AU2002255410A1 - Ankle-foot orthosis - Google Patents
Ankle-foot orthosisInfo
- Publication number
- AU2002255410A1 AU2002255410A1 AU2002255410A AU2002255410A AU2002255410A1 AU 2002255410 A1 AU2002255410 A1 AU 2002255410A1 AU 2002255410 A AU2002255410 A AU 2002255410A AU 2002255410 A AU2002255410 A AU 2002255410A AU 2002255410 A1 AU2002255410 A1 AU 2002255410A1
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- foot
- orthosis
- ankle
- strut
- branches
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Description
ANKLE-FOOT ORTHOSIS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ankle-foot orthosis, particularly for patients suffering from so called drop foot, resulting from paralysis of the anterior muscles of the leg due to e.g. lesions of the peroneal nerve.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US 5,897,515 discloses an ankle-foot orthosis, comprising a frame of thin flexible material extending over the front of the lower leg, anterior of the lateral ankle and beneath the part of the sole of the foot and a supporting portion of rigid material extending over a narrow part of the front of the lower leg, anterior of the lateral ankle and beneath the part of the sole of the foot. The disclosed orthosis may be worn under the patient's ordinary clothes and shoes.
US 2,949,111 discloses a drop-foot brace comprising a supporting sole member to be placed into a shoe and beneath the foot of a handicapped person; a leg embracing member releasably applicable to the leg of said person: a bundle of closely adjacent flat springs and means for connecting the sole member to a lower end of the bundle and means for connecting an upper end of said bundle to the leg embracing member.
The orthoses disclosed in prior art usually refers to orthoses used by persons with severe drop foot or persons having severe muscle weakness in the lower extremities. These orthoses comprise a supporting portion of rigid material extending over a region between a strut on the lower leg and a foot plate. Due to the supporting portion these orthoses provide a strong support but may also be experienced as too rigid by some users, and further the supporting portion is sensitive to wear and tear during walking and may break, especially when used by heavy and very active persons. There is a need for an improved ankle-foot orthosis to be used by persons having a milder drop foot or a lesser muscle weakness and thus do not need an orthosis as stiff as those disclosed by prior art. Since it is easier for these persons to walk than for persons having a severe drop foot, an improved ankle-foot orthosis with improved wear comfort is desired for these users. Such an ankle-foot orthosis is disclosed in the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an orthosis with an adequate stiffness, adjusted for people with milder drop foot, which preserves the supporting
function. The object is achieved with an ankle-foot orthosis according to the present invention. The orthosis comprises a foot plate, arranged to extend beneath the sole of the foot. It further comprises a strut, arranged to extend from the lateral side of said foot plate over the front of the lower leg and anterior of the lateral ankle. The strut comprises a bifurcation that gives rise to two strut branches, arranged to extend on the lower leg. Also included are a fastening means for fastening the orthosis to the leg. Thus the present invention provides an orthosis with high resistance against wear and tear, high wear comfort for the patient and an orthosis enabling an almost normal gait.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows an ankle-foot orthosis according to an embodiment of the present invention placed on the lower leg of a patient;
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the ankle-foot orthosis according to the invention;
Fig. 3 shows the range of motion of the orthosis according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 shows a transverse section through the middle of left leg and orthosis as seen from above
Fig. 5 shows a top view of a foot plate with cross sections at different heights ; and Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the orthosis in the act of being strapped to a lower leg equipped with an ordinary shoe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An ankle-foot orthosis according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In the figures, an orthosis 1 for the left foot is shown while it should be understood that a mirror image of the orthosis should be used for the right foot. The ankle-foot orthosis 1 comprises a foot plate 3, arranged to be placed under the sole of a patients foot, and a fastening means (not shown), arranged in the upper portion of the orthosis 1 for fastening the orthosis 1 to the lower leg. The fastening means, preferably a strap, and the orthosis 1 are preferably provided with so-called VELCRO or "hook and loop" surfaces providing an easy means of taking on and off the orthosis 1. The strap 61 is preferably strapped on the lower leg having a hook type surface 62, on its first end 62, facing outwards, cf fig 6, in the area devised to be applied under the pads 7 of the ortosis 1. The orthosis 1 is then applied
over said strap with a loop type surface on the pads 7 facing inwards to connect with the hook type surface 62. The orthosis is then secured further by strapping a second end 63 of the strap 61 having a loop type surface, over said pads 7 connecting with the hook type surface 62. A similar function can be achieved by having hook type surfaces instead of loop type surfaces, and vice versa.
