Socks for diabetic patients

Abstract

By simply wearing these socks, diabetic patients can effectively prevent ulcer formation while going about their daily lives indoors. This is achieved by physically supporting the arch of the foot, distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heels. [Solution] This sock 100 for diabetic patients is composed of a foot portion F that covers from the toes to the heel, including the instep and sole of the foot, and a leg portion L that extends from the foot portion F and covers from the ankle to at most below the knee. A large cushioning material 124 is provided on the inner surface of the foot portion F, approximately in the center of the sole of the foot, with a width approximately equal to the width of the foot portion F and a length of 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the length of the foot portion F. The cushioning material 124 physically supports the arch of the foot, thereby distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heels, and thus preventing ulcer formation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Diabetic ulcers, gangrene, etc. may occur in the feet (below the knees in the present invention). The present invention relates to socks (stockings that reach up to the knees at most) for preventing such diabetic foot lesions (hereinafter sometimes referred to as diabetic foot lesions). Note that the sole and the plantar surface are synonymous. It should be noted that diabetic patients are known to develop foot deformities (diabetic foot deformities) due to neuropathy (motor neuropathy or sensory neuropathy). Skin ulcers are formed due to the concentration of load or the generation of shear force on the bone protrusions caused by foot deformities, leading to infection, necrosis, and amputation of the lower limb. Bone protrusions such as the tip of the toe, the midfoot head, and the heel are the preferred sites for ulcers.

Background Art

[0002] For diabetics, diabetic gangrene is one of the equally serious complications as blindness due to retinopathy. It is refractory and highly recurrent, and severe cases leading to amputation surgery of the lower limb also occur. Diabetic foot lesions range from very mild cases to severe cases that require foot amputation, and there are also a variety of coping methods.

[0003]

[0004] For example, in the case of gangrene or ulcer on the sole of the foot, there are cases where vascular disorders due to diabetes cause patchy gangrene and lead to ulcers after atrophic skin changes, cases where tactile, pain, and temperature sensations decrease due to sensory neuropathy, resulting in painless trauma that easily leads to ulcers and in some cases gangrene, and cases where motor neuropathy causes muscle atrophy, leading to walking disorders and eventually plantar deformity and ulcers occurring in the high plantar pressure area of the sole.

[0005] Regarding such diabetic foot lesions, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-518554 (Patent Document 1) discloses diabetic socks designed to alleviate foot impact in specific areas around the wearer's foot. These diabetic socks have cushioning sections positioned to protect the bony prominence of the dorsal tarsal region and to deflect pressure from the dorsal pedis artery pulsation of the foot.

[0006] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-178606 (Patent Document 2) discloses a structure for an orthotic insole to prevent diabetic foot lesions, such as diabetic ulcers and gangrene, which occur on the soles of the feet. This orthotic insole for preventing diabetic foot lesions is made of silicone rubber and is characterized by being a non-foaming, low-hardness rubber-like elastic material whose hardness at room temperature is 17 to 20 on the Asker C hardness scale. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2009-518554 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-178606 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, the cushioning portion of the diabetic patient socks disclosed in Patent Document 1 is only provided on the instep, and it completely fails to consider that weight is concentrated or shear forces are generated on bony prominences (toe tips, metatarsal heads, heels, etc.) due to foot deformities, leading to skin ulcers, infection, necrosis, and even lower limb amputation. Guidelines recommend insoles (such as orthotics that are pre-installed inside footwear, as shown in Patent Document 2) and custom-made orthotics for diabetic patients with foot deformities, and these are used in Japan as well. However, in Japan, it is customary to remove shoes indoors, so insoles and custom-made orthotics used outdoors are also removed. Therefore, foot ulcers are more likely to occur (in Europe and the United States, shoes are worn indoors, so the feet are protected).

