Patent Application
20130131724
The present invention relates to a chiropractic apparatus having a targeting function by tactile sensation. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a chiropractic apparatus comprising the following means (i) and (ii): (i) a chiropractic adjuster means, and (ii) a contact means attached to the chiropractic adjuster means, the contact means being capable of relative movement with respect to the chiropractic adjuster means,
the contact means having a forward end portion which is capable of contacting both the tip of a palpation finger of a user and a body surface of a patient,
the contact means having, at the forward end portion thereof, a targeting space which is capable of receiving the tip of the palpation finger of the user and causing the palpation fingertip to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient,
the targeting space being for receiving the forward end portion of the chiropractic adjuster means and causing the forward end portion to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient,
wherein, by subjecting the contact means and the chiropractic adjuster means to relative movement with respect to each other, the forward end portion of the chiropractic adjuster means is capable of moving to the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means so as to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient.
By the use of the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention having a targeting function by tactile sensation, it becomes possible that a target site for chiropractic treatment is determined by palpation using a fingertip that is most sensitive in a human body, and then a thrust is correctly applied to the target site. Therefore, by the use of the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention, chiropractic treatment can be performed more effectively and efficiently. Also, the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention is easily portable.
The term “chiropractic” means “hand action” and is a combination of Greek words “Chiro” (“hand”) and “Prakticos” (“action”). As indicated by its name, in the field of chiropractic, palpation using various parts of the hands, such as a fingertip and the pisiform bone, is performed on the body of a patient for determining a target site for chiropractic treatment, and then chiropractic treatment is performed by a method in which a thrust (i.e., an impact of high speed and low amplitude) is applied to the target site by using various parts of the hands or by using an apparatus employing spring resilience or electromagnetic force. In the field of chiropractic, amelioration of various diseases and ailments is achieved by applying an appropriate thrust to the cranium, the spine, the lumbar vertebrae, the pelvis, and/or joints of limbs so as to correct small dislocation of these bones. (In the field of chiropractic, such small dislocation of bones is called “subluxation” or “misalignment”.) When a portion, to be given a thrust, of the body surface of the patient has a skin slack, the thrust applied is disadvantageously absorbed by the skin slack, thus making it impossible to transmit a satisfactory level of force of thrust to the target site; therefore, generally, before the application of a thrust to the body surface of the patient, the skin of the portion, to be given a thrust, of the body surface of the patient is pulled so as to be placed under tension to remove any skin slack. In the field of chiropractic, the term “thrust” covers any type of mechanical pressures. Examples of methods for applying a mechanical pressure include a method in which a fingertip of a chiropractic practitioner or a forward end of a rod (made of a plastic or metal) is placed on the body surface of a patient, and then the fingertip or rod is macroscopically moved to apply a pressure (thrust) to the body surface of the patient (this is, for example, the case where a thrust is applied by using the body of a chiropractic practitioner or the case where a thrust is applied by using a so-called “activator” described below), and a method in which a forward end of a rod (made of a plastic or metal) is placed on the body surface of a patient, and then a mechanical impulse is applied to a rear end of the rod (which is not macroscopically moved) thereby generating a thrust in the form of a pressure wave propagating from the rear end to forward end of the rod to thereby apply a pressure (thrust) to the body surface of the patient (this is the case where there is used an apparatus for performing a so-called “Atlas Orthogonal Technique” described below).