The orthosis 1 further comprises a strut 2, arranged to extend from a lateral side of said foot plate anterior of the lateral ankle over the front of the lower leg. In the strut 2 a reinforcement element 4 is embedded. The reinforcement element 4 extends over a narrow part of the leg portion of the strut 2 on the front of the lower leg. The foot plate 3 also comprises another embedded element, viz. a tough flexible element 5. The tough element 5 is preferably made of aramid fiber (KEVLAR™). Kevlar is a little stiffer than cured glass fiber and a lot tougher. It does not break as easily as glass fiber. So the Kevlar element brings besides extra stiffness also a safety aspect. Thus the reinforcement element 4 and the tough flexible element 5 together provide the supporting portions of the orthosis 1.
The orthosis 1 is made of a light weight material and is preferably made from a yarn fabric of fiberglass, which is pre-impregnated with an epoxy matrix into a prepreg. Between the fiberglass layers, the two-part reinforcement element 4 is placed. Said reinforcement element can comprise carbon fibers. The orthosis 1 does not comprise a special resilient member corresponding to the bundle of flat springs in US 2,949,111. Because the strut 2 is not totally stiff, the strut branches 2', 2" and the foot plate 3 are movable relative each other, and when the angle between them is changed within the range (-α/2, α/2) from a rest position, the construction provides the orthosis 1 with an elastic range of motion due to elastic deformation in the strut branches/strut/foot plate connection. Thus the total elastic range of motion is α. The angle α varies depending on a number of factors.
Except where the reinforcement element 4 is embedded in the strut 2, the strut 2 is flexible. This means that the orthosis 1 can accommodate thick and thin legs by tightening or loosing the strap and moving the pads 7 on the strap. Also, the orthosis 1 may be cut by an ordinary pair of scissors to adjust width of the foot plate 3.
In the orthosis 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the strut 2 has two branches 2 2" arranged to extend on each side of the tibia 41 of the patient, thus avoiding pressure on the tibia crest 42 as can be seen in Fig. 4. Further, each end of the branches 2', 2" comprises a horizontally arranged pad 7. The branches are made of a material that enables them to be twisted so that they are self-adjusting, i.e. positions of the pads 7 will adapt themselves to fit the curvature of the lower leg. Also the pads are made of a material that enables them to be somewhat flexible and self-adjusting. The pads 7 are preferably reinforced by
carbon fiber. In one embodiment of the invention, one end of the fastening means, i.e. the strap, is arranged on the inside of one of the pads 7 using the VELCRO surfaces of the strap and the pad 7. In this embodiment the orthosis 1 is secured to the lower leg by wrapping the strap around the upper portion of the orthosis 1 and finally fastening the strap on the outside of the winding using the VELCRO surfaces on the inside and outside of the strap.
The orthosis 1 is preferably manufactured so that the finished product comprises a one-piece entity, i.e. there are no fastening devices like screws or rivets connecting the different parts, parts like the foot plate 3, the strut 2 and the strut branches 2', 2". This is accomplished by forming the orthosis of a composite fiber- reinforced material.
Fig. 5 shows a foot plate of an orthosis intended for a right foot. The strut 2 emanates from a lateral side 55 of the foot plate 3. Approximately one third of the distance from a heel end 501 to a toe end 503 of the foot plate is arranged an anchor 507-511 comprising a number of fiberglass fabric layers 507-511 applied under the foot plate 3.
The strut 2 extends upwards orthogonally from the foot plate 2. The strut 2 is mainly rectangular in cross section at foot plate level. In fig. 5 is shown cross sections at different distances form the foot plate, marked on fig. 2, of the strut 2 showing their respective position and long axis angle relative to the foot plate. The rectangular cross section A has a long axis 520 parallel to a long axis 522 of the foot plate 3.
The first cross section A is parallel to the long axis 522 of the foot plate 3, a second cross section B, a bit above the foot plate, is somewhat tilted, and a third cross section C, even further above the foot plate, is twisted about 45 degrees counter-clockwise referring to the foot plate long axis 522.
