DEVICE FOR MOBILISING THE SACROILIAC JOINT (SIJ) OF A PATIENT, PARTICULARLY FOR LOOSENING A BLOCKAGE OF THE SACROILIAC JOINT OF THE PATIENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for mobilising the sacroiliac joint (1) of a patient, particularly for loosening a blockage of the sacroiliac joint of the patient, comprising: a treatment table (20) with a lying surface (30) for the patient, the lying surface (30) having an opening (40) in the region of the sacroiliac joint (1) of the patient; a holding device (50) for arranging the pelvis (2) of the patient in relation to the treatment table (20); and at least one force transmission element (60) arranged in the region of the opening (40) of the lying surface (30), the force transmission element being designed to exert a force on the sacrum (3) of the sacroiliac joint (1) of the patient, by means of a movement.

Claims

1. Device for mobilizing the sacroiliac joint of a patient, in particular for releasing a blockage of the patient's sacroiliac joint, comprising: a treatment table with a lying surface for the patient, the lying surface having an opening in the region of the sacroiliac joint of the patient; a holding device for arranging the pelvis of the patient relative to the treatment table; and at least one force transmission element arranged in the region of the opening of the lying surface, the force transmission element being designed to exert a force on the sacrum of the sacroiliac joint of the patient by means of a movement.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force transmission element is arranged movably in the region of the opening of the lying surface, in particular movable in the longitudinal direction and/or lateral direction of the lying surface of the treatment table.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the at least one force transmission element relative to the lying surface of the treatment table is adjustable in at least one direction.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the patient facing end of the force transmission element comprises an additional functional unit, such as a heat source, an ultrasonic source, a shock wave source and/or a laser source.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force transmission element is designed to be variable in its longitudinal direction in order to exert a force on the sacrum of the patient's sacroiliac joint.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force transmission element has a padding on the surface facing the patient.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is attached to the treatment table.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is designed as an adjustable holding frame or as an adjustable holding strap.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device at least partially has a padding on the surface facing the patient.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the lying surface is at least partially padded.

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the lying surface is covered with a flexible cover, in particular a membrane, and/or the end of the at least one force transmission element facing the patient has a cover.

12. Device according to claim 1, further comprises an electronic control unit for controlling the movement of the at least one force transmission element.

13. Device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit automatically executes the movement of the at least one force transmission element in accordance with a stored exercise program.

14. Device according to claim 1, further comprising an emergency stop switch.

15. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device for monitoring the movement of the at least one force transmission element.

16. Device according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring device comprises an emergency shutdown, which shuts off the device when the at least one force transmission element leaves a predetermined range of motion.

17. Device according to claim 14 or claim 16, wherein the at least one force transmission element is automatically moved to an initial position in the event of an emergency shutdown, in which the at least one force transmission element is not in contact with the patient lying on the lying surface of the device.

18. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises two force transmission elements, wherein the two force transmission elements can independently or jointly exert a force on the sacrum of the patient's sacroiliac joint.

19. Device according to claim 1, further comprising guide means for guiding the force transmission elements and/or for guiding the movement of the force transmission elements in the longitudinal and/or lateral direction.

20. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device is designed such that the at least one force transmission element moves on a curved path, in particular a circular path, relative to the lying surface of the treatment table, in particular curved in the lateral direction of the lying surface of the treatment table.

21. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force transmission element is curved, in particular curved in the lateral direction of the lying surface of the treatment table.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the figures. It shows:

[0038] FIG. 1 a schematic view of a sacroiliac joint of a human;

[0039] FIG. 2 a view of a device according to the invention in the region of the sacroiliac joint of a patient in the transversal plane;

[0040] FIG. 3 a view of the device according to the invention of FIG. 2 in the sagittal plane, and

[0041] FIG. 4 view of a further device according to the invention in the region of the sacroiliac joint of a patient in the transverse direction.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a human sacroiliac joint 1, also called SIJ, sacro-iliac joint or sacral iliac joint. The sacroiliac joint 1 is located in the lower part of the back at the end of the lumbar spine. The sacroiliac joint 1 is formed between the pelvic shovels 2 (Latin: osilium) and the sacrum (Latin: sakrum). The sacroiliac joint 1 thus establishes the connection between the spine and pelvic shovels 2 via the sacrum 3. The sacroiliac joint 1 cannot be moved arbitrarily and is stabilized by ligaments and muscles. The sacroiliac joint 1, contrary to many other joints in the human body, only allows very little movement and is therefore referred to as a tight joint. The possible movements of the sacroiliac joint are called nutation and counternutation. Nutation causes, for example, an enlargement of the pelvic ring, which is of great importance in particular at a birth.

[0043] A blockage of the sacroiliac joint 1 arises, for example, when the already tight joint is limited in its mobility or when the position of the articular surfaces deviates from the norm. A blockage of the sacroiliac joint 1 is often noticeable by a pulling pain in the region of the sacroiliac joint 1. The cause of a blockage of the sacroiliac joint 1 is often lifting too heavy loads, the wrong lifting or a kick to the void, such as missing a step. Furthermore, spinal diseases, a pelvic obliquity, a leg length difference or inappropriate biomechanical stress may favour the development of blockage of the sacroiliac joint 1.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a view of a device 10 according to the invention in the area of the sacroiliac joint 1 of a patient in the transversal plane, that is to say a sectional view through the longitudinal axis of the patient. The device 10 for mobilizing the patient's sacroiliac joint 1, in particular for releasing a blockage of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1, comprises a treatment table 20 with a lying surface 30 for the patient. The lying surface 30 has an opening 40 in the region of the sacroiliac joint 1 of the patient. The device 10 further comprises a holding device 50 for fixing the pelvis 2 of the patient relative to the treatment table 20. In order to mobilize the patient's sacroiliac joint 1, the device 10 further comprises at least one force transmission element 60 arranged in the region of the opening 40 of the lying surface 30, wherein the force transmission element 60 is designed to exert a force on the sacrum 3 of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1 by a movement.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 comprises two force transmission elements 60, wherein the two force transmission elements 60 can independently or jointly exert a force on the sacrum 3 of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1. The ends 70 of the two force-transmission elements 60, which are arranged immediately adjacent to the patient, expediently have a padding on the surface facing the patient. Further, in particular the patient-facing ends 70 of the force transmission members 60, may include other functional units (not shown), such as a heat source, an ultrasound source, a shockwave source, and/or a laser source. Advantageously, the patient facing ends 70 are modular or interchangeable, so that different additional functional units can be used by simply replacing the patient facing end 70 of the force transmission element 60.

[0046] The two force transmission elements 60 are movably arranged in the region of the opening 40 of the lying surface 30, in particular movable in the longitudinal direction (sagittal direction) and/or lateral direction (transverse direction) of the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20. The movement of the force transmission elements 60 in the sagittal direction (left/right) is realized according to FIG. 2, for example, by means of saggital curved tooth rails 80 arranged at the lower ends of the force transmission elements 60 and drivable, sagittal toothed wheels 90 operatively connected to the sagittal curved tooth rails 80. In the region of the opening 40 in the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20 saggital guide means 120 are arranged. By driving one or both of the sagittal gears 90, the respective lower end of the force transmission element 60 is pivoted over the corresponding sagittal curved toothed rail 80. Since the respective force transmission element 60 is rotatably mounted in the region of the sagittal guide means 120, the pivoting of the force transmission elements 60 causes a corresponding movement of the patient facing ends 70 of the force transmission elements 60 in the sagittal (left/right) direction.

[0047] Consequently, the angles of the force transmission elements 60 in the sagittal direction relative to the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20 are changed or adjusted.

[0048] The movement of the force transmission elements 60 in the transverse direction is shown in particular in FIG. 3. For this purpose, the device 10 according to the invention has, for example, a transversely curved toothed rail 100 in the lower region. The transversely curved toothed rail 100 is connected to the means for adjusting the sagittal direction 80, 90 and the lower ends of the force transmission elements 60. The transverse curved toothed rail 100 can be pivoted via the driven transverse toothed wheel 110, which is in operative connection with the transversely curved toothed rail 100, and thus also the means for adjusting the sagittal direction and the force transmission elements 60. To guide the transverse movement of the force transmission elements 60 further guide means 130 are provided, which consist for example as a curved groove and a sliding component contained therein, wherein the sliding component is firmly connected to the means for sagittal movement or the force transmission elements 60.

[0049] According to a further advantageous variant, the ends 70 of the force-transmission elements 60 facing the patient are curved in a sagittal and/or frontal direction, the curvature facing the patient, in particular in the sagittal plane, or directed laterally outwards in the frontal plane. Such curved ends 70 of the force transmission elements 60 ensure optimum force transmission to the sacrum 3 of the patient.

[0050] The force transmission elements 60 of FIG. 2 are designed to be variable in their longitudinal direction in order to exert a force on the sacrum 3 of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1. For this purpose, the force transmission elements 60 can be moved for example by a corresponding device towards the sacrum 3 of the patient to be treated or the force transmission elements 60 comprise means for changing the length of the force transmission elements 60. The force transmission elements 60 may be formed, for example, as variable-length piston elements.

[0051] Advantageously, the force transmission elements 60 have a padding 70 on the surface facing the patient.

[0052] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the holding device 50 is mounted to the treatment table 20. The holding device 50 from FIG. 2 is designed as an adjustable holding frame. Alternatively, the holder device 50 may be formed as an adjustable belt.

[0053] Advantageously, the holding device 50 at least partially comprises a padding on the surface facing the patient. Likewise, the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20 is preferably at least partially padded.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a view of the device according to the invention of FIG. 2 in the sagittal plane. The device 10 for mobilizing the sacroiliac joint 1 of a patient, in particular for releasing a blockage of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1, from FIG. 3 comprises the treatment table 20 with the patient's lying surface 30, the holding device 50 for fixing the patient's pelvis 2 relative to the treatment table 20 and two force transmission elements 60 arranged in the region of the opening 40 of the lying surface 30.

