Systems, devices, and methods for diagnosing and treating conditions of the spine
Systems, devices, and methods for diagnosing and treating conditions of the spine employ a garment for selectively positioning vertebrae of a spine of a supine individual, e.g., during diagnostic imaging of the spine. The garment affects movement of vertebrae that can be diagnostically correlated with incidents of back pain.
1. A method for diagnosis of an underlying cause of back pain in an individual comprising
identifying an individual experiencing back pain,
fitting a garment on the individual, the garment including a series of expandable segments configured to overlay groups of vertebrae along sacral region of the individual's spine and over opposite lateral sides of the anterior superior iliac spine, the garment including an array of actuators carried within the expandable segments that can be controllably enlarged to press against adjacent bone structures to move and orient vertebrae, muscles, and nerves of the spine, the garment, expandable segments, and actuators being made of material that does not substantially interfere with diagnostic imaging,
placing the individual wearing the garment in an imaging field,
operating the actuators to enlarge the expandable segments overlying the sacral region and the opposite lateral sides of the anterior superior iliac spine to stress the sacroiliac joint from two directions,
diagnostically imaging the spine during operation of the actuators,
observing an incident of back pain during operation of the actuators, and
correlating the incident of back pain to the diagnostic image to diagnose an underlying cause of back pain in the individual by identifying one or more movements of particular bone or bones and which orientation of the spine causes the back pain.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the garment further includes a series of expandable segments configured to overlay groups of vertebrae along the lumbar and thoracic regions of the spine.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the garment further comprises a pantaloon region that is configured to be worn around the waist and hips of the individual.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the garment further comprises a vest region that is configured to be worn on the upper torso of the individual.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the garment further comprises a removable inner garment made of material that does not substantially interfere with diagnostic imaging.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuators are inflatable bodies.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuators are mechanical jack type lifters.
8. A method for diagnosis of an underlying cause of back pain in an individual comprising
identifying an individual experiencing back pain,
fitting a garment on the individual, the garment including a series of expandable segments configured to overlay groups of vertebrae along the lumbar region and sacral region of the individual's spine and over opposite lateral sides of the anterior superior iliac spine, the garment including an array of actuators carried within the expandable segments that can be controllably enlarged to press against adjacent vertebrae to move and orient vertebrae, muscles, and nerves of the spine, the garment, expandable segments, and actuators being made of material that does not substantially interfere with diagnostic imaging,
placing the individual wearing the garment in an imaging field,
operating the actuators to enlarge the expandable segments overlying one or more of the lumbar region and sacral region and operating the actuators to enlarge the expandable segments overlying the opposite lateral sides of the anterior superior iliac spine,
diagnostically imaging the spine during the operation of the actuators,
observing an incident of back pain during the operation of the actuators, and correlating the incident of back pain to the diagnostic image to diagnose an underlying cause of back pain in the individual by identifying one or more movements of particular bone or bones and which orientation of the spine causes the back pain.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the garment further includes a series of expandable segments configured to overlay one or more posterior portions of pelvic bones affecting the sacroiliac joint.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising operating the actuators to enlarge the expandable segments configured to overlay one or more of the lumbar region, the sacral region, and the one or more posterior portions of pelvic bones affecting the sacroiliac joint.