Arranged in a position intended to land approximately one third up the lower leg is a strut bifurcation zone 9, in which the lower part of the strut 2 bifurcates into a strut lateral branch 2' and a strut medial branch 2". The bifurcation zone 9 is achieved by partly overlapping layers of prepreg. A "V" shape is preferred to divide the pressure comfortably at each side of the tibia crest. The lateral branch 2' is arranged to extend upwards on the lateral side of the lower leg and to end with a lateral pad 7. The medial branch 2" is arranged to extend from the bifurcation, to cross the front side of the lower leg, and to simultaneously extend upwards, over to the medial side of the lower leg, and to end with a medial pad 7.
The medial branch 2" is arranged with a cross section with higher flexural resistance, so that it, because of its greater length with reference to the lateral branch 2', comprises a flexural resistance that keeps the foot in a straight position without giving after more to one side or the other, when exposed to forces comparable to
them being the result of the patient taking one step forward using the leg with the orthosis for pushing. In other words, the two branches (2',2") have equal flexural resistance at their pads (7).
The above mentioned difference in flexural resistance is accomplished by a thicker and wider cross section or by adding a reinforcement element to the medial branch 2".
The branches 2', 2" and pads 7', 7" can be reinforced by carbon fibre.
Claims (7)
1. An ankle-foot orthosis (1) comprising:
- a foot plate (3) devised to be placed under the foot of a patient; - a strut (2) connected to said foot plate (3); and
- a fastening means for fastening the orthosis (1) to a leg, characterised in that the strut (2) has two branches (2',2") arranged to extend on each side of the tibia.
2. An ankle-foot orthosis (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that each top end of the branches (2',2") comprises a pad (7) devised to be arranged horizontally on the leg.
3. An ankle-foot orthosis (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the branches (2',2") and pads (7) are made of a material that enables them to be twisted and to be self-adjusting.
4. An ankle-foot orthosis (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the branches (2',2") and pads (7) are reinforced by carbon fiber.
5. An ankle-foot orthosis (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the fastening means includes hook and loop surfaces.
6. An ankle-foot orthosis (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the longer of the two branches (2',2") are arranged to have a cross section with higher flexural resistance than the shorter one, so that the two branches (2',2") have equal flexural resistance at their pads (7).
7. An ankle-foot orthosis (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said strut is attached to the foot plate at said foot plates lateral side, to allow said strut to pass in front of the lateral ankle.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
SE0101341A SE0101341D0 (en) | 2001-04-18 | 2001-04-18 | Ankle-foot orthosis |
SE0101341-6 | 2001-04-18 | ||
PCT/SE2002/000765 WO2002083040A1 (en) | 2001-04-18 | 2002-04-18 | Ankle-foot orthosis |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU2002255410A1 true AU2002255410A1 (en) | 2003-04-17 |
AU2002255410B2 AU2002255410B2 (en) | 2006-04-06 |
Family
ID=20283792
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU2002255410A Ceased AU2002255410B2 (en) | 2001-04-18 | 2002-04-18 | Ankle-foot orthosis |
Country Status (16)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6887213B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1379201B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004538046A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20030090748A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1232234C (en) |
AT (1) | ATE316363T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002255410B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2444263A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60208889T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK1379201T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2257541T3 (en) |
