CA2338903A1

CA2338903A1 - Medical device for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a person's foot

Info

Publication number: CA2338903A1
Application number: CA002338903A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Eli Levy; Ascher Shmulewitz; Roni Bibi; Dan Manor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Medical Dynamics USA LLC
Priority date: 1998-07-30
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2000-02-10
Also published as: WO2000006077A3; CN1315850A; EP1100427A2; AU768942B2; KR20010079580A; WO2000006077A2; AU5190199A

Abstract

A medical device for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's foot, the device including a platform with at least one independently actuable inflatable bladder to solely underlie the subject's foot, an inflatable bladder converging towards a laterally extending neck portion with an aperture raised with respect to said platform on accommodation of a subject's foot inside the medical device.

Description

ii 02-~0- i000 CA 02338903 2001-O1-29 (L UU~~JUU4ly ., ~ , MEDICAL DEVICE-FOR APPLYINIs A CYCLIC
THERAPEUTIC ACTION TO A PERSON'S FOOT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is in the field of medical devices for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's lower limbs, and in particular to his feet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
s Many subjects suffering from a number of medical conditions including inter alia peripheral arterial and venous disease, hypertension, diabetes and deep vein thrombosis are treated by way of medical devices with one or more inflatable bladders for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's lower limbs, and in particular to his feet, for urging venous blood ~ o flow from his feet and legs to his heart.
Venous blood flow can be urged by stimulation of one or both of two physiological mechanisms, namely, his cabs venous muscular pump and emptying of his foot's venous plexus. Medical devices for stimulating one or both of these mechanisms are illustrated and described i~~er alia_in US Patent ~; 2,531,074, US Patent 3,454,010, US Patent 3,683,897, US Patent 3,789,836, .
US Patent 4,003,374, US Patent 4,696,289, US Patent 4,945,905, US Patent 4,989,589, US Patent 5,117,8I2, US Patent 5,354.260, US Patent 5,396,896, US Patent 5,443,440, WO 88/09653, DE 30 09 408, and SU 0 1452-523.
In particular, GB 2 313 784 illustrates and describes a medical device 2o With a platform with four staggered, non-overlappin g inflatable bladders disposed therealong to solely underlie a subject's heel, his plantar arch, his metatarsals, and his toes. The inflatable bladders are each provided with a plastic tube for. connecting to a pressure source. The tubes are relatively rigid and since they extend under a subject's foot they can be felt when he stands '~s and therefore they are a cause of discomfort.
AMENDED SHEET

