Removable Heel Plate Orthopedic Boot with Dual-Axis Curved Sole
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic walker boots lack the ability to transition between closed-heel and open-heel configurations, and their outer soles are not adequately curved to facilitate both longitudinal and latitudinal rolling of the foot during normal walking, which can lead to discomfort and impaired gait.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic walker boot with a selectively removable heel plate and an outer sole that is curved along both longitudinal and latitudinal axes, allowing the boot to switch between closed-heel and open-heel configurations and providing enhanced gait support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed-heel configuration is used, then heel protection is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel plate is designed as a separate, removable component from the external shell, allowing the boot to be configured as either closed-heel (with plate) or open-heel (without plate). This segmentation enables the boot to adapt to different healing stages and activity requirements while maintaining heel protection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel plate is made selectively removable by the practitioner, transforming the static closed-heel configuration into a dynamic system that can switch between closed and open states. This dynamic capability allows the boot to adapt to varying patient needs throughout rehabilitation.
2Ease of operation
If an open-heel configuration is used, then wound access is improved, but heel protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The removable heel plate design allows practitioners to remove the plate to access wounds on the posterior heel while maintaining the structural integrity of the external shell for protection when the plate is reattached.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel plate can be extracted from the external shell to provide direct access to wounds or areas requiring medical attention, while the shell remains in place to maintain overall structural support and protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If the outer sole is flat, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but gait facilitation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sole is curved along both longitudinal and latitudinal axes to mimic the natural contour of the foot and facilitate rolling motion during walking. This curvature enables smoother gait transition while remaining manufacturable through conventional molding processes.
4Ease of operation
If the outer sole is curved along one axis only, then gait support is improved, but foot rolling facilitation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sole incorporates curvature along both longitudinal and latitudinal axes, creating a dual-axis curved surface that facilitates comprehensive foot rolling motion in all directions during the walking cycle, enhancing overall gait facilitation.
Solution Approach 2:
By adding curvature in the latitudinal dimension to the existing longitudinal curvature, the sole creates a three-dimensional contoured surface that enables multidirectional foot rolling, improving adaptability to the complex motions of normal walking.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic walker boot for wearing on a lower limb of a wearer has a rigid external shell, a pliant internal boot positioned in the external shell, and a heel plate selectively detachable or attachable to the external shell. Selective transition of the heel plate between the detached condition and attached condition selectively provides the orthopedic walker boot with an open-heel configuration or a closed-heel configuration. The external shell includes an outer sole having a walking surface which is configured with two curved axes to facilitate walking while wearing the orthopedic walker boot.