LUMBAR RETRACTOR

Abstract

A lumbar retractor according to an embodiment comprises: a first fixing part for fixing the user's lumbar regions; a second fixing part for fixing the user's pelvic regions; and a connection part disposed between the first fixing part and the second fixing part to connect the first fixing part and the second fixing part, wherein the distance between the first fixing part and the second fixing part can be adjusted by changing the length of the connection part, and the first fixing part can press each of a plurality of segments of the user's lumbar regions individually.

Claims

1. A lumbar retractor comprising: a first fixer configured to fix a thoracic region of a user; a second fixer configured to fix a pelvic region of the user; and a connector disposed between the first fixer and the second fixer and configured to connect the first fixer and the second fixer, wherein a distance between the first fixer and the second fixer is adjustable as a length of the connector is changed, and the first fixer is configured to be capable of pressing individually a plurality of segments of a thoracic vertebrae of the user, respectively.

2. The lumbar retractor of claim 1, wherein the first fixer comprises: a first base configured to support the thoracic vertebrae of the user; a plurality of first tubes disposed on the first base and capable of being disposed respectively at positions corresponding to the plurality of segments of the thoracic vertebrae of the user; and a first belt configured to extend from both sides of the plurality of first tubes to fix an upper body of the user, wherein the plurality of first tubes are individually expandable or contractable by air pressure, respectively.

3. The lumbar retractor of claim 2, wherein the second fixer comprises: a second base configured to support a pelvis of the user; a plurality of second tubes disposed on the second base and capable of being disposed respectively at positions corresponding to a left pelvis and a right pelvis of the user; and a second belt configured to extend from both sides of the plurality of second tubes to fix the pelvis of the user, wherein the plurality of second tubes are individually expandable or contractable by air pressure, respectively.

4. The lumbar retractor of claim 3, further comprising a controller configured to be capable of controlling air pressure in the first tube and the second tube, wherein the controller is configured to be capable of: pressing only a specific segment among the segments of the thoracic vertebrae of the user by expanding some of the plurality of first tubes and deflating the rest according to the user's selection; and controlling individually degrees of expansion of the plurality of second tubes disposed below the left pelvis and the right pelvis of the user, according to the user's selection.

5. The lumbar retractor of claim 4, further comprising: an actuator disposed to connect a lower side of the first fixer and a lower side of the second fixer; a sensor configured to sense the length of the connector which is changed by extension of the distance between the first fixer and the second fixer by the actuator; and a determinator configured to determine a time point when the user feels pain due to a traction force on lumbar of the user provided by the extension of the distance between the first fixer and the second fixer by the actuator;

6. The lumbar retractor of claim 5, wherein the determinator is configured to determine a time point when the length of the connector sensed by the sensor is no longer extended compared to the traction force of a predetermined value provided by the actuator as the time point when the user feels pain, and the controller is configure to reduce or stop the traction force by controlling an operation of the actuator when the time point when the user feels pain is determined by the determinator.

7. The lumbar retractor of claim 6, further comprising: a mover disposed at a lower side of the second fixer and configured to rotate against the ground to be able to move the lumbar retractor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an upper side of a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 2 diagram illustrating a lower side of a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment.

[0031] FIGS. 3 and 4 diagrams illustrating an operating state of a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. One of many aspects of example embodiments is described hereinafter, and the following description forms a part of the detailed description of the example embodiments.

[0033] However, in describing an example embodiment, a detailed description of a well-known function or configuration will be omitted in order to clarify the gist of the disclosure.

[0034] In addition, terms or words used herein and claims should not be construed in conventional or dictionary meanings, and based on the principle that the inventor may appropriately define the concept of a term in order to best describe the disclosure, the term should be construed as a meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment.

[0035] Therefore, the example embodiments described herein and configurations shown in the drawings are intended merely to present most preferred example embodiments of the lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment, which does not represent all the technical ideas of the lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment, and thus should be understood that various equivalents and modifications may be substituted for them at the time of filing the present application.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an upper side of a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a lower side of a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment. FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating an operating state of a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, a lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment may include a first fixer 100 configured to fix a thoracic region of a user, a second fixer 200 configured to fix a pelvic region of the user, a connector 300 configured to be disposed between the first fixer and the second fixer to connect the first fixer and the second fixer, and a sensor 600 configured to sense a length of the connector 300 which is changed by extension of a distance between the first fixer and the second fixer by an actuator which is to be described later.

