# US 8,465,445 B2 · Ankle and foot orthosis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,445 B2 - Document ID: US8465445B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/165,424 - Filed: 2011-06-21 - Published: 2012-12-27 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-21 - Applicants: Patrick George - Inventors: Patrick George - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465445B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/0111: {for the feet or ankles} - 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 An orthosis comprising a foot plate, at least one structural frame strut is disclosed. The orthosis frame strut is formed from layered fabric that is infused with a hardened structural resin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An orthosis comprising a foot plate and a structural frame secured to the foot plate, the frame and comprising at least one strut, the strut having an elliptical or circular cross-sectional shape, the strut being formed from multiple layers of fabric infused with a hardened structural resin and having fabric strands oriented at angles to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the strut is posterior to the leg. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the strut is anterior to the leg. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The orthosis of claim 2, wherein the strut has dynamic loading dynamic response. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The orthosis of claim 3, wherein the strut has dynamic loading and unloading responses. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the orthosis is custom made to a patient profile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the orthosis is adjustable to fit more than one patient profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1 further comprising a fastening device connected to at least one posterior support member at the upper leg engaging portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the foot plate includes a toe end, a heel end, and an intermediate region between the toe end and the heel end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The orthosis of claim 9, wherein the foot plate has a curvilinear shape and thickness which varies from the intermediate region to the heel end and the toe end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The orthosis of claim 2, wherein the orthosis contains medial and lateral pivot points on the struts allowing the posterior support member to move in an up and down motion as the upper leg moves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The orthosis of claim 3, wherein the orthosis contains medial and lateral pivot points on the struts allowing the anterior support member to move in an up and down motion as the upper leg moves. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The orthosis of claim 10, wherein the heel end has a shape that corresponds to the anatomical shape of a patient's heel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, further comprising medial and lateral leg support struts connected to the orthosis frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The orthosis of claim 14, wherein the lateral and medial supports include a strap arranged to medially control the patient's ankle foot region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The orthosis of claim 14, wherein the lateral and medial supports include a strap arranged to laterally control the patient's ankle foot region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The orthosis of claim 16, wherein the posterior support member struts contain layers of carbon fabric. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The orthosis of claim 17, wherein at least one portion of the frame includes multidirectional oriented carbon fiber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical struts are reinforced with at least one layer of carbon tape fabric and spectra carb fabric. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the foot plate comprises one or more layers of weave carbon fabric. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The orthosis of claim 20, wherein the one or more layers of weave carbon fabric are located between two or more layers of spectra carb fabric. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The orthosis of claim 21, wherein the foot plate is comprised of at least one layer of spectra carbon fabric. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the medial and lateral struts are secured to the foot plate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the foot plate has female openings to accept the medial and lateral struts. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The orthosis of claim 24, wherein the foot plate length and flexibility is adjusted to patient's need. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, further comprising medial and lateral support members joined to the cylindrical struts at locations approximately equidistant from the foot plate and posterior support members. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The orthosis of claim 26, wherein the cylindrical struts are joined by a carbon tape. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The orthosis of claim 26, wherein the cylindrical struts are formed with a multi direction carbon fabric having at least one layer. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The orthosis of claim 26, wherein the struts are layered so as to achieve a predetermined rigidity or flexibility. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The orthosis of claim 26, wherein the struts have a predetermined ability to absorb and return energy. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the posterior support member comprises at least one reinforcement member integrated into the structural frame at a connection between the struts and medial and lateral portions of the foot plate. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The ankle orthosis of claim 31, wherein the at least one reinforcement member comprises at least one layer of fabric structural material. ### Claim 33 (depends on 25) The ankle orthosis of claim 25, wherein the footplate has variable stiffness and loading and unloading properties. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The orthosis of claim 1, wherein the struts are cylindrical in cross section. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The orthosis of claim 34, wherein the struts are circular cylinders in cross section. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The orthosis of claim 34, wherein the struts are elliptical cylinders in cross section.