# US 8,540,655 B2 · Weight-bearing lower extremity brace > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,655 B2 - Document ID: US8540655B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/684,573 - Filed: 2010-01-08 - Published: 2010-07-08 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-26 - Assignees: Toad Medical Corporation - Applicants: Hans G. Franke; David Salinger; Jeff Dodd - Inventors: Hans G. Franke; David Salinger; Jeff Dodd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540655B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/0111: {for the feet or ankles} - A61F 5/0125: {the device articulating around a single pivot-point} - A61F 5/0195: {Shoe-like orthopaedic devices for protecting the feet against injuries after operations} - 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 The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to a device and/or system (e.g., redistributing weight away from a subject's foot), which may comprise (a) a platform, (b) at least one vertical support fixed to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform, and (c) at least one cuff (i) configured to surround and releasably grip at least a portion of a subject's leg other than the foot and (ii) mounted (e.g., adjustably) to the at least one vertical support at a vertical position along the at least one vertical support sufficient to suspend a subject's foot in a non-weight-bearing position above the platform during ambulation, wherein the platform, the at least one vertical support, and the at least one cuff together are configured to bear at least the subject's full weight. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot, the system comprising: a platform; a single vertical support fixed to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform; and at least one cuff (a) configured to surround and releasably grip at least a portion of the subject's leg other than the foot and (b) mounted to the single vertical support at a vertical position along the single vertical support sufficient to suspend the subject's foot in a non-weight-bearing position above the platform during ambulation, wherein the platform, the single vertical support, and the at least one cuff together are configured to bear at least the subject's full weight. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1, wherein the single vertical support comprises a strut positioned relative to the subject's leg on which the system is worn opposite the subject's sagittal plane or opposite the subject's coronal plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1, wherein the single vertical support comprises a strut positioned generally behind the subject's leg on which the system is worn. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 3, wherein the strut has an S-curve profile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1, wherein the single vertical support comprises a strut positioned generally outside the subject's leg on which the system is worn. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1, wherein the single vertical support extends distal to the subject's toot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cuff comprises an anterior shell, an opposing posterior shell, and at least one tension adjustment fastener configured to releasably connect the anterior shell and the posterior shell, wherein the anterior shell and the posterior shell are configured to combine to surround the circumference of the subject's leg. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 7, wherein the anterior shell comprises at least one fastener guide positioned across the anterior surface of the anterior shell and configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one tension adjustment fastener. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 7, wherein the anterior shell and/or the posterior shell comprise a moldable plastic selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic, a thermosetting plastic, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 7, wherein the anterior shell or the posterior shell is adjustably mounted to the single vertical support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cuff further comprises at least one pad fixed to the anterior shell and at least one pad fixed to the posterior shell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 11, wherein the pads independently comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, neoprene, ethylene vinyl acetate, foam, silicone, rubber, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cuff further comprises at least one bladder fixed to the anterior shell and at least one bladder fixed to the posterior shell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the bladders is at least partially filled with a fill material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 14, wherein the fill material comprises a foam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1, wherein the cuff is configured to extend from about the gastrocnemius/solius muscles to about the tibial plateau. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1 further comprising an outsole fixed to the platform and configured to contact the ground during ambulation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 17, wherein the outsole comprises a flange extending vertically along at least a portion of the back of the vertical support. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1 further comprising a foot pad fixed to the platform and configured to contact at least a portion of the subject's foot and to hold it approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the subject's lower leg. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 19 further comprising a lateral bar interposed between the at least one cuff and the vertical rod. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 19 further comprising a second cuff, the second cuff (a) configured to surround and releasably grip at least a second portion of a subject's leg other than the foot and (b) mounted to the single vertical support at a vertical position along the single vertical support sufficient to suspend a subject's foot in a non-weight-bearing position above the platform during ambulation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 19, wherein the vertical rod extends distal to the subject's foot. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1 further comprising: a hinge attached to the upper end of the vertical support; a second vertical support rotatably attached to the hinge; and a second cuff, the second cuff (a) configured to surround and releasably grip at least a second portion of a subject's leg other than the foot and (b) mounted to the second vertical support at a vertical position along the second vertical support sufficient to cooperate with the first cuff to suspend a subject's foot in a non-weight-bearing position above the platform during ambulation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A system for redistributing weight away from a subject's foot according to claim 1 further comprising a mated shoe comprising a lift configured to vertically align the suspended foot and the other foot. ### Claim 25 A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject having a leg with an impaired lower extremity, the method comprising: suspending at least a portion of the impaired lower extremity in a non-weight bearing position using a load redistribution system; and redistributing the weight to one or more unimpaired regions of the leg using the load redistribution system, the load redistribution system comprising: a platform; a single vertical support fixed to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform; and at least one cuff mounted to the at least single vertical support at a position sufficient to suspend the at least a portion of the impaired lower extremity in a non-weight-bearing position above the platform during ambulation, wherein the platform, the single vertical support, and the at least one cuff are configured to (a) bear at least the subject's full weight and (b) distribute the weight born to at least a portion of the subject's leg other than the subject's foot. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 25, wherein the single vertical support comprises a strut positioned relative to the subject's leg on which the system is worn opposite the subject's sagittal plane or opposite the subject's coronal plane. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 25, wherein the single vertical support comprises a strut positioned generally behind the subject's leg on which the system is worn. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 25, wherein the strut has an S-curve profile. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 25, wherein the single vertical support comprises a strut positioned generally outside the subject's leg on which the system is worn. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 25, wherein the single vertical support extends distal to the subject's foot. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 25, wherein the at least one cuff comprises an anterior shell, an opposing posterior shell, and at least one tension adjustment fastener configured to releasably connect the anterior shell and the posterior shell, wherein the anterior shell and the posterior shell are configured to combine to surround the circumference of the subject's leg. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 31, wherein the anterior shell comprises at least one fastener guide positioned across the anterior surface of the anterior shell and configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one tension adjustment fastener. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 31, wherein the anterior shell and/or the posterior shell comprise a moldable plastic selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic, a thermosetting plastic, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 31, wherein the anterior shell or the posterior shell is adjustably mounted to the single vertical support. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 31, wherein the at least one cuff further comprises at least one pad fixed to the anterior shell and at least one pad fixed to the posterior shell. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 35, wherein the pads independently comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, neoprene, ethylene vinyl acetate, foam, silicone, rubber, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 31, wherein the at least one cuff further comprises at least one bladder fixed to the anterior shell and at least one bladder fixed to the posterior shell. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the bladders is at least partially filled with a fill material. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 38, wherein the fill material comprises a foam. ### Claim 40 (depends on 25) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 25, wherein redistributing the weight to one or more unimpaired regions of the leg comprises redistributing the weight to one or more lateral surfaces of the leg. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A method for facilitating ambulation of a subject according to claim 40, wherein redistributing the weight to one or more lateral surfaces of the leg further comprises adjusting the pressure applied to at least one lateral surface.