Flexibly adjustable dorsal splint

• US 20090227928A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AliMed Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AliMed Incorporated
• Inventors: Cherubini, Julian H., Drake, Jesse, Clement, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0113 Drop-foot appliances

Abstract

An apparatus and method for treating plantar fasciitis are disclosed. In one embodiment of the apparatus, a dorsal splint device includes an upper portion and a foot portion which are pivotally connected to one another. A strap allows attachment of the upper portion to a suitable portion of the leg, such as the calf. The foot portion is typically attached to the foot by use of a strap. A tensioning element, such as a shock cord, urges the foot portion and the upper portion toward one another. The tension provided by the tensioning element may be adjusted by adjusting the length of the tensioning element. In the method of the present invention, the tensioning element may be first unhooked to allow pivoting of the foot portion with respect to the upper portion so that the device may be attached to a user. The upper portion is attached to the calf, while the lower portion is attached to the foot. The tensioning element is then hooked to the device at the appropriate position to provide the desired tension urging the foot portion toward the upper portion.

Claims

1. A therapeutic device comprising:

an upper portion constructed to be disposed adjacent a tibial bone of a lower leg;

a foot portion constructed to be disposed adjacent a cuneiform bone of a foot, said foot portion being pivotally connected to said upper portion at a pivot point;

a lower leg strap connected to said upper portion and constructed to be wrapped about the lower leg;

a foot strap connected to said foot portion and constructed to be wrapped about a foot; and

an elastic tensioning element extending between spaced, confronting locations on said upper portion and said foot portion, said locations being spaced from said pivot point.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is substantially rigid.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the foot portion is substantially rigid.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the foot portion includes a toe anchor to which the elastic tensioning element is attached.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the lower leg strap is stretchable.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the lower leg strap comprises a plurality of fabric hook and loop fasteners.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the foot strap is stretchable.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the foot strap comprises a plurality of fabric hook and loop fasteners.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the pivot point includes a range of motion indicator.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastic tensioning element comprises a shock cord.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion includes an anchor to which the elastic tensioning element is attached.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastic tensioning element comprises a single elastic cord.

13. A therapeutic device comprising:

an upper portion;

a foot portion pivotally connected to said upper portion at a pivot point;

a lower leg strap connected to said upper portion and constructed to be wrapped about a leg;

a foot strap connected to said foot portion and constructed to be wrapped about a foot; and

a single shock cord extending between spaced, confronting locations on said upper portion and said foot portion, the locations being spaced from said pivot point.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the upper portion is disposed adjacent a tibial bone.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the foot portion is disposed adjacent a cuneiform bone.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the pivot point includes a stop to limit an angle formed between the foot portion and the upper portion.

17. A method for treating plantar fasciitis comprising:

providing a splint device having an upper portion, a foot portion and an elastic tensioning element, the upper portion and foot portion being pivotally disposed with respect to one another at a pivot point;

detaching the elastic tensioning element from one of the upper portion and the foot portion;

pivoting the upper portion with respect to the foot portion;

securing the upper portion of the splint device to a lower leg adjacent a tibial bone;

securing the foot portion to an upper surface of a foot adjacent a cuneiform bone;

urging the foot portion and upper portion together with the elastic tensioning element which extends between the foot portion and the upper portion; and

providing a desired tension on the elastic tensioning element by selecting a desired point of attachment on the elastic tensioning device to at least one of the upper portion and the foot portion.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a range of motion indicator on the pivot point.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein securing the upper portion of the splint device to the lower leg comprises strapping the splint device to a calf region.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein securing the foot portion of the splint device to the upper surface of the foot comprises strapping the splint to a foot.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting a length of the elastic tensioning element between the foot portion and the upper portion.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein adjusting a length of the elastic tensioning element comprises:

disengaging the tensioning element from one of the foot portion and the upper portion at a first point of attachment;

selecting a desired length of the elastic tensioning element; and

re-attaching the elastic tensioning element to the one of the foot portion and the upper portion at a second point of attachment on the elastic tensioning element different from the first point.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising adjusting tension on the elastic tensioning element by selecting a point on the elastic tensioning element which is attached to one of the upper portion and the foot portion for a fixed angle between the upper portion and the foot portion.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising adjusting tension on the elastic tensioning element by adjusting an angle formed between the upper portion and the foot portion while the elastic tensioning element remains attached to the foot portion and the upper portion.