In the field of chiropractic, chiropractic treatment (application of a thrust) is usually called “adjustment”. Therefore, hereinafter, application of a thrust is frequently referred to as “adjustment”. (In the field of chiropractic, the term “manipulation” may be used as having the same meaning as “adjustment”.) In the field of chiropractic, a portion, to be given a thrust, of the body surface of the patient is usually referred to as a “contact point”. Therefore, hereinafter, a portion, to be given a thrust, of the body surface of the patient is frequently referred to as a “contact point”. With respect to the general information of chiropractic and to the above-mentioned various terms, reference can be made to, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 (“Kairopurakutikku-Gairon (Outline of Chiropractic)”, authored by Seikyo SUZUKI, published by Taniguchi Shoten Publishing Co., Japan, 1987), Non-Patent Document 2 (“Hajimete Manabu Kairopurakutikku-Sukiru-Kihon-Gensoku-Kara Manipyureishon-Sukiru-Made (Introduction to Chiropractic Skills—from basic principles to manipulation skills)”, authored and edited by David Byfield, translation supervised by Motoaki OTANI, published by IDO-NO-NIPPON SHA INC., Japan, 1999), and Non-Patent Document 3 (“Okai-DC-No Tekunikku-Bukku, Kihon-Hen, Jissen-Kairopurakutikku-Ajasutomento-Tekunikku (Technique Book of Okai DC (Basics) Practical Chiropractic Adjustment Techniques)”, authored by Takeshi OKAI, published by Japan Medical Publishing Co. LTD., Japan, 2004). With respect especially to the term “adjustment”, reference is made to Non-Patent Documents 1 and 3.
When an adjustment is performed using a finger, such as an index finger or middle finger, problems may arise not only in that a burden is imposed on the finger and the wrist of the chiropractic practitioner (chiropractor), thus causing the chiropractor to suffer injuries, but also in that the direction of the thrust is not correct, thus making it impossible to obtain a desired effect on the patient. When it is necessary to apply a high force thrust, the pisiform bone is used in many cases. However, the pisiform bone is less sensitive as compared to a fingertip, and therefore, a high level skill is required to perform a correct adjustment by using the pisiform bone.
For solving these problems accompanying adjustments performed using the human power, adjustments may be performed using equipment (chiropractic apparatuses). In the case of the use of chiropractic apparatuses, a thrust is applied to the patient by using spring resilience or electromagnetic force. Conventional chiropractic apparatuses are described in, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0082532 A1 (Patent Document 1), U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,375 (Patent Document 2), U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,211 (Patent Document 3), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,700 (Patent Document 4). These chiropractic apparatuses are generally referred to as “activators”, and the chiropractic techniques performed using such chiropractic apparatuses may be referred to as “Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique (AMCT)”. (Further, in the field of chiropractic, chiropractic apparatuses are frequently referred to as “adjusters”, because they are devices used for performing “adjustment”. Therefore, hereinafter, a chiropractic apparatus is frequently referred to as an “adjuster”.)
When using any of the above-mentioned conventional chiropractic apparatuses to apply a thrust, one hand of the user is occupied by holding and operating the chiropractic apparatus, so that the other hand of the user is used for touching the body of the patient. Therefore, in this case, the operation for pulling the skin of the portion of the body surface of the patient corresponding to a target site for adjustment so as to remove a skin slack, is performed using only the other hand not holding the chiropractic apparatus. Such one-hand operation for pulling the skin to remove a skin slack is not easy, as compared to the case of a two-hand operation for pulling the skin to remove a skin slack. Further, there is also the following problem. A contact point is determined by performing palpation using a fingertip of the user. Subsequently, the palpation fingertip of the user is once released from the determined contact point, and then a forward end of the chiropractic apparatus is moved toward and placed on the contact point by relying on the visual memory of the user. Due to the reliance on the visual memory, frequently, the forward end of the chiropractic apparatus is slightly misplaced from the correct contact point determined by the palpation. For these reasons, in the case of the use of the above-mentioned conventional chiropractic apparatuses, performing a correct and effective adjustment is not easy even for a skilled chiropractor.
There is known “Atlas Orthogonal Technique” (AOT), which is a subfield of chiropractic. In the Atlas Orthogonal Technique, the target of an adjustment is limited to the first cervical vertebra (the atlas), i.e., C1. In the case of the Atlas Orthogonal Technique, a large-sized, floor-mounted machine specialized for adjusting the atlas is used. In this large-sized, floor-mounted machine, a chiropractic apparatus (adjuster) is attached to a movable arm which can hold the chiropractic apparatus stably. In the case of the use of this large-sized machine, by virtue of the fact that the chiropractic apparatus can be held stably, a skilled chiropractor can perform an adjustment of the atlas relatively easily. However, this large-sized machine is specialized for adjusting the atlas and cannot be used for an adjustment of a bone other than the atlas.
A chiropractic apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problems accompanying the prior art has not yet been developed.
Thus, it has been desired to develop a chiropractic apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problems accompanying the prior art, i.e., a chiropractic apparatus which is not only easily portable, but also enables even a chiropractor not having a high level skill to perform easily a correct and effective adjustment of any bone of the entire body skeleton of a patient.
In this situation, the present inventor has made extensive and intensive studies with a view toward solving the above-mentioned problems. As a result, he has unexpectedly found that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by a chiropractic apparatus comprising the following means (i) and (ii): (i) a chiropractic adjuster means, and (ii) a contact means attached to the chiropractic adjuster means, the contact means being capable of relative movement with respect to the chiropractic adjuster means,
the contact means having a forward end portion which is capable of contacting both the tip of a palpation finger of a user and a body surface of a patient,
the contact means having, at the forward end portion thereof, a targeting space which is capable of receiving the tip of the palpation finger of the user and causing the palpation fingertip to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient,
the targeting space being for receiving the forward end portion of the chiropractic adjuster means and causing the forward end portion to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient,
wherein, by subjecting the contact means and the chiropractic adjuster means to relative movement with respect to each other, the forward end portion of the chiropractic adjuster means is capable of moving to the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means so as to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient.
The present invention has been completed, based on this finding.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
By the use of the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention having a targeting function by tactile sensation, it becomes possible that a target site for chiropractic treatment (adjustment) is determined by palpation using a fingertip that is most sensitive in a human body, and then a thrust is correctly applied to the target site. Therefore, by the use of the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention, an adjustment can be performed more effectively and efficiently. Also, the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention is advantageous not only in that it is easily portable, but also in that an adjustment can be performed even in a state where both hands of a user are kept in contact with the body of a patient, thereby enabling even a chiropractor not having a high level skill to perform easily a correct and effective adjustment of any bone of the entire body skeleton of a patient.
In the present invention, there is provided a chiropractic apparatus comprising the following means (i) and (ii):
(i) a chiropractic adjuster means comprising:
wherein, by subjecting the contact means and the chiropractic adjuster means to relative movement with respect to each other, the forward end portion of the chiropractic adjuster means is capable of moving to the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means so as to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient.
Next, for easier understanding of the present invention, the essential features and various preferred embodiments of the present invention are enumerated below.
1. A chiropractic apparatus comprising the following means (i) and (ii):
(i) a chiropractic adjuster means comprising:
wherein, by subjecting the contact means and the chiropractic adjuster means to relative movement with respect to each other, the forward end portion of the chiropractic adjuster means is capable of moving to the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means so as to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient.
2. The chiropractic apparatus according to item 1 above, wherein the forward end portion of the contact means comprises an arc, and the inside of the arc is the targeting space.
3. The chiropractic apparatus according to item 1 above, wherein the forward end portion of the contact means comprises a loop, and the inside of the loop is the targeting space.
4. The chiropractic apparatus according to item 1 above, wherein the forward end portion of the contact means comprises a plate, the plate having upper and lower surfaces and a through-hole extending between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the through-hole is the targeting space,
wherein the chiropractic adjuster means is positioned on the side of the upper surface of the plate, and the lower surface of the plate is capable of being placed in contact with the body surface of the patient.
5. The chiropractic apparatus according to item 1 above, wherein the contact means comprises an elastic pipe having rear and forward end openings,
the rear end opening of the elastic pipe having inserted therein a forward region of the chiropractic adjuster means,
the forward end opening of the elastic pipe being the targeting space, and
wherein the forward end opening of the elastic pipe has a circumferential pipe wall region having therein a finger insertion hole which is capable of receiving the tip of the palpation finger of the user and causing the palpation fingertip to be positioned in the targeting space.
Hereinbelow, the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
With respect to adjuster means 2, explanation thereon is given later.
