30 results about "Dropped foot" patented technology

A stimulator for stimulating the leg or other parts of the body e.g. the leg in a patient with drop foot is provided, the stimulator being controlled by e.g a foot switch but being reliable in use and therefore commanding acceptance by users. The foot switch has to work in adverse environmental conditions and is subject to repeated use so that its characteristics vary with time. The invention provides a functional electrical stimulator for attachment to the leg that has adaptive characteristics and comprises first and second electrodes for attachment to the leg to apply an electrical stimulus, a foot switch for sensing foot rise or foot strike, a circuit responsive to said foot switch for generating stimulation pulses; and means forming part of said circuit for responding to changes in the resistance characteristics of said switch means by adjusting a corresponding response threshold of said circuit.The invention also provides a two-channel stimulator that offers various possibilities for controlling the signals to be supplied to different muscle groups. For example, means may be provided defining a signal pathway between the first and second channels so that the supply of stimulation pulses in one of said first and second channels can be controlled by the state of switch means associated with the other of said first and second channels. In a further embodiment means defining a signal pathway between the first and second channels is arranged so that the supply of stimulation pulses in one of said first and second channels can be controlled by the state of activity of the other of said first and second channels. In a yet further embodiment the first channel has means arranged to cause the stimulation pulses to time-out after a predetermined period and the second channel having no or disabled timing means so that supply of stimulation pulses is continuous in a predetermined state of limb position responsive switch means associated with that channel. The two-channel stimulator can be used e.g., to treat bilateral dropped foot.

An Active Ankle Foot Orthosis (AAFO) is provided where the impedance of an orthotic joint is modulated throughout the walking cycle to treat ankle foot gait pathology, such as drop foot gait. During controlled plantar flexion, a biomimetic torsional spring control is applied where orthotic joint stiffness is actively adjusted to minimize forefoot collisions with the ground. Throughout late stance, joint impedance is minimized so as not to impede powered plantar flexion movements, and during the swing phase, a torsional spring-damper (PD) control lifts the foot to provide toe clearance. To assess the clinical effects of variable-impedance control, kinetic and kinematic gait data were collected on two drop foot participants wearing the AAFO. It has been found that actively adjusting joint impedance reduces the occurrence of slap foot, allows greater powered plantar flexion, and provides for less kinematic difference during swing when compared to normals.

A hospital bed convertible to a side egress chair bed includes a base having opposite end portions; a lifting mechanism secured to the base between the end portions; a rotating frame mounted on the lifting mechanism and configured to rotate horizontally relative to the base; and a patient support surface pivotally secured to the rotating frame. The patient support surface includes a back panel, a seat panel, and a leg panel that are configured to articulate relative to each other from a co-planar configuration to a chair configuration. The leg panel includes a first section pivotally connected to the seat panel and a second section that is separable from the leg panel first section.

A drop foot brace includes a securing member configured to be secured to a leg of a user, a foot-receiving member and a tensioning component. The tensioning component may include an elongated element a rotatable tightening member for adjusting a tension in the elongated element and two or more support engagers associated with the elongated element. Each support engager may include a long, curved hook guide that receives the elongated element and that is configured to minimize deformation and breakage of the elongate element. In addition, each support engager may include a hook configured to engage a corresponding feature of a foot-receiving member. The foot-receiving member may comprise footwear, such as a shoe or boot, or it may be configured to enable us of the support member (and, thus, of the drop foot brace) without footwear that covers the top, or dorsal portion, of the foot. Thus, the drop foot brace may be used when an individual decides to go barefoot or when the individual wears flip-flops or other sandals. Methods for addressing drop foot are also disclosed.

