Importance

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Abstract

A gravity traction vest for secure attachment to a patient is disclosed. The patient has a torso with a rib cage having a plurality of ribs including a lowest rib, the rib cage forming at its front a generally inverted U shaped area. The vest (10) is adapted to be secured to the patient and attached to a support structure, whereby the patient is suspended from the support structure with the head of the patient in a generally upward direction. The vest (10) includes a torso surrounding member (11) having a first section (12) and a second section (13). The sections (12) and (13) are constructed of a rigid material and the first section (12) is shaped to surround a first side of the torso and the second section (13) is shaped to surround a second side of the torso. The back edge (12a) of the first section (12) is cooperatively connected to the back edge (13a) of the second section (13). A cam over center lock (19) connects the first section (12) to the second section (13), whereby the torso surrounding member (11) is attached to the patient. Straps (22) and (23) are secured to support members (20) that are secured to the torso surrounding member (11). These are adapted to be attached to a support structure for suspending the member (11) from the support structure and applying a uniform force on the member in an upward direction. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom edges (12d) and (13d) have a flanged under portion (14) and (15) that protrude inwardly toward the patient for engagement below both the lowest rib and the inverted U shaped area of the rib cage, wherein when the vest (10) is attached to the patient's rib cage, substantially the entire flanged under portion (14) and (15) is positioned inwardly toward the patient. The vest (10) also includes a foam liner (21).

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First Claim