EP2180855A1

EP2180855A1 - Spinal correction apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2180855A1
Application number: EP08778699A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jae-Soo Kim
Original assignee: Ajoo Medics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ajoo Medics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-08
Filing date: 2008-07-09
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Also published as: CN201624824U; WO2009020289A1; KR200438814Y1; JP2010512222A; EP2180855A4; JP4981145B2

Abstract

Provided is a spinal correction apparatus comprising a chest support that is supported by a main body frame and fixes the chest, a cervical vertebra support that is mounted in the main body frame so as to be disposed in one side of the chest support, a cervical vertebra support driving unit that left/right rotates the cervical vertebra support with regard to the chest support to enable a neck rotation motion, a pelvic support that is mounted in the main body frame so as to be disposed in another side of the chest support, a stretching driving unit that approaches and is spaced from the pelvis support with regard to the chest support to perform a pelvic stretching motion, a rotation twist driving unit that left/right rotates with regard to one side of the pelvis support facing the chest support and twists up/down, and a controller that receives a manipulation instruction and controls the cervical vertebra support driving unit, the stretching driving unit, or the rotation twist driving unit. The spinal correction apparatus can simultaneously perform a pelvic left/right rotation motion, a pelvic twisting motion, or a pelvic stretching motion, thereby expecting a composite pelvic correction effect, and reducing time required to correct a spine.

Description

SPINAL CORRECTION APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The Present invention relates to spinal correction apparatus, and more particularly, to a spinal correction apparatus for normally correcting a malposition occurred in a bone element, such as a joint, constituting a skeletal structure by simultaneously performing pelvic left/right rotation, twist, or stretching motion. Background Art

[2] Spinal correction apparatuses have recently used to perform a stretching motion so as to prevent a neck disk, recover fatigue, remove a shoulder-arm pain, reduce flab, recover a physical strength, and prevent injury or to correct a malposition causing a change in a joint location of bones due to an external shock, an imbalanced physical strength motion, other spinal diseases (for example, scoliosis and kyphosis).

[3] A conventional spinal correction apparatus uses a cervical vertebra support for performing an up/down reciprocating motion with regard to a main body or a pelvis support for performing a stretching motion that approaches or is spaced from a chest support so as to perform a motion of pulling back a neck, relaxing the neck, a physical strength recovery, or a recovery of malpositioned bone to a normal joint location, while performing a massage by a drop motion from the chest support, the cervical vertebra support, or the pelvis support.

[4] Various types of spinal correction apparatuses have been disclosed. For example,

Korean Patent Publication No. 1996-0010744 discloses a spinal correction apparatus comprising a cervical vertebra support for performing an up/down reciprocating motion with regard to a main body, and a pelvis support for performing a stretching motion that left/right rotates with regard to the main body, approaches, or is spaced from the main body.

[5] However, since the conventional spinal correction apparatus separately performs a pelvic rotation by a left/right rotation of the pelvis support or pelvic stretching, when a malpositioned spine is corrected, the conventional spinal correction apparatus performs the pelvic stretching after performing the pelvic rotation, or performs the pelvic stretching before performing the pelvic rotation, which requires much correction time, and does not appropriately deal with a malposition occurred in a bone element that simultaneously needs the pelvic rotation and stretching, failing in a normal correction. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] The present invention provides a spinal correction apparatus for normally correcting a malposition occurred in a bone element, such as a joint, constituting a skeletal structure by simultaneously performing a pelvic left/right rotation, twist, or stretching motion.

Technical Solution

[7] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spinal correction apparatus comprising a chest support that is supported by a main body frame and fixes the chest, a cervical vertebra support that is mounted in the main body frame so as to be disposed in one side of the chest support, a cervical vertebra support driving unit that left/right rotates the cervical vertebra support with regard to the chest support to enable a neck rotation motion, a pelvic support that is mounted in the main body frame so as to be disposed in another side of the chest support, a stretching driving unit allowing the pelvis support to approach the chest support and be spaced from the chest support and to perform a pelvic stretching motion; a rotation twist driving unit allowing the pelvis support to left/right rotate with regard to one side of the pelvis support facing the chest support and to twist up/down; and a controller that receives a manipulation instruction and controls the cervical vertebra support driving unit, the stretching driving unit, or the rotation twist driving unit.