[0055] The opening 40 in the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20 is located in the region of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1 so that the force transmission elements 60 can exert a force on the sacrum 3 of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1 when the force transmission elements 60 are moved relative to the patient's pelvis 2.

[0056] The movement of the force transmission elements 60 in the sagittal direction can be seen in particular from FIG. 2. For movement of the force transmission elements 60 in the transverse direction, the device has, as already explained above and shown in particular in FIG. 3, a transversely curved toothed rail 100 in the lower region. The transversely curved toothed rail 100 is connected to the means for adjusting the sagittal direction 80, 90 and the lower ends of the force transmission elements 60. The transverse curved toothed rail 100 can be pivoted via the driven transverse toothed wheel 110, which is in operative connection with the transversely curved toothed rail 100, and thus also the means for adjusting the sagittal direction and the force transmission elements 60. To guide the transverse movement of the force transmission means 60 further guide means 130 are provided, which consist for example of a curved groove and a sliding component contained therein, wherein the sliding component is firmly connected to the means for sagittal movement or the force transmission elements 60.

[0057] The device 10 of FIGS. 2 and 3 further comprises an electronic control unit (not shown) for controlling the movement of the two force transmission elements 60. The electronic control unit automatically executes movement of the power transmission members 60 in accordance with a stored motion program.

[0058] The device 10 according to the invention may further comprise a monitoring device for monitoring the movement of the two force transmission elements 60. For example, this monitoring device is integrated in the electronic control unit. The monitoring device includes, for example, an emergency shutdown, which shuts off the device 10 when at least one force transmission element 60 leaves a predetermined range of motion. Alternatively or additionally, the device 10 according to the invention may comprise an emergency stop switch, which is preferably operable by the patient, even if the patient is fixed by means of the holding device 50 relative to the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20.

[0059] In the event of an emergency shutdown, the at least one force transmission element 60 is advantageously moved automatically into an initial position in which the at least one force transmission element 60 is not in contact with the patient lying on the lying surface 30 of the device 10.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a view of a device 10 according to the invention in the region of the sacroiliac joint 1 of a patient in the transversal plane, that is to say a sectional view through the longitudinal axis of the patient. The device 10 for mobilizing the patient's sacroiliac joint 1, in particular for releasing a blockage of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1, comprises a treatment table 20 with a lying surface 30 for the patient. The lying surface 30 has an opening 40 in the region of the sacroiliac joint 1 of the patient. The device 10 further comprises a holding device 50 for fixing the pelvis of the patient relative to the treatment table 20. In order to mobilize the patient's sacroiliac joint 1, the device 10 further comprises at least one force transmission element 60 arranged in the region of the opening 40 of the lying surface 30, wherein the force transmission element 60 is designed to exert a force on the sacrum 3 of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1 by a movement.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the device 10 comprises two force transmission elements 60, wherein the two force transmission elements 60 can independently or jointly exert a force on the sacrum 3 of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1. The ends 70 of the two force-transmission elements 60, which are arranged immediately adjacent to the patient, expediently have a padding on the surface facing the patient. Further, in particular, the patient-facing ends 70 of the force transmission members 60 may include other functional units (not shown), such as a heat source, an ultrasound source, a shockwave source, and/or a laser source. Advantageously, the ends 70 facing the patient are modular or interchangeable, so that different additional functional units can be used by simply exchanging the ends 70 of the force transmission element 60 facing the patient.

[0062] The embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in particular in that the device 10 is designed such that the two force transmission elements 60 each move on a curved path, in particular a circular path relative to the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20, in particular curved in the lateral direction of the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20. For this purpose, the device 10 may have, for example, correspondingly designed guide elements and/or as indicated in FIG. 4 the means for moving the force transmission elements 60 are formed such that the force transmission elements 60 move on a curved path, in particular a circular path, relative to the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20. Further, FIG. 4 shows that the force transmission elements 60 are curved, in particular curved in the lateral direction of the lying surface 30 of the treatment table 20. The curvature of the force transmission elements 60 is substantially matched to the curvature of the articular surfaces of the patient's sacroiliac joint 1 between the pelvis and the sacrum.

[0063] Furthermore, reference is made to the previous statements, which are also valid for the device according to FIG. 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0064] 1 sacroiliac joint [0065] 2 pelvic shovel/pelvis [0066] 3 sacrum [0067] 10 device [0068] 20 treatment table [0069] 30 lying surface [0070] 40 opening lying surface [0071] 50 holding device [0072] 60 force transmission element [0073] 70 patient facing end of the force transmission element [0074] 80 sagittal curved toothed rail [0075] 90 sagittal gear [0076] 100 transversal curved toothed rail [0077] 110 transverse gear [0078] 120 sagittal guide means [0079] 130 transversal guide means [0080] 140 means for changing the length of the force transmission means [0081] 150 leg rest