Contact means 3 shown in
Spring-holding member 3C also has a through-hole, and holds shaft 3B slidably trough the through-hole. The expansion and contraction of coil spring 3E causes shaft 3B to slide through the through-hole of spring-holding member 3C, thereby enabling contact means 3 to move upward and downward. Thus, in the embodiment shown in
Forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 is capable of contacting both the tip of palpation finger F of the user and body surface P of the patient. Contact means 3 has targeting space 4 at the neighborhood of forward end portion 3A of contact means 3. Targeting space 4 is positioned right under forward end portion 2A of adjuster means 2. Targeting space 4 is a space which is capable of receiving the tip of palpation finger F of the user and causing the palpation fingertip to be placed in contact with body surface P of the patient and which is for receiving the forward end portion of the adjuster means and causing the forward end portion to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient.
By moving adjuster means 2 downward while holding contact means 3 on body surface P of the patient, forward end portion 2A of adjuster means 2 is capable of moving to targeting space 4 so as to be placed in contact with the body surface of the patient.
With respect to the shape of forward end portion 3A of contact means 3, there is no particular limitation. Forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 shown in
With respect to the size of the arcuate forward end portion, the explanation, given later, of the size of a loop applies, wherein the explanation is made in connection with the case where forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 comprises the loop. (The arcuate forward end portion is regarded as a loop (circle) containing as a part thereof the arcuate forward end portion.)
The loop has a size such that each of the tip of palpation finger F of the user and forward end portion 2A of adjuster means 2 can pass through the inside of the loop. With respect to the size of the loop, the explanation, given later, of the size of a through-hole applies, wherein the explanation is made in connection with the case where forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 comprises a plate having the through-hole.
The through-hole (targeting space 4) of plate 3A has a size such that each of the tip of palpation finger F of the user and forward end portion 2A of adjuster means 2 can pass through the through-hole. With respect to the size of the through-hole of plate 3A, there is no particular limitation so long as each of the tip of palpation finger F of the user and forward end portion 2A of adjuster means 2 can pass through the through-hole.
More specifically, the size of the through-hole of plate 3A is as follows. The through-hole of plate 3A has a size such that the diameter of the largest circle which the through-hole can contain is generally from 3 mm to 50 mm, preferably from 3 mm to 25 mm (hereinafter, “diameter of the largest circle which the through-hole can contain” is frequently referred to simply as “diameter of the through-hole”). The lower limit of the diameter of the through-hole of plate 3A is more preferably 5 mm, still more preferably 8 mm. The upper limit of the diameter of the through-hole of plate 3A is more preferably 17 mm, still more preferably 12 mm.
The tip of palpation finger F of the user is generally thicker than forward end portion 2A of adjuster means 2 and, therefore, it is desired to determine the diameter of the through-hole in accordance with the thickness of the tip of palpation finger F of the user. It is preferred that the diameter of the through-hole is the same as or slightly smaller (e.g., by about 1 mm to about 3 mm) than the maximum diameter of the tip of palpation finger F of the user. (The tip of palpation finger F of the user has flexibility to some extent and, therefore, the tip of palpation finger F of the user can pass through the through-hole even when the diameter of the through-hole is slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the tip of palpation finger F of the user.) It is added for information that with respect to the adjusters used in the field of the Atlas Orthogonal Technique, the forward end portion of the thrust head of the adjusters generally has a diameter of about 3 mm, while with respect to the adjusters used for other purposes (i.e., portable adjusters), the forward end portion of the thrust head of the adjusters has a diameter in the range of from about 10 mm to about 15 mm. With respect to the tip of palpation finger F of the user, the maximum diameter thereof is about 25 mm or less, and is generally in the range of from abut 10 mm to about 15 mm. When the diameter of the through-hole is larger than the maximum diameter of the tip of palpation finger F of the user (in other words, in the case where a gap is formed, during the palpation, between the tip of palpation finger F of the user and the peripheral wall of the through-hole), it is preferred to perform the palpation while positioning the tip of palpation finger F at the center of the largest circle which the through-hole can contain, so that the portion, to be given a thrust, of the body surface of the patient can be determined in a state where the tip of palpation finger F is positioned at the center of the circle. After the palpation thus performed, forward end portion 2A of adjuster means 2 is moved into the through-hole of plate 3A so as to position forward end portion 2A at the center of the largest circle which the through-hole can contain. In this way, a more correct adjustment can be achieved.