[8] The rotation twist driving unit may comprise: a shaft mounted in the pelvis support; a shaft holder mounted in the main body frame and connected to one end of the shaft to perform rotation and twisting; a rotation motor; a rotation cam connected to the exit end of the rotation motor; a first connection link having one end connected to the rotation cam by a ball joint; a second connection link comprising a first coupling hole connected to another end of the first connection link by the ball joint, a second coupling hole rotatably connected to another end of the shaft, and a third coupling hole locked into a bearing that is inserted into a slide groove of a support arm mounted in the main body frame to perform a left/right reciprocating motion, and converting a rotation motion of the rotation cam into a left/right reciprocating motion of the shaft; a first bevel gear mounted in the main body frame; and a second bevel gear coupled to one side of another end of the shaft, receiving a driving force from the second connection link, engaged with the first bevel gear and rotating, and allowing the shaft to perform a rotation twisting motion.

[9] The spinal correction apparatus may further comprise: a pair of chest tightening units disposed in both sides of the chest support, approaching each other and spaced from each other, and tightening or releasing the chest; and a pair of pelvis tightening units disposed in both sides of the pelvis support, approaching each other and spaced from each other, and tightening or releasing the pelvis.

[10] The spinal correction apparatus may further comprise: a lower body fixing unit disposed in one side of the pelvis support, fixing the calf and ankle during the rotation twist motion, and preventing the calf and angle from being separated from the pelvis support.

[11] The lower body fixing unit may comprise: two accommodating grooves accommodating the calf and ankle in one side of the pelvis support in which the calf and leg are disposed, wherein the cross-sections of the two accommodating grooves are reduced from the bottom surface toward the upper openings.

[12] The spinal correction apparatus may further comprise: a plurality of acupuncture point massaging units disposed in the chest support and the pelvis support to massage acupuncture points by a drop motion performed with regard to body acupuncture points.

[13] The spinal correction apparatus may further comprise: a second approach sensor disposed in one side of the second bevel gear, wherein, when an instruction for stopping the rotation twist motion is input, the controller continuously drives the rotation motor until the second approach sensor detects the return of the second bevel gear to an initial location.

[14] The spinal correction apparatus may further comprise: a manipulation unit comprising one or more of a motion selection key selecting the neck rotation motion, the stretching motion, or the rotation twisting motion; a program selection key selecting a motion program in combination of the above motions; and a function key selecting a drop motion function.

[15]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[16] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[17] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a spinal correction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[18] FIG. 2 is an internal perspective view of a spinal correction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 3 is an internal perspective view of a spinal correction apparatus that is ro- tationally twisted according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[20] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a rotational twisting driving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a spinal correction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[22] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a manipulation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the present invention are shown.

[24] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a spinal correction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment comprises a chest support 11 that is supported by a main body frame 5 and fixes the chest, a cervical vertebra support 21 that is mounted in the main body frame 5 so as to be disposed in one side of the chest support 11, a cervical vertebra support driving unit 23 that left/right rotates the cervical vertebra support 21 with regard to the chest support 11 to enable a neck rotation motion, a pelvic support 31 that is mounted in the main body frame 5 so as to be disposed in another side of the chest support 11, a stretching driving unit 40 that allows the pelvis support 31 to approach the chest support 11 and be spaced from the chest support 11 and to perform a pelvic stretching motion, a rotation twist driving unit 50 that allows the pelvis support 31 to left/right rotate with regard to one side of the pelvis support 31 facing the chest support 11 and to twist up/down, and a controller (not shown) that receives a manipulation instruction and controls the cervical vertebra support driving unit 23, the stretching driving unit 40, or the rotation twist driving unit 50

[25] Each of the elements will now be in detail described.

