Heel care device and method

A protective and pressure normalizing device for a body extremity, the body extremity has a topside, an underside and two other sides, comprising:

• a single chamber inflatable member has a lower portion that contacts at least a portion of the other sides of a lower region of the extremity, an intermediate portion that contacts at least a portion of the other sides of an intermediate region of the extremity, and an upper portion that contacts at least a portion of the other sides of an upper region of the extremity;
• a heel aperture exposes the underside of the intermediate region;
• a non-inflatable member has a lower portion that contacts at least a portion of the underside of the lower region, the inflatable member and heel aperture surround at least a portion of the non-inflatable member, the non-inflatable member has apertures interspaced therein;
• a means for releasably securing the device about the lower portion;
• and
• a nozzle for inflating the inflatable member to a desired internal pressure so the device engages and partially encloses in a cradling fashion the extremity and the inflating member applies a uniform interface pressure where it is applied to the extremity.

A method to use a static-pressure normalizing device to a body extremity, the body extremity has a topside, an underside and two other sides, comprising the steps of:

• inserting the underside of an intermediate region of the extremity into a heel aperture to expose the underside of the intermediate region;
• positioning at least a portion of the underside of a lower region of the extremity upon a non-inflatable member;
• placing an inflatable member upon the extremity so the inflatable member contacts at least a portion of the other sides of the lower region, at least a portion of the other sides of the intermediate region, and at least a portion of the other sides of an upper region of the extremity;
• and
• releasably securing the device about the lower portion.