WO2019043637A1

WO2019043637A1 - Insole for the stimulation of the hematic flow and footwear comprising the insole

Info

Publication number: WO2019043637A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/056662
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerardo CASUCCI
Original assignee: Casucci Gerardo
Priority date: 2017-08-31
Filing date: 2018-08-31
Publication date: 2019-03-07
Also published as: IT201700098010A1

Abstract

An insole for stimulation of hematic flow, adapted to be inserted into a footwear, comprises a flat base (2) with a lower face (3) adapted to be facing, in use, towards the sole of the footwear and an upper face (4) adapted to be directed, in use, towards the user's foot, a plurality of projections (5) of elastically yielding or resilient material which rise from the upper face (4) and placed in the rear portion of the flat base (2) arranged in such a way as to be used in correspondence with the arch and the tarsal areas of the foot to directly operate on and stimulate these parts of the user's foot.

Description

INSOLE FOR THE STIMULATION OF THE HEMATIC FLOW AND FOOTWEAR COMPRISING THE INSOLE

Description

Technical Field

The present invention finds application in the technical field of devices for therapeutic and medical use and has particularly for object an insole for the stimulation of the hematic flow suitable to be used in the prevention of discomforts and diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and various forms of senile dementia of vascular nature.

The invention also relates with a footwear comprising the insole for stimulating the hematic flow according to the present invention.

State of the art

As known, the main causes of disability in older people are related to diseases and discomforts such as senile dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

To date, scientific studies about the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and physical activity reinforce the concept that aerobic exercises help to preserve brain structures from aging, while it is now confirmed that pharmacological intervention has no role in the prevention of these diseases.

Therefore, today's preventive actions are aimed at encouraging the maintenance of a good cognitive function in order to avoid its decline in the geriatric age.

Therefore, it is important to study modifiable lifestyles that can positively influence cognitive functions.

A large number of observational scientific studies confirm that physical activity is one of the most promising behavioral interventions to prevent or delay cognitive decline.

In particular, in "Low-intensity daily walking activity" (Hippocampus, 2015), it has been shown that aerobic physical activity and fitness may have a positive effect on the size of the hippocampus, i.e. the part of the brain most important for amnesic functions.

Further studies have shown that walking increases the blood flow of the brain and that the impact of the foot on the ground while walking sends pressure waves through the arteries, thus causing a greater blood flow toward the brain.

The same authors of the study have also shown that the same effect is not achieved during pedaling, probably due to the fact that this event takes place without the support on the rear part of the foot.

The researchers used ultrasound to measure the velocity of blood in the arteries of the lower limbs and the amount of carotid blood flow in healthy young adults, during standing rest and during constant walking.

The principles of simple hydraulics have helped to understand the results obtained: cerebral blood flow follows the pressure waveforms created by the interaction between heart rate and lope speed.

A further study about the response to plantar vibrotactile stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex entitled "Human brain structures related to plantar vibrotactile stimulation" (Neuroimage, 2006) has carried out the mapping of the sensorimotor cortex using the fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance).

Ten healthy persons (20-45 years age) were monitored and studied, to whom a vibrotactile stimulation (with a frequency of 50 Hz and a width of 1 mm) was applied on the right foot plant.

To this end, a vibrotactile device was used, equipped with a mobile magnet capable of producing frequencies suitable for activating areas functional to cerebral MRI. The vibrotactile probe was placed and rested on the postero-medial region of the plantar arch (corresponding to the astragalus-scaphoid bone compartment).

The study of functional neuroimaging showed that the vibrotactile stimulation of the midfoot region of the foot (arch) provides a contralateral brain activation of the primary sensorimotor cortex.

A bilateral activation of the secondary sensorimotor cortex (upper parietal temporal, posterior insular, posterior of the cingulate gyrus, thalamus and caudate nucleus), a contralateral activation of the lentiform nucleus and, finally, a bilateral activation of the back and front cerebellar lobes is also produced.

These studies would demonstrate that stimulation of areas not commonly used in the physical activity of pedaling, i.e. the median or arch plantar region and the rear plantar region, would activate brain areas involved in cognition, coordination and sensory- motor integration. Hence the hypothesis that the median and posterior support of the base of the foot could prevent Alzheimer's disease and similar discomforts, through vasomotor and sensorial reflex mechanisms.

Scope of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an insole suitable for ensuring an increase in cerebral hematic flow, particularly in the hippocampal areas designated for memory, in order to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

Another object is to provide an insole for sensory-motor stimulation of specific brain areas, which can also be used as support in rehabilitation after cerebral ictal events. Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear adapted to be used as a support for the prevention of Alzheimer' s disease as well as in the rehabilitation after cerebral ictal events.

These objects, as well as others which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an insole for the stimulation of the hematic flow which, according to claim 1, comprises a flat base with a lower face adapted to be directed towards the sole of the shoe and an upper face adapted to be directed, in use, towards the foot of the user, a plurality of projections made of elastically yielding or resilient material which rise from said upper face.

The projections are placed in the rear portion of said flat base and are arranged in such a way as to be used in correspondence with the plantar arch and the tarsal area of the foot to directly operate and stimulate these parts of the user's foot.

Thanks to this combination of features, the insole will act directly on calcaneus, astragalus and tarsal scaphoid.

This privileged support will ensure an increased cerebral blood flow, particularly in the memory hippocampal areas, while at the same time activating the brain areas that are complementary to cognition, essential for movement and coordination.

In this way, in addition to being able to prevent Alzheimer' s disease, the insole may be of great support in the rehabilitation after cerebral ictal events.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a footwear is provided according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained according to the dependent claims.

Brief disclosure of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an insole for stimulating the hematic flow according to the present invention, shown in way of non-limiting example with the aid of the attached drawing tables wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a right insole;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a left insole;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the skeleton of the foot base wherein the several areas are evidenced.

Best mode of carrying out the invention

The attached figures show a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an insole according to the invention, in the right-hand form as in Fig. 1 and in the left-hand form as in Fig. 2, whose aesthetic configuration is merely exemplary and not limitative of the present invention, being able to assume any shape without particular limitations. In particular, since the insole will be designed to be inserted or in any case associated with the sole of any shoe, its outer profile may substantially follow the shape of the sole itself and also its dimensions may be adjusted or adjustable according to the size of the shoe.

As observed from Figs. 1 and 2, the insole, generally indicated by 1, comprises a flat base 2 with a lower face 3 adapted to be directed, in use, towards the sole of the shoe, not shown as being known per se, and an upper face 4 suitable to be directed, in use, towards the user's foot.

Hereinafter, since the insole of Fig. 1 designed for the right foot and the insole of Fig. 2 designed for the left foot are substantially similar to each other and symmetrical in use with respect to a sagittal plane of the user, for simplicity reference will be made to only one of them, it being understood that everything related to one of these insole will be found in a substantially similar and functionally equivalent way also in the other insole. The upper face 4 of the flat base 2 comprises a plurality of projections, generically referred with 5, placed in the rear portion thereof, that is to say in the part designed to support the heel of the user's foot.

Suitably, the projections 5 will be arranged in such a way as to directly operate and stimulate the plantar arch and the tarsal area of the foot.

In particular, the projections 5 will operate directly on calcaneus, astragalus and tarsal scaphoid, as evident from the comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 with the skeleton of the foot shown in Fig. 3.

In particular, in this figure the bones of the talus are indicated with 1, the bones of the calcaneus are indicated with 2 and the bones of the tarsal scaphoid are indicated with 3.

From this comparison, it is therefore possible to observe that the projections 5 are distributed so as to reproduce substantially on the upper face 4 of the flat base 2 the distribution of the aforesaid bones of the foot, while the remaining parts of the flat base 2 will not be stimulated.

The first cuneiform, the second cuneiform, the third cuneiform and the cuboid bone are indicated respectively with 4, 5, 6 and 7.

These last four bones, on the other hand, will not have respective projections which will stimulate their respective parts of the foot.

Advantageously, the projections 5 may be made by inserts in yielding material, such as silicone or polyurethane gel or other polymeric materials, in particular polyurethane, in the form of foam and/or gel.

The flat base 2 may be made of any material, both natural and synthetic, selected from those commonly used in the sector and without particular limitations.

The inserts or projections 5 may be applied to the flat base 2 after their forming, for example by juxtaposition by gluing or hot bonding, or they may be co-formed with the same flat base 2, for example by co-molding or coextrusion, also as a function of the selected materials.

Advantageously, the inserts or projections 5 will have respective thicknesses of not less than 2 cm and a rounded shape, for example of a spherical cap, so as to guarantee the necessary comfort to the user.

However, it is understood that for the inserts or projections 5 other shapes may also be used, such as for example cylindrical shapes.

The plan dimensions of the inserts or projections 5 may be selected to ensure uniform distribution of solicitations on the parts of the foot indicated above.

Preferably, the plan dimensions of the inserts or projections 5 will be selected so that there are no inserts or projections 5 which operate simultaneously on different parts of the foot.

In this way it will be possible to have the most effective solicitation on each of the aforementioned parts of the plantar arch and the tarsal area of the foot.

Preferably the diameter in plan of each insert or projection may be between 0.5mm and 40mm, also according to the size of the footwear and therefore to the size of the user's foot.

Moreover, even if in the attached figures the inserts or projections 5 have substantially the same shape, it will be possible to provide differentiated shapes for one or more of them.

Likewise, even the materials may vary from insert to insert or it will be possible to make inserts made of the same material but with differentiated yield.

For example, the yielding of the inserts may be differentiated according to the areas of the foot on which they operate, so as to have differentiated solicitation for the various parts of the foot indicated above.

A footwear provided with the aforesaid insole 1 may be designed according to any mode according to the prior art and the insole 1 may be associated with the inner sole in a fixed or removable manner, without particular limitations.

The insole and the footwear according to the invention are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the inventive concept expressed in the appended claims. All the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials and tools may be different according to requirements, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An insole for stimulation of hematic flow, adapted to be inserted into a footwear, comprising:

a flat base (2) with a lower face (3) adapted to be facing, in use, towards the sole of the footwear and an upper face (4) adapted to be directed, in use, towards the user's foot;

- a plurality of projections (5) of elastically yielding or resilient material which rise from said upper face (4);

characterized in that said projections (5) are placed in the rear portion of said flat base (2) and are arranged in such a way as to be used in correspondence with the arch and the tarsal areas of the foot to directly operate on and stimulate these parts of the user's foot.

2. Insole as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said projections (5) are made by inserts of yieldable polymeric material.

3. Insole as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said material is a silicone gel or other polymeric material, such as polyurethane.

4. Insole as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said material is a polymeric foam.

5. Insole as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that said inserts (5) have a thickness not less than 2 cm.

6. Insole as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said inserts (5) have a spherical or rounded shape.

7. Insole as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that said projections or inserts (5) are arranged so as to reproduce on said upper face (4) of said flat base (2) the distribution of calcaneus bones, astragalus and the tarsal scaphoid, the remaining part of said flat base (2) being devoid of said projections or inserts (5).

8. A footwear having a sole adapted to support a foot and provided with an insole (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims.