Method and apparatus for correcting foot and ankle problems and problems with gait
OwnerMarcus William Powell, John R Mitchellinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An AFO for use in the Ponseti method which is bar-less and provides for readily interchangeable structures for providing differing articulation resistance. In one embodiment, the readily interchangeable structure is a flexible member achieving connection between and the majority of the separation between the shoe and the calf engaging structure. In another embodiment, an articulated arm with two rigid segments joined at a spring loaded hinge, with interchangeable spring canisters is used.
Claims11
An orthosis for use in treating clubfoot, the orthosis comprising, in operative combination:
- a first extremity engaging structure configured to be disposed on an extremity and immediately above a joint on the extremity;
- a second extremity engaging structure configured to be disposed on the extremity and immediately below the joint;
- a hinge coupled to said first extremity engaging structure and said second extremity engaging structure;
- said hinge being configured with a variable resistance mechanism for resisting relative movement between said first extremity engaging structure and said second extremity engaging structure;
- and
- a first canister, disposed in said hinge, and having a first predetermined resistance characteristic and a first predetermined exterior shape and size characteristic,
- wherein said first canister has a first canister exterior shape which permits insertion of said first canister into a first side casing and mating of said first canister with said first side casing,
- wherein said first canister exterior shape includes a first rotation preventing surface feature and said first rotation preventing surface feature is triangularly shaped.
An orthosis for use in treating clubfoot, the orthosis comprising, in operative combination:
- a first extremity engaging structure configured to be disposed on an extremity and immediately above a joint on the extremity;
- a second extremity engaging structure configured to be disposed on the extremity and immediately below the joint;
- an intermediate structure coupled to said first extremity engaging structure and said second extremity engaging structure, so as to permit relative movement therebetween;
- and
- said intermediate structure being configured with a variable resistance characteristic for resisting relative movement between said first extremity engaging structure and said second extremity engaging structure,
- wherein said intermediate structure is an articulated rigid arm with a hinge therein, where the hinge is configured to receive a series of a plurality of interchangeable spring canisters where each of said plurality of interchangeable spring canisters is functionally identical except for differing spring configurations which produce a predetermined difference in spring constant to match with predetermined different therapeutic needs for resistance in the articulated rigid arm, and
- wherein each canister of said plurality of interchangeable spring canisters has a canister exterior shape which permits insertion of said canister into a first side casing and mating of said canister with said first side casing,
- wherein said canister exterior shape includes a first rotation preventing surface feature and said first rotation preventing surface feature is triangularly shaped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.