AU2005100599A4 - Podiatry Supporting Structure - Google Patents

Description

Podiatry Supporting Structure The present invention relates to a foot and leg support for a patient of a podiatrist, and more specifically to a podiatry supporting structure such as a table used for supporting a patient during a podiatry analytical or clinical procedure.

Medical doctors, podiatrists, chiropodists, physiotherapists, and chiropractors are involved in the foot health of a patient. However the podiatrist has a special more precise role in the health of the lower limbs of a patient.

Podiatry generally deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical and surgical conditions of the feet and lower limbs.

The primary role of the podiatrist is to improve mobility and enhance the independence of individuals by the prevention and management of pathological foot problems and associated morbidity. This is achieved by providing advice on foot health, assessment and diagnosis of foot pathology, identification of treatment and other requirements, referral to other disciplines as appropriate, formulation of care plans, and provision of direct care as deemed appropriate and agreed to by the individual.

The conditions podiatrists clinically treat include those resulting from bone and joint disorders such as arthritis and soft-tissue and muscular pathologies, as well as neurological and circulatory disease. Podiatrists also diagnose and treat any complications of the above which affect the lower limb, including skin and nail disorders, corns, calluses and ingrown toenails. Foot injuries and infections gained through sport or other activities are also diagnosed and treated by podiatrists One form of practical procedure is the manufacture of orthotics. Foot orthoses are therapeutic devices designed to correct deformities or prevent the patient from compensating for deformities such as forefoot and rearfoot varus and valgus, pes plano valgus, pes cavus, and other foot and lower extremity deformities. Although foot orthoses are generally intended to prevent compensation for foot deformities, 1 n orthoses often can actually correct or reduce deformities in the foot. Successful 0 O correction of deformities is especially likely in younger patients. Typically, a foot orthosis is generally non-planar and sheet-like, conforming in shape to the plantar surface of the patient's foot. Orthoses are designed to fit in the patient's shoes between S 5 the patient's foot and the bottom surface of the inside of the shoe.

The first step in forming an orthosis is for the podiatrist to make a biomechanical examination of the patient's foot. In this biomechanical examination, the patient's foot _is studied and measured to determine the particular deformity which affects the patient, and the best means for correcting for the deformity. A negative impression is C then made of the patient's foot. From the negative impression, a positive casting is made of the patient's foot. Around this positive casting, an orthotic device is made.

Most negative impressions are cast for with the patient's feet in neutral position.

Neutral position is that position the foot is in when the subtalar joint is neither inverted nor everted and the midtarsal joint is dorsoflexed and everted to resistance on the subtalar joint. Initially, an ink pressure plate foot imprint, or a negative cast is made from the patient's foot. The imprint or cast is then sent to an orthotic fabricating laboratory for fabrication. Fabrication is done through multiple time-consuming and labour-intensive processes that can be cost prohibitive.

A second form of practical procedure in podiatry is the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical and surgical conditions and injuries, deformations, or growth problems of the feet and lower limbs. The conditions podiatrists treat include those resulting from bone and joint disorders such as arthritis and soft-tissue and muscular pathologies, as well as neurological and circulatory disease. Gait analysis will often be undertaken through visual or computerised means and might include range of motion studies, postural alignment evaluation or dynamic force and pressure studies. Therefore the podiatrist often needs to undertake comprehensive physical therapy of the patient. These therapies may be provided in isolation or as part of an overall treatment plan.

It can be seen therefore that in analysis and in clinical treatment it is important for the 2 podiatrist to be able to move the patient into particular positions. However to date podiatry has been undertaken on tables with minimal or no assistance to place the patients in the required position or with limbs relatively flexed. Biomechanical analysis of a patient can be undertaken by expensive and elaborate digital video imaging but this is often not practical or of use in most analytical or clinical procedure by a podiatrist. It is of great importance for hands on analysis and treatment of the patient and this must be undertaken while stationary. Therefore it is important to flex and extend the lower limbs of the patient in various modes to build up a podiatrist profile of the patient.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lower body support that enables different parts of the lower body of the patient to be selectively angled relative to each other to assist analytical podiatrist assessment and clinical treatment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a podiatrist table which overcomes or at least ameliorates the problems of the prior art.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure mounted on a frame with separate lower limb supporting sections to be relatively located to support a patient's lower limbs below and above the knee and separately tilted in opposing directions away from substantially planar rest positions to provide differing supporting effects of the lower limbs of a patient thereon with particularly one or more further movable foot sections for adjustable positioning relative the lower limb sections for supporting the feet of the patient.

The support structure can be in the form of a multi-sectional table mounted on a frame with capability for separate sections to be separately tilted to provide differing effects for a patient lying thereon with particularly two or more further separately movable sections for separately supporting the feet of the patient.

