Abstract:
A podiatric device useful for treating, preventing and alleviating the symptoms and discomfort caused by hallux valgus. The podiatric device includes a foothold with a first hinge forming element and an anterior part with a second hinge forming element. The first and second hinge forming elements forming a hinge allowing angular translation of the anterior part relatively the foothold, preferably a controllable pivoting movement.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of PCT/IB2011/050363, entitled “Podiatric Device” and filed on Jan. 27, 2011 which in turn claims priority from patent application GB 1001297.9, now patent number GB2477281, entitled “Podiatric Device”, filed on Jan. 27, 2010; the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates orthopedic devices. In particular, the invention relates to a podiatric device useful for treating hallux valgus or bunion deformity at the metatarsophalangeal joint of the hallux. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,644,940; 5,529,075; 5,843,085; 6,093,163; 6,318,373; 6,391,031; and 6,964,645 are believed to represent the current state-of-the-art in the pertinent technical field. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    There are provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention a podiatric device and a method of using the same. 
         [0005]    The podiatric device of the invention is useful for treating, preventing and alleviating the symptoms and discomfort caused by hallux valgus otherwise known as bunion deformity at the metatarsophalangeal joint of the hallux. 
         [0006]    According to some embodiments of the invention, the podiatric device includes a foothold with a first hinge forming element and an anterior part with a second hinge forming element. 
         [0007]    According to some embodiments of the invention, the anterior part of the podiatric device includes a structural element dedicated for engagement with at least one phalangeal appendage, i.e. a digit of the foot. 
         [0008]    According to some embodiments of the invention, the podiatric device includes first and second hinge forming elements forming a hinge allowing angular translation of the anterior part relatively the foothold. 
         [0009]    According to some embodiments of the invention, the podiatric device has first and second hinge forming elements forming a telescopic hinge allowing length translation of the anterior part relatively the foothold. 
         [0010]    According to some embodiments of the invention the hinge includes a controllable pivoting movement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a bottom view of a foothold of an embodiment of a podiatric device of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the foothold of the podiatric device of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of the foothold of the podiatric device of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an anterior part of the podiatric device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is an isometric view of a cushion of the podiatric device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the cushion of the podiatric device of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the podiatric device, assembled, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic top view of the podiatric device shown in  FIG. 4  implemented on a foot; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6 to 6D  respectively are a bottom view of right anterior part, an enlarged view thereof, a bottom view of left anterior part, isometric view of the right anterior part and an isometric view of the left anterior part of the podiatric device in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 7A to 7C  are bottom views of a right anterior part of the podiatric device in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7D  is an isometric view of the right anterior part of the podiatric device of  FIGS. 7A-7C ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the podiatric device, assembled, in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with technology or business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the effort of such a development might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1A  shows a foothold  10  of the podiatric device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Foothold  10  comprises an abutment plate  12  having at the front portion thereof a concave or frusto-conical recess  14  furnished with a furrowed or corrugated surface  16  and an aperture  17  at the center thereof furnished with a screw threading. At the posterior portion, foothold  10  comprises a textured insert  18 , used to facilitate an enhanced frictional force upon urging of the insert against the sole (not shown) thereby precluding a movement of the foothold relative to the sole. 
         [0027]    Foothold  10  has an essentially planar conformation, a certain degree of pliability in the longitudinal direction and a degree of stiffness in a lateral direction. Thus, foothold  10  can be bent in the longitudinal direction so that textured insert  18  is brought somewhat closer to concave or frusto-conical recess  14 , e.g. upwards/downwards from the plane of the page, but it is stiff and is not easily subjected to bending in the lateral direction, e.g. sidewise in the plane of the page, so that frusto-conical recess  14  remains essentially in a straight line with textured insert  18 . The aforementioned pliability in the longitudinal direction and stiffness in the lateral direction can be achieved by forming foothold  10  from a sheet of plastic material that is relatively easily bent if a force applied in the directions facing away from the plane of the sheet, whereas exhibiting stiffness if a force applied in the directions paralleling the plane of the sheet. Foothold  10  is intended for use underneath human feet and hence the pliability in the longitudinal direction is required to allow walking and other activities requiring bending of the feet (not shown). 
         [0028]      FIG. 1B  illustrates that foothold  10  has a somewhat curved shaped side profile intended to ergonomically conform to the bottom surface of a human foot (not shown). Concave or frusto-conical recess  14  in foothold  10  comprises aperture  17  at the center thereof. Aperture  17  has a screw threading corresponding to accommodate bolt  20 . Bolt  20  comprises a relatively flat and wide screw cap  21  and stud  22 , having a screw threading corresponding to the screw threading of aperture  17 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 1C  shows the top surface of abutment plate  12  of foothold  10  furnished with an insole lining (not shown) for the sake of comfort. Concave or frusto-conical recess  14  has a tear-shaped convex protrusion  28  on the top surface of abutment plate  12  and/or the insole lining, covering the lining. Tear-shaped convex protrusion  28  is intended to be accommodated at the metatarsal indent of the feet (not shown). It is noted that the insole lining may extend beyond the anterior edge of abutment plate  12 , for the comfort of the phalangeal appendages, i.e. the digits of the foot, e.g. the toe. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows an anterior part  30  of the podiatric device comprising an essentially planar arm-element  32  having at the posterior portion thereof a convex or frusto-conical protrusion  34  has a furrowed or corrugated surface  36  and an aperture  37  at the center thereof. 
