AU762834B2

AU762834B2 - Orthotic device

Info

Publication number: AU762834B2
Application number: AU31416/02A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Klopf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-26
Filing date: 2002-04-04
Publication date: 2003-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-19
Also published as: AU3141602A

Description

S&FRef: 359641D2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Michael Klopf Bachstrasse 8 D-97297 Waldbuttelbrunn Germany Michael Klopf Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Orthotic Device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c 1 ORTHOTIC DEVICE Field of the Invention The invention concerns an orthotic device to support the foot, especially in the case of paralyses, which are caused by damage to the peroneal muscle or the peroneal nerve, consisting of a splint and a foot support.

Background of the Invention It is known, in the case of specific paralyses, to fix the foot by means of an orthotic device, the calf splint and foot support of which are connected to each other either rigidly and stationarily or through leaf springs. Such paralyses arises especially in the case of damage to the peroneal muscle or the peroneal nerve that controls it, as they may be caused for instance by the sequelae of apoplexy. The paralysis means that the •concerned person is no longer able to control the foot consciously and as a result the foot drops downward and thereby turns inward, which is termed inversion or supination.

Owing to this turning movement there is a risk of irreversible damage if walked upon.

1s Orthotic devices to support the foot are known in two embodiments. In one embodiment the calf splint is connected stationarily to the foot support, whereby the foot support and the calf splint form an angle of approx. Through this, the foot is rigidly fixed. The disadvantage thereby is that the orthotic device not only prevents a turning of the foot inwards, an upward and downward i 20 movement in the joift is also impossible, which makes walking very difficult. Moreover, there is the risk of a stiffening of the ankle, as it is fully, rigidly fixed. With the other embodiment the foot support is connected by means of a lateral leaf spring assembly to the splint. Consequently, an upward and downward movement of the foot is possible in principle, however the spring power and the range of the spring cannot be adapted to the individual needs of the patient as no possibility worth mentioning for adjustments and setting is given. In addition, a defined rotation axis is not created.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention There is firstly disclosed herein orthotic device to support the foot, in particular in the case of paralyses which are caused by damage to the peroneal muscle or the peroneal nerve, having a calf splint and a foot support, which via its rotation axis is [R:\LTBLL] 12832specie.doceh 2 essentially perpendicular to the lateral surface of the foot and which contains a spring, wherein that the spring power acts in the direction of the upward movement of the toes and counterbalances the foot in the resting position with its gravitational force.

and said foot support is insertable into a shoe.

The invention, at least in a preferred embodiment, therefore provides an orthotic device to support the foot, especially in the case of impairment of the peroneal muscle or the peroneal nerve, in such a way that the foot is fixed in such a manner that a lateral turning is prevented, however an upward and downward movement of the foot is possible 1o and the spring power, which acts in the direction of the upward movement of the toes, can be adapted to the individual needs of the patient.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the calf splint and the foot support are preferably connected through a hinge at the level of the ankle, the S.:i rotation axis of which lies essentially perpendicular to the lateral surface of the foot and ":1i s contains a spring, the spring power of which acts in the direction of the upward movement of the toes. The orthotic device is preferably mounted as follows: The calf splint lies against the calf and is connected by means of the hinge to the foot support, which is also enclosed by the shoe.

o o Since the foot muscles of the paralysed foot cannot be contracted, it drops 20 downward and executes an inward turn. The orthotic device of at least in a preferred embodiment prevents on the one hand a lateral turning of the ankle and in the manner that the joint can only be moved in the upward and downward movement of the foot. This is achieved through the position of the rotation axis, which lies perpendicular on the lateral surface of the foot so that it coincides with a rotational axis of the ankle. On the other hand, dropping down in compensated for by the spring power that counteracts this movement, which is set in such a way that in the resting position of the foot is holds a balance with the gravitational force of the foot. During walking, the spring is deflected from this resting position which means that when the foot is lifted this returns to the resting position.

As the hinge is preferably located immediately laterally besides the ankle, the ankle can be moved, only the lateral turning movement is prevented. The patient's walking is made significantly easier because the ankle is not rigidly fixed. Moreover, through the movement of the ankle a stiffening of the joint is counteracted.