With respect to the shape of the through-hole of plate 3A, there is no particular limitation. As examples of shapes of the through-hole of plate 3A, there can be mentioned those of circles, ellipses and polygons (such as a triangle (e.g., an equilateral triangle), a tetragon (e.g., a square) and a pentagon (e.g., an equilateral pentagon) and those of regions surrounded by closed curves other than mentioned above. Plate 3A may have a break in a part of the periphery of the through-hole. For example, there may be a crack or cut (slit) extending from the through-hole to an end of plate 3A, so that the through-hole is communicated with the end of plate 3A.
With respect also to contact means 3, there is no particular limitation. For example, contact means 3 may comprise an elastic pipe, as shown in
With respect to the elasticity of the pipe, there is no particular limitation so long as circumferential pipe wall region 3F of the forward end opening of the pipe has elasticity. As an example of shapes of circumferential pipe wall region 3F, there can be mentioned a shape of bellows.
With respect to the shape and size of the forward end opening (i.e., targeting space 4) of pipe 3, the explanation, given above, of the size of a through-hole applies, wherein the explanation is made in connection with the case where forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 comprises a plate having the through-hole.
With respect to the shape and size of hole 3G of circumferential pipe wall region 3F of the forward end opening of the pipe, there is no particular limitation so long as hole 3G is capable of receiving the tip of palpation finger F of the user and causing the palpation fingertip to be positioned in targeting space 4. Hole 3G may be a cut (slit) enabling finger F to be inserted to hole 3G.
If desired, the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a holding means by which the user may hold the chiropractic apparatus. With respect to the shape of the holding means, there is no particular limitation. For example, the holding means may be a member having a shape which can be held by hand. Alternatively, the holding means may be a member having a belt shape (belt member), which can be engaged with a hand or wrist of the user. With respect to the type of the belt member, there is no particular limitation. For example, the belt member may be a linear structure having the same configuration and use as a belt used as an apparel item. Alternatively, the belt member may be a ring structure, such as a rubber band. The holding means can be attached to at least one selected from the group consisting of adjuster means 2 and contact means 3. With respect to the materials used for producing the holding means, there is no particular limitation, and there can be used the same materials as used for producing adjuster means 2 and contact means 3, the materials being enumerated later. However, generally, it is preferred to use flexible materials, such as cloth, rubber, and flexible plastics.
Explained hereinbelow is the method for operating the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention (i.e., the method for performing a chiropractic treatment by using the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention).
The chiropractic apparatus of the present invention can be operated either by one hand or both hands of the user. Especially in the case where the forward end portion of the contact means comprises a plate, the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention can be easily operated even by one hand of the user. This is because, as shown in
Palpation can be performed either while keeping or while not keeping the forward end portion of the contact means positioned in contact with the palpation fingertip of the user. In the case where palpation is performed while keeping the forward end portion of the contact means positioned in contact with the palpation fingertip of the user, the time when the contact point of the body surface of the patient (i.e., the portion of the body surface of the patient corresponding to the target site for adjustment) has been determined by palpation, is simultaneous with the time when the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means is positioned at the contact point of the body surface of the patient as determined by palpation. On the other hand, in the case where palpation is performed while not keeping the forward end portion of the contact means positioned in contact with the palpation fingertip of the user, first, the contact point of the body surface of the patient has been determined by palpation, and then the forward end portion of the contact means is caused to be positioned in contact with the palpation fingertip of the user so as to cause the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means to be positioned at the contact point of the body surface of the patient at which the palpation fingertip is positioned. Important in the present invention is that the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means is caused to be positioned at the contact point of the body surface of the patient as determined by palpation, thereby enabling a correct adjustment.
For example, in the case where the forward end portion of the contact means comprises a rod as shown in
In the case where, as shown in any of
Hereinbelow, an example of a method for operating the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention is explained with reference to
As shown in (a) of
Next, as shown in (b) of
Subsequently, as shown in (c) of
By performing the above-described operations, a very correct adjustment can be achieved. Thus, by performing the above-described operations, chiropractic treatment (adjustment) can be performed effectively and efficiently, as compared to the case of the use of conventional chiropractic techniques.
When forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 comprises a loop, it is preferred that palpation is performed in a state where the tip of finger F is engaged with the loop. When forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 comprises a plate having a through-hole therein, it is preferred that palpation is performed in a state where the tip of finger F is inserted in the through-hole. In the case where forward end portion 3A of contact means 3 comprises a plate having a through-hole therein, there are advantages in that a preload can be applied in the depthwise direction of the diseased site by pressing on the plate placed on the body surface of the patient, and also adjuster means 2 may be brought into action while applying a preload.
Chiropractic adjuster means 2 comprises:
a thrust member extending in a longitudinal direction of the chiropractic adjuster means and having a thrust head constituting a forward end portion of the chiropractic adjuster means,
a driving member for applying a longitudinal forward thrust to the thrust member, and
a trigger member for operating the driving member. In the present invention, the term “longitudinal forward thrust” that is applied to the thrust member, covers both of the case where the driving member moves forward the thrust member in the longitudinal direction thereof (i.e., the case where the thrust member is moved macroscopically), and the case where the driving member applies a mechanical impulse to the rear end of the thrust member, thereby generating a thrust in the form of a pressure wave propagating from the rear end to forward end of the thrust member in the longitudinal direction thereof (i.e., the case where the thrust member is not moved macroscopically, and only a pressure wave propagates from the rear end to forward end of the thrust member in the longitudinal direction thereof). Chiropractic adjuster means 2 used in the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention may have substantially the same basic structure, action mechanism and function as those of a conventional portable chiropractic apparatus, such as a so-called “activator”. Therefore, adjuster means 2 may be produced using the same design information and production materials as those of a conventional chiropractic apparatus which is disclosed, for example, in any of the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 to 4.
By pulling trigger member 2B, adjuster means 2 is brought into action to thereby apply a thrust to the patient. As an example of a method for pulling trigger member 2B, there can be mentioned a method in which a trigger means (not shown) capable of being engaged with a finger of the user is connected with trigger member 2B through a wire, and trigger member 2B is pulled by moving the trigger means with the user's finger. The user's finger to be engaged with the trigger means may be the same as or different from finger F for palpation.
As another method for pulling trigger member 2B, there can be mentioned a method in which a wired or wireless communication means (not shown) is connected to trigger member 2B, and a switch (electronic trigger means) is turned on via the wired or wireless communication means to pull trigger member 2B. When this switch (electronic trigger means) is a foot switch device, the switching operation can be carried out with the user's foot.
With respect to the devices used for operating trigger member 2B of adjuster means 2 via the wired or wireless communication (i.e., wired or wireless communication means connected to trigger member 2B and a switch (electronic trigger means) to be used therewith), such devices can be easily produced based on the known electric/electronic engineering techniques applied in various fields or may be ones which are easily commercially available. As well known, due to the spreading of recent years, very small high-performance electro-communication devices or actuators for remote control or manipulation are widely applied as parts embedded in electric/electronic equipment of various fields. As an example of commercially available devices for wired remote control, there can be mentioned “TGA-mini” manufactured and sold by TOKI Corporation, Japan. Examples of available manufacturers capable of the services of designing and manufacturing devices for wired or wireless remote control include Kosugi Giken Co., Ltd., Japan, Osaka Jido Denki, Co., Ltd., Japan, and Itec Corporation, Japan. Thus, with respect to the electric/electronic devices or parts of relatively small sizes which are necessary for wired or wireless remote control of trigger member 2B used in the present invention, such devices or parts can be easily produced by applying the known technologies for wired or wireless remote control or manipulation, or such devices or parts may be easily commercially available, and, if desired, there are available manufacturers capable of the services of designing and producing such devices or parts.
The diagrammatic view of the internal structure of another example of chiropractic adjuster means 2 is shown in
The structure and action mechanism of adjuster means 2 are not limited to those shown in
With respect to the materials used for producing the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention, there is no particular limitation so long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. It is preferred that the coil compression spring of adjuster means 2 is made of a metal (e.g., a steel). Other parts of adjuster means 2 may be made of, for example, plastics (such as a vinyl chloride resin, an acrylic resin, polypropylene and polycarbonate), steels including a stainless steel, and aluminum. The same as mentioned above applies to contact means 3.
