Heel care device and method

• US 6,375,633 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Pepe, Gregory J., Buchanan, Richard, Endress, Scott A., Martin, Keith E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/563,608
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 128/846, 128/869, 128/882, 128/892, 128/894, 128/DIG.20, 602/5, 602/13, 602/23, 602/27
• US Class Current: 602/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/012 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1697 Breathability of the material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective and pressure normalizing device for a body extremity, having a topside, an underside and two other sides. The device has, at a minimum, an support member and a joint aperture. In each embodiment, the support member has a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper portion. The lower, intermediate, and upper portions, each contact at least a part of the body extremity, except the joint of the body extremity.

Claims

1. A protective and pressure normalizing device for a body extremity which includes a joint comprising:

a support member having an exterior surface and an interior surface which define a chamber, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the support member contacts at least a portion the body extremity and wherein the support member includes a joint aperture for exposing the joint of the body extremity, and

a plurality of apertures spaced throughout the interior surface of the support member, wherein upon communication of the chamber with a pressurized medium, at least one of the plurality of apertures directs the medium, at a pressure of greater than about 0.1 pounds per square inch within the chamber of the support member, to at least a portion of the body extremity.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the medium is at a pressure of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 pounds per square inch.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the medium is air.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the medium alters a temperature within the chamber to a predetermined temperature.

5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a nozzle, wherein the nozzle directs the medium into the chamber of the support member.

6. The device according to claim 5 further comprising:

a pump to supply the medium to the nozzle.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a single chamber.

8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of interspaced non-support members, wherein the support member surrounds each of the plurality of interspaced non-support members.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support member comprises:

a lower portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the lower portion contacts at least a portion of a lower region of the body extremity;

an intermediate portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the intermediate portion contacts at least a portion of an intermediate region of the body extremity and wherein the intermediate portion includes the joint aperture; and

an upper portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the upper portion contacts at least a portion of an upper region of the body extremity.

10. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of securing devices, wherein the securing devices attach at least a portion of a first edge of the support member to at least a portion of a second edge of the support member under conditions effective to secure the body extremity within the support member.

11. A protective and pressure normalizing device for a body extremity which includes a joint comprising:

a support member having an exterior surface and an interior surface which define a chamber and having a joint aperture for exposing the joint of the body extremity, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the support member contacts at least a portion the body extremity and wherein the interior surface comprises a wicking material.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the wicking material is selected from the group consisting of cotton, gauze, paper, synthetic woven material, and synthetic non-woven material.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the chamber is filled with a medium to an internal pressure of greater than about 0.1 pounds per square inch.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the medium has an internal pressure of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 pounds per square inch.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the medium is air.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the medium alters a temperature within the chamber to a predetermined temperature.

17. The device according to claim 13 further comprising:

a nozzle, wherein the nozzle directs the medium into the chamber of the support member.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the nozzle comprises a check valve.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the device further comprises:

a pump to supply to medium to the nozzle.

20. The device according to claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of apertures spaced throughout the interior surface of the support member, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures directs the medium from the chamber of the support member to at least a portion of the body extremity.

21. The device according to claim 11, wherein the chamber comprises a single chamber.

22. The device according to claim 11 further comprising:

a plurality of interspaced non-support members, wherein the support member surrounds each of the plurality of interspaced non-support members.

23. The device according to claim 11, wherein the support member comprises:

a lower portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the lower portion contacts at least a portion of a lower region of the body extremity;

an intermediate portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the intermediate portion contacts at least a portion of an intermediate region of the body extremity and wherein the intermediate portion includes the joint aperture; and

an upper portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the upper portion contacts at least a portion of an upper region of the body extremity.

24. The device according to claim 11 further comprising:

a plurality of securing devices, wherein the securing devices attach at least a portion of a first edge of the support member to at least a portion of a second edge of the support member under conditions effective to secure the body extremity within the support member.

25. A method for protecting and normalizing the pressure on a body extremity which includes a joint comprising positioning the body extremity in a support member, wherein the support member comprises:

an exterior surface and an interior surface which define a chamber, wherein the chamber includes a medium having an initial predetermined pressure and wherein the interior surface comprises a wicking material and

a joint aperture for exposing the joint of the body extremity, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the support member contacts at least a portion the body extremity and wherein the joint is placed into the joint aperture.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the initial predetermined pressure of the medium is greater than about 0.1 pounds per square inch.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the initial predetermined pressure of the medium is from about 0.1 to about 1.0 pounds per square inch.

28. The method according to claim 25 further comprising:

adjusting the pressure of the medium.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting the pressure of the medium to about 0.1 to about 1.0 pounds per square inch.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the adjusting comprises introducing medium into the chamber through a nozzle.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the nozzle comprises a check valve.

32. The method according to claim 30 further comprising:

releasing a portion of the medium to the body extremity through a plurality of apertures spaced throughout the interior surface of the support member.

33. The method according to claim 25, wherein the medium is air.

34. The method according to claim 25, wherein the medium alters a temperature within the chamber to a predetermined temperature.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein the wicking material is selected from the group consisting of cotton, gauze, paper, synthetic woven material, and synthetic non-woven material.

36. The method according to claim 25, wherein the chamber comprises a single chamber.

37. The method according to claim 25, wherein the support member further comprises a plurality of interspaced non-support members, wherein the support member surrounds each of the plurality of interspaced non-support members.

38. The method according to claim 25, wherein the support member comprises:

a lower portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the lower portion contacts at least a portion of a lower region of the body extremity;

an intermediate portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the intermediate portion contacts at least a portion of an intermediate region of the body extremity and wherein the intermediate portion includes the joint aperture; and

an upper portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the upper portion contacts at least a portion of an upper region of the body extremity.

39. The method according to claim 25, wherein the support member further comprises a plurality of securing devices, wherein the securing devices attach at least a portion of a first edge of the support member to at least a portion of a second edge of the support member under conditions effective to secure the body extremity within the support member.