[RALIBLL] l2832specie.doceh In an appropriate way the spring power increases super-proportionally with the deflection of the spring. This has the advantage that the dynamics of the turning movement is more like the normal walking process and therefore enables trouble-free walking.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: The figure shows a side view of an orthotic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In a preferred embodiment of the invention the initial tension in the spring is changeable. Thus the spring power can be adapted to the individual needs of the patient.

Therefore, for instance, orthotic devices for children or adults do not have to contain different springs and can basically be manufactured uniformly. Nevertheless, of course the possibility still exists to mount springs of differing strength in the hinge.

S-The spring is advantageously in a preferred embodiment a coil spring, whereby the central point of the coil lies on the rotation axis. The spring is then affixed at the **inner end at the rotation axis and at the outer end at the inner wall of the hinge. Because the movement of the hinge is a rotational movement about an axis, the design solution 20 with a coil spring is the easiest.

In another preferred embodiment the initial tension of the coil spring can be o.:i changed in that the outer end of the coil spring is affixable to different places. By this means the spring can either be more tensioned or more relaxed. The advantage of this solution lies therein that the initial tension of the spring is very easy and uncomplicated to change.

For example, the outer end of the coil spring can be affixed in radial drill-holes, which are provided in the interior wall of the hinge, by means of which places are created to which the end of the spring can be securely anchored.

In a further embodiment the spring is a helical spring, the spring power of which acts essentially tangentially upon an essentially radial bar which belongs to the part of the hinge that belongs to the foot support. In this way a torque is generated that acts in the same direction as does the orthotic device with coil spring.

[R:\LIBLL] 12832specie.doc:keh The initial tension of the helical spring can, in contrast to the coil spring, be altered steadily and in that a screw displaces the end point of the spring and thus changes the spring length.

The length of the helical spring and the associated screw call be shortened in that s the screw extends axially in the spring. The screw head can for example serve as the stop face of the spring whereby the screwing of the screw into the hinge can be effected with a sufficiently long screwdriver.

Referring specifically to the drawing, shows the calf splint which is connected to the hinge through two rivets Hinge has a round cross section and has a cavity that also has a round cross section. The coil spring is embedded in cavity and affixed by its outer end in the top of the four radial drill-holes which are incorporated in the side wall of hinge The four radial drill-holes are radial in relation to the central point of hinge have a rectangular cross section and form :i respectively an angle of 900. The rotation axis of the hinge is connected on the one hand Is to the inner end of coil spring as well as to the foot support Below hinge is located a guide bar which is delimited from above by the outer wall of the hinge, from below through a concentric circular arc in relation to hinge and from the left and right through rotation stop faces In guide bar extends a cylinder (12) with circular cross section which is connected to foot support Thereby the rotation 20 movement of foot support is limited to the circular arc (10) between the two rotation stop faces (11).

[R:\LIBLL] 12832specie.doc:keh

Claims

1. Orthotic device to support the foot, in particular in the case of paralyses which are caused by damage to the peroneal muscle or the peroneal nerve, having a calf splint and a foot support, which via its rotation axis is essentially perpendicular to the s lateral surface of the foot and which contains a spring, wherein that the spring power acts in the direction of the upward movement of the toes and counterbalances the foot in the resting position with its gravitational force, and said foot support is insertable into a shoe.

2. Orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein the spring power to0 increases superproportionally with the excursion of said spring.

3. Orthotic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the initial tension of said spring is changeable.

4. Orthotic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said spring is a spiral spring, whereby the centre of the spiral lies on the rotation axis. 15

5. Orthotic device according to claim 3 and 4, wherein the initial tension S* of the spring is changeable in that one end of the coil spring is affixable to different places.

6. Orthotic device according to claim 5, wherein the places to which the outer end of coil spring is affixable are radial drill-holes in the interior wall of hinge. 20

7. Orthotic device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein spring is a helical spring the spring power of which acts essentially tangentially in relation to the rotation axis upon a radial bar.

8. Orthotic device according to claim 3 and 7, wherein the initial tension of spring is changeable through a screw by means of which the spring length call be shortened or expended in the direction of the spring power.

9. Orthotic device according to claim 8, wherein the screw extends axially in the spring. Orthotic device, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated 4 April, 2002 Michael Klopf Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBLL] 12832specie.doc:keh