GB2256145A

GB2256145A - An active foot splint

Info

Publication number: GB2256145A
Application number: GB9111843A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Edmund Thaxter; Martyn Porter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-01
Filing date: 1991-06-01
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-01
Also published as: GB2256145B; GB9125528D0; GB9111843D0

Abstract

The foot splint comprises a body 2 of polypropylene moulded anatomically to the sole of the patient's foot and having a microcellular rubber strip 3 which leaves a section 4 that extends backwards unsupported under the heel. As the patient walks the weight of the body at heel strike causes the splint to tip slightly resulting in the unit actively exerting pressure on point 5, thus maintaining the shape of the valgus arch as in the stance position and reducing the pain suffered by the patient. <IMAGE>

Description

An Active Foot Splint This invention relates to an active foot splint to help deorease severe pain resulting from Plantarfasoiaitis.

Foot splints and orthoses are widely used in Orthopaedios to help ease pain.

They comprise of a polypropylene unit which is moulded on a plaster cast of the foot. The splint is then placed in the patients footwear to preserve the form/ shape of the foot, thus preventing the foot collapsing further than the stance position when walking.

However, when applying the @se of a standard foot splint to help ease thpain resulting from Plantarfasciaitis, little suooess has been achieveed, due to the padding in the valg'is arch compresssing when weight bearing, this allows a flattsning of the arch of the patients foot and subsequeut stretching of the ligament resulting in pain being smffered.

Acording to the present invention these is a mieroce ] ] uar rubber strip positioned to the rear of the valgus arcb, to leave a seotion of the splint extending baokwards under the heel left unsupported. As the patjent puts bis/her foot to the ground, the weight of heel strike on the rear part of the splint oauses the unit to tip sligbtly, as a result the moulded arch of the splint oomes into contact with the surface of the foot. This results in the unit actively maintaining the shape of the patients valgns arch.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by the way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 shows an oblique/lateral view of the unit and the position of the microcellular rubber strip in the inaotive/stance position.

Figure 2 shows an oblique/lateral view of the unit and the position of the microcellular rubber strip in an activ/heel strike position.

PANEL B With reference to the drawings; the splint comprises of a moulded polypropylene unit 2 with a mioro cellular rubber strip 8 positioned to the rear of the valgus arch but leaving a section which extends backward under the heel 4, unsupportsd.

At point l the unit is manufactured to an even surface so the foot can extend over this point without experiencing disoomfort.

As the petient places pressure at beel strike on point 4, the unit tips slightly resulting in pressure actively being exerted on the foot at point 5.

Claims

PANEL C

CLAIMS 1 The active foot splint complint comprises of a moulded polypropylene unit moulded on a plaster cast of the foot, with a microcellular rubbber strip positioned to the rear of the valgus arch to enable the unit to tip slightly.
2 The active foot splint as claimed in claim l, is manufactured to mould anatomically to the sole of the patients foot in the inactive/stance position, and also with the aid of the miorocellular rubber strip in the active/heel strike position.