The present invention discloses an ankle foot orthosis device that is adjustable to a patient's drop foot. The device may include, inter alia, a foot-support that is sized to fit into a corresponding patient's footwear; an elongate member that is mechanically coupled to the foot-support; and a lower leg holder that is coupled to the elongate member. The lower portion of the elongate member may extend from the foot-support's heel portion upwards and rearwards towards a corresponding lower leg's calf and may further extend forwardly towards the corresponding lower leg's shin. Forward tilting of the lower leg in the gait cycle causes the elongate member to bend forward, which in turn causes the development of potential energy in the device that may be released during the gait cycle's toe-off and swing phase, thereby compensating for the energy lost in the drop foot.

The invention relates to assembly of an accessory and a shoe for providing support to a foot-drop affected foot relative to a lower leg belonging to the foot such that the loot is prevented from dropping downwards relative to the lower leg when the foot is raised by the lower from a supporting surface, the accessory being provided with a first attachment member for attachment of the accessory to the lower leg, a second attachment member for attachment of the accessory to an upper side of the shoe and a connecting body joining together the first attachment member and the second attachment member, wherein the second attachment member is provided with an attachment plate which, in use, is positioned under an upper part of the shoe. The invention also relates to the accessory of the assembly.

A walking device for remedying or alleviating symptoms of drop foot, the device wearable with an article of footwear, the device including a backing plate, wherein the backing plate includes an upper portion hingedly secured to a lower portion, a strap secured to the upper portion of the backing plate and extending outwardly therefrom for operatively securing to itself about a leg of a person, a spring including a first end secured to the strap, and a clip secured to a second end of the spring, wherein the clip is operatively arranged to engage with a pair of eyelets for laces of the footwear.

A functional electrical stimulation method and device that starts electrical stimulation of a first leg of a person when a distance between a reference point on the person's first leg and the surface on which the person walks exceeds a first predetermined value and stops electrical stimulation of the first leg of the person when the distance between the reference point and the surface falls below a second predetermined value, wherein the first and second predetermined values are calculated from an initial measurement of the distance between the reference point and the surface when the person is standing still and the first leg is perpendicular to the surface. The first predetermined value is greater than the second predetermined value. The method and device produce a more natural gait in persons with drop foot, and minimize the time electrical stimulation is applied to muscles so as to minimize muscle fatigue.

A drop foot brace includes a support configured to be secured to a leg of a user, a foot-receiving member and a tensioning component. The tensioning component may include an elongated element a rotatable tightening member for adjusting a tension in the elongated element and two or more engagement elements associated with the elongated element. Each engagement element may include a long, curved hook guide that receives the elongated element and that is configured to minimize deformation and breakage of the elongate element. In addition, each engagement element may include a hook configured to engage a corresponding feature of a foot-receiving member. The foot-receiving member may comprise footwear, such as a shoe or boot, or it may be configured to enable us of the support member (and, thus, of the drop foot brace) without footwear that covers the top, or dorsal portion, of the foot. Thus, the drop foot brace may be used when an individual decides to go barefoot or when the individual wears flip-flops or other sandals. Methods for addressing drop foot are also disclosed.

The invention discloses a switch with strong anti-drop performance. The switch comprises a switch body, wherein an anti-drop component is arranged below the switch body and comprises a connection discand an anti-drop foot stool, the connection disc is connected with the bottom of the switch body, the anti-drop foot stool comprises three adjustment component sets distributed along the circumferential direction of the connection disc, each adjustment component comprises a pedestal, a left expansion rod and a right expansion rod are hinged to the pedestal and arranged to be V-shaped, the other end of each of the left expansion link and the right expansion link is hinged to the connection disc. According to the switch provided by the invention, through the arrangement of the anti-drop foot stool and the V-shaped anti-drop foot stool, a triangular structure is formed by the anti-drop foot stool and the connection disc, the functions of preventing dropping and stabilizing are achieved, theproblem that the existing switch is easy to drop and damage due to movement and the other situations during the daily using process is solved, the security performance of the switch is improved, and the usage and movement of the switch become safer.