HU (1) | HUP0303851A3 (en) |
NO (1) | NO323164B1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL366557A1 (en) |
SE (1) | SE0101341D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002083040A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (43)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU2003290526A1 (en) * | 2002-11-07 | 2004-06-03 | Ossur Hf | Ankle-foot orthosis |
US7018352B2 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2006-03-28 | Pressman Martin M | Modular ankle-foot orthosis |
US7125392B2 (en) * | 2003-08-15 | 2006-10-24 | Oregon Orthotic System, Inc. | Ankle-foot orthotic device and method |
WO2005034819A1 (en) * | 2003-09-22 | 2005-04-21 | University Of Maryland, Baltimore | Lower leg orthosis |
SE528818C2 (en) * | 2004-04-08 | 2007-02-20 | Lars Falkenman | Orthopedic footwear device and use of the device |
US7335177B2 (en) * | 2004-04-23 | 2008-02-26 | Ronan Reynolds | Ankle-foot orthosis |
DE102004027252A1 (en) * | 2004-06-03 | 2005-12-29 | Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh | orthosis |
US7740602B2 (en) * | 2004-11-09 | 2010-06-22 | Freedom Innovations, Llc | Ankle foot orthotic brace |
CA2607551A1 (en) * | 2005-05-09 | 2006-11-16 | Bsn Medical Gmbh And Co. Kg | Knee immobilizer |
US20060270958A1 (en) * | 2005-05-27 | 2006-11-30 | George Patrick J | Ankle and foot orthosis |
US7878993B2 (en) * | 2005-06-15 | 2011-02-01 | University Of Delaware | Ankle-foot orthosis device |
KR100867845B1 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2008-11-10 | 안길원 | Walking aid footwear |
US7794506B2 (en) * | 2007-09-18 | 2010-09-14 | Freedom Innovations, Llc | Multi-axial prosthetic ankle |
US7722556B2 (en) * | 2007-10-18 | 2010-05-25 | Warner Mitchell S | Ankle foot orthosis and method therefor |
US8034121B2 (en) * | 2008-04-18 | 2011-10-11 | Freedom Innovations, Llc | Prosthetic foot with two leaf-springs joined at heel and toe |
PL2242460T3 (en) | 2008-05-15 | 2012-04-30 | Diego Dolcetta | Ankle foot orthosis for counteracting the supination/pronation of the foot |
DE102008034750A1 (en) * | 2008-07-24 | 2010-02-04 | Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh | joint insert |
US8353968B2 (en) * | 2009-02-08 | 2013-01-15 | King Family Kingetics, Llc | Spring orthotic device |
DE202010018436U1 (en) | 2010-05-11 | 2016-09-08 | Wilhelm Julius Teufel Gmbh | orthosis |
US8500825B2 (en) | 2010-06-29 | 2013-08-06 | Freedom Innovations, Llc | Prosthetic foot with floating forefoot keel |
US8904674B2 (en) | 2011-04-07 | 2014-12-09 | Nathan Schwartz | Ankle-foot orthosis |
US8465445B2 (en) | 2011-06-21 | 2013-06-18 | Patrick George | Ankle and foot orthosis |
SE537388C2 (en) * | 2011-10-21 | 2015-04-21 | Flexbrace Internat Ab | Ankle-foot orthosis elements and method of manufacture thereof |
DE102012011467A1 (en) * | 2012-06-12 | 2013-12-12 | Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh | orthosis |
DE102012011466A1 (en) | 2012-06-12 | 2013-12-12 | Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh | Ankle-foot orthosis |
US9131746B2 (en) | 2012-08-28 | 2015-09-15 | Roar Licensing, Llc | Foot orthotic |
DE102012023028A1 (en) * | 2012-11-26 | 2014-06-12 | Orthopunkt Ag | Modular orthosis system and kit for its adaptation |
USD732674S1 (en) * | 2013-06-07 | 2015-06-23 | Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh | Orthosis |
WO2015052585A2 (en) * | 2013-10-13 | 2015-04-16 | Camp Scandinavia Ab | Fiber reinforced composite orthoses |
WO2015052587A2 (en) * | 2013-10-13 | 2015-04-16 | Camp Scandinavia Ab | Orthosis loading management |
WO2015188075A2 (en) | 2014-06-06 | 2015-12-10 | Roar Licensing, Llc | Shoe with integral orthotic/propulsion plate |
GB2527282B (en) * | 2014-06-10 | 2017-11-15 | The Diabetic Boot Company Ltd | Support device |
USD782687S1 (en) * | 2014-08-19 | 2017-03-28 | Kt Health, Llc | Plurality of strips of kinesiology tape with an X-shaped configuration |