[26] Referring to FIG. 3, the spinal correction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment comprises a thoracic vertebra block 10, a cervical vertebra block 20, and a pelvis block 30 in view of the main body frame 5.

[27] The thoracic vertebra block 10 comprises the chest support 11 supported by the main body frame 5 and a chest sheet 12 disposed on the upper part of the chest support 11.

[28] The chest support 11 may comprise a pair of chest tightening units 15 that are disposed in both sides thereof, approach each other and are spaced from each other, and tighten or release the chest.

[29] The chest tightening units 15 may have a variety of types. For example, referring to

FIG. 5, the chest tightening units 15 comprises a first driving motor 15a, a first elastic rod 15b that receives a rotational power from the first driving motor 15a and is spaced from and approach both sides of the chest support 11, and a chest tightening plate 15c that is connected to both sides of the first elastic rod 15b, extends to the upper part of the chest sheet 12, and tightens or releases the chest.

[30] The chest tightening plate 15c presses and fixes the chest, more specifically, between armpits, and prevents the chest from moving when a pelvic stretching motion or a pelvic rotation twist motion is performed.

[31] The chest support 11 may comprise an arm support 2 for supporting a user's arm. [32] The cervical vertebra block 20 comprises the cervical vertebra support 21 that is mounted in the main body frame 5 so as to be disposed in one side of the chest support 11, a cervical vertebra sheet 22 that is disposed on the upper part of the cervical vertebra support 21, and the cervical vertebra support driving unit 23 that allows the cervical vertebra support 21 to left/right rotate with regard to the chest support 11 and perform the neck rotation motion.

[33] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, the cervical vertebra support driving unit 23 may comprise a speed reduction motor 23a, a connection road 23b, first and second cervical vertebra rotation cams 23c and 23d, and a cervical vertebra rotation axis 23e.

[34] With regard to the neck rotation motion through the cervical vertebra support driving unit 23, the connection rod 23b performs an up/down reciprocating motion by the rotation of the first cervical vertebra rotation cam 23c disposed in an exit end of the speed reduction motor 23 a.

[35] Another end of the connection rod 23b is connected to the second cervical vertebra rotation cam 23d that is connected to the cervical vertebra rotation axis 23e that is disposed in the lower part of the cervical vertebra support 21. Therefore, the connection rod 23b performs the up/down reciprocating motion and rotates the second cervical vertebra rotation cam 23d, the cervical vertebra rotation axis 23e rotates, and the cervical vertebra support 21 rotates left/right. In this regard, the cervical vertebra support 21 can rotate left/right, for example, between horizontal angles of 20°and 30°with respect to the plane.

[36] Meanwhile, the cervical vertebra support 21 can perform the up/down reciprocating motion with regard to the chest support 11. To this end, one side of the cervical vertebra support 21 is rotatably connected to the main body frame 5, and a cervical vertebra electric cylinder (not shown) that can be elastic between another side of the cervical vertebra support 21 and the main body frame 5.

[37] The cervical vertebra support driving unit 23 can operate automatically or manually via a manipulation unit 80. When the cervical vertebra support driving unit 23 operates manually via the manipulation unit 80, a rotation of the speed reduction motor 23a can be automatically stopped if an established period of time elapses. In this case, a first approach sensor 24 is disposed in one side of the first cervical vertebra rotation cam 23c so that an operation of the cervical vertebra support 21 can stopped at a horizontal location when the neck rotation motion ends.

[38] The pelvis block 30 may comprise the pelvic support 31 that is mounted in the main body frame 5 so as to be disposed in another side of the chest support 11, a pelvis sheet 32 disposed on the upper part of the pelvis support 31, the stretching driving unit 40, the rotation twist driving unit 50, and pelvis tightening units 35.

[39] The pelvis support 31 approaches and is spaced from the chest support 11 and performs the pelvis stretching motion.

[40] The stretching driving unit 40 allows the pelvis support 31 to approach the chest support 11 and be spaced from the chest support 11 and to perform the pelvis stretching motion. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the stretching driving unit 40 comprises an electric cylinder 41 mounted in the main body frame 5, and a plurality of stretching shafts 42 that receive a driving force of the electric cylinder 41 and enable the pelvis support 31 to perform a relative motion with respect to the main body frame 5.

[41] In this regard, the stretching driving unit 40 may further comprise a limit (not shown) that prevent the pelvis support 31 from being spaced from the main body frame 5 by more than a predetermined space. For example, when the pelvis support 31 and the main body frame 5 are spaced from each other by more than the predetermined space, the limit forcibly terminates the operation of the electric cylinder 41 and previously prevents a security accident.

[42] The stretching driving unit 40 can operate automatically or manually via the manipul ation unit 80. When the operation of the stretching driving unit 40 is stopped at any status, the stretching driving unit 40 enables the pelvis support 31 to return to an original location so that the pelvis support 31 and the main body frame 5 are spaced from each other by an initial space.

[43] The rotation twist driving unit 50 allows the pelvis support 31 to left/ left/right rotate with regard to one side of the pelvis support 31 facing the chest support 11 and to twist up/down.

[44] The rotation twist driving unit 50 may have a variety of types. For example, referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the rotation twist driving unit 50 may comprise a shaft 51, a shaft holder 52, a rotation motor 53, a rotation cam 54, a first connection link 55, a second connection link 56, a first bevel gear 58a, and a second bevel gear 58b.

[45] The shaft 51 is mounted in the pelvis support 31 and transfers the rotation twist motion to the pelvis support 31.

[46] The shaft holder 52 is mounted in the main body frame 5, and is connected to one end of the shaft 51 to perform rotation and twisting.

[47] The rotation cam 54 is connected to the exit end of the rotation motor 53 and rotates by the rotational force of the rotation motor 53.

[48] The first connection link 55 has one end connected to the rotation cam 54 by a ball joint and another end connected to a first coupling hole 56a of the second connection link 56 by the ball joint.

[49] The second connection link 56 is disposed between the first connection link 55 and the second connection link 56 and converts a rotation motion of the rotation cam 54 into a left/right reciprocating motion of the shaft 51. Referring to FIG. 4, the second connection link 56 comprises, for example, the first coupling hole 56a that is connected to another end of the first connection link 55 by the ball joint, a second coupling hole 56b that is rotatably connected to another end of the shaft 51, and a third coupling hole 56c that is locked into a bearing 56d that is inserted into a slide groove 57a of a support arm 57 mounted in the main body frame 5 to perform a left/right reciprocating motion.

[50] In this regard, the structure of the bearing 56d that is slidably coupled to the support arm 57 have various modifications other than the slide groove 57a. Therefore, when the rotation motor 53 operates, one end of the first connection link 55 rotates along the rotation cam 54, whereas the second connection link 56 coupled to another end of the first connection link 55 performs a left/right reciprocation motion by the bearing 56d inserted into the slide groove 57a disposed in the support arm 57, so that the rotation motion performed by the rotation motor 53 is converted into the left/right reciprocating motion through the first and second connection links 55 and 56.

[51] Meanwhile, the first bevel gear 58a is disposed in one side of the main body frame 5 corresponding to another end of the shaft 51, and the second bevel gear 58b is disposed in the upper part of the first bevel gear, i.e., one side of another end of the shaft 51.

[52] Referring to FIG. 4, the first bevel gear 58a has fan-shaped saw teeth and can left/ right rotate when the first bevel gear 58a engages with the second bevel gear 58b and rotates. The second bevel gear 58b has a saw teeth line formed on a fan-shaped circumferential surface and can be left/right twisted. When the first bevel gear 58a and the second bevel gear 58b engage each other and rotates, the first bevel gear 58a and the second bevel gear 58b left/right rotate and simultaneously are twisted up/down. Therefore, the spinal correction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can simultaneously perform the pelvic left/right rotation and twist motion, thereby expecting a complex pelvis correction effect, and reducing time required to correct a spine.

[53] In this regard, the area and angle of the saw teeth of the first bevel gear 58a and the second bevel gear 58b are adjusted so that a left/right rotation angle and twist angle can be adjusted. Also, various types of modifications are possible so as to implement the rotation twist. For example, a plurality of gear rows or belts can be used.

[54] The rotation twist driving unit 50 can operate automatically or manually via the manipulation unit 80. When the rotation twist driving unit 50 operates manually via the manipulation unit 80, a rotation of the rotation motor 53 can be automatically stopped if an established period of time elapses. In this case, a second approach sensor 58 is disposed in one side of the rotation cam 54 so that the pelvis support 31 can be automatically returned to an original location when the rotation twist motion ends.

[55] For example, when an instruction for stopping the rotation twist motion is input in a status where the pelvis support 31 left/right rotates and is twisted, the controller continuously drives the rotation motor 53 until the second approach sensor 58 detects the return of the second bevel gear 58b to the initial location. The rotation of the second bevel gear 58b engaged with the first bevel gear 58a enables the rotation motor 53 to stop when the pelvis support 31 is returned to the initial status.

[56] Meanwhile, the pelvis support 31 may further comprise the pair of pelvis tightening units 35 that are disposed in both sides thereof, approach each other and are spaced from each other, and tighten or release the pelvis. The pelvis tightening units 35 may have a variety of types. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the pelvis tightening units 35 comprise a second driving motor 35a, a second elastic rod 15b that receives a rotational power from the second driving motor 35a and is spaced from and approach both sides of the pelvis support 31, and a pelvis tightening plate 35c that is connected to both sides of the second elastic rod 35b, extends to the upper part of the pelvis sheet 32, and tightens or releases the pelvis.

[57] The pelvis tightening plate 35c presses and fixes the pelvis, and prevents the pelvis from moving from the pelvis support 31 when a rotation twist motion of the lower body is performed.

[58] A lower body fixing unit 37 is disposed in one side of the pelvis support 31, fixes the calf and ankle during the rotation twist motion, and prevents the calf and angle from being separated from the pelvis support 31.

[59] The lower body fixing unit 37 may have a variety of types. Referring to FIG. 1, for example, the lower body fixing unit 37 may include two accommodating grooves 39a and 39b that accommodate the calf and ankle in one side of the pelvis support 31 in which the calf and leg are disposed.

[60] In this regard, the cross-sections of the accommodating grooves 39a and 39b may be reduced from the bottom surface toward the upper openings.

[61] When the pelvic rotation twist motion is performed, the chest and lower body need to be fixed to the chest support 11 and the pelvis support 31 so as to prevent the chest and lower body from being separated therefrom. When the chest is fixed to the chest support 11, the chest tightening units 15 drives the pair of chest tightening plates 15c to slowly press the chest and tighten the chest appropriate to the width of the chest so as to fix the chest to the chest support 11.

[62] When the pelvis is fixed, the pelvis tightening unit 35 drives the pair of pelvis tightening plates 35c to slowly press the pelvis and tighten the pelvis appropriate to the width of the pelvis so as to fix the pelvis to the pelvis support 31 so that the calf and ankle are accommodated in the lower body fixing unit 37 so as to prevent the lower body from being separated from the pelvis support 31.

[63] When the pelvic stretching motion or pelvic rotation twist motion is performed, the pelvis tightening units 35 and the lower body fixing unit 37 fix the pelvis, the calf, or ankle to prevent them from being separated from the pelvis support 31, and the chest tightening plates 15c fix the chest to prevent the chest from being separated from the chest support 11, thereby effectively performing the rotation twist motion.

[64] The controller receives a manipulation instruction to control the cervical vertebra support driving unit 23, the stretching driving unit 40 or the rotation twist driving unit 50.