[0009] To prevent skin ulcers from forming due to concentrated weight-bearing or shear forces on bony prominences (such as toe tips, metatarsal heads, and heels) caused by foot deformities, and to prevent infection, necrosis, and lower limb amputation, ulcer formation can be prevented by physically supporting the arch of the foot and distributing the weight-bearing load on these bony prominences. (While socks that raise the arch through knitting are already commercially available, in reality, the arch collapses under weight-bearing conditions, so physical support is necessary, and insoles and orthotic shoes are used.)

[0010] However, neither Patent Document 1 nor Patent Document 2, mentioned above, describes or suggests anything about distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heels by physically supporting the arch of the foot, in order to prevent ulcer formation in diabetic patients.

[0011] The arch of the foot is formed by the bones arranging in an arc shape. The first arch is the arch on the inside of the foot, the second is the longitudinal arch on the outside of the foot, and the third is the transverse arch at the base of the five toes. These three arches work together in balance, acting like a spring to support the entire body.

[0012] Although not the primary point, if a person wears the diabetic socks disclosed in Patent Document 1 while going about their daily life indoors, they may injure the soles of their feet if they step on hard objects on the floor.

[0013] Furthermore, although not the primary focus, some diabetic patients' socks, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, are designed to fit loosely and moderately around the opening so as not to obstruct blood flow, to be less prone to stuffiness to avoid skin diseases including athlete's foot (a skin infection caused by a fungus called dermatophyte), and to prevent injuries to the feet (to avoid pressure ulcers) by being seamless or finely sutured with thin threads.

[0014] Furthermore, although not the primary focus, a problem with the socks for diabetic patients disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the insoles and orthotic shoes recommended in the guidelines (for example, disclosed in Patent Document 2) is that, as mentioned above, there is no sock for diabetic patients that addresses the issue that if one goes about daily life indoors wearing only socks, there is a possibility of injuring the soles of the feet if one steps on a hard object on the floor.

[0015] The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide socks for diabetic patients that can effectively prevent diabetic foot complications by physically supporting the arch of the foot while going about daily life indoors, thereby distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heels, and effectively suppressing injuries to the soles of the feet even when stepping on hard objects on the floor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] To achieve the above objective, the diabetic patient socks according to the present invention employ the following technical means.

[0017] In other words, the diabetic patient sock according to the present invention is a sock for diabetic patients that prevents diabetic foot lesions, comprising a foot portion that covers from the toes to the heel, including the instep and sole of the foot, and a leg portion that extends from the foot portion and covers from the ankle to at most below the knee, with an opening at the upper end of the leg portion, wherein a cushioning material is provided in the approximate center of the sole of the foot, with a width approximately equal to the width of the foot in the foot portion, a length of 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the length of the foot in the foot portion, and having a slope that rises from the toe side to the heel side, and with beveled corners, and the fabric that comes into contact with the skin of the sole of the foot and the cushioning material are joined to the inner surface of the foot portion by a fabric that has a heat-bonding function on the side facing the cushioning material, and the floor contact surface of the foot portion and the cushioning material are not joined, the toe side and heel side of the inner surface of the foot portion are pile knitted, and the opening is formed by a ribbed bag knit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the diabetic patient socks of the present invention, simply by wearing the socks while going about daily life indoors, the socks effectively prevent ulcer formation by distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heels by physically supporting the arch of the foot, and effectively suppress injuries to the soles of the feet even when stepping on hard objects on the floor, thereby effectively preventing diabetic foot complications. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is an overall perspective view of a sock 100, which virtually shows a diabetic patient wearing a sock according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an overall perspective view of a sock 100, hypothetically showing a sock for diabetic patients according to an embodiment of the present invention, worn inside out. [Figure 3] (A) A plan view of the inverted sock 100 with the part that touches the skin of the sole of the foot placed on a flat surface, (B) A diagram to explain the method of joining the cushioning material, and (C) A three-view drawing of the cushioning material.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, a sock 100, which is an example of the socks for diabetic patients according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail based on the drawings. In the present invention, the sock and the stocking are synonymous. The most characteristic configuration of this sock 100 is that it includes a cushioning material 124 described later. By physically supporting the arch of the foot with this cushioning material 124, the load on the bone protrusions such as the toe tip, the middle phalangeal head, and the heel can be dispersed, thereby preventing ulcer formation.

