# US 11,896,077 B2 · Medical system or tool to counteract the adverse anatomical and medical effects of unnatural supination of the subtalar joint

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- Number: US 11,896,077 B2
- Document ID: US11896077B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/929,718
- Filed: 2022-09-05
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-18
- Applicants: Frampton E. Ellis
- Inventors: Frampton E. Ellis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896077B2

## CPC

- A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion}
- A41B 11/007: {Hosiery with an added sole, e.g. sole made of rubber or leather}
- A41B 11/008: {Hosiery with an anti-slip coating}
- A43B 1/0054: {provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances}
- A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements
- A43B 3/38: with power sources
- A43B 7/14: with foot-supporting parts
- A43B 7/1463: with removable pads to allow custom fit
- A43B 7/1464: with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
- A43B 7/24: Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side {, preventing supination or pronation}
- A43B 7/28: Adapting the inner sole {or the side of the upper} of the shoe to the sole of the foot
- A43B 13/18: Resilient soles {(skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658)}
- A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole}
- A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)}
- A43B 13/189: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water}
- A43B 13/203: {provided with a pump or valve}
- A43B 13/38: Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
- A43B 13/40: with cushions
- A43B 17/026: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water}
- A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature}
- A61B 5/1036: {Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies}
- A61B 5/1038: {Measuring plantar pressure during gait}
- A61B 5/112: {Gait analysis}
- A61B 5/1126: {using a particular sensing technique}
- A61B 5/6807: {Footwear}
- A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices}
- A61B 5/6898: {Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers}
- A61F 5/14: Special medical insertions for shoes for flat-feet, club-feet or the like
- A43B 1/00: Footwear characterised by the material
- A43B 3/00: Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B 13/20: Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)}
- A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)}
- A61B 5/6804: {Garments; Clothes}
- A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply
- A61B 2560/0252: using ambient temperature
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors
- A61B 2562/029: Humidity sensors
- A61B 2562/046: in a matrix array
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A41B: SHIRTS; UNDERWEAR; BABY LINEN; HANDKERCHIEFS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)