The invention also provides a multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure for supporting of lower limbs and feet of a patient to enable a podiatrist to position patient in an analytical or treatment position to undertake analysis or physical therapy on the 3 patient, the supporting structure including: at least one seat sections for supporting the patient; at least one above knee section for supporting the upper leg of the patient; at least one below knee section for supporting the lower leg of the patient; and at least one foot section for supporting the feet of the patient. At least one of the plurality of sections is connected to allow tilting of the section away from a rest position to a locked tilt position which must be unlocked to return the section to the rest position.

At least one of the plurality of sections is connected to allow cocking of the section away from the rest position or the tilt position to a cocked position having a resistive force which must be uncocked against the resistive force by application of force directly to an upper side of the relevant section to return the section to the rest position or the tilt position. In use the podiatrist can arrange each of the plurality of sections in a required rest position or tilt position for undertaking analysis or physical therapy of the lower limbs of the patient and if required cock the at least one of the plurality of sections to a cocked position to assist in providing the required physical treatment by allowing the podiatrist to apply driving force to the lower limb on the cocked section which initiates movement and return of the cocked section to the rest position or tilt position and the required applied treatment force to the lower limb.

The multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure can have the majority of the separate sections mounted on a frame in a substantially planar arrangement with the above knee section and below knee section each able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending laterally relative to the table and the two or more foot sections are able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending longitudinally relative to the table.

In one form the supporting structure is a multi-sectional podiatrist table which can have separate sections. The separate sections can include one or more headrest sections for receiving the head of the patient and one or more upper torso sections for receiving the upper torso of the patient in an analytical or treatment position. Still further the table can include one or more seat sections for receiving the seat of the patient and one or more above knee sections for receiving the upper leg of the patient in an analytical or treatment position and one or more below knee sections for receiving the lower leg of the patient in an analytical or treatment position. Still 4 i further the table includes two or more further separately extendable and tiltable foot 0 O sections for separately supporting the feet of the patient in an analytical or treatment C"l position. In a further embodiment the user can separately elevate the plurality of foot sections relative to the height of the above and below knee sections to provide differing effects for a patient lying thereon.

The multi-sectional table can have the separate sections mounted on a frame in a osubstantially planar arrangement with the above knee section and below knee section 0each able to be raised in a pivotal manner around respective pivotal axes extending laterally of the table and the two or more foot sections are able to be raised around C respective longitudinally extending pivotal axes relative to the table.

It can be seen that the invention provides a drop piece section above the knee joint; a drop piece section below the knee joint; and an individual drop piece section for each foot. Also the drop can be rotated length wise along the table so that a patient doesn't have to slide up and down the table to place their feet exactly in the right position.

Further the invention provides a slide out mechanism for the foot drop piece, which is extremely useful for accommodating the range of taller and shorter patients.

The invention also provides a method of supporting and treating lower limbs of a patient in an analytical or treatment procedure by a podiatrist, including the steps of: supporting the above knee section and below knee section and feet of a patient in a required rest position or tilt position whereat at least one section is tilted away from the rest position to a locked tilt position which must be unlocked to return the section to the rest position and allowing undertaking of analysis or physical therapy of the lower limbs of the patient in the supported position; and selectively allowing cocking of at least one of the plurality of sections to a cocked position away from the rest position or the tilt position to a cocked position having a resistive force which must be uncocked against the resistive force by application of force directly to an upper side of the relevant section to return the section to the rest position or the tilt position, and allowing a required treatment force to be applied to the lower limb by allowing the podiatrist to apply driving force to the lower limb on the cocked section which initiates movement and return of the cocked section to the rest position or tilt position which assists in providing the required physical treatment.

It can be seen there is provided a method of supporting a lower body section of a patient allowing an analytical or clinical procedure by a podiatrist including providing support means for the above knee section and below knee section of a patient and able to alter the support to raise the above knee section and below knee section in a pivotal manner around respective pivotal axes extending laterally of the table and the method further including supporting the feet of the patient separately on two or more foot sections which are able to be raised around respective longitudinally extending pivotal axes relative to the patient.

In order that the invention is more readily understood an embodiment of a podiatry supporting structure in accordance with then invention will be described by way of illustration only with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a podiatrist table in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the podiatrist table of Figure 1 with all the sections or drops lowered and with extension of the slide out mechanism of the two supporting feet sections to account for taller people; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the podiatrist table of Figure 1 with the "below knee" drop raised.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the podiatrist table of Figure 3 with the "below knee" drop with patient positioning Figure 5 is a side elevation of the podiatrist table of Figure 1 with the "above knee" drop with patient positioned; Figure 6 is an end view of the podiatrist table of Figure 1 with the two supporting feet sections arranged substantially planar with the foot drops lowered.