When the forward end portion of contact means 3 comprises a plate, the lower surface of the plate is supposed to be contacted with the body surface of the patient during the palpation or the action of adjuster means 2. The lower surface of the plate (especially, at around the through-hole thereof) is preferably not so slippery against the body surface of the patient from the viewpoint of ease in removing a skin slack during the palpation and the viewpoint of prevention of the displacement of the through-hole of the plate from the contact point determined by the palpation. Therefore, specifically, it is preferred that the lower surface of the plate has many small bumps and dents formed at least at an area around the through-hole wherein, for example, bumps and dents each having a diameter of about 1 mm are formed such that the number of the bumps and dents is 10 or more per 1 cm2 of the above-mentioned area around the through-hole. Alternatively, it is preferred that the above-mentioned area around the through-hole is roughened or at least this area of the plate is made of a rubber.
When contact means 3 comprises an elastic pipe, it is, as mentioned above, enough that contact means 3 is made of an elastic material with respect only to a circumferential pipe wall region around the forward end opening of the pipe as contact means 3. As an example of elastic materials, there can be mentioned a silicone rubber.
The palpation in a method for performing a chiropractic treatment by using the apparatus of the present invention can be carried out in the same manner as in the palpation in the conventional methods for performing a chiropractic treatment except for the following point. In a method for performing a chiropractic treatment by using the apparatus of the present invention, the palpation is carried out using the user's palpation fingertip which is placed in contact with the forward end portion of the contact means and which is received by the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means, to thereby cause the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means to be positioned at the portion of the body surface of the patient corresponding to the target site for adjustment. Alternatively, the portion of the body surface of the patient corresponding to the target site for adjustment may first be determined by palpation with the palpation fingertip of the user, whereafter the forward end portion of the contact means is moved so as to cause the targeting space at the forward end portion of the contact means to be positioned at the portion of the body surface of the patient (at which the palpation fingertip is positioned) corresponding to the target site for adjustment. For details of the palpation in the conventional methods for performing a chiropractic treatment, reference can be made to, for example, the above-mentioned Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3.
With respect to the bone to be targeted in the chiropractic treatment using the apparatus of the present invention, there is no particular limitation, and any bones which are generally considered as candidate targets in chiropractic treatments can be subjected to the chiropractic treatment using the apparatus of the present invention. Examples of bones which can be targeted in the chiropractic treatment using the apparatus of the present invention include the occipital bone (OC), the cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7), the thoracic vertebrae (Th1 to Th12), the lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5), the pelvis, and joints of limbs.
Any chiropractors having ordinary experience and skill can easily carry out a chiropractic treatment using the apparatus of the present invention. Further, even chiropractors having no experience of using any of the conventional chiropractic apparatuses (adjusters) can easily use the apparatus of the present invention.
By the use of the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention having a targeting function by tactile sensation, it becomes possible that a target site for chiropractic treatment (adjustment) is determined by palpation using a fingertip that is most sensitive in a human body, and then a thrust is correctly applied to the target site. Therefore, by the use of the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention, an adjustment can be performed more effectively and efficiently. Also, the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention is easily portable. Further, the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention is advantageous in that an adjustment can be performed even in a state where both hands of a user are kept in contact with the body of a patient, thereby enabling even a chiropractor not having a high level skill to perform easily a correct and effective adjustment of any bone of the entire body skeleton of the patient, such as the cranium, the spine, the lumbar vertebrae, the pelvis, and joints of limbs. With respect to the bone to be targeted in the chiropractic treatment using the chiropractic apparatus of the present invention, there is no particular limitation, and any bones which are generally considered as candidate targets in chiropractic treatments can be subjected to the chiropractic treatment using the apparatus of the present invention. Examples of bones which can be targeted in the chiropractic treatment using the apparatus of the present invention include the occipital bone (OC), the cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7), the thoracic vertebrae (Th1 to Th12), the lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5), the pelvis, and joints of limbs.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-178647 | Aug 2010 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2010/071643 | 12/3/2010 | WO | 00 | 1/24/2013 |
