Apparatus and method for imaging feet

A method for determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one metatarsal head support member that engages a plantar surface of said foot substantially only beneath a lateral forefoot area of said foot;
• moving said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction by a said at least one support member so as to lock a midtarsal joint of said foot;
• and
• capturing an image of at least one subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg so as to determine contours of said subject area with said midtarsal joint of said foot locked.

A method for determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing at least one metatarsal head support member that engages a plantar surface of said foot beneath one or more metatarsal heads of said foot with a plantar surface of a midfoot and a plantar surface of a rearfoot of said foot completely unobstructed;
• moving said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction by said at least one support member so as to lock a midtarsal joint of said foot;
• and
• capturing an image of at least one subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg so as to determine contours of said subject area with said midtarsal joint of said foot locked.

An apparatus for use in determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a support and alignment assembly to assist in orientating the foot for imaging, the support and alignment assembly comprising:
• at least one support member configured to engage a plantar surface of a forefoot of the foot to assist in locking a midtarsal joint of the foot for imaging;
• and
• a light-projecting device configured to project a visual reference line onto a dorsal portion of the foot to assist in aligning the foot for imaging.