Post-surgical shoe for the healing of diabetic foot or plantar wounds

Abstract

Post-surgical shoe for the healing of diabetic foot or plantar wounds. The shoe comprises a semi-open upper (10) to leave the front of the foot exposed, wherein the upper (10) comprises a heel piece (11) attached thereto, and wherein the heel piece (11) comprises one or more coupling notches (12). In addition, the shoe also comprises a customizable / selectable sole assembly (20) comprising at least one plantar non-contact zone (30) coinciding with at least one ulcerated zone or area of the foot requiring pressure relief, and one or more protrusions (27) adapted to be coupled to said one or more coupling notches (12) of the heel piece (11).

Description

[0001] POST-SURGICAL SHOE FOR THE HEALING OF DIABETIC FOOT OR PLANTAR WOUNDS

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns a post-surgical shoe for healing of an ulcerated diabetic foot or other plantar wounds.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Post-surgical shoes for diabetic feet are a type of medical shoe / footwear designed to protect the feet of people with diabetes after surgery or treatment of ulcers, wounds, or infections. This type of shoe helps minimize pressure and stress on the affected areas of the foot, promoting healing and reducing the risk of further complications.

[0006] Some of their main features include:

[0007] • Pressure reduction: Designed to redistribute body weight, avoiding direct pressure on sensitive or injured areas. To do this, they usually incorporate rigid or semi-rigid soles to reduce foot movement and allow for better healing.

[0008] • Adjustability: They usually have adjustable closures (such as Velcro) to accommodate swollen or bandaged feet. Likewise, some models are open to facilitate placement and protect surgical areas.

[0009] • Protection: Padded materials to prevent rubbing or friction that could damage the skin or worsen wounds.

[0010] • Stability: Non-slip soles to prevent falls. Some have supports to control foot movement..

[0011] Nowadays, post-surgical shoes for diabetic foot have evolved significantly to offer greater comfort and effectiveness. Some of the most modern features include: customizable insoles, advanced materials with breathable and antimicrobial fabrics to prevent infections, lightweight and ergonomic designs, likewise, some models are designed to take some of the weight off the front or back of the foot as needed.

[0012] There are known some patent and patent applications providing different shoes for treating plantar diabetic ulcers or other plantar wounds, such as W02008090431-A2, CN221284788U, W02008090431-A2, US2015075030-A1 , US4178925-A, US5197942-A. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention provides a post-surgical shoe for the healing of diabetic foot, particularly ulcerated diabetic foot, or other plantar wounds, comprising a (semi-open) upper part to leave the front part of the foot exposed, wherein the upper part comprises a heel piece attached thereto, and wherein the heel piece comprises one or more coupling notches; and a (customizable / selectable) sole assembly comprising at least one plantar non-contact zone that coincides with at least one ulcerated zone or area of the foot requiring pressure relief, and one or more protrusions adapted to be coupled to said one or more coupling notches of the heel piece.

[0014] In some embodiments, the upper part further comprises tabs. Likewise, the sole assembly further comprises a plurality of fitting areas for attachment of the tabs.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sole assembly is formed by a first layer for contact with the foot; a second layer disposed beneath the first layer; at least one intermediate layer, arranged below the second layer, which provides a certain inclination to reduce pressure on the front of the foot; and a sole layer, arranged below the intermediate layer, for contact with the ground.

[0016] In some embodiments, the shoe comprises three intermediate layers. In this case, said protrusion(s) is / are included in a first of the intermediate layers, the plurality of fitting zones are included in a second of the intermediate layers, and a third of the intermediate layers provides said inclination.

[0017] In some embodiments, the inclination is comprised in a range between 2-20 degrees.

[0018] In some embodiments, the shoe further comprises hooks or other types of tab fasteners adapted to be attached to the fitting areas for better fastening of the tabs.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first layer and the second layer are longer than the intermediate layer(s) and the sole layer.

[0020] In some embodiments, a portion of the first layer and the second layer is adapted to entirely cover the heel piece when the sole assembly is attached to the upper part.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first layer is made of a material of a certain softness.

[0022] In some embodiments, the second layer is made of a material of a certain rigidity.

[0023] In some embodiments, the sole layer is made of a non-slip material. In some embodiments, the upper part is made of textile material.

[0024] In some embodiments, the upper part further comprises a protective flap.

[0025] In some embodiments, the protective flap comprises elastic laces and / or a hook-and-loop fastener (e.g. a Velcro®).

[0026] In some embodiments, the shoe further comprises a protective accessory, attachable to one end of the upper part, for protection of the toes.

[0027] Therefore, the present invention provides a post-surgical shoe intended, in particular, for patients with diabetic feet, plantar ulcers, or other plantar wounds, designed to provide comfort, protection, and pressure relief in the areas affected by ulcers / wounds during the healing period.

[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The foregoing and other features and advantages will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some embodiments, which are merely illustrative and not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the proposed post-surgical shoe.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the proposed post-surgical shoe, with different areas of non-contact with the sole, depending on the area or zone of the ulcerated foot to be treated.

[0032] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the sole assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] The present invention provides a post-surgical shoe specially designed for the treatment of diabetic foot or other plantar wounds. As shown in the illustrated embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, the shoe includes an upper part (10), preferably made of textile material such as polyester. This upper has a semi-open design, allowing the front of the foot to remain exposed.

[0035] The upper part (10) incorporates a heel piece (11), or heel counter, which is directly attached to the upper part (10). This heel counter (11) is suitable for both the left and right feet, making it versatile. The shoe also has a sole assembly (20) that includes protrusions (27) designed to fit into the coupling notches (12) present in the heel piece (11). In addition, in this embodiment, the upper part (10) is equipped with tabs (13) , which fit into fitting areas (28) of the sole assembly (20). Please note that in other embodiments, not illustrated, instead of the tabs (13) and / or fitting areas (28), the shoe can comprise other alternative fastening elements for subjecting the upper part (10) to the sole assembly (20).

[0036] A characteristic feature of the proposed shoe is that the sole assembly (20) is specifically designed with specific plantar non-contact zones (30) that coincide with the ulcerated area or the region of the foot that needs pressure relief. This allows the shoe to be customized and adapted to the specific needs of each patient.

[0037] As detailed in the figures, especially in Fig. 3, the sole assembly (20) is composed of several layers bonded together. In the examples illustrated, the assembly consists of six layers: a first layer (21), made of soft material for direct contact with the foot; a second layer (22), placed under the first and designed to provide rigidity; a third intermediate layer (23), which in this case incorporates the protrusions (27); a fourth intermediate layer (24), which integrates the fitting areas (28); a fifth intermediate layer, designed to provide an inclination of between 2 and 20 degrees, with the aim of reducing pressure on the front of the foot; and a sixth layer (26), preferably made of a non-slip material, for contact with the ground.

[0038] To ensure additional support for the tabs (13), the illustrated design also includes hooks (29) that attach to the fitting areas (28) of the sole assembly (20), providing greater stability and safety when wearing the shoe. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the tabs (13) are replaced with Velcro® fastening areas and the hooks (29) become tabs.

[0039] In some embodiments, the first layer (21) and the second layer (22) of the sole assembly (20) are pre-stamped with elements common to all extensions and models of the shoe. Specifically, these layers incorporate the coupling notches (12) with a dovetail design and the fitting areas (28) intended for attaching the hooks (29). Both layers are hooked together, and in some cases include an additional layer of cardboard / shank board and a thin EVA rubber (or cork) insole, providing greater comfort, stability, and support.

[0040] In some examples, the sixth layer (26) (or sole layer) is made of EVA rubber, a thermoplastic material based on ethyl vinyl acetate (VA), which is available in different degrees of hardness and density, such that the properties can be adjusted according to the user's needs.

[0041] In some examples, the intermediate layers are made of high-density EVA rubber, with an approximate thickness of 10 mm. These layers can have a rough finish providing anti-slip properties and high wear resistance, thus ensuring greater durability of the shoe. In other embodiments, not illustrated in the figures, the sole assembly (20) may include a smaller, or higher, number of layers. In particular, some shoe models are designed with a single intermediate layer, located between the second layer (22) — which provides structural rigidity — and the sixth layer (26) — the sole. This intermediate layer is configured to provide the necessary inclination that redistributes pressure towards the heel, improving the functionality of the shoe. In addition, it integrates all the fastening elements required to ensure its correct coupling with the upper part (10) of the shoe.

[0042] Continuing with the explanation of Figs. 1 and 2, the upper part (10) also comprises a protective flap (15) with elastic laces and / or hook-and-loop fasteners (17) such as Velcro®. In addition, as an optional accessory, the illustrated examples also include a protective accessory (40) that can be attached to one end of the upper part (10) of the shoe to protect the toes. This fabric accessory helps the shoe to look like a conventional shoe.

[0043] The scope of the present invention is defined in the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Post-surgical shoe for the healing of diabetic foot or plantar wounds, comprising: an upper part (10), which is semi-open, to leave a front part of the foot exposed, wherein the upper part (10) comprises a heel piece (11) attached thereto, and wherein the heel piece (11) comprises one or more coupling notches (12); and a customizable sole assembly (20) comprising at least one plantar non-contact zone (30) that coincides with at least one ulcerated zone or area of the foot requiring pressure relief, and one or more protrusions (27) adapted to be coupled to said one or more coupling notches (12) of the heel piece (11).

2. The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the upper part (10) further comprises tabs (13), and wherein the sole assembly (20) further comprises a plurality of fitting areas (28) for attachment of the tabs (13).

3. The shoe of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sole assembly (20) comprises: a first layer (21) for contact with the foot; a second layer (22) disposed below the first layer (21); at least one intermediate layer, arranged below the second layer (22), which provides a certain inclination to reduce pressure on the front of the foot; and a sole layer (26), arranged below the intermediate layer, for contact with the ground.

4. The shoe of claim 3, comprising three intermediate layers (23, 24, 25), wherein said one or more protrusions (27) are included in a first (23) of the intermediate layers, the plurality of fitting zones (28) are included in a second (24) of the intermediate layers, and a third (25) of the intermediate layers provides said inclination.

5. The shoe of claim 3 or 4, wherein the inclination is comprised in a range between 2-20 degrees.

6. The shoe of any one of the previous claims 3-5, further comprising hooks (29) adapted to be attached to the fitting areas (28) for better fastening of the tabs (13).

7. The shoe of any one of the previous claims 3-6, wherein the first layer (21) and the second layer (22) are longer than the intermediate layer(s) (23, 24, 25) and the sole layer (26).

8. The shoe of any one of the previous claims 3-7, wherein a portion of the first layer (21) and the second layer (22) is adapted to entirely cover the heel piece (11) when the sole assembly (20) is attached to the upper part (10).

9. The shoe of any one of the previous claims 3-8, wherein the first layer (21) is made of a material of a certain softness.

10. The shoe of any one of the previous claims 3-9, wherein the second layer (22) is made of a material of a certain rigidity.

11. The shoe of any one of the previous claims 3-10, wherein the sole layer (26) is made of a non-slip material.

12. The shoe of any one of the previous claims, wherein the upper part (10) is made of textile material.

13. The shoe of any one of the previous claims, wherein the upper part (10) further comprises a protective flap (15).

14. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the protective flap (15) comprises elastic laces and / or a hook-and-loop fastener (17).

15. The shoe of any one of the previous claims, further comprising a protective accessory (40), attachable to one end of the upper part (10), for protection of the toes.

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