Orthopedic ankle brace method

• US 5,330,419 A
• Filed: 06/01/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DJO LLC (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Smith and Nephew Donjoy Inc (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Toronto, Russell A., Bastyr, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DVORAK, LINDA C
• Application Number:
  US08/070,557
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 602/5, 602/23, 602/27-29, 602/60, 602/61, 602/62, 602/63, 602/65
• US Class Current: 602/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/065 Looped bandages around the forefoot A61F13/068 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles

Abstract

An orthopedic ankle brace is provided having a pliant boot that surrounds the ankle joint, as well as the foot and lower leg in the region thereof. The boot may incorporate straps for applying compression to the ankle joint. Attached to the boot are a pair of adjustable tension straps vertically disposed about the ankle joint for restricting the mobility thereof. Integral with the boot are a pair of stiffening members positioned about the ankle joint to cooperate with the tension straps in the performance of their mobility restricting function. Further provided integral with the boot are retention members that isolate the malleoli from the stiffening members for the comfort of the wearer. Finally, one or more retention straps are provided to maintain the stability of the brace.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint of a patient comprising:

distally encircling at least a portion of a foot and proximally encircling at least a portion of a lower leg with a boot, the foot and lower leg having an ankle joint connectively positioned therebetween;

applying a first tension force to the ankle joint by attaching a first tension strap to said boot at a first first tension strap attachment point and at a second first tension strap attachment point, such that said first tension strap extends a first tension length from said first first tension strap attachment point around the bottom of the foot to said second first tension strap attachment point;

applying a second tension force to the ankle joint by attaching a second tension strap to said boot at a first second tension strap attachment point and at a second second tension strap attachment point, such that said second tension strap extends a second tension length from said first second tension strap attachment point around the posterior of the lower leg and around the bottom of the foot to said second tension strap attachment point.

2. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 1, wherein said first first tension strap attachment point is distally positioned on said boot and said second first tension strap attachment point is proximally positioned on said boot.

3. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second second tension strap attachment points are positioned on a first side of said boot.

4. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 3, further comprising retaining said second tension strap in slidable engagement with a second side of said boot opposite said first side.

5. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second second tension strap attachment points are proximally positioned on said boot.

6. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 1, wherein said first tension length is adjustable, thereby enabling adjustment of said first tension force.

7. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 6, wherein adjustment of said first tension length is provided by removable attachment of said first tension strap to said boot at said first or said second first tension strap attachment point.

8. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 1, wherein said second tension length is adjustable, thereby enabling adjustment of said second tension force.

9. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 8, wherein adjustment of said second tension length is provided by removable attachment of said second tension strap to said boot at said first or said second second tension strap attachment point.

10. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 1, wherein said first tension strap is substantially anteriorly positioned about said boot relative to said second tension strap.

11. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint of a patient comprising:

distally encircling at least a portion of a foot and proximally encircling at least a portion of a lower leg with a boot, the foot and lower leg having an ankle joint connectively positioned therebetween;

applying a forefoot inversion countering tension force to the ankle joint by attaching an anterior strap to said boot at a first anterior strap attachment point and at a second anterior strap attachment point, such that said anterior strap extends a first length from said first anterior strap attachment point around the bottom of the foot to said second anterior strap attachment point;

applying a rearfoot inversion countering tension force to the ankle joint by substantially posteriorly positioning a posterior strap about said boot relative to said anterior strap with said posterior strap attached to said boot at a first posterior strap attachment point and at a second posterior strap attachment point, such that said posterior strap extends a second length from said first posterior strap attachment point around the posterior of the lower leg and around the bottom of the foot to said second posterior strap attachment point.

12. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 11, wherein said first anterior strap attachment point is distally positioned on said boot and said second anterior strap attachment point is proximally positioned on said boot.

13. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 11, wherein said first and second posterior tension strap attachment points are positioned on a first side of said boot.

14. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 13, further comprising retaining said posterior strap in slidable engagement with a second side of said boot opposite said first side.

15. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 11, wherein said first and second posterior strap attachment points are proximally positioned on said boot.

16. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 11, wherein said first length is adjustable, thereby enabling adjustment of said forefoot inversion countering tension force.

17. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 11, wherein said second length is adjustable, thereby enabling adjustment of said rearfoot inversion countering tension force.

18. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint of a patient comprising:

distally encircling at least a portion of a foot and proximally encircling at least a portion of a lower leg with a boot, the foot and lower leg having an ankle joint connectively positioned therebetween;

applying a first tension force to the ankle joint by proximally attaching a first tension strap to a first side of said boot at a first first tension strap attachment point and distally attaching said first tension strap to a second side of said boot opposite said first side at a second first tension strap attachment point, such that said first tension strap extends a first tension length from said first tension strap attachment point around the bottom of the foot to said second first tension strap attachment point;

applying a second tension force to the ankle joint by proximally attaching a second tension strap to said first side of said boot at a first second tension strap attachment point and proximally attaching said second tension strap to said first side of said boot at a second second tension strap attachment point, such that said second tension strap extends a second tension length from said first second tension strap attachment point around the posterior of the lower leg and around the bottom of the foot to said second second tension strap attachment point.

19. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 18, wherein said first tension length is adjustable, thereby enabling adjustment of said first tension force.

20. A method for stabilizing an ankle joint as recited in claim 18, wherein said second tension length is adjustable, thereby enabling adjustment of said second tension force.