Nano-silver footwear orthotic with insert and method of manufacture

Abstract

A nano-silver footwear orthotic includes at least two removable inserts. The footwear orthotic and / or the at least two removable inserts are composed of a nano-silver copolymer being copolymer with silver nano-particles therein. In one aspect, the copolymer is a thermoplastic elastomer. The nano-silver copolymer has anti-microbial effects and ensures biocompatibility with known undesirable microorganisms. Corresponding manufacturing processes prepare the silver nano-particles with a silver nitrate solution and a sodium borohydride solution and add the silver nano-particles to a master batch and a base material to form the nano-silver copolymer in a mold cavity. The mold cavity may be constructed to form the nano-silver footwear orthotic and / or a removable insert therein. Alternatively, the nano-silver copolymer may be formed within the nano-silver footwear orthotic itself to form a removable insert. Tests showing the content of silver nano-particles in a silver—copolymer mixture and corresponding antimicrobial effect tests show antimicrobial effects against bacteria known to cause foot odor and itchiness.

Description

FIELD[0001]The field of the present invention is footwear orthotics.BACKGROUND[0002]Footwear orthotics have been successfully used to treat persons dealing with foot discomfort and / or pain. Orthotic inserts can augment arch support provided by existing footwear, providing increased support for the medial arch, the metatarsal arch and the plantar arch. Some orthotics now include multipart systems. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,756, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[0003]People generally wear footwear for hours each day. Over time, footwear can experience growths of bacteria that cause foot odor and itchiness. Bacteria such as Micrococcus Luteus and Corynebacteria are known causes of foot odor and itchiness. Powders and other measures are available to combat such bacteria. Typically, footwear orthotics, such as the multipart system referenced above, have not been used to treat foot odor or bacteria. It is desirable to provide a foot orthotic that ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention is directed to a nano-silver footwear orthotic with inserts and method of manufacture. Footwear orthotics and inserts therein composed of a mixture of silver nano-particles and base materials have antimicrobial effects, thereby preventing foot odor and itchiness. Corresponding manufacturing processes result in footwear orthotics and inserts therein composed of silver nano-particles of therapeutic ratio to ensure antimicrobial effects. Footwear orthotic systems with inserts composed of nano-silver ensure that bacteria harbored between components may be combated effectively, reaching areas of footwear orthotics that ordinarily cannot be reached with conventional powders and other measures.

Problems solved by technology

Over time, footwear can experience growths of bacteria that cause foot odor and itchiness.

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