[0021] Here, there are various sock structures, and the present invention is not limited to a specific structure. As long as it has the characteristics described later, any sock structure, regardless of the type of knitted fabric, knitting yarn, and knitting method constituting the sock, is basically acceptable. Therefore, the sock structure shown below is merely an example.

[0022] This sock 100 is composed of a foot part that covers from the toe tip to the heel including the toenail and the sole of the foot, and a leg part that continuously extends from the foot part and covers up to the lower knee at the longest from the ankle. It is a stocking with a hem at the upper end of the leg part. Also, although not limited, the sock 100 shown below is for both left and right feet and is preferable in that there is no mistake in wearing the left and right because it is for both left and right feet. When the sock 100 is not for both left and right feet, the left-foot and right-foot socks have a bilaterally symmetric shape.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, which is an overall perspective view virtually showing the state of wearing the sock 100, FIG. 2, which is an overall perspective view virtually showing the state of wearing the sock 100 inside out, FIG. 3(A), which is a plan view of the sock 100 turned inside out with the part where the sole muscle abuts placed on a plane, FIG. 3(B), which is a diagram for explaining the joining method of the cushioning material 124, and FIG. 3(C), which is a three-view drawing of the cushioning material 124, the sock 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

[0024] As shown in these figures (particularly Figures 1 and 2), the sock 100 is a sock for diabetic patients that prevents diabetic foot complications, comprising a foot portion F that covers from the toes to the heel, including the instep and sole of the foot, and a leg portion L that extends from the foot portion F and covers from the ankle to at most below the knee, with an opening 130 at the upper end of the leg portion L. The sock 100 has the following three features.

[0025] (First feature) A cushioning material 124 is provided on the inner surface of the foot portion F, approximately in the center of the sole of the foot, with a width (W(1) shown in Figures 3(B) and 3(C)) that is approximately equal to the width of the foot portion F (W(2) shown in Figure 3(B)), a length (L shown in Figure 3(C)) that is 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the length of the foot portion F, and having a slope that rises from the toe side to the heel side (slope angle α(deg) shown in Figure 3(C)), and having chamfered corners. The upper surface of the cushioning material 124 is joined to the upper surface of the cushioning material 124 by a fabric 126 that comes into contact with the skin of the sole of the foot and has a heat-bonding function on the surface 128 on the cushioning material 124 side, and the lower surface of the cushioning material 124 is not joined to the floor contact surface of the foot portion F. Furthermore, the outer perimeter of this fabric 126 is joined to the floor contact surface (inner surface: foot skin contact surface) of the foot portion F by sewing or other means. (Second feature) The inner surface (skin contact surface) of the foot portion F is pile-knitted on the toe side and heel side, forming the toe pile portion 110 and the heel pile portion 112. (Third feature) The opening 130 provided in the leg portion L is formed by a rib knit. Preferably, it is formed by a 2-stitch rib knit. Including these three features, the socks 100 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the figures (particularly Figure 3).

[0026] (Feature 1: Cushioning) As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3(A), the inner surface of the foot portion F of the sock 100 is provided with a cushion portion 120 including a cushioning material 124 in contact with the skin of the sole of the foot. The cushioning material 124 itself, as shown in the three views in Figure 3(C), has a width W(1), length L, height H, and a slope that increases in angle α(deg) from the toe side to the heel side, and has chamfered corners. It is a cushioning material that deforms when a load is applied to absorb impact, and an example of the material is a bra pad.

[0027] The width W(1) of this cushioning material 124 is approximately equal to the width of the foot in the foot portion F (W(2) shown in Figure 3(B)), and it makes large contact with the entire width of the sole of the foot (not only the arch but also the rest of the sole of the foot, protecting the sole. The specific width W(1) of the cushioning material 124 is about 7cm to 10cm. The length L of this cushioning material 124 is 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the length of the foot in the foot portion F, and it makes large contact with the length of the sole of the foot, protecting the sole. The specific length L of the cushioning material 124 is about 9cm to 11cm. This cushioning material 124 has a slope that rises from the toe side to the heel side, with a slope angle α(deg) of about 4deg to 15deg. The corners of this cushioning material 124 are chamfered (shown by dotted lines) as shown by the three-pointed triangle mark in Figure 3(C). Furthermore, this cushioning material 124 can prevent ulcer formation by physically supporting the arch of the foot when the sole of the foot makes contact with it and distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heel.

[0028] The cushioning material 124 is provided on the inner surface of the foot portion F of the sock 100 that comes into contact with the sole of the foot, as shown in Figure 3(A). Figure 3(A) is a plan view of the inverted sock 100 placed on a flat surface, including the portion that comes into contact with the sole of the foot.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3(B), the fabric 126 that comes into contact with the sole of the foot and has a heat-bonding function on the surface 128 facing the cushioning material 124 is used to join the fabric 126 and the cushioning material 124 (upper surface) (by heat bonding or heat welding). The outer circumference of this fabric 126 is joined to the floor contact surface (inner surface: foot skin contact surface) of the foot portion F by sewing or the like. In this way, the cushioning material 124 is provided on the inner surface of the foot portion F of the sock 100 that comes into contact with the sole of the foot, as shown in Figure 3(A), and the cushioning material 124 can be fixed to the sock 100 without the floor contact surface of the foot portion F and the cushioning material 124 (lower surface) being joined.

[0030] By providing the cushion portion 120, which includes such cushioning material 124, in contact with the sole of the foot, the following effects can be achieved. (1-1) The cushioning material 124 can prevent ulcer formation by physically supporting the arch of the foot when the sole of the foot comes into contact with it and distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heel. In other words, the main objective and effect of the present invention is to prevent ulcer formation by physically supporting the arch with the cushioning material 124 and distributing the load on the toes, metatarsal heads, and heel. Furthermore, in addition to preventing ulcer formation on bony prominences by load distribution, another main objective and effect of the present invention is to alleviate pain. In addition to these, as a secondary effect (as described below), it protects the soles of the feet by suitably suppressing injuries to the soles of the feet even when stepping on hard objects on the floor.

[0031] (1-2) When diabetic patients wear these socks 100, they can go about their daily lives indoors in accordance with the Japanese cultural custom of not wearing shoes indoors, and even if they step on hard objects on the floor, the cushioning material 124 is positioned to come into contact with the soles of their feet, thus reducing the possibility of injuring the soles of their feet. (1-3) Even if there are protruding parts on the sole of the foot, the cushioning material 124 can reduce the pressure on the cushioning material 124 and adjust the pressure balance.

[0032] (1-4) In the cases of (1-1) and (1-3) above, the leg portion L, which is continuous with the foot portion F, supports the foot, and the entire foot (in this case, from the knee down) can be supported by the sock 100 through the leg portion L and the foot portion F. (1-5) The cushioning material 124 has a slope that rises from the toe side to the heel side, making it easier to adjust the balance as described above. Also, a reverse slope could cause the foot to tip over. (1-6) Because the corners of the cushioning material 124 are chamfered, the possibility of injuring the sole of the foot (which comes into contact with the fabric 126) can be reduced.

[0033] (1-7) The cushioning material 124 is joined to the cushioning material 124 (upper surface) by a fabric 126 which is in contact with the skin of the sole of the foot and has a heat-bonding function on the surface 128 on the cushioning material 124 side. As a result, the fabric 126 does not wrinkle and the fabric 126 and cushioning material 124 do not shift, and the cushioning material 124 can exert its effects without causing pressure sores on the soles of the feet. Furthermore, since the floor contact surface of the foot part F and the cushioning material 124 (lower surface) are not joined, when wearing these socks 100 and walking by dragging the feet on a resistant (non-slip) floor surface, only the floor contact surface of the foot part F catches on the floor surface, and the positional relationship between the floor contact surface of the foot part F and the cushioning material 124 which is not joined to the sole of the foot does not change, making it less likely to cause pressure sores. Furthermore, even if the outer perimeter of the fabric 126 is joined to the floor contact surface of the foot portion F by sutures or the like, the thickness (height H) of the cushioning material 124, which is provided across the entire width of the foot, prevents the seams from coming into contact with the skin on the sole of the foot, thus reducing the likelihood of pressure sores.

[0034] (Second feature: Pile section) As shown in Figure 2, which hypothetically illustrates the state of sock 100 when worn inside out, the toe and heel sides of the inner surface (skin-contacting surface) of the foot portion F are pile-knitted to form the toe pile portion 110 and heel pile portion 112. Therefore, in addition to the cushioning material 124, which is the first feature, cushioning for the toes and heels of the foot can be provided by the pile. Furthermore, the Rosso 111, which is a seam formed in the toe portion, is less likely to come into contact with the foot, thus reducing the risk of pressure sores.

[0035] (Third feature: The opening of the leg portion) The opening 130 provided in the leg portion L is formed by a ribbed knit, preferably by a 2-stitch ribbed knit. This is preferable because it does not constrict too much, yet does not slip down easily, and prevents debris from entering through the opening. In particular, since debris that enters through the opening can come into contact with the bare skin of the foot and potentially cause injury, the opening 130 provided in the leg portion L of this sock 100 is preferable for diabetic patients.

[0036] <Examples> The socks according to this embodiment, having the features described above, were manufactured according to the following specifications. • Number of needles on the sock knitting machine: 108 • Face yarn: 32 / 1, 100% cotton (single yarn of 100% cotton with a cotton count of 32) • Backing thread: 30 / 150FTY (30 denier polyurethane yarn covered with 150 strands of polyester multifilament) • Lining thread at the opening: 40D / 2N (double-ply polyurethane yarn with 40 denier)

[0037] The socks 100 according to this embodiment, manufactured with these specifications, possess the first to third features described above and can exhibit the effects described in (1-1) to (1-7), (2), and (3) above.

[0038] As described above, the socks 100 according to this embodiment can effectively prevent diabetic foot complications by allowing a person to go about their daily life indoors while simply wearing the socks, thereby preventing ulcer formation by distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heels through physical support of the arch of the foot, and effectively suppressing injuries to the soles of the feet even when stepping on hard objects on the floor.

[0039] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Industrial applicability]

[0040] The present invention is preferable in that it effectively prevents diabetic foot complications, and is particularly preferable in that simply wearing socks allows a person to spend their daily life indoors while physically supporting the arch of the foot, thereby distributing the load on bony prominences such as the toes, metatarsal heads, and heels, thus preventing ulcer formation, and effectively suppressing injuries to the soles of the feet even when stepping on hard objects on the floor. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 100 (Socks for Diabetic Patients) 110 Toe pile section 112 Heel pile section 120 Cushion part 130 Opening

Claims

[Claim 1] A sock for diabetic patients that prevents diabetic foot complications, comprising a foot portion that covers from the toes to the heel, including the instep and sole of the foot, and a leg portion that extends from the foot portion and covers from the ankle to at most below the knee, with an opening at the upper end of the leg portion, A cushioning material is provided on the inner surface of the foot portion, approximately in the center of the sole of the foot, with a width approximately equal to the width of the foot portion, a length of 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the length of the foot portion, a slope that rises from the toe side to the heel side, and chamfered corners, and is joined to the sole of the foot by a fabric that comes into contact with the skin of the foot and has a heat-bonding function on the side facing the cushioning material, and the cushioning material is provided on the inner surface of the foot portion without being joined to the floor contact surface of the foot portion. The toe side and heel side of the inner surface of the foot portion are pile-knitted. The aforementioned opening is formed using a ribbed knitting technique, and these are socks for diabetic patients.

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