Patent ID: 6908445
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An ankle-foot orthosis configured to resist plantarflexion and assist dorsiflexion of a foot of a patient who is experiencing abnormal plantarflexion of the foot, the orthosis comprising: a first tubular portion formed of silicone; said first tubular portion having a first end, a second end, a peripheral wall extending in a first direction from said first end to said second end, and means defining an opening in said peripheral wall; closing means selectively operable to close said opening in said peripheral wall of said first tubular portion; and a second tubular portion formed of silicone and having a first end and a second end, at least a portion of said first end of said second tubular portion being contiguous with at least a portion of said second end of said first portion; said second tubular portion being formed integrally with said first tubular portion to extend from said first portion in a second direction transverse to said first direction; wherein said orthosis is arranged to be worn by the patient so that said first tubular portion envelops the patient's ankle and the entire circumference of a portion of the patient's lower leg in the vicinity of the ankle, and said second tubular portion envelops at least a portion of the plantar and dorsal aspects of the patient's foot, said first and second tubular portions being resiliently flexible to thereby provide said resistance to plantarflexion and assistance with dorsiflexion of said patient's foot.