Removable leg walker
DCFirst Claim
1. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker assembly for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the lower tibia and/or fibula comprising:
- a full-length sole;
a pair of rigid, or semi-rigid parallel strut members extending substantially vertically and upwardly from said sole to just below the knee;
a durable and resilient soft support for extending around the injured limb or joint and around the lower leg and foot;
means for securing said soft support around said lower leg and foot;
a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and said sole;
a removable, lightweight and flexible ankle bootie which is received into said soft support for providing additional support to said ankle and foot;
a raised strip member surrounding the heel of the patient;
a shock-absorbing member located at the heel portion of said sole;
said sole including a cantilevered shock absorbing means at the rear thereof; and
a plurality of resilient bladder support means mounted within said walker assembly for cushioning and stabilizing said limb or joint.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved, lightweight and removable leg walker is provided for stabilizing and rapidly healing lower leg injuries of a patient. The injured limb is disposed in a removable inner ankle bootie whose interior is partially covered with inflatable support bladders. While the foot is secured within the booties, it is then inserted into and additionally supported by a removable soft goods-type support. The soft goods-type support is securely attached to a walker frame by a combination of strap fasteners with Velcro attachments. Inflatable bladders are located along the inner surfaces of two strut bases and raised heel strip. A tongue portion of the soft goods-type support also includes an inflatable bladder which provides additional support to the injured limb. These inflatable bladders encourage proper circulation from the lower leg to the heart. The walker frame comprises a pair of strut bases and struts in order to prevent inversion and eversion of the ankle. The full length sole portion of the walker is novelly constructed of two halves joined together. This construction is structurally superior to other walkers and braces insofar as it costs less and weighs less than other walkers currently manufactured. The heel portion of the sole also is constructed to form a cantilever spring, shock absorbing element.
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Citations
91 Claims
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1. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker assembly for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the lower tibia and/or fibula comprising:
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a full-length sole; a pair of rigid, or semi-rigid parallel strut members extending substantially vertically and upwardly from said sole to just below the knee; a durable and resilient soft support for extending around the injured limb or joint and around the lower leg and foot; means for securing said soft support around said lower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and said sole; a removable, lightweight and flexible ankle bootie which is received into said soft support for providing additional support to said ankle and foot; a raised strip member surrounding the heel of the patient; a shock-absorbing member located at the heel portion of said sole; said sole including a cantilevered shock absorbing means at the rear thereof; and a plurality of resilient bladder support means mounted within said walker assembly for cushioning and stabilizing said limb or joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A prefabricated orthopedic leg walker assembly for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the lower tibia and/or fibula comprising:
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a full-length sole; a pair of rigid, parallel strut members extending substantially vertically and upwardly from said sole to just below the knee; a durable and resilient soft support means for extending around and restricting the motion of said lower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support means to said struts and said sole; and a resilient, removable, lightweight and flexible ankle bootie which is received into said soft support means, including means for providing additional support to said ankle and foot. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A prefabricated orthopedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia and fibula comprising:
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a full-length sole consisting of upper and lower sole plates and substantially vertical webs permanently mounting and securing said plates together, and forming a plurality of box structures; said sole being formed of a rigid and lightweight material; said vertical webs interconnecting and permanently securing said upper and lower sole plates together; a pair or rigid, or semi-rigid parallel strut members extending upward from said sole; a durable and resilient soft, padded and flexible support means for extending around the injured limb or joint and for extending around the lower leg below the knee and around the ankle and foot; means for securing said soft support to said strut members; and means for holding said support means onto the lower leg, ankle and foot independent of the remainder of said walker, whereby said support means may be separated from the remainder of said walker when the patient is reclining. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia and fibula comprising:
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a full-length sole consisting of upper and lower plates and means for permanently mounting and securing said plates together in a spaced-apart configuration; a shock absorbing member located at heel portion of said sole, said member including a cantilevered springy rear extended portion of said lower sole plate; a durable and resilient soft support for extending around the injured limb or joint and for extending from just below the knee around the lower leg and foot; means for securing said soft support to said sole; and said cantilevered rear portion of said sole including a resilient insert received between said upper and lower sole plates. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia and fibula comprising:
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a full-length sole consisting of upper and lower sole plates and substantially vertical webs separating said plates forming a plurality of closed box structures; said vertical webs interconnecting and permanently securing said upper and lower sole plates together; a shock absorbing member located at heel portion of said sole, said member including a cantilevered springy rear extended portion of said lower sole plate; a pair of rigid, parallel strut base members vertically extending above the ankle; said rigid strut base members being molded to opposite sides of said sole; a pair of rigid, parallel struts affixed to said strut base members, vertically extending to just below the knee; a durable and resilient soft padded and flexible support means for extending around the injured limb or join and for extending below the knee and around the lower leg and foot extremities; and a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and said sole. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. An orthopaedic device comprising:
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outer support means for limiting the movement of a limb, joint or other portion of the anatomy; an inner inflatable bladder mounted within said support means for engaging the skin of the patient and for providing additional support; said bladder being formed of a laminate, having an outer surface of a thin, smooth, stretchable knit fabric for engaging the skin of the patient, and an inner thin plastic film bonded by an adhesive to said fabric; and said outer support means including a full length sole, and a pair of rigid or semi-rigid strut members extending substantially vertically and upwardly from said sole to just below the knee, for preventing significant movement of the ankle of the user. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia and fibula comprising:
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a full-length sole; a pair of rigid, or semi-rigid, substantially parallel strut members extending upwardly from said sole; a durable and resilient adjustable soft padded and flexible support for extending around the injured limb or joint and for extending below the knee and around the lower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and said sole; bladder means for cushioning, stabilizing and further supporting said limb or joint; and means for mounting said bladder support means within said soft support. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia and fibual comprising:
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a full-length sole; a pair of rigid, parallel strut base members extending upwardly from said sole; resilient flexible support means for extending around the injured ankle or foot; means for mounting said support means within said struts and said sole; a plurality of substantially inflexible splinting members; and means for mounting said splinting members directly to said flexible support means independently of said struts to form a separate sub-assembly including said flexible support means with said splinting members attached thereto which sub-assembly may be separated from the remainder of said walker; whereby said flexible support means may be used separately from said struts and sole, with said splinting members providing limited motion restraint. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker assembly for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia and fibula, comprising:
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a rigid, full-length sole; said sole having an upper sole plate and a lower sole plate; said upper and lower sole plates being separated and permanently secured together by vertical integral webs, forming a plurality of closed box structures; the top of said upper sole plate being covered with cushioning material; the bottom of said lower sole plate having a substantial curvature; said bottom of said lower sole plate being covered with a durable gripping material; a raised strip member mounted on said sole at the heel of a patient; the rear of said upper sole plate and the rear of said lower sole plate forming a cantilevered springy shock absorbing member; a pair of rigid parallel strut base members vertically extending from said sole to just above the ankle; said strut base members being integrally molded to opposite sides of said sole; a pair of rigid parallel struts affixed to said strut base members, vertically extending along the sides of the lower leg to just below the knee; said struts, strut bases and sole being constructed of high strength plastic material; a durable and resilient foam fabric soft support for extending around the entire injured limb or joint and for extending below the knee for bracing and stabilizing the lower leg, ankle and foot; said soft support having a resilient tongue member; means for securing said soft support around the entire injured limb or joint; and a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft goods-type support to said struts and said sole.
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91. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia and fibula comprising:
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a full-length sole; a pair or rigid, or semi-rigid, substantially parallel strut members extending upwardly from said sole; a durable and resilient adjustable soft padded and flexible support for extending around the injured limb or joint and for extending below the knee and around the lower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and said sole; bladder means for cushioning, stabilizing and further supporting said limb or joint; and means for mounting said bladder support means within said walker to supplement the function of said soft support.
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Specification