KR101638861B1 (en) * | 2014-08-28 | 2016-07-12 | (주)에이더 | Foot Brace |
US10485688B2 (en) * | 2014-09-19 | 2019-11-26 | SpringStep AFO, Inc. | Ankle-foot orthosis and method of manufacture |
US11083614B2 (en) * | 2014-09-19 | 2021-08-10 | SpringStep AFO, Inc. | Ankle-foot orthosis and method of manufacture |
USD785192S1 (en) * | 2015-04-03 | 2017-04-25 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Walking frame |
GB2556317A (en) * | 2016-06-07 | 2018-05-30 | Orthotic Composites Ltd | Orthosis |
SE1750035A1 (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2018-07-18 | Camp Scandinavia Ab | Tubular sleeve to be used together with an orthosis |
US11872151B2 (en) | 2017-05-12 | 2024-01-16 | Ast Design, Llc | Method of manufacturing an ankle foot orthosis |
CN113924069A (en) * | 2019-04-08 | 2022-01-11 | Lb2科技有限公司 | Lower limb orthosis |
WO2021035064A1 (en) | 2019-08-21 | 2021-02-25 | Ast Design Llc | Ankle foot orthoses and method of manufacturing |
CN117835940A (en) * | 2021-07-12 | 2024-04-05 | 奥索冰岛有限公司 | Ankle foot orthosis and method for manufacturing the same |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2847991A (en) * | 1955-08-05 | 1958-08-19 | Andrews Adam | Drop foot brace |
US2949111A (en) * | 1958-09-23 | 1960-08-16 | Ruotoistenmaki Veikko Samuli | Drop-foot brace |
USRE33762E (en) * | 1973-09-21 | 1991-12-10 | L'nard Associates, Inc. | Therapeutic leg and foot device |
US5219324A (en) * | 1992-03-12 | 1993-06-15 | Charles Hall | Anterior dorsal ankle foot orthoses |
US5897515A (en) * | 1997-02-05 | 1999-04-27 | Light Weight Support Ab | Ankle-foot orthosis |
US5817041A (en) * | 1997-04-21 | 1998-10-06 | Bader; Wade | Rigid lower-limb orthotic |
DE19722118A1 (en) * | 1997-05-27 | 1999-02-04 | Hauber Ferd Gmbh | Ankle supporting device used as plaster substitute |
US6146344A (en) * | 1999-07-14 | 2000-11-14 | Bader; Wade | Lower limb orthotic brace |
DK1265566T3 (en) * | 2000-03-14 | 2006-05-29 | Comfit Restore As | An ankle-foot rail and a method of manufacture thereof |
-
2001
- 2001-04-18 SE SE0101341A patent/SE0101341D0/en unknown
-
2002
- 2002-04-18 ES ES02724847T patent/ES2257541T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-18 US US10/473,278 patent/US6887213B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-18 PL PL02366557A patent/PL366557A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2002-04-18 DE DE60208889T patent/DE60208889T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-18 DK DK02724847T patent/DK1379201T3/en active
- 2002-04-18 JP JP2002580847A patent/JP2004538046A/en active Pending
- 2002-04-18 EP EP02724847A patent/EP1379201B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-18 HU HU0303851A patent/HUP0303851A3/en unknown
- 2002-04-18 CA CA002444263A patent/CA2444263A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-04-18 AT AT02724847T patent/ATE316363T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2002-04-18 CN CNB028084306A patent/CN1232234C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2002-04-18 KR KR10-2003-7013535A patent/KR20030090748A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2002-04-18 AU AU2002255410A patent/AU2002255410B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2002-04-18 WO PCT/SE2002/000765 patent/WO2002083040A1/en active IP Right Grant
-
2003
- 2003-10-16 NO NO20034631A patent/NO323164B1/en unknown
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP1379201B1 (en) | Ankle-foot orthosis | |
AU2002255410A1 (en) | Ankle-foot orthosis | |
US7077818B2 (en) | Ankle-foot orthosis | |
US7270644B2 (en) | Ankle-foot orthosis having an orthotic footplate | |
US5897515A (en) | Ankle-foot orthosis | |
US11717431B2 (en) | Orthotic system | |
US8529484B2 (en) | Orthotic foot brace | |
US20060270958A1 (en) | Ankle and foot orthosis | |
US11617671B2 (en) | Customizable knee brace intended for patients with osteoarthritis | |
EP2381902A1 (en) | Weight-bearing lower extremity brace | |
DK2533734T3 (en) | ORTHOPEDIC FOOTWEAR TO REMOVE DROP FOOT SYMPTOMS | |
GB2568713A (en) | A device for an item of footwear | |
CA2692534A1 (en) | Orthotic foot brace |