- WO 00/06077 . 2 . PCT/IL99/004I9 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical device for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's foot, the device comprising a platform with at least one s independently actuable inflatable bladder to solely underlie the subject's foot, an inflatable bladder converging towards a laterally extending neck portion with an aperture raised with respect to said platform on accommodation of a subject's foot inside the medical device.
The medical device preferably has four inflatable bladders staggered to along its platform in a non-overlapping fashion to solely underlie a foot's heel, its plantar arch, its metatarsus, and its toes, respectively, whereby a travelling compression wave can be cyclically applied to a foot's underside.
The inflatable bladders are so dimensioned and the spacing apart therebetween is such that that they are substantially co-extensive with a foot's i s underside. In addition, the platform is preferably formed with an arched plantar arch support for permanently supporting a foot's plantar arch and an arched toe support for permanently supporting a foot's toes at their bases.
Two basic embodiments of the medical device are envisaged: boot-like footwear designed to look like and be worn as conventional slippers worn in 2o the home thereby precluding a person from haviilg to change footwear for treatment purposes and, a normally flat, one-piece foldable wrap for more extended treatment periods, for example, when a subject is sleeping.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical device for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a 2s subject's foot, the device comprising boot-like footwear for accommodating a subject's entire foot, and at least one inflatable bladder permanently disposed in said footwear and being in fluid communication with a pressure source for selectively applying pressure to the foot's underside., WO 00/06077 _ 3 . PCT/IL99/00419 characterized in that said footwear has an externally accessible connector member permanently and directly attached to an exterior surface thereof, said connector member being in permanent fluid communication with said at least one inflatable bladder and in selectively disconnectable fluid $ communication with said pressure source.
In accordance with a third aspect of the; present invention, there is provided a medical device for effecting dorsiflexion of a subject's foot, the device comprising a platform for supporting the subject's foot, and having an inflatable bladder for cyclically elevating the foot's front portion solely ~ o relative to said platform from a normal position thereatop whereby the foot's front portion is flexed relative to the foot's remaining portion overlying said platform, said inflatable bladder having a first compartment overlying said platform and a second compartment hingedhr connected to said first compartment along a trailing edge of said inflatable bladder directed towards is the subject's heel and limiting means for limiting the maximum height of an edge of said second compartment remote from said trailing edge on inflation of said inflatable bladder whereby said inflatable bladder assumes an inflated triangular shaped configuration tapering towards the subject's heel.
The particular design of the inflatable bladder is such that it enables a 2o relatively high maximum height for a relatively small volume as say compared with a generally isosceles shaped inflatable of comparable dimensions, thereby enabling a high cycle rate even with a relatively small compressor.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is 2s provided a medical device for effecting dorsiflexion of a subject's foot, the device comprising a platform for supporting the subject's foot, and having a wedge shaped support tapering towards the subject's heel for permanently supporting the foot's front portion in a flexed position relative to the foot's remaining portion overlying said platform; and an inflatable bladder mounted WO 00/06077 _ 4 _ PCT/IL99100419.
on said support for cyclically elevating the foot's front portion relative thereto from a normal position thereatop.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical device for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a s subject's foot, the device comprising a platform for supporting the subject's foot, and having an arched plantar arch support for permanently supporting the foot's plantar arch; and an inflatable bladder for cyclically elevating the foot's front portion relative to said platform from a normal position thereatop whereby the subject's foot effects a rocking motion about said plantar arch i o support acting as a fulcrum-like member.
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the ,present invention, there is provided a kit for installation on a wheelchair having a pair of foot supports for supporting a wheelchair bound subject's feet, the kit comprising: a rechargeable battery operated compressor; a pair of medical devices capable i s of being in fluid communication with said compressor and mountable on a foot support, each medical device capable of applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's foot; and a controller for contarolling the operation of the medical devices.
By virtue of the kit of the present invention, a wheelchair bound 2o subject can still undergo his everyday normal activities whilst receiving therapeutic treatment for poor venous blood flow by way of dorsiflexion of his feet and/or application of a travelling compressive wave to his feets' underside.
In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is 2s provided a medical device for effecting plantar flexion of a subject's foot, the device comprising a mounting member for mounting the medical device on the subject's leg, an elongated support member attached to said mounting member and downward depending for overlying at least a proximal portion of the foot's anterior surface, an inflatable bladder extending along the underside WO 00/06077 _ 5 _ PCT/IL99/00419 of said support member; and a resiliently flexible foot restraining member attached midway along said support member for encircling the foot's plantar arch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING S
s In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will novv be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in which:
Fig.-1 is a pictorial view of a medical device implemented as boot-like ~ o footwear;
Fig. 2 is a transparent pictorial view of the boot-like footwear of Figure 1;
Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view of the footwear of Figure 1 along line III-III in Figure 1 with an inflated inflatable bladder for applying ~ s pressure to a foot's metatarsal region;
Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the boot-like footwear of Figure 1;
Fig. 5 is a top view of a medical device implemented as a normally flat. one-piece, foldable wrap for accommodating a. subject's foot;
Fig. 5 is a pictorial view of the foldable wrap of Figure 5 2o accommodating a subject's foot;
Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of the medical devices of Figures 1 and showing modifications thereof;
Fig. 8 is a graph showing a heel-to-toe inflation sequence of the inflatable bladders of the medical devices of Figures l and 5;
2s Fig. 9 is a pictorial view of a medical device for dorsiflexion of a subject's foot;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the inflatable bladder of the medical device of Figure 9;