[65] A plurality of acupuncture point massaging units (not shown) are disposed in the chest support 11 and the pelvis support 31 to massage acupuncture points by a drop motion performed with regard to body acupuncture points. The acupuncture point massaging unit may use, for example, a solenoid motor. In this case, each acupuncture point is blown and the whole body is efficiently massaged, which is more efficient to a fatigue recovery and stress removal.

[66] A face heating unit (not shown) is disposed in the chest support 11 and the pelvis support 31 so as to perform a far-infrared fomentation. In this regard, the face heating unit can adjust a variety of fomentation temperatures, thereby providing a fomentation effect suitable for a user s body feature.

[67] Meanwhile, the manipulation unit 80 may be used to manipulate each function of the spinal correction apparatus 1. The manipulation unit 80, for example, may comprise one or more of a motion selection key 81a for selecting the above cervical vertebra motion, stretching motion, or twisting motion, a program selection key 81b for selecting a motion program in combination of the above motions, and a function key 81c for selecting a drop motion function, a far-infrared fomentation function, etc.

[68] The manipulation unit 80 may comprise a power key 8 Id for supplying/blocking power to the spinal correction apparatus 1, a mode change key 8 Ie for changing a manual mode or an automatic mode, and a stop key 8 If for stopping the spinal correction apparatus 1 according to a user s request.

[69] The manipulation unit 80 may have a variety of types. Referring to FIG. 6, for example, the manipulation unit 80 may be in a shape of a general remote controller, a selection display unit 82 for displaying a selection of the cervical vertebra motion, stretching motion, and twisting motion, a selection of the motion program, or a selection of the function, and a display unit 83 for displaying each motion time or whether the spinal correction apparatus 1 normally operates.

[70] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the manipulation unit 80 may be stored in a manipulation unit storing unit 3 in a location where a user can easily perform a manipulation function, for example, where the user lying in the spinal correction apparatus 1 can use the manipulation unit 80.

[71] The manipulation unit 80 can manipulate the spinal correction apparatus 1 in a manual mode or an automatic mode.

[72] In the manual mode, the spinal correction apparatus 1 separately performs the chest tightening motion, the pelvis tightening motion, the waist rotation motion, and the massage. In this case, the waist stretching motion may be increased by a predetermined space (for example, about 70 mm).

[73] In the automatic mode, various operations of the spinal correction apparatus 1 can be programmed. For example, the drop operation is used to perform the massage to each acupuncture point.

[74] Thereafter, the pair of chest tightening plates 15c are pressed to fix the chest to the chest support 11, and the pair of pelvis tightening plates 35c are pressed to fix the pelvis to the pelvis support 31.

[75] If the chest and the pelvis are fixed to the each support, the cervical vertebra motion and the pelvis motion are performed.

[76] When the cervical vertebra motion is performed, the controller extracts data corresponding to the cervical vertebra rotation motion or the up/down reciprocating motion from a memory unit and enables the cervical vertebra motion to be performed. In this case, the cervical vertebra support 21 rotates left/right with regard to the chest support 11 to perform the neck rotation motion, and performs the up/down reciprocating motion to perform the neck pulling back motion, thereby preventing a neck disk, quickly recovering fatigue, or a recovering a shoulder-arm pain due to a pain in the shoulders, benumbed arms, etc.

[77] When the pelvic motion is performed, the controller extracts data corresponding to the pelvic rotation twist motion or the pelvic stretching motion from the memory unit and enables the pelvic rotation twist motion or the pelvic stretching motion to be performed.

[78] When the pelvic stretching motion is performed, the pair of pelvis tightening plates

35c are pressed to fix the pelvis to the pelvis support 31, and the stretching driving unit 40 is driven to approach and be spaced from the pelvis support 31 with regard to the chest support 11.

[79] When the pelvic rotation twist motion is performed, the pair of pelvis tightening plates 35c are pressed to fix the pelvis to the pelvis support 31, and the rotation twist driving unit 50 is driven to rotate the first and second bevel gears 58a and 58b that are engaged with each other so that the pelvic left/right rotation motion and the pelvic up/ down twist motion are simultaneously performed.

[80] Therefore, the pelvis is distracted from the chest by a predetermined width, thereby simultaneously performing the pelvic left/right rotation motion and the pelvic up/down twist motion, so that the waist is flexible, a malpositioned spine can be normally corrected, and flab around the waistline can be removed.

[81] Meanwhile, when the joint is thin and the muscle is hard, the spinal correction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can activate a body function again and normalize the body function. In the evening after a daily work, the spinal correction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can recover fatigue that is built up all day long. Before and after the user does an exercise, the spinal correction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can maximize a stretching effect for the prevention of injury.

[82] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present. Industrial Applicability

[83] According to the present invention, the spinal correction apparatus can simultaneously perform a pelvic left/right rotation motion, a pelvic twisting motion, or a pelvic stretching motion, thereby expecting a composite pelvic correction effect, and reducing time required to correct a spine.

Claims

[1] A spinal correction apparatus comprising a main body frame, a chest support and a pelvis support that are mounted in a line in the main body frame, the spinal correction apparatus comprising; a stretching driving unit allowing the pelvis support to approach the chest support and be spaced from the chest support and to perform a pelvic stretching motion; a rotation twist driving unit allowing the pelvis support to left/right rotate with regard to one side of the pelvis support facing the chest support and to twist up/ down; and a controller receiving a manipulation instruction and controlling the stretching driving unit and the rotation twist driving unit, wherein the rotation twist driving unit comprises: a shaft mounted in the pelvis support; a shaft holder mounted in the main body frame and connected to one end of the shaft to perform rotation and twisting; a rotation motor; a rotation cam connected to the exit end of the rotation motor; a first connection link having one end connected to the rotation cam by a ball joint; a second connection link comprising a first coupling hole connected to another end of the first connection link by the ball joint, a second coupling hole rotatably connected to another end of the shaft, and a third coupling hole locked into a bearing that is inserted into a slide groove of a support arm mounted in the main body frame to perform a left/ right reciprocating, and converting a rotation motion of the rotation cam into a left/right reciprocating motion of the shaft; a first bevel gear mounted in the main body frame; and a second bevel gear coupled to one side of another end of the shaft, receiving a driving force from the second connection link, engaged with the first bevel gear and rotating, and allowing the shaft to perform a rotation twisting motion.

[2] The spinal correction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a cervical vertebra support mounted in the main body frame so as to be disposed in an opposite side of the pelvis support in view of the chest support; and

[3] The spinal correction apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a pair of chest tightening units disposed in both sides of the chest support, approaching each other and spaced from each other, and tightening or releasing the chest; and a pair of pelvis tightening units disposed in both sides of the pelvis support, approaching each other and spaced from each other, and tightening or releasing the pelvis.

[4] The spinal correction apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a lower body fixing unit disposed in one side of the pelvis support, fixing the calf and ankle during the rotation twist motion, and preventing the calf and angle from being separated from the pelvis support.

[5] The spinal correction apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lower body fixing unit comprises: two accommodating grooves accommodating the calf and ankle in one side of the pelvis support in which the calf and leg are disposed, wherein the cross-sections of the two accommodating grooves are reduced from the bottom surface toward the upper openings.

[6] The spinal correction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of acupuncture point massaging units disposed in the chest support and the pelvis support to massage acupuncture points by a drop motion performed with regard to body acupuncture points.

[7] The spinal correction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second approach sensor disposed in one side of the second bevel gear, wherein, when an instruction for stopping the rotation twist motion is input, the controller continuously drives the rotation motor until the second approach sensor detects the return of the second bevel gear to an initial location.

[8] The spinal correction apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a manipulation unit comprising one or more of a motion selection key selecting the neck rotation motion, the stretching motion, or the rotation twisting motion; a program selection key selecting a motion program in combination of the above motions; and a function key selecting a drop motion function.