Custom ankle brace system
DCFirst Claim
1. An ankle brace system comprising an ankle brace, for providing orthotic assistance to an ankle area of a patient wherein the ankle area includes at least one abnormal protrusion enhancing disability for normal walking, said ankle brace comprising:
- a. multiple adhesively-connected material layers forming overall a toeless boot and shaped to provide support for the abnormal protrusion by matching the contours of the abnormal protrusion; and
b. at least one said material layer comprising a stiffener element comprising;
i. a partial sole and arch portion lying essentially in a horizontal plane, said partial sole and arch portion being structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the patient'"'"'s sole and arch substantially between the patient'"'"'s heel and the ball of the patient'"'"'s foot; and
ii. an essentially vertical sides-and-back-of-leg portion fixed at about a right angle from said plane of said partial sole and arch portion;
iii. wherein said stiffener element is structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the abnormal protrusions on the ankle area;
c. said ankle brace being constructed and arranged to be used with a separate essentially normal shoe;
d. wherein said ankle brace further comprises closure elements for tightening and closing said ankle brace on the patient;
e. wherein said multiple material layers are structured and arranged to provide substantially full circumferential support about the ankle area when said closure elements are tightened, and;
f. wherein at least one of said material layers comprises leather.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A custom ankle brace which is made to compensate for debilitating conditions of an individual patient'"'"'s ankle area. The brace is custom made by creating a negative cast of the patient'"'"'s foot/ankle/lower-leg; and then prescribed markings are included on the negative cast by the castmaker to indicate the desired geometry of support. The markings are transferable to a positive cast to inform the bracemaker. The custom brace has inner and outer material layers with a stiffening element within, all fitted to the shape of a built-up positive cast, the stiffening element having a unitary horizontal partial sole portion and vertical back-and-sides-of-leg portion. The stiffening element, made from a thin polymeric sheet, is vacuum and heat fitted to the built-up positive cast.
39 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An ankle brace system comprising an ankle brace, for providing orthotic assistance to an ankle area of a patient wherein the ankle area includes at least one abnormal protrusion enhancing disability for normal walking, said ankle brace comprising:
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a. multiple adhesively-connected material layers forming overall a toeless boot and shaped to provide support for the abnormal protrusion by matching the contours of the abnormal protrusion; and b. at least one said material layer comprising a stiffener element comprising; i. a partial sole and arch portion lying essentially in a horizontal plane, said partial sole and arch portion being structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the patient'"'"'s sole and arch substantially between the patient'"'"'s heel and the ball of the patient'"'"'s foot; and ii. an essentially vertical sides-and-back-of-leg portion fixed at about a right angle from said plane of said partial sole and arch portion; iii. wherein said stiffener element is structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the abnormal protrusions on the ankle area; c. said ankle brace being constructed and arranged to be used with a separate essentially normal shoe; d. wherein said ankle brace further comprises closure elements for tightening and closing said ankle brace on the patient; e. wherein said multiple material layers are structured and arranged to provide substantially full circumferential support about the ankle area when said closure elements are tightened, and; f. wherein at least one of said material layers comprises leather. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ankle brace system comprising an ankle brace, for providing orthotic assistance to an ankle area of a patient wherein the ankle area includes at least one abnormal protrusion enhancing disability for normal walking, said ankle brace comprising:
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a. multiple adhesively-connected material layers forming overall a toeless boot and shaped to provide support for the abnormal protrusion by matching the contours of the abnormal protrusion; and b. at least one said material layer comprising a stiffener element comprising; i. a partial sole portion lying essentially in a horizontal plane, said partial sole portion being structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the patient'"'"'s sole substantially between the patient'"'"'s heel and the ball of the patient'"'"'s foot; and ii. an essentially vertical sides-and-back-of-leg portion fixed at about a right angle from said plane of said partial sole portion; iii. wherein said stiffener element is structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the abnormal protrusions on the ankle area; c. said ankle brace being constructed and arranged to be used with a separate essentially normal shoe; d. wherein said ankle brace further comprises closure elements for tightening and closing said ankle brace on the patient; e. wherein said multiple material layers are structured and arranged to provide substantially full circumferential support about the ankle area when said closure elements are tightened, and; f. wherein at least one of said material layers comprises leather.
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13. An ankle brace system comprising an ankle brace, for providing orthotic assistance to an ankle area of a patient wherein the ankle area includes at least one abnormal protrusion enhancing disability for normal walking, said ankle brace comprising:
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a. multiple adhesively-connected material layers forming overall a toeless boot and shaped to provide support for the abnormal protrusion by matching the contours of the abnormal protrusion; and b. at least one said material layer comprising a stiffener element comprising; i. a partial sole and arch portion lying essentially in a horizontal plane, said partial sole and arch portion being structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the patient'"'"'s sole and arch substantially between the patient'"'"'s heel and the ball of the patient'"'"'s foot; and ii. an essentially vertical sides-and-back-of-leg portion fixed at about a right angle from said plane of said partial sole and arch portion; iii. wherein said stiffener element is structured and arranged to fully conform to and cover the contours of the abnormal protrusions on the ankle area; c. said ankle brace being constructed and arranged to be used with a separate essentially normal shoe; d. wherein said ankle brace further comprises closure elements for tightening and closing said ankle brace on the patient; e. wherein said multiple material layers are structured and arranged to provide substantially full circumferential support about the ankle area when said closure elements are tightened.
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Specification