Energy return orthotic systems
AssigneeSubioMed, Inc.
InventorBarry A. Butler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed including a tri-layer orthotic system having a heel portion and a forefoot portion to support respective heel and forefoot portions of a foot through at least a portion of a gait cycle. The tri-layer orthotic system can include an upper layer suspended over a mid-layer and a base layer to create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section, and a front spring section. A distal toe portion of the mid-layer can form the forefoot portion of the tri-layer orthotic system and a heel upper layer portion of the upper layer can form the heel portion of tri-layer orthotic system.
Claims20
A tri-layer orthotic system having a heel portion and a forefoot portion, the tri-layer orthotic system comprising
- a base layer having a distal toe end and a proximal heel end;
- a mid-layer having a distal toe portion, a mid-portion, and a proximal heel portion, the distal toe portion of the mid-layer coupled to the distal toe end of the base layer to form the forefoot portion of the tri-layer orthotic system;
- and
- an upper layer having a front upper layer portion, an arch upper layer portion, and a heel upper layer portion, the heel upper layer portion coupled to the proximal heel portion of the mid-layer to form the heel portion of the tri-layer orthotic system,
- wherein the coupling of the distal toe portion of the mid-layer to the distal toe end of the base layer and the heel upper layer portion to the proximal heel portion of the mid-layer is configured such that the upper layer is suspended over the mid-layer and the heel portion is suspended over the proximal heel end of the base layer to create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section, and a front spring section,
- wherein the heel portion of the tri-layer orthotic system and the forefoot portion of the tri-layer orthotic system are configured to support respective heel and forefoot portions of a foot through at least a portion of a gait cycle.
A method of controlling biomechanics during a gait cycle, comprising:
- coupling a distal toe portion of a mid-layer of a tri-layer orthotic system to a distal toe end of a base layer of the tri-layer orthotic system and a heel upper layer portion of the tri-layer orthotic system to the proximal heel portion of the mid-layer to suspend the upper layer over the mid-layer and the mid-layer over the base layer to create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section, and a front spring section of the tri-layer orthotic system;
- and
- supporting respective heel and forefoot portions of a foot through at least a portion of the gait cycle using separate heel and forefoot portions of the tri-layer orthotic system,
- wherein the base layer comprises a distal toe end and a proximal heel end,
- wherein the mid-layer comprises a distal toe portion, a mid-portion, and a proximal heel portion, the distal toe portion of the mid-layer coupled to the distal toe end of the base layer to form the forefoot portion of the tri-layer orthotic system,
- wherein the upper layer comprises a front upper layer portion, an arch upper layer portion, and a heel upper layer portion, the heel upper layer portion coupled to the proximal heel portion of the mid-layer to form the heel portion of the tri-layer orthotic system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.