PATIENT INTERFACE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING THE PATIENT INTERFACE DEVICE TO ALIGN OF ADJOINING CERVICAL SPINE

摘要

A patient interface device and a method for utilizing the patient interface device align the adjoining cervical vertebra (416) are provided. The patient interface device includes a patient-positioning means (618) configured to repeatedly align a target region of a patient cervical vertebra (416), to position and maintain the patient skull (615) relative to the patient cervical vertebra (416) such that the atlanto-occipital joint is extended, to reduce or eliminate side to side motion of the patient skull (615) and patient cervical vertebra (416), and to support the curvature of the patient cervical vertebra (416), and a patient-interface device operationally configured to translate applied tension to the patient-positioning means (618), wherein the tension acts on the patient occiput, to allow for angular movement of the patient-positioning means (618), and to allow for movement of the patient-positioning means (618) towards and away from the patient shoulders. The device illustrates the proper alignment of the patient skull (615) relative to the cervical vertebra, so that it affects somehow the concentrated decompression in the cervical intervertebral discs.