# US 11,026,827 B2 · Ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and method of making the same

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- Number: US 11,026,827 B2
- Document ID: US11026827B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/839,320
- Filed: 2017-12-12
- Published: 2018-04-12
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-30
- Assignees: Bracemasters International, LLC
- Applicants: Bracemasters International, LLC
- Inventors: Davin T. Heyd; William D. Falcon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026827B2

## CPC

- A61F 5/0111: {for the feet or ankles}
- A61F 5/0104: {without articulation}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 156/1028: by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present disclosure provides a custom or pre-fabricated ankle foot orthosis providing tri-planar control of the ankle foot structure. The ankle foot orthosis comprises a brace body composed of reinforcement strips and a closure mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ankle foot orthosis, comprising:
a brace body comprising a first polyolefin elastomeric material, the brace body comprising:
a back portion;
a medial side portion having a medial front edge;
a lateral side portion having a lateral front edge;
a sole portion;
a proximal edge;
a first reinforcement strip of a second polyolefin elastomeric material, the first reinforcement strip being a single medial stirrup-type strip having a first end situated on the medial side portion below the proximal edge and extending as a continuous strip along the medial side portion, under the sole portion and along the lateral side portion, to a second end situated on the lateral side portion below the proximal edge, to hinder talus range of motion and guard against unwanted tri-planar ankle foot motion;
the medial front edge and the lateral front edge being configured for an overlapping arrangement; and
a closure mechanism to tighten the ankle foot orthosis on a foot;
wherein the brace body comprises a closed cell foam inner lining bonded to an outer layer comprising the first polyolefin elastomeric material, with the first reinforcement strip situated between the inner lining and the outer layer;
wherein the first polyolefin elastomeric material is an ethylene-butene copolymer or an ethylene-octene copolymer, and the second polyolefin elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, and modified polyethylene (MPE); and
wherein the first polyolefin elastomeric material has a melt index of less than 0.5 30 g/10 minutes (measured according to ASTM D 1238), a density of 0.857 to 0.910 g/cc (measured according to ASTM D 792), a melting range of 36° C. to 140° C., a Shore A hardness of 56 to 96 (measured according to ASTM D 2240), and a flexural modulus of from 3 to 110 MPa (measured according to ASTM D 790).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 1, further comprising a second reinforcement strip positioned below the proximal edge with a first end situated on the medial side portion and extending along the back portion with a second end situated on the lateral side portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 2, wherein the second reinforcement strip is positioned in at least a partially parallel orientation to the proximal edge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 2, wherein the first and second reinforcement strips comprise a polyolefin elastomeric material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism comprises laces, hooks, loops, elastic, fasteners, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism comprises laces and lace loops.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 6, wherein the lace loops have a base in contact with the first reinforcement strip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 6, further comprising a second reinforcement strip positioned below the proximal edge with a first end situated on the medial side portion and extending along the back portion with a second end situated on the lateral side portion, wherein the closure mechanism further comprises boot hooks mounted on the first reinforcement strip, the second reinforcement strip, or both.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 1, being structured for insertion into a shoe.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 1, where the sole portion is in a plane at least partially horizontal to the medial and lateral side portions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The ankle foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the sole portion is at least partially perpendicular to at least a portion of the medial side portion, at least a portion of the lateral side portion, or both.