WO 00/06077 . ~ _ PCT/IL99/00419 Figs. 11A and 11B are side views of the medical device of Figure 9 during operation;
Fig. I2 is a schematic side view of an alternative medical device for dorsiflexion of a subject's bare foot;
s Fig. 13 is a schematic side view of another alternative medical device for effecting dorsiflexion of a subject's bare foot;
Figs. 14A and 14B are schematic side views of a medical device for effecting a rocking motion of a subject's foot about aplantar arch support;
Fig. 15 is a pictorial view of a wheelchair fitted with a kit for effecting to dorsiflexion of a wheelchair bound subject's feet; and Figs. 16A and 16B are side views of a medical device for effecting plantar flexion of a subject's foot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference now to Figures 1-4, a medical device 1 is ~ s implemented as boot-like footwear 2 designed to accommodate a subject's left foot, the footwear 2 being constituted by a vamp 3 made of fabric-like sheet material and a sole 4. The vamp 3 has left and right hand vamp halves 6 and 7 stitched together along their common edges except for their uppermost front portion 8 for enabling a subject's foot to lbe easily inserted into the 2o footwear 2 and withdrawn therefrom. The vamp's heel portion 9 is strengthened by way of a heel patch 11 whilst a flap 12 with Velcro-type hook fasteners I3 for mating with Velcro-type loop fasteners 14 on the right hand vamp half 7 (see Figures 3 and 4) is provided for fastening the footwear 2 on a subject's foot when accommodated therein.
2s The flap 12 defines a generally triangular shaped pocket I6 having an aperture 17 adjacent an externally accessible connector member 18 secured to the left hand vamp half 6 towards the footwear's heel portion 9 by way of a tab 19 engaging a buckle-like member 2I provided along one side of the ~~ ~ WO 00/06077 _ 7 , PCT/IL99/00419 connector member 18 (see Figure 4). The connector member 18 is adapted for selective connection to a complementary connector member 22 in permanent fluid communication with a pressure source 23 under the control of a controller 24. The connector members 18 and 22 are of the quick release s self alignment magnetically latched type and have a first pair of magnets and 26B at one end thereof and a second pair of magnets 27A and 27B at the other end of thereof. The pairs of magnets 26A, 26B and 27A, 27B are polarized such that the connector member 22 can only be attached to the connector member 18 in a single pre-determined manner.
o The pressure source 24 has four outlet ports 28A-28D which are in fluid communication with four ports 29A-29D on the upstream side of the connector member 22 which, on connection of the connector member 22 to the connector member 18, are in turn in fluid communication with four ports 31A-31D on the downstream side of the connector member I8 which are in is turn in fluid communication with four inflatable bladders 32A-32D for independently inflating and deflating the inflatable bladders 32A-32D in accordance with a pre-determined heel-to-toe or toe-to-heel sequence.
The inflatable bladders 32A-32D are adhered to the top side of a platform 33 and are staggered therealong in a non-overlapping fashion for 2o applying pressure to the underside of a foot's toes., metatarsal region, plantar region, and heel, respectively. The inflatable bladders 32A-32D have laterally extending neck portions 34A-34D directed toward the left hand vamp half 6.
The neck portions 34A-34D have apertures 35A-35D which are raised relative to the platform 33 and are connected to the four ports 3lA-3ID via 2s plastic tubes 36A-36D which extend between the juncture between the left hand vamp half b and the sole 4, and through the pocket 16 to the connector member 18. in this manner, the tubes 36A-36D are normally concealed from view and are so disposed that their presence is not felt by a subject when walking which would otherwise cause him some discomfort.

02'10-2000 CA 02338903 2001-O1-29 IL UU~J~JUU415 The platform 33 is interdisposed between a relatively pliable upper sole member 37 and a more rigid lower sole member 38 of an inner sole construction ~ which is in turn interdisposed between the vamp 3 and the sole 4. The upper sole member 37 is peripherally attached to the vamp 3 and the lower sole member 38 is peripherally attached to an underside of the upper sole member 37 and is initially provided with a lengthwise extending slit 39 through which the platform 33 is inserted into a receiving pocket 41 defined between the upper and lower sole members 37 and 38 {see Figure 3).
The footwear 2 looks like conventional boot-like slippers except for i o the connector member 18 which is unobtrusively disposed on its innermost surface and can be worn instead of them: A subject can readily attach the connector member 18 to the connector member 22 by merely bringing the latter into proximity with the former whereupon the pairs of magnets 26 and 27 effect a tight sealing connection therebetween for undergoing treatment.
t s After the treatment, the connector member 22 can be r eadily detached from the connector member 18 by displacing his foot away from the former.
With reference now to Figures 5 and 6, a medical device SO is similar _to the medical device 1 except that it is implemented as a normally flat, one-piece, foldable wrap 51 having a central portion S2 supporting the 20 ~ platform 33, left and right vamp portions 53 and 54, and a heel restraining member 56. The medical device 50 has the same platl:orm 33 with the four inflatable bladders 32A-32D disposed thereon, the; inflatable bladders 32A-32D _ converging towards neck portions 34A-34D with apertures 35A-35D which in this case are raised above the platform 33 when the wrap 2s S I is wrapped around a subject's foot to accommodate same. The apertures 35A-35D are fitted with tubes 36A-36D in fluid conarnunication with the connector member 18 for connection to the pressure source 23. The wrap S I
is normally employed for long treatment periods, for ex~~rnple, when a subject is sleeping, however, by virtue of the arrangement of tubes 36A-36D, a AMENDED SHEET

WO 00/06077 _ g . PCT/IL99100419 subject having his feet accommodated in wrap s 51 can stand up without feeling any discomfort.
n With reference now to Figure 7, a medical device 60 is similar to the medical device 10 and differs therefrom in that its platform 33 is formed with s an arched plantar arch support 61 of height h~ for permanently supporting the foot's plantar arch and an arched toe arch support 62 of height h2 for permanently supporting the foot's toes at their base. The support 61 typically has a maximum height above the platform 33 of between about 0.7 cm and 1.2 cm and preferably about 1.0 cm whilst the support 62 typically has a 1 o maximum height of between about 0.3 cm and 0.',7 cm and preferably 0.5 cm above the platform 33. The supports 61 and 62 provide a number of advantages including affording a more comfortable fit in a similar manner to orthopedic inner soles, facilitating the need for a smaller pressure source 23, and for enabling a more rapid attainment of a predetermined pressure in their ~ s associated inflatable bladders 32C and 32A.
With reference now to Figure 8, the chart shows a heel-to-toe seguence for inflating and deflating the inflatable bladders 32A-32D which in contradistinction to the conventional distal to proximal direction of a travelling compression wave for effecting venous blood return. The 2o heel-to-toe sequence in effect mimics a subjec;t's walking for naturally stimulating his calf's venous muscular pump and his foot's venous plexus.
With reference now to Figures 9-l I, a medical device 70 for effecting dorsiflexion of a subject's foot includes a platform 71 with a heel support 72, a foot strap 73 and an inflatable bladder 74. Tree inflatable bladder 74 is 2s disposed at one end of the platform 7I for solely underlying a foot's front portion, and is connected to a pressure source 76 under the control of a controller 77 for cyclically inflating it from a generally flat conf guration (see Figure IlA) to a wedge shaped configuration (see Figure 11B) tapering toward the platform's other end.

- WO 00/06077 _ 10 . PCT/IL99/00419 The inflatable bladder 74 includes a thre;e section cover 78 having sections 78A, 78B and 78C. the former two being formed as a pouch 79 for receiving a generally square single inflatable cell 81 whilst the latter one is a restraining member for limiting the maximum height of the inflated wedge s shape. The inflatable cell 81 is divided into two equal sized compartments 81A and 81B by two seams 82A and 82B lateral of a central portion 83 enabling fluid communication between the compartments 81A and 81B.
Each compartment 81A and 81B has a rigid member 84 lying thereatop, and the compartment 81B is provided with an inlet port 86 which also serves to o inflate the other compartment 81A.
With reference now to Figure 12, a medica:E device 90 is similar to the medical device 70 and also includes the arched plantar arch support 61 for effecting a cyclic dorsiflexion of a subject's foot combined with a rocking motion about the plantar arch support b I .
i s With reference now to Figure I 3, a medical device 100 is similar to medical device 90 and also includes a wedge shaped support I01 tapering towards a foot's heel for permanently supporting a foot's front portion in a flexed position relative to the foot's remaining portion overlying the platform 72, thereby facilitating better dorsiflexion which occurs with a more flexed zo position of a foot's front portion. The support 101 subtends an included angle a of about 30° relative to the platform 72, and has a simple inflatable member 102 disposed thereon for effecting cyclic dorsiflexion of the subject's foot combined with a rocking motion about the plantar arch support b 1.
With reference now to Figures I4A and 14B, a medical device 1 I O has 2s a platform I 11 with an arched plantar arch support :112 and a pair of inflatable bladders 113 and 114 disposed lateral thereto and in fluid commuincation with a pressure source I 16 under the control of a controller 117 for effecting a rocking motion of a subject's foot about the plantar arch support 112 by way of the cyclic alternate actuation of the inlation bladders 113 and 114 for WO 00/06077 _ 1 f _ PCT/IL99/00419 respectively elevating the foot's heel relative to the platform 111 whilst the foot's front portion is thereatop and elevating the ;foot's front portion relative to the platform Ill whilst the foot's heel is thereatop, thereby effectively rendering dorsi-plantar flexion of the subject's foot for facilitating emptying s of the foot's venous plexus and activating his calf ;; venous muscular pump to pump venous blood from the subject's foot and leg towards his heaxt. The support I I2 typically has a maximum height h3 above the platform 111 of between about 1 cm and about 3 cm and preferably about 2 cm.
With reference now to Figure 15, a wheelchair 120 having left and 0 o right foot supports 121 A and 121 B is fitted with a medical system 122 for effecting dorsiflexion of a wheelchair bound subject's feet. The medical system 122 includes a rechargeable battery operated compressor I23, a controller i 24 and two medical devices 126A and 1268. The compressor 123 and the controller 124 are carried on a rack 127 and the medical devices 126A
~s and 1268 are respectively mounted on the wheelchair's foot supports 121A
and 121 B whereby the medical system 122 is fully portable and therefore does not preclude the subject from continuing his everyday activities.
With reference now to Figures 16A and 168, a medical device 130 for plantar flexion of a subject's foot has a mounting member 131 for mounting 2a the medical device I30 on a subject's leg. A support member 132 is substantially rigidly attached to the mounting member 131 for disposition along most of the subject's foot's anterior surface. An inflatable bladder 133 extends along the underside of the support member 132, and is in fluid communication with a pressure source 134 under the control of a controller 2s 136. A resiliently flexible foot restraining member 137 attached about midway along to the support member 132 encircles the subject's foot'.s plantar arch whereupon cyclic inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder 137 effects cyclic plantar flexion of the subject's foot thereby facilitating emptying of his foot's venous plexus and activating his calf's venous WO 00/06077 _ ~~ _ PCTI1L99/00419 muscular pump to pump venous blood from the subject's foot and leg towards his heart.
Various modifications and changes may be made in the configurations s described above that come within the spirit of the invention. The invention embraces such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the claims appended hereto. For example, an inflatable bladder disposed under a foot's plantar arch can be divided into two inflatable bladders respectively.
disposed under a plantar arch's medial portion and its lateral portion. The ~ o medical devices 90, 100, 110 can also be provided with a heel support 72, and a foot strap 73. The wheelchair 120 can be provided with a medical system for applying any suitable cyclic action to a subject''s feet by way of one of the medical devices described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

I. For use with a pressure source, a medical device (1,50) for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's foot on its accommodation in the device, the device comprising a platform (33) with at least three independently actuable inflatable bladders (32) staggered therealong to respectively underlie his foot's heel, plantar arch and front portion including his metatarsals and his toes, each said inflatable bladder having an aperture (35) connectable to the pressure source for cyclically applying a travelling compressive wave substantially to the sole of the subject's foot, characterized in each said inflatable bladder having a laterally disposed neck portion (34) terminating in said aperture, and each said neck portion being substantially perpendicularly disposed relative to said platform in a direction toward the dorsal portion of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
2. The device according to claim 1 being adapted for accommodation of either a subject's left or right foot and wherein each said neck portion is disposed toward the median side of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
3. The device according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the device has a single externally accessible connector member (18) permanently and directly attached to an exterior surface thereof, said connector member being in permanent fluid communication with said at least three inflatable bladders and being adapted to sealingly mate with a complementary connector member (22), said connector members (18) and (22) being of the quick release self alignment magnetically latched type.
4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said connector member (18) is disposed toward the heel of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
5. The device according to either claim 3 or 4 wherein connections between said connector member (18) and said at least three inflatable bladders are concealed from view.
6. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein a said inflatable bladder is connected to its associated said aperture via a discrete tube (36).
7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 being fashioned as boot-like footwear including a substantially non collapsible vamp {3) with a heel portion (9) whereby the device snugly receives a subject's entire foot on its accommodation therein.
8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said boot-like footwear includes an inner sole construction (40) with said platform interdisposed between upper and lower sole members (37, 38).
9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said upper sole member is peripherally attached to said vamp, and said lower sole member is peripherally attached to an underside of said upper sole member and is initially provided with a lengthwise extending slit (39) through which said platform its inserted. into a pocket (41) defined between said upper and lower sole members.
10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to b being fashioned as a normally flat, one-piece foldable wrap.
11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said inflatable bladder underlying the plantar arch of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device includes a first inflatable bladder underlying the medial portion of his foot's plantar arch and a second inflatable bladder underlying the lateral portion of his foot's plantar arch.
12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and further comprising an arched plantar arch support for permanently supporting the plantar arch of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
13. The device according to claim 12 wherein said plantar arch support has a maximum height above said platform of between 0.7 cm and 1.2 cm.
14. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and further comprising an arched toe support for permanently supporting the bases of the toes of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
15. The device according to claim 14 wherein said toe support has a maximum height above said platform of between 0.3 cm and 0.5 cm.
16. For use with a pressure source, a medical device (1,50) for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's foot on its accommodation in the device, the device comprising a platform (33) with at least three independently actuable inflatable bladders (32) staggered therealong to respectively underlie his foot's heel, plantar arch and front portion including his metatarsals and his toes, each of said at least three inflatable bladders connectable to the pressure source for cyclically applying a travelling compressive wave substantially to the sole of the subject's foot, characterized in the device further comprising a single externally accessible connector member (18) permanently and directly attached to an exterior surface thereof, said connector member being in permanent fluid communication with said at least three inflatable bladders and being adapted to sealingly mate with a complementary connector member (22), said connector members (18) and (22) being of the quick release self alignment magnetically latched type.
17. The device according to claim 16 wherein said connector member (18) is disposed toward the heel of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
18. The device according to either claim 16 or 17 wherein connections between said connector member (18) and said at least three inflatable bladders are concealed from view.
19. The device according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein each of said inflatable bladders has a laterally disposed neck portion (34) terminating in an aperture (35), and each said neck portion is substantially perpendicularly disposed relative to said platform in a direction toward the dorsal portion of the subject's foot on its accomodation in the device.
20. The device according to claim 19 wherein a said inflatable bladder is connected to its associated said aperture via a discrete tube (35).
21. The device according to either claim 18 or 19 being adapted for accommodation of either a subject's left or right foot and wherein each neck portion is disposed toward the median side of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
22. The device according to any one of claims 16 to 21 being fashioned as boot-like footwear including a substantially non-collapsible vamp (3) with a heel portion (9) whereby the device snugly receives a subject's entire foot on its accommodation therein.
23. The device according to claim 22 wherein said boot-like footwear includes an inner sole construction (40) with said platform interdisposed between upper and lower sole members (37, 38).
24. The device according to claim 23 wherein said upper sole member is peripherally attached to said vamp, and said lower sole member is peripherally attached to an underside of said upper sole member and is initially provided with a lengthwise extending slit (39) through which said platform is inserted into a pocket (41) defined between said upper and lower sole members.
25. The device according to any one of claims 16 to 21 being fashioned as a normally flat, one-piece foldable wrap.
26. The device according to any one of claims 16 to 25 wherein said inflatable bladder underlying the plantar arch of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device includes a first inflatable bladder underlying the medial portion of his foot's plantar arch and a second inflatable bladder underlying the lateral portion of his foot's plantar arch.
27. The device according to any one of claims 16 to 26 and further comprising an arched plantar arch support for permanently supporting the plantar arch of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
28. The device according to claim 27 wherein said plantar arch support has a maximum height above said platform of between 0.7 cm and 1.2 cm.
29. The device according to any one of claims 16 to 28 and further comprising an arched toe support for permanently supporting the bases of the toes of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
30. The device according to claim 29 wherein said toe support has a maximum height above said platform of between 0.3 cm and 0.5 cm.
31. For use with a pressure source, a medical device (1) for applying a cyclic therapeutic action to a subject's foot on its accommodation in the device, the device comprising a platform (33) with at Least one inflatable bladder (32) mounted thereon to underlie a portion of the sole of the subject's foot, and being selectively connectable to the pressure source for selectively applying pressure to the sale of the subject's foot, characterized in the device being fashioned as boot-like footwear including a substantially non-collapsible vamp (3) with a heel portion (9) whereby the device snugly receives the subject's entire foot on its accommodation therein.
32. The device according to claim 31 wherein said boot-like footwear includes an inner sole construction (40) with said platform interdisposed between upper and lower sole members (37, 38).
33. The device according to claim 32 wherein said tipper sole member is peripherally attached to said vamp, and said lower sole member is peripherally attached to an underside of said upper sole member and is initially provided with a lengthwise extending slit (39) through which said platform is inserted into a pocket (41) defined between said upper and lower sole members.
34. The device according to any one of claims 31 to 33 and further comprising a single externally accessible connector member (18) permanently and directly attached to an exterior surface thereof, said connector member being in permanent fluid communication with said at least one inflatable bladders and being adapted to sealingly mate with a complementary connector member (22), said connector members (18) and (22) being of the quick release self alignment magnetically latched type.
35. The device according to claim 34 wherein said connector member (18) is disposed toward said heel portion.
36. The device according to either claim 34 or 35 wherein connections between said connector member (18) and said at least three inflatable bladders are concealed from view.
37. The device according to any one of claims 31 to 36 wherein each of said at least one inflatable bladder includes a laterally disposed neck portion (34) terminating in an aperture (35) connected to said connector member, and each said neck potion being substantially perpendicularly disposed relative to said platform in a direction toward the dorsal portion of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
38. The device according to claim 37 wherein a said inflatable bladder is connected to its associated said aperture via a discrete tube (36).
39. The device according to either claim 37 or 38 being adapted for accommodation of either a subject's left or right foot and wherein each said neck portion is disposed toward the median side of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
40. The device according to any one of claims 31 to 39 wherein said connector member is in permanent fluid connection with at least three independently actuable inflatable members staggered along said platform to respectively underlie the heel of the subject's foot, his plantar arch and his foot's front portion including his metatarsals and his toes on accommodation of the subject's foot in the device.
41. The device according to claim 40 wherein said inflatable bladder underlying the plantar arch of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device includes a first inflatable bladder underlying the medial portion of his foot's plantar arch and a second inflatable bladder underlying the lateral portion of his foot's plantar arch.
42. The device according to either one of claim 40 or 41 and further comprising an arched plantar arch support for permanently supporting the plantar arch of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
43. The device according to claim 42 wherein said plantar arch support has a maximum height above said platform of between 0.7 cm and 1.2 cm.
44. The device according to any one of claims 31 to 43 and further comprising an arched toe support for permanently supporting the bases of the toes of the subject's foot on its accommodation in the device.
45. The device according to claim 44 wherein said toe support has a maximum height above said platform of between 0.3 cm and 0.5 cm.