Figure 7 is an end view of the podiatrist table of Figure 1 the two supporting feet sections having the left foot drop raised. Note how height of the drop runs along the length of the table rather than across (from side to side) the table. This allows for more flexibility with patient positioning.

Figure 8 is an end view of the podiatrist table of Figure 1 with the two 6 supporting feet sections and having both Left and Right foot drops raised in opposite directions.

Referring to the drawings there is shown particularly in Figure 1 a multi-sectional podiatrist table (11) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. This table comprises a plurality of separate sections (21-29) mounted on a planar frame (30) in a manner to be separately tilted and selectively cocked to a further tilt angle to provide differing effects for a patient lying thereon.

The table frame (30) is pivotally mounted on a central pedestal (31) which is supported by an elongated ground engaging base frame The central pedestal (31) is connected to the elongated ground engaging base frame (32) by an hydraulic elbow joint (33) to allow vertical height adjustment of the table frame relative to the elongated ground engaging base frame This allows the podiatrist to allow selective working height adjustment of the patient relative to the ground.

The table (11) includes headrest section (21) mounted for receiving the head of the patient. There is also a plurality of upper torso sections (22, 23) for receiving the upper torso of the patient in an analytical or treatment position and which can be tilted to support upper torso in a reclining position. The head rest (21) and upper torso sections (22, 23) are substantially provided to support the patient in a comfortable manner while in an analytical or treatment lying position. However in another position the patient could be sitting upright and therefore the headrest and upper torso sections can have minimal use or not be included.

The table (11) includes an elongated seat section (25) extending across the frame for receiving the seat of the patient. There is also included two separate parallel rectangular sections (26, 27) extending across the frame (30) substantially planar and parallel to the seat section The first of these sections adjacent the seat section (25) is an upper leg section (26) for supporting the upper leg of the patient and the second of the sections adjacent the first section is a below knee section (27) for supporting the lower leg.

Further there is included on a slide extension of the frame two further slidable foot sections (28, 29) movable away from the end of the below knee section (27) for supporting the feet of the patient.

It can be seen that the podiatrist table allows the podiatrist to support a lower body section of a patient in an analytical or clinical procedure by providing support means for the above knee section and below knee section of a patient. The podiatrist is able to alter the support to raise the above knee section and below knee section in a pivotal manner around respective pivotal axes extending laterally of the table as will be further described. Also the feet of the patient are supported separately on two or more foot sections which are also able to be raised around respective longitudinally extending pivotal axes relative to the patient.

In Figure 2 there is shown the extension of the table (11) to support the two foot sections (28, 29) at a relative distance to the other sections and particularly the below knee section (27) to allow for differing heights of patients.

In Figures 3 to 5 there is shown the pivotal arrangement of the below knee support in order to provide a partial supported flex of the patient's leg. In Figure 5 there is a pivotal raising of the above knee support (26) which provides a different effect on the knee and allows the calf of the patient to not be squashed by the table.

Figures 6, 7, and 8 show the alteration of the pivotal height of the foot sections (28, 29) along parallel longitudinal axes to allow different flex of the feet.

Different elements of the table include the double action of the sections and the relative opposite pivotal rotation of adjacent sections to provide required variations of configuration to allow a range of podiatry physical treatments.

The double action is provided by the plurality of sections relating to the knee or lower limbs or feet (25-28) being mounted on the frame to allow tilting of the section away from a rest position to a locked tilt position. This raising is undertaken by lever action and must be unlocked to return the section to the rest position. However the sections 8 are further mounted to allow cocking of each section away from the rest position or the tilt position to a cocked position. At this cocked position there is supplied a resistive force. This resistive force can be adjusted by adjustment knobs in the frame adjusting spring means engaging the underside of the section. The section must be uncocked against the resistive force by application of force directly to an upper side of the relevant section to return the section to the rest position or the tilt position.

The relative opposite pivotal rotation of adjacent sections of the above knee section to the below knee section and the separate foot sections provide required variations of configuration to allow a range of podiatry physical treatments. the above knee section to the below knee section is able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending laterally relative to the table and the two or more foot sections are able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending longitudinally relative to the table. This opposing relative movement of the above and below knee sections provide required flex around the knee to allow required positioning for podiatry analysis and treatment.

Similarly opposing relative movement of the two foot sections provide required opposing flex of the feet to allow required positioning for podiatry analysis and treatment.

The degree of the tilt of the sections can be of the order of 00 to about 400. However the sections can be cocked from the tilted position or from the flat position at a further angle of between 00 to about 100. The travel of the cocked section which is against the resistive force can be about 15 to 20 millimetres. The size of the required force to move the section from the cocked position back to the uncocked position can be from light finger press to body weight press. This can be adjusted as required dependent on the treatment or manipultion required.

