Walker with open heel
First 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 having an open heel portion at the rear thereof;
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 adapted for extending around said lower leg and foot;
a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and said sole; and
a resilient, removable, lightweight and flexible ankle bootie which is received into said soft support, including bladder support means adapted for placement juxtaposed to the injured limb or joint and separated by a seam along the center of the heel for providing additional support to said ankle and foot.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A 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 includes 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 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
58 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 having an open heel portion at the rear thereof; 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 adapted for extending around said lower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and said sole; and a resilient, removable, lightweight and flexible ankle bootie which is received into said soft support, including bladder support means adapted for placement juxtaposed to the injured limb or joint and separated by a seam along the center of the heel for providing additional support to said ankle and foot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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 parallel and rigid strut base members extending vertically and upwardly from sides of said sole; a pair of rigid, or semi-rigid parallel strut members extending substantially vertically and upwardly from and coupled to strut base members 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; said sole having an open heel portion at the rear thereof; a counter strap member for restricting backward movement of the user'"'"'s heel beyond the rear of said sole at the open portion thereof; and a removable, lightweight and flexible ankle bootie which is secured around the injured limb or joint and is received into said soft support for providing additional support to said ankle and foot, having a first elongated, vertical pouch juxtaposed to the outside surface of the left side of said ankle bootie, and a second elongated vertical pouch juxtaposed to the outside surface of the of the right side of said ankle bootie, and said ankle bootie having a first and second rigid splint member mounted with said first and second pouches. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A leg walker comprising:
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a full-length sole, said sole having sole sides, a sole rear, and an open heel portion at said sole rear; a pair of parallel strut base members extending up generally from said sole sides; a pair of parallel strut members extending up from and connected to respective said strut base members, said strut members extending up to just below the knee of the leg of the user whose foot is supported at least in part by said sole; support means for extending around at least one of the lower leg and the foot of the user; securing means for securing said support means to at least one of said sole, said strut base members and said strut members; and substantially horizontal, length-adjustable and flexible heel strap means for extending around the heel of the user and for thereby restricting backward movement of the user'"'"'s heel generally beyond said sole rear at said open heel portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A leg walker comprising:
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a full-length sole, said sole having sole sides, a sole rear, and an open heel portion at said sole rear; a pair of parallel strut members extending up generally from said sole sides to above the ankle of the user whose foot is supported at least in part by said sole; support means for extending around at least one of the lower leg and the foot of the user; securing means for securing said support means to at least one of said sole and said strut members; and a substantially horizontal, length-adjustable and flexible heel strap which engages the heel of the user and thereby restricts backward movement of the user'"'"'s heel generally beyond said sole rear at said open heel portion. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A leg walker comprising:
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a full-length sole, said sole having sole sides, a sole rear, and an open heel portion at said sole rear; generally rigid medial and lateral struts secured to and extending up from said sole and a distance above the ankle of the user whose foot is supported at least in part by said sole; a soft, flexible support sleeve disposable around the user'"'"'s lower leg and foot; a plurality of straps which hold said sleeve in place around the user'"'"'s lower leg and foot; and a substantially horizontal, length-adjustable and flexible heel strap which generally engages the user'"'"'s heel and thereby restricts rearward movement of the user'"'"'s heel generally beyond said sole rear at said open heel portion. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification