Arrangement and method for producing therapeutic insoles

• US 7,310,564 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vabene GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Vabene GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Leyerer, Roland, Haas, Doug, Rementilla, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): CABRERA, ZOILA E
• Application Number:
  US10/719,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 700/117, 700/98, 700118-119, 700/163, 700/182, 702/168, 702/152, 702/170, 702/179, 121/42.R, 121/46.B, 121/46.M, 36/43, 36/44
• US Class Current: 700/117
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/143 situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/146 provided with acupressure points or means for foot massage
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/025 comprising optical means, e.g. mirrors, photo-electric cells, for measuring or inspecting feet

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement for producing therapeutic insoles, consisting of a platform with a scanner for scanning the undersides of the patient'"'"'s feet, a data processing connection for transmitting the scanned image to a computer, a data processing computer program which converts the transmitted data into working instructions for the control of a milling machine, and of said milling machine which mills a therapeutic insole from a blank according to said working instructions, whereby neurological preceptors are placed on the scanner under the patient'"'"'s foot in accordance with the patient'"'"'s predisposition, whereby the preceptors are part of a set of standardized preceptors having various dimensions, whereby the preceptors are identified by markings on their underside, and whereby the scanned image contains the identifying markings and the orientation of the preceptors.

Claims

1. A system for producing insoles, comprising:

a platform with a scanner for scanning an underside of a patient'"'"'s feet;

a data processing connection for transmitting the scanned image to a computer;

a data processing computer program which converts the transmitted data into working instructions for the control of a milling machine;

said milling machine enabling a milling of a therapeutic insole from a blank according to said working instructions;

characterized in that neurological proceptors are placed on the scanner under the patent'"'"'s foot in accordance with a patient'"'"'s predisposition;

the proceptors being part of a set of standard proceptors having various dimensions; and

the proceptors being identified by markings on their underside, whereby said scanned image contains the identifying markings and the orientation of the preceptors.

2. An arrangement for producing therapeutic insoles, comprising:

a platform for supporting at least one patient'"'"'s foot;

a scanner for scanning an underside of said patient'"'"'s foot in said platform and creating a scanned image;

at least one computer containing a data processing computer program;

at least one milling machine;

a data processing connection means for receiving and transmitting said image scanned by said scanner to said computer;

said data processing computer program including means for receiving and converting said transmitted data into a set of working instructions for said milling machine;

said milling machine effective to mill said therapeutic insole from a blank according to said working instructions during a milling operation;

at least one neurological preceptor having a shape selected in accordance with a patient'"'"'s predisposition;

said proceptor being at least one of a set of standardized proceptors having various dimensions;

said at least one of said set of neurological proceptors on said scanner, positioned between said scanner and said underside of said foot in accordance with said patient'"'"'s predisposition;

said proceptors being identified by at least one marking on at least their underside surface; and

said scanned image containing at least said identifying marking and an orientation of said proceptors, whereby said working instructions reflect said marking and said orientation and enabling said scanned image to be manipulated according to a patient'"'"'s neurological therapy prior to said transmitting to said milling machine to produce said therapeutic insole from said blank.

3. An arrangement, according to claim 2, wherein:

said markings and said orientation constitute additional computer information;

said additional computer information being transmitted by said data processing connection means and received and converted by said data processing computer program into an additional set of working instructions for said milling machine.

4. An arrangement, according to claim 3, wherein:

said markings identify at least one of a size and a form of said proceptors.

5. An arrangement, according to claim 3, wherein:

said markings consist of at least one of imprints, colorations, stickers, and embossing, whereby said markings are easily identified and reflect proceptor meaning.

6. An arrangement, according to claim 2, wherein:

said markings identify at least one of a size and a form of said proceptors.

7. An arrangement, according to claim 2, wherein:

said markings consist of at least one of imprints, colorations, stickers, and embossing, whereby said markings are easily identified and reflect proceptor meaning.

8. An arrangement, according to claim 2, wherein:

said markings on said preceptors include data referring to at least one of a depth, a slope, a dimension, and a surface texture of at least one of said proceptor and said therapeutic insole, whereby said arrangement enables a processing of said insole into a form maximizing patient comfort at a minimum cost.

9. A method for producing therapeutic insoles, comprising the steps of:

preparing a platform with a scanner for supporting and scanning an underside of a patient'"'"'s foot;

aligning a patient'"'"'s foot position in accordance with a predetermined orientation;

selecting proceptors according to a therapeutic predisposition of said patient;

arranging and positioning said selected proceptors under said patient'"'"'s foot according to said patient'"'"'s predisposition;

scanning said underside of said patient'"'"'s foot and capturing an image of at least said foot, said preceptors, markings on said proceptors, and an orientation of said proceptors;

transmitting said scanned image to a designated computer means;

converting and processing said scanned imaged into at least one set of working instructions for controlling a milling machine, whereby said computer means is programmed with computer steps representing at least said markings and said orientation of said proceptors; and

milling a therapeutic insole from a selected prefabricated insole blank in accordance with said working instructions;

whereby said working instructions are substantially based on a process of scanned markings and an orientation of said proceptors thereby enabling a milling out of both a contour of said therapeutic insole and a dimension of said proceptors.

10. A method, according to claim 9, wherein:

said steps of scanning and milling follow an automatic sequence.

11. A method, according to claim 9, wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the step of:

transmitting said scanned image to said computer means via at least one of a wired and a wireless connection.

12. A method, according to claim 9, wherein:

said markings on said preceptors includes data referring to at least one of a depth, a slope, said dimension, and a surface texture of at least one of said preceptor and said therapeutic insole, whereby said method enables a processing of said insole into a near-net final form.