In use the podiatrist can arrange each of the plurality of sections in a required rest position or tilt position for undertaking analysis or physical therapy of the lower limbs of the patient. If a physical treatment is required one or more of the plurality of sections can be moved to a cocked position. This assists the podiatrist in providing the required physical treatment by allowing application of a driving force to the lower 9 limb on the cocked section. This initiates movement and return of the cocked section to the rest position or tilt position and the required applied treatment force is applied to the patient's lower limb.

It should be understood that the above description is of a preferred embodiment and included as illustration only. It is not limiting of the invention. Clearly variations of the podiatrist table would be understood by a person skilled in the art without any inventiveness and such variations are included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (4)

1. A multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure mounted on a frame with separate lower limb supporting sections to be relatively located to support a patient's lower limbs below and above the knee and separately tilted in opposing directions away from substantially planar rest positions to provide differing supporting effects of the lower limbs of a patient thereon with particularly one or more further movable foot sections for adjustable positioning relative the lower limb sections for supporting the feet of the patient.

2. A multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure for supporting of lower limbs and feet of a patient to enable a podiatrist to position patient in an analytical or treatment position to undertake analysis or physical therapy on the patient, the supporting structure including: at least one seat sections for supporting the patient; at least one above knee section for supporting the upper leg of the patient; at least one below knee section for supporting the lower leg of the patient; and at least one foot section for supporting the feet of the patient; at least one of the plurality of sections is connected to allow tilting of the section away from a rest position to a locked tilt position which must be unlocked to return the section to the rest position; and at least one of the plurality of sections is connected to allow cocking of the section away from the rest position or the tilt position to a cocked position having a resistive force which must be uncocked against the resistive force by application of force directly to an upper side of the relevant section to return the section to the rest position or the tilt position; wherein the podiatrist can arrange each of the plurality of sections in a required rest position or tilt position for undertaking analysis or physical therapy of the lower limbs of the patient and if required cock the at least one of the plurality of sections to a cocked position to assist in providing the required physical treatment by allowing the podiatrist to apply driving force to the lower limb on the cocked section which initiates movement and return of the cocked section to the rest position or tilt position and the required applied treatment force to the lower limb. 11

3. The multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure of claim 2 having the majority of the separate sections mounted on a frame in a substantially planar arrangement with the above knee section and below knee section each able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending laterally relative to the table and the two or more foot sections are able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending longitudinally relative to the table.

4. A method of supporting and treating lower limbs of a patient in an analytical or treatment procedure by a podiatrist, including the steps of: supporting the above knee section and below knee section and feet of a patient in a required rest position or tilt position whereat at least one section is tilted away from the rest position to a locked tilt position which must be unlocked to return the section to the rest position and allowing undertaking of analysis or physical therapy of the lower limbs of the patient in the supported position; and selectively allowing cocking of at least one of the plurality of sections to a cocked position away from the rest position or the tilt position to a cocked position having a resistive force which must be uncocked against the resistive force by application of force directly to an upper side of the relevant section to return the section to the rest position or the tilt position, and allowing a required treatment force to be applied to the lower limb by allowing the podiatrist to apply driving force to the lower limb on the cocked section which initiates movement and return of the cocked section to the rest position or tilt position which assists in providing the required physical treatment. A multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures for supporting of lower limbs and feet of a patient to enable a podiatrist to position patient in an analytical or treatment position to undertake analysis or physical therapy on the patient, the supporting structure including: at least one seat sections for supporting the patient; at least one above knee section for supporting the upper leg of the patient; 12 at least one below knee section for supporting the lower leg of the patient; 0 O and at least one foot section extendible relative to the remaining sections for supporting the feet of the patient sufficiently while allowing treatment of the feet; at least one of the plurality of sections is connected to allow tilting of the 5 section away from a rest position to a locked tilt position which must be unlocked to return the section to the rest position; and at least one of the plurality of sections is connected to allow cocking of the section away from the rest position or the tilt position to a cocked position having a 0resistive force which must be uncocked against the resistive force by application of force directly to an upper side of the relevant section to return the section to the rest position or the tilt position; wherein the podiatrist can arrange each of the plurality of sections in a required rest position or tilt position for undertaking analysis or physical therapy of the lower limbs of the patient and if required cock the at least one of the plurality of sections to a cocked position to assist in providing the required physical treatment by allowing the podiatrist to apply driving force to the lower limb on the cocked section which initiates movement and return of the cocked section to the rest position or tilt position and the required applied treatment force to the lower limb wherein the multi-sectional podiatry supporting structure has the majority of the separate sections mounted on a frame in a substantially planar arrangement with the above knee section and below knee section each able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending laterally relative to the table and the two or more foot sections are able to be tilted in an opposing pivotal manner around respective parallel pivot axes extending longitudinally relative to the table.