein the intermediate configuration of the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly defines modified spinal curves relative to the initial configuration to define a second increment in the progress toward the target configuration,
wherein the target configuration of the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly defines modified spinal curves relative to the intermediate configuration to define a third and final increment in the spinal compensation therapy,
wherein the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly comprises:
a first pivotable member, the first pivotable member being supported by a first pivot support operably coupled to the base structure,
a second pivotable member, the second pivotable member being supported by a second pivot support operably coupled to the base structure,
a first adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the first pivotable member, the first pivotable member being pivotable about a first pivot point via the first adjustment mechanism, and
a second adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the second pivotable member, the second pivotable member being pivotable about a second pivot point via the second adjustment mechanism,
wherein the first and second pivotable members each comprise an entirely arcuate perimeter such that the first and second pivotable members define respective first and second curves at a top surface of the base structure that engage the patient,
wherein the first, second and third increments each correspond to respective different first and second curves based on a selected angle of a plurality of predefined angles of the first and second pivotable members, and
wherein the first and second pivot points are disposed at an end of the first and second pivotable members, respectively.
8. The method of claim 7 ,
wherein defining parameters for the treatment apparatus comprises defining settings for the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly corresponding to each respective one of the initial configuration, the intermediate configuration, and the target configuration.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate configuration comprises one or more intermediate configurations, and
wherein a distance between a spine location according to the initial patient parameters and a spine location according to the target configuration divided by a maximum incremental change per increment determines a number of the intermediate configurations.
10. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein defining settings for the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly comprises actuating the first and second adjustment mechanisms to pivot the first and second pivotable members about the first and second pivot points, respectively, to create the first and second curves relative to the top surface of the base structure.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the base structure is divided into regions corresponding to sacrum, lumbar, thoracic, cervical and occiput regions of a spine of the patient,
wherein the first pivotable member is disposed at the lumbar region, and the second pivotable member is disposed at the cervical region, and
wherein defining settings for the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly comprises defining settings for each of the first and second pivotable members.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein defining settings for the incrementally configurable adjustment assembly comprises moving the first and second pivot supports longitudinally along the base structure.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pivotable members are elliptical in shape.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pivotable members are teardrop shaped and the first and second pivot points are disposed at a pointed end of the first and second pivotable members.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pivotable members are mirrored relative to one another about a midplane of the base structure.
16. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein axially translating the inner gear ring to the rotatable position disengages the inner gear ring from the outer gear ring, and
wherein the inner gear ring is axially translated by applying a first axial force on the inner gear ring directed perpendicularly away from the base structure along an axis of rotation of the locking dial such that the inner gear ring of the locking dial slides along an axis of rotation away from the outer gear ring and into the rotatable position.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein in the rotatable position, the inner gear ring of the locking dial is rotatable relative to the outer gear ring of the locking dial to pivot the first and second pivotable members about the first and second pivot points.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein axially translating the inner gear ring to the locked position engages the inner gear ring with the outer gear ring, and
wherein the inner gear teeth reengage the outer gear teeth responsive to aligning the locking dial with one of the plurality of predefined angles and applying a second axial force in an opposite direction from the first axial force such that the inner gear ring of the locking dial slides along the axis of rotation toward the outer gear ring and into the locked position in which the inner gear teeth are engaged with the outer gear teeth.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pivotable members are planar.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the first and second pivot points define respective first and second pivot axes that extend perpendicularly through the first and second pivotable members, respectively, and perpendicular to a direction of longitudinal extension of the base structure.