Orthopedic braces and casts with aerating arrangements

A venting device for use with an orthopedic cast or brace, said venting device comprising two half sections which form the venting device when combined together to enclose a person's or animal's body part, each half section having a length extending from one end thereof to an opposite end thereof and a width, each half section being preformed to fit closely around a respective curved side of the body part and comprising:

• two spaced-apart inner and outer layers of flexible resilient material that extend substantially parallel to each other, the resilient material of at least said inner layer being porous;
• and
• spacer members arranged between and connecting the two layers and forming numerous air passageways between adjacent spacer members so that air is free to pass along said passageways from one or more open ends of the passageways located at least one of the two ends of the half section,
• wherein, when said venting device is used, the two half sections are placed around the selected body part so that they meet along respective lengthwise extending edges thereof and surround the body part and then said cast or brace is applied over the venting device so that the venting device is pressed between the body part and the cast or brace.

A brace for providing therapeutic pressure to a person's or animal's body part, said brace comprising:

• a rigid exterior shell adapted to fit around at least a major portion of said body part and having interior and exterior surfaces, said shell being perforated over a substantial portion of each of said interior and exterior surfaces so as to allow air to pass through the shell between said surfaces;
• an interior liner arranged in said shell to cushion said body part, said liner being perforated over at least a substantial portion thereof so as to allow air to pass between inner and outer surfaces of the liner;
• and
• at least one connector for securing said brace on the body part.

Footwear for a person's foot comprising:

• an exterior shell adapted to fit around at least the foot of a person and having interior and exterior surfaces, said shell being perforated with a large number of small closely spaced perforations over a substantial portion of each of said interior and exterior surfaces so as to allow air to pass through the shell between said surfaces;
• an interior flexible liner arranged in the shell adapted to cushion at least said foot, said liner being perforated over at least a substantial portion thereof so as to allow air to pass between inner and outer surfaces of the liner;
• and
• at least one fastener for securing the footwear on the foot.