A drop foot assistive device for stabilizing a drop foot condition of a user is provided. The user has a leg, a foot, and toes with the foot encased in a shoe and the shoe having shoelaces. The drop foot assistive device comprises a shin wrap with a securing mechanism releasably securing the shin wrap around the leg. A drop foot band having a first end and a second end is connected to the shin wrap. The second end of the drop foot band is positioned between the shoe and the shoelaces and connected to the shoelaces closest to the toes such that during a walking motion of the user, the drop foot band creates a pulling action on the toes of the user, stabilizing the foot and achieving a natural walking motion.

The invention discloses a switch with anti-drop foot stools. The switch comprises a switch body, wherein the anti-drop foot stools are arranged at the bottoms of the four corners of the switch body, each anti-drop foot stool comprises an anti-drop substrate, a connection piece is arranged on each anti-drop substrate, a main support is arranged under each anti-drop substrate, multiple auxiliary supports are uniformly arranged on the peripheral direction of each main support, each auxiliary support comprises a first-stage anti-drop device and a second-stage anti-drop device connected in sequencefrom the bottom up, the second-stage anti-drop device comprises a top connection piece and a middle connection piece, the top connection piece is cylindrical in shape, three expansion components arearranged along the circumferential direction on the bottom surface of the top connection piece, connection components are arranged between each two expansion components, an anti-drop sleeve is formedby the expansion components and the connection components, an anti-drop head fit with the anti-drop sleeve is arranged on one end of the middle connection piece, and the other end of the middle connection piece is connected with the first-stage anti-drop device. According to the switch provided by the invention, the security performance of the switch is improved, and the usage and movement of theswitch become safer.

A device for drop foot is characterized in that the joint to the foot (2) of a spring (3) attached to the front side (1a) of a wearer's leg (1) includes an engagement piece (9, 10) attached in the instep area of the foot in which easy sliding of the spring in the longitudinal direction (S1, S2) thereof is allowed. The device allows easy angular bending of the foot against the force of the spring during walking. The foot is also easily returning back to the resting position thereof at an essentially right angle in relation to the leg. Abrasion of the foot, instep or ankle is essentially prevented. Footwear is easy to provide for use of the device of the invention without any uncomfortable accessories inside the footwear.

The invention relates to man-driving skating shoes which are characterized in that without user's action relative to the ground and without external energies, man-driving energy can be produced by the shoes. A principle of the shoes is that: a shoe is divided into two part, which are rollers and a shoe body; the rollers can move up and down within a certain range; when a user slightly lifts a foot each time, the distance between the rollers and the shoe increases, and when the foot drops, a relative motion is performed; human body gravitational potential energy is converted into power of the rollers, such that the skating shoe can drive people. When a stepping body is compressed, an internal gear set rotates, and the human body gravitational potential energy is transmitted to the rollers through a flywheel. A user just needs to lift and drop feet or swing the body left and right, such that huge gravitational potential energy can be converted into roller power with a conversion rate of almost 100. The skating shoes are simple to use, and are safe, time-saving, and effort-saving. With the shoes, no special skill is required. With the design of the flywheel, reverse transformation of energy is avoided. With lock buttons, rotors of the shoes can be fixed, such that the shoes can be changed into traditional skating shoes.

A pair of health care shoes with massage action for heart reflection areas of feet comprises a pair of shoes (1), wherein the soles corresponding to the health refection area 1 and the health refection area 2 of the feet are respectively provided with massage balls (3) of the health refection area 1 and small massage balls (2) of the health refection area 2. The lower parts of the massage balls and the small massage balls are connected with compression springs (4), the lower ends of the compression springs are connected with stabilizing balls (5), and the stabilizing balls are inserted in grooves (6). When person wears the health care shoes and walks, the health refection areas of the feet touch with the projected parts of the massage balls; and because of the gravity, the compression springs can be compressed, and the massage balls massage the health refection areas again. The stabilizing balls are in hemispherical shapes and shaken, so that the massage balls have angle deviation, and the massage balls can massage and knead the health refection areas from different angles and depths while person lifts and drops feet. The advantage of the invention is to organically dissolve the massage in walking.