Flexible Sole Support Splint for Plantar Fasciitis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional night splints for treating plantar fasciitis are often bulky and uncomfortable, interfering with sleep due to their rigid structures and multiple components.
Innovation Solution
A splint system comprising a sole support positioned beneath the foot and a sole support cover that wraps around the foot, providing passive stretching without straps or rigid structures, allowing for comfortable and flexible foot positioning through adjustable and breathable designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional night splints use rigid structures and multiple components to effectively stretch the foot, then the foot stretching function is improved, but the device becomes bulky and uncomfortable for sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rigid boot structure and multiple straps from conventional night splints, extracting only the essential function of foot stretching. The simplified design uses a flexible sole support and wrap-around cover to achieve foot stretching without the bulky components that cause discomfort during sleep.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible materials throughout the splint design, including a flexible sole support and a wrap-around cover made of soft, breathable material. This flexible shell approach maintains foot stretching effectiveness while eliminating the rigid structures that make conventional splints uncomfortable and bulky.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional night splints use stiff boots and adjustable straps to maintain foot position, then the foot configuration control is improved, but the device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the stiff boot and multiple adjustable straps from conventional designs, extracting only the essential function of maintaining foot configuration. The simplified system uses a flexible sole support with inherent shape-memory properties combined with a simple wrap-around cover, reducing component count while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sole support is designed with inherent shape-memory properties that allow it to automatically return to its original curved configuration after being deformed during insertion. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms and multiple straps, reducing device complexity while maintaining foot configuration stability.
3Reliability
If conventional night splints use multiple components and rigid structures to provide stretching, then the stretching function is improved, but the device becomes uncomfortable and interferes with sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible materials for both the sole support and wrap-around cover, creating a thin, conforming shell that provides stretching function without the bulk and rigidity of conventional boots. This flexible shell design eliminates sleep interference while maintaining reliable foot stretching through the inherent curvature of the sole support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the harmful elements of conventional designs—the stiff boot, multiple straps, and bulky components—that cause sleep interference. Only the essential stretching function remains, achieved through a simplified flexible sole support and cover system that does not interfere with normal sleep movements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains a flexed foot configuration, reducing pain and discomfort, while allowing for greater mobility and comfort during sleep, with customizable options for size, shape, and material to accommodate individual foot shapes and preferences.
Implementation Method 1
The sole support can be made of any commercially suitable material(s) (e.g., foam, reformable material, rubber, plastic, nylon, fabric)
Implementation Method 2
The sole support cover can in some aspects be used to control swelling or edema and provide, for example, a compression of between 5-50 mmHg to the wearer's foot when a splint is worn
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for stretching and maintaining a configuration of a wearer's feet are provided herein. A splint can comprise a sole support and a sole support cover, and can lack any straps extending between a wearer's ankle or leg and the wearer's foot, or rigid pieces other than the sole support. In some preferred embodiments, the sole support is entirely positionable beneath or at a lower position than the wearer's foot when standing.