GB1145271A - Improvements in chiropodial orthopaedic appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

1,145,271. Orthopaedic appliances for the foot. A. R. FRASER. 28 Dec., 1966 [1 Oct., 1965], No. 13798/65. Heading A5R. A chiropodial orthopaedic appliance (for relieving the discomfort and assisting in the correction of retracted toes) comprises two collapsible flexible pads which are interconnected by at least one flexible duct and which contain, or are capable of containing, sufficient fluid, for example air or a liquid, to provide inflation of one of the pads. The appliance is so constructed that one pad is adapted to be applied to the plantar area of the foot and the other pad is adapted to be applied to the dorsal area of the foot so that, in operative use of the appliance and when walking, fluid is dispelled from one pad to the other pad, the pad which bears on the dorsal area, when inflated, exerting pressure on the retracted toes and thus serving both to protect and to push forward the toes. As illustrated in Figure 1, the appliance comprises inflatable pads 10 and 11 which are interconnected by ducts 12 and 13 to form an opening 14 through which the toes may be introduced to localize the appliance on the foot; Figures 3 and 4 are top and bottom plan views, respectively, of the appliance when applied to the foot. The appliance may be formed by fusing of bonding together the edges of two superimposed sheets of, for example, flexible rubber or plastics material. The edge 15 of the pad adapted to be applied to the dorsal area may be scalloped to conform to the toes. In order to facilitate passage of fluid between the pads, the pad adapted to be applied to the planar area may contain a cellular resilient cushion 16 of, for example, rubber or plastics material; in order to reduce the deflation thereof, the pad adapted to be applied to the dorsal area also may contain a resilient cushion. The pad adapted to be applied to the plantar area may be provided with a vent hole through which air may be drawn from outside the appliance; the pad adapted to be applied to the dorsal area also may include a vent hole to permit leakage of fluid from the appliance if the pressure therein becomes excessive. Either one or each pad may be subdivided. Means other than the duct(s) may attach the pads to each other to ensure proper location of the appliance on the foot, the pads being interconnected by a duct which is adapted to pass between the toes or over the side of the foot in order to provide fluid communication between the pads.