Method for preparing an orthotic appliance

• US 6,006,412 A
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Particle Measuring Systems Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Bergmann Orthotic Lab, Inc.
• Inventors: Parker, David, Sawyer, Tom, Bergmann, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Application Number:
  US08/891,358
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 29/407.01, 29/407.04, 29/407.05, 29/424, 29/557, 12/142 N, 12/146 M
• US Class Current: 29/407.04
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/022 involving making footprints or permanent moulds of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/025 comprising optical means, e.g. mirrors, photo-electric cells, for measuring or inspecting feet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49769 Using optical instrument [excludes mere human eyeballing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49771 Quantitative measuring or gauging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49812 Temporary protective coating, impregnation, or cast layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preparing an orthotic appliance to correct defects in a foot providing the steps of scanning a foot, creating a three-dimensional model of the corrected foot, milling a positive mold of the corrected foot, forming a uniformly thick orthotic material over the positive mold and milling out the bottom of the orthotic appliance. Also provided is a heel bisector for use in preparing an orthotic appliance.

Claims

1. A method of preparing an orthotic appliance for correctly supporting a foot comprising the steps of:

attaching a heel bisector having at least two portions to a foot;

measuring the foot topography;

measuring an angle formed by the at least two portions of the heel bisector;

translating the measured foot topography and the measured angle into a three dimensional mathematical model; and

forming the orthotic appliance in accordance with the three dimensional mathematical model.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring an angle formed by a heel bisector further comprises optically scanning the heel bisector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring an angle formed by a heel bisector further comprises optically scanning a first portion of the heel bisector aligned with a heel line and optically scanning a second portion of the heel bisector aligned with a leg line, wherein the angle is defined by an intersection of a first line defined by the first portion of the heel bisector and a second line defined by the second portion of the heel bisector.

4. A method of preparing an orthotic appliance for correctly supporting a foot comprising the steps of:

attaching a heel bisector having at least two portions to a foot;

measuring the foot topography;

measuring an angle formed by the at least two portions of heel bisector;

translating the measured foot topography and the measured angle into a three dimensional mathematical model;

adding corrections through a computer to the three dimensional mathematical model;

relaying the three dimensional model and added corrections through the computer to control a milling machine;

milling a positive mold of the corrected foot topography;

forming a material over the positive mold to create a formed side and an exposed side; and

milling the exposed side of the material to form a corrected bottom side of the orthotic appliance.

5. A method of preparing an orthotic appliance for correctly supporting a foot comprising the steps of:

attaching a heel bisector having at least two portions to a foot;

measuring the foot topography;

measuring an angle formed by the at least two portions of the heel bisector;

translating the measured foot topography and the measured angle into a three dimensional mathematical model;

adding corrections through a computer to the three dimensional mathematical model;

relaying the three dimensional model and added corrections through the computer to control a milling machine;

milling negative molds of the orthotic appliance; and

forming a material inside the negative molds to create an orthotic appliance.