## Abstract

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical system or a medical tool for diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive, corrective, and/or rehabilitative functions before and/or during and/or after surgical or other medical treatment, comprising:
a smartphone or other mobile computer device configured to counteract the adverse anatomical and medical effects of the substantial unnatural supination of the subtalar joint of the human foot by elevated shoe heels throughout a stance phase of running that occurs particularly during childhood growth, through actively controlling a configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes located in either one or both of a sole or a removable sole insert of footwear of a wearer, the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or internal sipes being configured for computer control, wherein
the smartphone or other mobile computer device actively controls the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes based on input from one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable sole insert of the footwear of the wearer and from at least one sensor selected from a gyroscope and an accelerometer located in the smartphone or other mobile computer device or in another device or in an apparatus worn or carried by the wearer, attached to the wearer, or implanted in the wearer, the apparatus or the other device being separate from the footwear of the wearer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes based on input from one or more said sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable sole insert of the footwear of the wearer and the gyroscope and from an accelerometer independently located in the smartphone or other mobile computer device or in the another device or in the apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control in part, or completely, a magnetorheological fluid located in the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes; and/or the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control in part or completely at least one valve located between two or more of said bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes; and/or the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control in part, or completely, at least one electric and/or electronic and/or electromechanical device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more footwear soles or removable sole inserts of the wearer by altering a relative longitudinal height, including positive or negative heel lift, or negative or positive forefoot lift, and/or a relative side-to-side height between lateral and medial sides, and/or a relative height between right and left footwear soles or removable sole inserts, or a combination of these relative height alterations; and/or
the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more footwear soles or removable sole inserts of the wearer by altering relative longitudinal firmness between heel area and forefoot area and/or side-to-side firmness between lateral and medial side areas, and/or relative firmness between a right and left footwear sole or removable sole insert, or a combination of these relative firmness alterations; and/or
the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more footwear soles or removable sole inserts of the wearer by altering relative height or firmness under one or more of the foot bones of the wearer, including under a calcaneus, a lateral calcaneal tuberosity, a base of a fifth metatarsal, each head of a metatarsal, and each distal phalange, including a hallux or big toe, or under a longitudinal arch or a metatarsal arch of the wearer; and/or
the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to actively control a footwear configuration at least once per full operation cycle or locomotion stride, or many times per full operation cycle or locomotion stride, or once per many full operation cycles or locomotion strides or based on a set time period of any duration or based on another test condition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to:
record a first test data set for a first configuration of the footwear and a second test data set for a second configuration of the footwear, each said data set consisting of measurements of a force and/or the relative pressure distribution of the wearer's footsole on an upper surface of the footwear during the wearer's locomotion or other physical activity, as measured in at least one plane (1D) or in two planes (2D) or in three planes (3D) and/or including time or other measurements, the footwear upper surface including at least a multitude or 20 or 50 or 100 or 500 or 1,000 or 4,000, or 16,000 individual pressure sensors;
compare the first test data set and the second test data set with a preferred data set for measurements of the force and/or relative pressure distribution of the foot sole of a model wearer or wearers on an upper surface of the footwear during the locomotion or other physical activity, as measured in at least one plane (1D) or in two planes (2D) or in three planes (3D) and/or including time or other measurements; and
select a configuration setting of the soles that produced the test data set for the force or relative pressure distribution that is closest to the preferred data set for relative pressure distribution and to reject another configuration setting, thereby completing at least one full cycle of an operation to optimize the wearer's footwear configuration; and wherein optimizing is used to reduce a range of pronation and/or supination of the wearer's foot and ankle during a landing phase of locomotion through active configuration of either or both of the footwear soles or removable sole inserts.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 5, configured to measure relative positions of the wearer's right and left feet during the stance phase of locomotion so as to determine a degree of crossover of right and/or left feet across a centerline of the wearer's body, as measured in a frontal plane during the stance phase of locomotion; and then to test a series of configuration settings in order to reduce or eliminate the crossover.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, configured to carry out the following steps:
first, control the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes by establishing a first configuration setting of said one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes for at least a first test during the locomotion or other physical activity of the wearer;
second, control the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes by establishing a second configuration setting of said one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes that is different from the first configuration setting for at least a second test during the locomotion or other physical activity of the wearer;
third, process measurement data from the first and second tests received from the sensors located in both footwear soles or inserts and from the at least one sensor in the smartphone or other mobile computer device and/or in another device and/or located in the apparatus;
fourth, compare the data from the first and second tests with a preferred data set; and
fifth, select one said configuration setting of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes from the first or second test that produced data that is closest to matching the preferred data set.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, configured to use the smartphone or other mobile computer device to record and compare multiple test data sets consisting of measurements of relative motion during the wearer's locomotion or other physical activity of a position at or near to a part of the body of the wearer; as measured in at least one plane (1D) or in two planes (2D) or in three planes (3D) and/or including time or other measurements.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, configured to use the smartphone or other mobile computer device to record and compare multiple test data sets including data from at least the sensor of the smartphone or other mobile computer device and consisting of measurements of relative motion during the wearer's locomotion or other physical activity of a position that is at or near a center of gravity of a body of the wearer, as measured in at least one plane (1D) or in two planes (2D) or in three planes (3D) and/or including time or other measurements.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to receive input from the apparatus with at least one gyroscope and/or accelerometer and/or other relative and/or absolute motion sensor and/or pressure sensor and/or force sensor, the apparatus comprising any article of clothing or personal equipment, including earphones or earplugs, helmet, eyeglasses, watch, belt, waistband, elastic underwear, armband, a taped or bandaged attachment, necklace, lanyard, cervical collar, ring, headband, body piercing, or that are in any manner attached or embedded in conventional or specialized clothing worn or attached to skin of a wearer, or padding or braces, armor, or seating or furniture.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device is further configured to control the apparatus worn or carried by the wearer, attached to the wearer, or implanted in the wearer,
the apparatus including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes that are configured for computer control so that the smartphone or other mobile computer device alters the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes of the apparatus.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device is configured to measure and receive 1D or 2D or 3D data of the relative motion of the wearer's head during locomotion using earplug sensor fixation by ear canals of the wearer's head and compare head motion data of the wearer with center of gravity data of the wearer during locomotion or other physical activity; and/or
send either or both of said sets of data to a computer system and/or a third party for comparison and/or to conduct other functions in a shared operation, including a partially shared operation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device actively controls the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes based on input from at least one said sensor selected from the gyroscope and the accelerometer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device actively controls the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes based on input from the gyroscope located in the smartphone or other mobile computer device and the accelerometer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the smartphone or other mobile computer device actively controls the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes based on input from at least one said sensor located in the apparatus and selected from the gyroscope and the accelerometer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein the medical treatment is non-surgical.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A computer system comprising a Web site and/or a cloud array of computers, wherein the computer system is configured to have a connection to the medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, wherein
the computer system is configured to use the smartphone or other mobile computer device of the medical system or the medical tool of claim 1 to actively control the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes of the medical system or the medical tool of claim 1 based on input from one or more of said sensors of the medical system or the medical tool of claim 1 located in either one or both of a sole or a removable sole insert of the footwear of the wearer and from at least one sensor selected from a gyroscope and an accelerometer located in the smartphone or other mobile computer device or in another device or in an apparatus worn or carried by the wearer, attached to the wearer, or implanted in the wearer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The computer system of claim 17, wherein the computer system is further configured to share access by authorized third parties and by the wearer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The computer system of claim 18, wherein the computer system is further configured for conducting real time or subsequent testing involving one or more of said authorized third parties.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The computer system of claim 18, wherein the computer system is further configured to analyze test data sets of groups or categories of wearers.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A sole or a removable sole insert of footwear of a wearer wherein the sole or the removable sole insert is configured to have a connection to the medical system or the medical tool of claim 1, and wherein
the sole or the removable sole insert is configured to be controlled by the smartphone or other mobile computer device of the medical system or the medical tool of claim 1 in order for the smartphone or other mobile computer device to actively control the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes of the sole or the removable insert based on input from one or more sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable sole insert of the footwear of the wearer and from at least one sensor selected from a gyroscope and an accelerometer located in the smartphone or other mobile computer device or in another device or in an apparatus worn or carried by the wearer, attached to the wearer, or implanted in the wearer, the apparatus or the other device being separate from the footwear of the wearer.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable media, comprising:
a configuration for the medical system or the medical tool as claimed in claim 1, whereby the smartphone or other mobile computer device of the medical system or the medical tool of claim 1 is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes located in either one or both of a sole or a removable sole insert of footwear of a wearer and configured for computer control, wherein
the computer program, when executed on a smartphone or other mobile computer device, actively controls the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes based on input from one or more sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable sole insert of the footwear of the wearer and from at least one sensor selected from a gyroscope and an accelerometer located in the smartphone or other mobile computer device or in an apparatus worn or carried by the wearer, attached to the wearer, or implanted in the wearer, the apparatus or the other device being separate from the footwear of the wearer.