Methods and apparatus for treating plantar ulcerations
First Claim
1. A brace for treating ulcerations on a plantar surface of a patient'"'"'s foot, comprising:
- (a) a first and second rigid shell, said first and second shell being generally L shaped, having a generally semi-cylindrical cross-sectional configuration and being adapted for receiving a lower leg and a foot of said patient, both shells including a vertical and horizontal section;
said vertical section of said first shell having sufficient longitudinal dimension to extend from a calf of said leg to a location beneath a heel portion of said foot, thus including a calf section and an ankle section which are adapted to receive said calf and an ankle of said patient, respectively, and said horizontal section of said first shell extending outwardly from said vertical section of said first shell and having sufficient length to receive at least a majority of said foot;
said vertical section of said second shell having sufficient longitudinal dimension to extend from a shin of said leg to an instep of said leg, and said horizontal section of said second shell extending outwardly from said vertical section of said second shell and having sufficient length to cover at least a majority of said foot;
(b) a first, second, and third bladder, said first bladder being positioned in said first shell, said second bladder being positioned in said second shell, and said third bladder being generally positioned in said ankle section, wherein at least one of said first, second, and third bladder contains a filler which undergoes minimal expansion and contraction as the temperature in said brace fluctuates, and further wherein the volume of at least one of said first, second and third bladder can be adjusted by the addition or removal of said filler to provide pressure between said at least one of said first, second and third bladder and said leg; and
(c) a fastening system which joins said first and second shell and immobilizes said first shell and said second shell around said leg to form said brace.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and an apparatus for treating patients having ulcerations of the lower foot, including patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. The brace generally includes a pair of rigid shells, a fastening system for joining the shells together to form a unified brace and a combination of bladders which engage the patient'"'"'s leg and ankle to off-weight the plantar surface, prevent plantar flexing and minimize shearing forces to the plantar surface. The volume of the bladders may be adjusted by the addition or removal of a filler in order to maintain a uniform pressure between the bladders and the patient'"'"'s leg. The filler contained in the bladders preferably does not undergo significant expansion or contraction in response to temperature or altitude changes. The brace also preferably includes a series of full-length bladders and a specially designed adjustable bladder located within the ankle and heel region of the brace to maximize off-weighting and to prevent the foot from moving downward toward the footbed of the brace. In addition to providing an effective means for off-weighting the plantar surface of a patient, the brace is reuseable, easy to apply and fully adjustable to accommodate changes in a patient'"'"'s leg size.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A brace for treating ulcerations on a plantar surface of a patient'"'"'s foot, comprising:
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(a) a first and second rigid shell, said first and second shell being generally L shaped, having a generally semi-cylindrical cross-sectional configuration and being adapted for receiving a lower leg and a foot of said patient, both shells including a vertical and horizontal section;
said vertical section of said first shell having sufficient longitudinal dimension to extend from a calf of said leg to a location beneath a heel portion of said foot, thus including a calf section and an ankle section which are adapted to receive said calf and an ankle of said patient, respectively, and said horizontal section of said first shell extending outwardly from said vertical section of said first shell and having sufficient length to receive at least a majority of said foot;
said vertical section of said second shell having sufficient longitudinal dimension to extend from a shin of said leg to an instep of said leg, and said horizontal section of said second shell extending outwardly from said vertical section of said second shell and having sufficient length to cover at least a majority of said foot;
(b) a first, second, and third bladder, said first bladder being positioned in said first shell, said second bladder being positioned in said second shell, and said third bladder being generally positioned in said ankle section, wherein at least one of said first, second, and third bladder contains a filler which undergoes minimal expansion and contraction as the temperature in said brace fluctuates, and further wherein the volume of at least one of said first, second and third bladder can be adjusted by the addition or removal of said filler to provide pressure between said at least one of said first, second and third bladder and said leg; and
(c) a fastening system which joins said first and second shell and immobilizes said first shell and said second shell around said leg to form said brace. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A brace for treating ulcerations on a plantar surface of a patient'"'"'s foot, comprising:
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(a) a first and second shell, said first and second shell being generally L-shaped, having a generally semi-cylindrical cross-sectional configuration and being adapted for receiving a lower leg and a foot of said patient, both shells including a vertical and horizontal section;
said vertical section of said first shell having sufficient longitudinal dimension to extend from a calf of said leg to a location beneath a heel portion of said foot, thus including a calf section and an ankle section which are adapted to receive said calf and an ankle of said patient, respectively, and said horizontal section of said first shell extending outwardly from said vertical section of said first shell and having sufficient length to receive at least a majority of said foot;
said vertical section of said second shell having sufficient longitudinal dimension to extend from a shin of said lower leg to an instep of said leg, and said horizontal section of said second shell extending outwardly from said vertical section of said second shell and having sufficient length to cover at least a majority of said foot;
(b) a first, second, and third bladder, said first bladder being positioned in said first shell, said second bladder being positioned in said second shell, and said third bladder being generally positioned in said ankle section, wherein at least one of said first, second, and third bladder contains a filler which undergoes minimal expansion and contraction as the temperature in said brace fluctuates, and further wherein the volume of at least one of said first, second, and third bladder can be adjusted by the addition or removal of said filler to provide pressure between said at least one of said first, second, and third bladder and said leg; and
(c) a fastening system which joins said first and second shell and immobilizes said first shell and said second shell around said leg to form said brace. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification