Orthopedic walking brace having a curved sole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11839563-B2
Application number	US-202217844317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2022
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

Described herein are systems and devices for providing an orthopedic walking brace having a housing and a sole with a curved distal surface. The housing is configured to encompass and immobilize a patient's ankle against flexion. The distal surface of the sole has a posterior region, a mid region, and an anterior region. The posterior region is configured to lie under a heel portion of the patient's foot and has a first anterior-posterior (AP) curvature that increases from a posterior side of the posterior region toward a middle portion of the posterior region and decreases from the middle portion of the posterior region toward the mid region. The mid region is configured to lie under a center portion of the patient's foot. The anterior region is configured to lie under an anterior metatarsal and toe portion of the patient's foot and has a second AP curvature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of immobilizing an ankle against flexion while approximating a natural gait, comprising:
providing an orthopedic walking brace, comprising:
a housing configured to encompass a patient's ankle; and
a curved sole having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the proximal surface configured to receive the patient's foot, and the distal surface having a posterior region, a mid region, and an anterior region, wherein:
the posterior region is configured to lie under a heel portion of the patient's foot, and has a first anterior-posterior (AP) curvature that increases from a posterior side of the posterior region toward a middle portion of the posterior region and decreases from the middle portion of the posterior region toward the mid region, the first AP curvature having a maximum value greater than 0.25 inch −1 ,
the mid region is configured to lie under a center portion of the patient's foot, and
the anterior region is configured to lie under an anterior metatarsal and toe portion of the patient's foot and has a second AP curvature; and

encompassing the ankle of the patient in the housing,
wherein the curved sole is configured to provide a substantially smooth transition from heel-strike to mid-stance and from mid-stance to toe-off.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curved sole provides a rolling motion at an angular velocity that mimics a natural walking gait cycle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anterior region comprises greater than or equal to 30% of an AP length of the distal surface and less than or equal to 40% of the AP length of the distal surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mid region comprises greater than or equal to 35% of an AP length of the distal surface and less than or equal to 45% of the AP length of the distal surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mid region is configured to lie directly beneath the midfoot.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a product of an AP length of the posterior region and a maximum value of the first AP curvature has a maximum value less than about 0.7.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second AP curvature has a maximum value greater than about 0.1 inch −1 .

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a product of an AP length of the anterior region and a maximum value of the second AP curvature is greater than about 0.35.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mid region is substantially flat.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second AP curvature increases from a posterior side of the anterior region toward a middle portion of the anterior region and decreases from the middle portion of the anterior region toward an anterior side of the anterior region.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal surface has a first medial-lateral (ML) curvature that has a first peak adjacent to a medial edge, a second peak adjacent to a lateral edge of the distal surface, and is substantially flat in between the first and the second peaks.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal surface is symmetric.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximal surface is rigid, and the distal surface is flexible.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal surface comprises a first material having a first density and a second material having a second density that is smaller than the first density.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first material is rubber.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second material is ethyl vinyl acetate.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximal surface is formed of a plastic material.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein a distance between a highest point on the distal surface and a ground surface defines a thickness and a maximum value of the thickness is about 0.75 inches.

Assignees

• Djo Llc

Inventors

• Batterson Benjamin
• Sasidharan Manikandan
• Loughnane Christopher P
• Hugger Derek
• Panecki Lee
• Aiston Chris

Classifications

• A61F5/0111 Primary

  for the feet or ankles · CPC title

• A43B3/02

  Boots covering the lower leg · CPC title

• A43B13/04

  Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre · CPC title

• A43B13/12

  Soles with several layers of different materials · CPC title

• A43B13/145

  Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes · CPC title