         [0031]    Planar arm-element  32  has a certain degree of pliability in the longitudinal direction and a degree of stiffness in a lateral direction. Thus, element  32  can be bent in the longitudinal direction but is stiff and not easily bent in the lateral direction, similarly to abutment plate  12  of foothold  10 . 
         [0032]    At the front portion of anterior part  30  there is a cushion holding strip  38 , extending substantially perpendicularly to the planar surface of arm-element  32 . Cushion holding strip  38  is used to install/hold a cushion  40  ( FIG. 4 ) of the podiatric device, as will be explained in detail below. Convex or frusto-conical protrusion  34  is designed to conform to concave or frusto-conical recess  14  of foothold  10  shown  FIG. 1A , so that the furrowed or corrugated surfaces  16  and  36  thereof interlock, thereby precluding a pivoting movement of anterior part  30  relatively to foothold  10  upon tightening of the anterior part to the foothold by bolt  20 , shown in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0033]    It should be understood that the form of anterior part  30  comprising arm-element  32  is merely one example of a variety of possible forms therefor, beneficially implementable with the podiatric device of the invention. For example, arm-element  32  of anterior part  30  may be embodied in a plate-like element, continuously extending from the underneath of abutment plate  12  of the foothold  10  up to the front edge of the phalangeal appendages or up to the interior front edge of the shoe in which the podiatric device is accommodated, flanking a cushion holding member, such as cushion holding strip  38 , on one side; thereby forming an abutment for all phalangeal appendages extending below the entire length thereof. Embodiments in which a plate-like anterior part is employed preferably combine the aforementioned insole lining, continuously extending beyond the anterior edge of abutment plate and covering the upper surface of the plate-like anterior part; thus conferring comfortability to the interaction of the phalangeal appendages therewith. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show an exemplary design of cushion  40  of the podiatric device. Cushion  40  has an elliptically-waisted curvilinear shape, wherein the top and the bottom elliptic circumferences  41  and  42 , respectively, are somewhat larger than median elliptic circumference  43 . Cushion  40  is preferably made of a material characterized by a relatively hard rubber-like consistency. Cushion  40  comprises a slot  45 , adapted to receivingly accommodate cushion holding strip  38  of anterior part  30   FIG. 2 . The insertion of cushion holding strip  38  of anterior part  30  into slot  45  of cushion  40  provides for a modular assembly of the podiatric device of the invention, so that a differently shaped cushion made from different materials can be used with the same cushion holding strip  38  of anterior part  30 . 
         [0035]    The elliptically-waisted curvilinear shape of cushion  40  is designed to conform in a sidewise manner to the hallux, (not shown), in a dedicated manner and exert a force thereon in the deflection away from the feet, so that median elliptic circumference  43  of cushion  40  is urged essentially against the most prominent portion of the hallux, whereas top and the bottom elliptic circumferences  41  and  42  are confining the hallux from above and below, respectively. It should be acknowledged, however, that the symmetrical elliptically-waisted shape of cushion  40  is a mere example of a vast array of shapes beneficially implementable with the podiatric device of the invention. Thus, cushion  40  can be laterally non-symmetrically shaped, so that the waisted profile on one side thereof differs from the waisted profile on the other side, thereby allowing for the cushion to be installed in a laterally-flipped orientation on the cushion holding strip  38  of anterior part  30 , facing the waisted profile on the other side of the cushion vis-a-vis the hallux (not shown). In other instances, cushion  40  can have a waisted profile dedicated for engagement with the hallux on one side and be essentially flat on the other side, thereby providing for a more compact podiatric device of the invention that can be accommodated in standard shoes. The side of cushion  40  that is not intended for engagement with the hallux is preferably shaped to conform to the interior surface of the shoe. In yet another example, cushion  40  can be vertically non-symmetrically shaped, so that the top and the bottom elliptic circumferences thereof are unequal, thereby allowing for the cushion to be installed in a vertically-flipped orientation on cushion holding strip  38  of anterior part  30 , disposing a larger/smaller elliptic circumference of the cushion vis-a-vis a upper/lower portion of the hallux (not shown). 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows an assembled podiatric device  50 , in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Podiatric device  50  is assembled from foothold  10 , anterior part  30  and cushion  40 . Convex or frusto-conical protrusion  34  at the posterior portion of anterior part  30  is appended to concave or frusto-conical recess  14  in abutment plate  12 , so that the apertures  17  and  37  are coaxially aligned. Stud  22  of bolt  20  is then inserted throughout aperture  37  and further screwed into the screw threading of aperture  17 , thereby providing the hinge  14 ,  34  with a controllable pivoting movement of anterior part  30  relative to abutment plate  12 . Upon loosening bolt  20 , an adjustment of the angular position of anterior part  30  relative to abutment plate  12  can be done; whereas upon tightening of bolt  20  furrowed or corrugated surfaces  16  and  36  are urged one to the other, thereby preventing pivoting movement whereby the angular position of anterior part  30  is fixed. Cushion  40  is installed onto cushion holding strip  38  of anterior part  30 . In some embodiments, cushion  40  and anterior part  30  are not two distinct elements but rather a single part, wherein cushion holding strip  38  is adapted for a direct interaction with the hallux. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows podiatric device  50  implemented on foot  60 ; the features of the podiatric device that are obstructed by the foot are shown in dashed lines. Podiatric device  50  is disposed underneath foot  60 , so that tear-shaped convex protrusion  28  formed on the top surface of abutment plate  12  above hinge  14 ,  34  is accommodated at the metatarsal indent of the foot, as shown. Anterior part  30  is frictionally engaged to foothold  10  at hinge  14 ,  34  with arm-element  32  in an appropriate angular position. Cushion  40  is inserted onto cushion holding strip  38  of anterior part  30  and engages the hallux of feet  60  in a dedicated manner and exerts a force thereon essentially in the direction of arrow  65 . Consequently, cushion  40  forcefully spreads the hallux away from the foot, i.e. performs an abduction of the hallux of feet  60 ; whereby an adduction of deformity  70  at the metatarsophalangeal joint of the hallux, i.e. the hallux valgus or bunion of feet  60 , essentially in the direction of arrow  75 , is achieved. Optionally, anterior part  30  may be mounted directly underneath cushion holding strip  38  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6-6D  show embodiments wherein anterior part  30  of podiatric device  50  of the present invention is adapted to have the ability to assume a customized length. The anterior part  80  has a right anterior part  80 R and a left anterior part  80 L comprising right and left proximal sections  83 R and  83 L and right and left distal sections  82 R and  82 L, respectively. A proximal section  83  comprises notches  85 , wherein distal section  82  comprises protrusions  86 . Fitting protrusions  86  within notches  85  allows setting the relative distance between the cushion (not shown) and abutment plate (not shown). 
         [0039]    A cushion holding strip  96 L comprises a terminal portion  87 L used to fixate the cushion  40 . Cushion holding strip  96 L further comprises a coupler  88 L, which is used to fix cushion holding strip  96 L within distal section  82 L. 
         [0040]    A pointing element  89 L of proximal section  83 L is used to indicate the angular position of anterior part  80 L relatively to the abutment plate (not shown) by pointing onto appropriate indicia on the abutment plate. Proximal section  83 L further comprises aperture  37  used to accommodate bolt  20 . Bolt  20  comprise a relatively flat and wide cap screw  21  as elaborated above. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 7A-7C  show an additional embodiment for providing a customizable length to the anterior part  30  of podiatric device  50 , in particular where the length of proximal section  83  can be adjusted via a length adjustment mechanism. In the length adjustment mechanism of this embodiment, proximal section  83  comprises a slit  102  and distal section  82  comprises a protrusion  110 , corresponding to and insertable in the slit. Slit  102  has a plurality of spaced apart protrusion-receiving apertures, illustrated by three protrusion-receiving apertures  104 ,  106  and  108 , for receiving protrusion  110 . Alternatively, proximal section  83  comprises protrusion  110  and distal section  82  comprises slit  102 . Such a construction allows protrusion  110  to be moved (e.g. slid along slit  102 ) to fit in any of the receiving apertures  104 ,  106  and  108  to thereby adjust and fix the length of proximal section  83  relative to abutment plate  12 . Inserting protrusion  110  into slit  102  allows setting the distance between cushion  40  and abutment plate  12  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0042]      FIG. 7A  shows anterior part  80  in its extended position, such that the longest length between the cushion  40  and abutment plate is produced.  FIG. 7C  shows anterior part  80  in its un-extended position, and  FIG. 7B  illustrates an intermediate position between the positions shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7C .  FIG. 7D  shows a top view of anterior part  30  where one can see how cushion  40  is insertable into cushion holding strip  96  of anterior part  30 . Optionally, distal section  82  further comprises a toe support  114 , for adjacent toes. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the invention wherein the foothold  10  is adapted to allow adjustment of the angle of anterior part  30  relative to podiatric device  50 . Foothold  10  includes a plurality of friction elements such as nubs  120  on the surface of abutment plate  12 . Nubs  120  are typically disposed at the heel area of abutment plate  12  and/or around the toe area and/or below tear-shaped convex protrusion  28 , as shown. The friction elements (nubs  120 ) help hold podiatric device  50  in contact with footwear whereby the podiatric device can be more conveniently used with open shoes such as sandals, flip-flops, slingback shoes and the like. 
         [0044]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims which follow: