Lower limb orthosis

Abstract

An orthosis for a lower limb is provided. In one aspect, the orthosis consists of a housing that is divided and sized to closely abut an anatomical limb. The housing has a leg portion that fits to a front surface of the leg, a foot portion that fits to a dorsal surface of the foot, and a heel portion that fits to a surface of the heel and is adapted to lift the heel when a force is applied to the leg portion. The orthosis resists dorsiflexion and allows plantar flexion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates generally to orthoses for the lower extremities. Background Art

[0002] In a normal gait cycle, the leg first extends, with the heel contacting the ground and the ankle dorsiflexing. Weight then shifts to the foot, causing it to rest flat on the ground. Next, weight shifts from the heel area to the ball of the foot. Finally, the foot rotates at the ankle in a movement called plantar flexion. Plantar flexion causes the heel to lift off the ground at the end of the stride. As the foot lifts off the ground, the normal gait cycle begins again as the foot moves toward heel strike.

[0003] Many pathological conditions may interfere with a subject's ability to fully or correctly dorsiflex or plantar flex. For example, partial or complete blockage of nerve function in the lower leg may impede plantar flexion and / or dorsiflexion. Conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, foot drop, plantar fasciitis, traumatic nerve injury, and demyelinating or iatrogenic nerve injury may result in abnormal foot and ankle motion during the gait cycle. Subjects experiencing these conditions may be unable to walk, run, or ride a bicycle normally. Walking with an altered gait or limp may result in pain, dysfunction, and deterioration of the knee, hip, and spine.

[0004] One solution is to provide electrical stimulation to the foot and / or ankle muscles at appropriate times during walking. Many orthoses contain electrodes that emit an electrical current, causing muscle contraction even in the absence of neural signals. The electrical stimulation can be coordinated in response to signals from pressure sensors in the soles of the orthoses. However, these orthotics are expensive to manufacture and are limited by the battery life of the devices. In addition, the subject must carry a bulky controller that is usually equipped with a bulky battery and microprocessor. Another common solution is the ankle-foot orthosis, which consists of a hind leg portion that extends into a plantar plate that blocks plantar flexion. Summary of the invention

[0005] An aspect of the present invention is to provide an orthosis that allows plantar flexion of the foot. The orthosis has a housing that is divided and sized to be in close proximity to a subject's foot and leg. The housing has:

[0006] (a) a leg portion, the leg portion being engaged with a front surface of a leg;

[0007] (b) a foot portion that fits over a dorsal surface of the foot and is adapted to resist dorsiflexion of the foot; and

[0008] (c) a heel portion, the leg portion being adapted to lift the heel when a force is applied to the leg portion;

[0009] The shell of the orthosis may be of unitary rigid form.

[0010] The foot portion of the orthosis may be flexible so as to allow some degree of dorsiflexion.

[0011] The shell of the orthosis may be molded to the foot and leg of a subject.

[0012] The orthosis may be formed to support the foot at a specific angle of dorsiflexion.

[0013] The orthosis may be formed to support the foot through a range of dorsiflexion angles.

[0014] The orthosis may have means for securing the leg portion to the subject's leg, and in particular the calf, and subsequently releasing the leg portion from the subject's leg.

[0015] The orthosis may have a calf member that fits over the calf and may be secured to and subsequently released from the leg portion.

[0016] Some or all portions of the orthosis may be adapted to be worn inside a shoe or under a pantyhose, such as a shoe, boot, trousers and / or pants.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an orthosis that allows plantar flexion and has a housing that is divided and sized to be in close proximity to a subject's foot and leg. The housing has:

[0018] (a) A leg portion which fits over the front surface of the lower leg and which can be secured to the leg and subsequently released.

[0019] (b) A foot portion that fits over a dorsal surface of a foot and resists dorsiflexion of the foot.

[0020] (c) a heel portion that can lift the heel when a forward force is applied to the leg portion.

[0021] The housing may consist of a single rigid form.

[0022] The orthosis may be molded with the foot in 90 degrees of dorsiflexion.

[0023] The foot portion of the orthosis may be flexible to allow between 75 and 105 degrees of dorsiflexion.

[0024] The orthosis may include a calf member that fits over the posterior portion of the leg and may be secured to and subsequently released from the leg.

[0025] The foot portion of the orthosis may include at least one toe portion that fits over the dorsal surface of one or more toes.

[0026] Some or all of the orthoses may be adapted to be worn within footwear or pantyhose, such as shoes, boots, and / or pants.

[0027] These, together with other aspects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent, in the details of construction and operation as more fully described and claimed hereinafter, reference must be made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 A medial view of an orthosis 1 according to various aspects and embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Figure 2 A lateral view of the orthosis 1 is shown.

[0030] Figure 3 A top view of the orthosis 1 is shown.

[0031] Figure 4 A front view of another orthosis 14 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] An orthosis for a lower limb is provided. In one aspect, the orthosis consists of a shell that is divided and sized to be in close proximity to an anatomical limb. The shell has a leg portion, a foot portion, and a heel portion, the leg portion fits to the front surface of the leg, the foot portion fits to the dorsal surface of the foot, and the heel portion fits to the surface of the heel and is adapted to lift the heel when a forward force is applied to the leg portion. The orthosis hinders dorsiflexion and allows plantar flexion. In the present disclosure, the term "impedes" means that the orthosis may allow some degree of dorsiflexion, but the dorsiflexion will be controlled or limited by the orthosis.

[0033] refer to Figure 1 , an orthosis 1 is generally shown. The orthosis comprises a shell 2 having a leg portion 4, a foot portion 6 and a heel portion 8.

[0034] The foot portion 6 is fitted to the dorsal surface of the foot and is adapted to hinder the dorsiflexion of the foot. The dorsal surface of the foot covered by the foot portion 6 can extend from the ankle to a distal point, such as a point extending to the back of the toes, or in some embodiments, and in particular in embodiments where some or all of the foot portions are flexible, to some or all of the points of the upper portions covering some or all of the toes. It is envisioned that the foot portion 6 can have a sufficient length to hinder dorsiflexion. For example, the foot portion 6 can be fitted to the area from the ankle to the metatarsal. In another embodiment, the foot portion 6 can be fitted to the area from the ankle to the phalanges. It is further envisioned that the length of the foot portion can be adapted to fit the proportions of the subject.

[0035] The heel portion 8 fits under the heel and is adapted to lift the heel when a forward force is applied to the leg portion. Lifting the heel can be achieved by utilizing the force applied to the leg portion 4. For example, when the weight is transferred from the proximal region of the foot to the distal region of the foot during walking, the leg can push against the leg portion 4 of the shell 2, causing the heel portion 8 to lift the heel. This plantar flexion action can help the subject lift the heel during walking, walking, running, cycling or other activities that require leg movement. Generating a lever force via plantar flexion can be achieved by providing a heel portion 8 shaped to wrap around the heel from below as an integral part of the shell 2 or as a relatively rigid attachment portion of the shell 2.

[0036] The heel portion 8 may be connected to the housing 2 on the inside or outside or on both sides. Figure 1 and Figure 2 An orthosis 1 is depicted having a heel portion 8 connected to the shell 2 on the outside. The heel portion 8 can cover a sufficient portion of the plantar surface of the heel to facilitate lifting of the heel when force is applied to the leg portion 4. The heel portion 8 can additionally cover a portion of the rear surface of the heel to hinder sliding of the orthosis during use. The heel portion 8 can be divided and sized to enclose the heel, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0037] The leg portion 4 is fitted to the front surface of the leg, including some or all of the shin, for example. The surface of the leg covered by the leg portion 4 can extend from the front portion of the ankle (including some of the upper portion of the foot) to a point below the knee. In one embodiment, the leg portion 4 can extend from the front portion of the ankle to a point just below the tibial tuberosity. It is envisioned that the leg portion 4 can have a sufficient length to provide a pivot for lifting the heel. The leg portion can additionally be fitted to the outside and / or medial surface of the leg. In particular, the leg portion 4 can be contoured around the outside and / or medial surface of the leg to prevent the housing 2 from sliding relative to the leg. It is further envisioned that the length of the leg portion can be adapted to fit the proportions of the subject.

[0038] The orthosis 1 has a form suitable for allowing plantar flexion of the foot. Figure 1 In the implementation shown, the orthosis fits on the heel, but not on the plantar surface of the foot. This implementation can allow the foot to rotate in plantar flexion. In addition, this embodiment can allow the toes to plantar flex as well. This embodiment can encourage the toes to press down on the ground during walking, creating more leverage for the orthosis and helping the gait cycle.

[0039] The orthosis may further include a calf member 10 that fits over the posterior surface of the leg. The calf member may additionally cover the lateral and / or medial surfaces of the leg. The calf member 10 may be releasably attached to the leg and / or leg portion 4 of the shell 2. The calf member 10 may hinder the sliding of the orthosis 1 relative to the leg when in use. In some embodiments, the calf member 10 may be molded to the subject's leg to provide a tight fit. The calf member 10 may include a flexible or rigid material. In some embodiments, the calf member 10 includes a polymer. In other embodiments, the calf member 10 may include any or all of low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, graphite, carbon fiber, and a copolymer mixture.

[0040] Shell 2 can be a single form and is optionally rigid, semi-rigid or semi-flexible. In some embodiments, the rigidity of shell 2 is not consistent in all parts of shell 2. It is conceivable that the rigidity of some or all parts of shell 2 is conducive to the foot portion selectively hindering the dorsiflexion of the foot without causing discomfort to the wearer. In particular, it is conceivable that the specific rigidity of foot portion 6 can be selected to allow dorsiflexion within a desired angle range. It is further conceivable that the rigidity of some or all parts of shell 2 is conducive to the desired positioning of heel portion 8 together with leg portion 4 to lift the heel during walking. In some embodiments, the contour of the shell is designed or molded according to the legs and feet of the subject. Shell 2 can include polymers. In other implementations, shell 2 includes any or all of low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, graphite, carbon fiber or copolymer mixtures. In order to prevent the wearer from feeling uncomfortable, some or all of the inner surfaces of the orthosis can be covered with a cushioning material or otherwise matched.

[0041] The housing 2 may be sized to be inconspicuous when worn under clothing or footwear.

[0042] The shell 2 can be divided and sized according to a specific range of dorsiflexion of the foot. In one embodiment, the shell 2 can be divided and sized to form an angle of approximately 105°. In another embodiment, the shell can be divided and sized to form an angle of approximately 95°. In another embodiment, the shell 2 can be divided and sized to form an angle of approximately 85°. In yet another embodiment, the shell 2 can be divided and sized to form an angle of approximately 75°.

[0043] In some embodiments, the shell 2 can be divided and sized to allow some degree of dorsiflexion. The shell can be divided and sized to allow dorsiflexion of the foot between 75 and 105 degrees. The shell 2 can be sized so that certain portions of the shell can have different thicknesses. In other embodiments, certain portions of the shell 2 can have different rigidities or flexibility. For example, the foot portion 6 can have a thickness that allows a specific degree of dorsiflexion. It is contemplated that the shell 2 can be divided and sized to a specific dorsiflexion angle or various dorsiflexion angles to provide the wearer with the best combination of comfort and function.

[0044] The shell 2 need not be a single form. In some implementations, the foot portion 6 can be connected to the leg portion 18 of the orthosis. For example, the foot portion can be connected to the leg portion 18 by an articulated joint, hinge, or other suitable attachment mechanism (not shown). It is contemplated that the attachment mechanism can accommodate dorsiflexion of the foot through a limited range of angles.

[0045] Figure 3 A top view of the orthosis 1 is shown. In this implementation, the foot portion 6 of the shell 2 includes a toe member 12. The shell 2 can have one or more toe members 12. The toe member 12 can be an extension of the shell 2 that is divided and sized to be adjacent to one or more toes. The toe member can hinder, limit or otherwise selectively control the dorsiflexion of the phalanges of the corresponding toe. Some or all of the toe members 12 can be separated by gaps 13. The gaps 13 can allow the orthosis 1 to be worn with a variety of footwear, including but not limited to sandals, flip-flops and sneakers.

[0046] Figure 4 A front view of another embodiment of an orthosis 14 is shown. The orthosis 14 can have a housing 16 that includes a leg portion 18, a foot portion 20, and a heel portion (not shown). The foot portion 20 can include a toe member 22. The leg portion 18 can be releasably secured to the leg. Additionally, the calf member (not shown) can be releasably secured to the leg or leg portion 18 with a strap. Figure 4 In the embodiment, the leg portion 18 is releasably secured to the leg by one or more straps 24, 26, however, the means for releasably securing the leg portion to the leg is not limited to straps. The means for releasably securing the leg portion to the leg may include buckles, hook and loop fasteners, laces, belts, buttons, Similarly, the means for releasably securing the calf member to the leg or leg portion 18 may include buckles, hook and loop fasteners, laces, straps, buttons, Elastic material or other fasteners.

[0047] The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the detailed description, and thus, the appended claims are intended to cover all such features and advantages of the present invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the present invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and thus all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An orthosis comprising a housing divided and dimensioned to closely approximate an anatomical foot and leg, wherein: The housing comprises a unitary rigid form, the housing comprising: a leg portion, the leg portion being fitted to a front surface of the leg; a foot portion that fits over a dorsal surface of a foot and is adapted to resist dorsiflexion of the foot, wherein the dorsal surface of the foot covered by the foot portion extends from the ankle to a point behind the toes; and a heel portion that fits over a heel and is adapted to lift the heel when a forward force is applied to the leg portion, and that is connected to the housing either medially or laterally; wherein the leg portion, the foot portion and the heel portion are fixedly connected; and Wherein the orthosis allows plantar flexion of the foot.

2. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein: The shell is molded to the foot and leg.

3. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein: The shell is formed with a specific dorsiflexion angle of the foot.

4. The orthosis according to claim 3, wherein: The specific dorsiflexion angle is 90 degrees.

5. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein: At least the foot portion is flexible so as to allow a certain range of dorsiflexion angles.

6. The orthosis according to claim 5, wherein: The dorsiflexion angle range is 75 to 105 degrees.

7. The orthosis of claim 1 further comprising means for releasably securing the leg portion to the leg.

8. The orthosis of claim 1, further comprising a calf member that fits over a posterior portion of the leg, wherein the calf member is releasably secured to the leg.

9. The orthosis according to claim 1, wherein: The foot portion includes at least one toe portion that fits over a dorsal surface of one or more toes.

10. The orthosis of claim 1 adapted to be worn within a shoe.

11. An orthosis comprising a housing divided and dimensioned to closely approximate an anatomical foot and leg, wherein: The housing comprises a unitary rigid form, the housing comprising: a leg portion that fits over a front surface of the leg and is releasably secured to the leg; a foot portion that fits over a dorsal surface of a foot and is adapted to resist dorsiflexion of the foot, wherein the dorsal surface of the foot covered by the foot portion extends from the ankle to a point behind the toes; and a heel portion adapted to lift the heel when a forward force is applied to the leg portion, the heel portion being connected to the housing either medially or laterally; wherein the leg portion, the foot portion and the heel portion are fixedly connected; and Wherein the orthosis allows plantar flexion of the foot.

12. The orthosis according to claim 11, wherein: The shell is molded with 90 degrees of dorsiflexion of the foot.

13. The orthosis according to claim 11, wherein: At least the foot portion is constructed of a flexible form and is such as to allow dorsiflexion of 75 to 105 degrees.

14. The orthosis of claim 11, further comprising a calf member that fits over a posterior portion of the leg, wherein the calf member is releasably secured to the leg.

15. The orthosis according to claim 11, wherein: The foot portion includes at least one toe portion that fits over a dorsal surface of one or more toes.

16. The orthosis of claim 11 adapted to be worn within shoes and clothing.

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