Heel protector and corresponding rehabilitation systems and methods for using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9439826-B2
Application number	US-201313757233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2013
Priority date	Oct 11, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A heel protector ( 100 ) includes a leg engaging section ( 101 ) and a foot engaging section ( 102 ) intersecting at a heel receiver ( 103 ). The leg engaging section ( 101 ) and the foot engaging section ( 102 ) define a leg insertion aperture ( 104 ). The leg engaging section ( 101 ) defines at least one aperture ( 203 ) disposed in an ankle region ( 205 ) to permit a connection tube ( 1002 ) extending from an inflatable bladder ( 901 ) of a compression device ( 800 ) to pass therethrough. The heel protector ( 100 ) and compression device ( 800 ) work together as a rehabilitation system ( 1300 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heel protector, comprising:
a leg engaging section and a foot engaging section intersecting at a heel receiver, the leg engaging section and the foot engaging section defining a leg insertion aperture;
the leg engaging section defining at least one aperture disposed in an ankle region, the ankle region disposed at least a predetermined distance from the foot engaging section, the at least one aperture defining a channel to permit a connection tube extending from an inflatable bladder of a compression device to pass therethrough;
further comprising a connection tube receiving channel disposed between the at least one aperture disposed in the ankle region and an aperture disposed at the heel receiver, and along a seam of the leg engaging section, the connection tube receiving channel to direct a connection tube from the heel protector toward an aperture disposed at the heel receiver.

2. The heel protector of claim 1 , the leg engaging section defining at least two apertures disposed in the ankle region.

3. The heel protector of claim 2 , one aperture disposed about forty-five degrees around the leg engaging section from another aperture.

4. The heel protector of claim 1 , the heel protector defining a connection tube channeling aperture disposed at the heel receiver.

5. The heel protector of claim 1 , the connection tube channeling aperture being color-coded.

6. The heel protector of claim 5 , the connection tube channeling aperture color-coded differently from the at least one aperture.

7. The heel protector of claim 1 , the connection tube receiving channel to direct the connection tube through a dedicated exit port disposed near, but separate from, the aperture disposed at the heel receiver.

8. The heel protector of claim 7 , the connection tube receiving channel to receive the connection tube and direct the connection tube away from the heel protector through the at least one aperture.

9. The heel protector of claim 1 , further comprising a bolster to stabilize the heel protector rotationally when worn by a patient.

10. The heel protector of claim 9 , the bolster comprising a triangular cross section.

11. The heel protector of claim 9 , the heel protector comprising a fastener disposed on an exterior of the leg engaging section, the bolster comprising a complementary fastener disposed on an exterior of the bolster.

12. The heel protector of claim 11 , the fastener comprising one of a hook fastener or a loop fastener, the complementary fastener comprising another of the hook fastener or the loop fastener.

13. The heel protector of claim 9 , the bolster affixed to the leg engaging section.

14. The heel protector of claim 9 , the bolster defining a bolster channel to permit the connection tube to pass from the at least one aperture through the bolster channel.

Assignees

• Medline Ind Inc

Inventors

• Drey Michelle
• Falconio-West Margaret
• Shapiro Bruce

Classifications

• A61H2201/165

  Wearable interfaces · CPC title

• A61F5/0195

  Shoe-like orthopaedic devices for protecting the feet against injuries after operations · CPC title

• A61F2007/108

  Cold packs, i.e. devices to be cooled or frozen in refrigerator or freezing compartment · CPC title

• A61B5/6804

  Garments; Clothes · CPC title

• A61F2007/0219

  Gels · CPC title