[0038] Here, a distance between the first fixer and the second fixer can be adjusted as a length of the connector is changed, and the first fixer is capable of individually pressing a plurality of segments of a thoracic vertebrae of the user, respectively.

[0039] Specifically, the first fixer 100 may include a first base 110 configured to support the thoracic vertebrae of the user, a plurality of first tubes 120 configured to be disposed on the first base and which can be respectively disposed at positions corresponding to the plurality of segments of the thoracic vertebrae of the user, and a first belt 130 configured to extend from both sides of the plurality of first tubes to fix an upper body of the user.

[0040] Such a plurality of first tubes 120 may each be individually expanded or contracted by air pressure. In other words, as only some of the first tubes are expanded according to the user's selection, a specific segment among the thoracic vertebrae of the user may be targeted and pressurized.

[0041] Further, the second fixer 200 may include a second base 210 configured to support a pelvis of the user, a plurality of second tubes 220 configured to be disposed on the second base and which can be respectively disposed at positions corresponding to a left pelvis and a right pelvis of the user, and a second belt 230 configured to extend from both sides of the plurality of second tubes to fix the pelvis of the user.

[0042] Such a plurality of second tubes may each be individually expanded or contracted by air pressure. In other words, the two second tubes may be simultaneously expanded or asymmetrically expanded according to the user's selection.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 2, a lumbar retractor may further include an actuator 500 configured to be disposed to connect a lower side of the first fixer and a lower side of the second fixer, a pressure motor 700 configured to be disposed at the lower side of the first fixer, a first pneumatic valve 810 configured to connect the pressure motor and the first tube, a second pneumatic valve 820 configured to connect the pressure motor and the second tube, a controller 400 configured to be capable of controlling the air pressure in the first tube and the second tube, and a determinator (not shown) configured to determine a time point when the user feels pain due to a traction force on lumbar of the user provided by the extension of the distance between the first fixer and the second fixer by the actuator.

[0044] Here, the controller 400 may press only a specific segment among the segments of the thoracic vertebrae of the user by expanding some of the plurality of first tubes and deflating the rest according to the user's selection, and individually control degrees of expansion of the plurality of second tubes disposed below the left pelvis and the right pelvis of the user according to the user's selection.

[0045] Further, the determinator may determine a time point when the length of the connector sensed by the sensor is no longer extended compared to the traction force of a certain value provided by the actuator as the time point when the user feels pain.

[0046] As such, the controller may reduce or stop the traction force by controlling an operation of the actuator when the time point when the user feels pain is determined by the determinator.

[0047] Through this mechanism, it is possible to preemptively determine the time to point when the user may feel pain based on the user's body change data before the user feels great sensory pain when using the lumbar retractor, and thus prevent the pain of the user in advance by reducing or stopping the traction force.

[0048] In addition, the lumbar retractor may further include a mover 900 configured to be disposed at the lower side of the second fixer and rotated against ground to be able to move the lumbar retractor.

[0049] Therefore, the length of the connector 400 may be contracted so that the lumbar retractor may slide with respect to the ground using the mover in a state in which the first fixer and the second fixer are in contact and the volume of the lumbar retractor is minimized. Accordingly, it is easy to carry and store the lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment at home.

[0050] Using a lumbar retractor having such a configuration, the lumbar of the user may be tracted by pressing a specific portion of the segments of the user's thoracic vertebrae and tracting it to the lower side of the user's pelvis in a fixed state as shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] If the length of the connector sensed by the sensor is no longer extended even though the traction force of a certain value is continuously provided, the time point may be determined as the time point when the user may feel pain, and the traction force may be reduced or stopped.

[0052] Thereafter, the traction force may be released by moving the second fixer in a direction closer to the first fixer again as shown in FIG. 4.

[0053] A lumbar retractor according to an example embodiment including the above described configuration may tract the user's lumbar while applying individually controlled compression to each segment of the user's thoracic vertebrae, and automatically search for a time point of inducing pain that may not be specified by the user and reduce the traction force for the lumbar when the time point of inducing pain is reached.

[0054] In addition, the lumbar retractor has a compact volume and structure, making it possible to be carried easily and to be used at home.

[0055] While the disclosure includes example embodiments with reference to specific matters such as specific components and limited example embodiments and drawings, the example embodiments described herein are to be considered as provided to help the overall understanding only. The example embodiments described herein are not for purposes of limitation, and it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made in these example embodiments Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure.