Abstract:
A foot splint for securing a heel and toes of the foot in an extended position comprising an elongated rigid plate including an elevated proximal region and an elevated distal region and an upper surface and a lower surface. At least one elongated member extends from the periphery of the plate for securing a mid-portion of the foot to the upper surface such that the elevated distal region elevates the toes and elevated proximal region elevates the heel of the foot for stretching the plantar fascia of the foot.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a splint, and more particularly to a foot splint. More specifically, the present invention relates to a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    There are many conditions in which it may be desirable to secure a patient&#39;s foot in an extended position. For example, after surgery braces or splints may be provided to a patient unable to ambulate. The splint secures the foot at approximately a ninety degree angle with respect to the leg in order to avoid a condition known as “drop foot”. However, a more common condition that afflicts many patients is plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a fibrous membrane disposed longitudinally across the bottom of the foot, becomes irritated. This irritation may be caused by standing for extended periods of time. Generally, plantar fasciitis manifests itself in the form of heel pain. Its effects are most pronounced with the first steps taken for the day as a result of plantar flexion of the plantar fascia during the night.  
           [0005]    Plantar fasciitis has been traditionally treated in a number of ways including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, cortisone injections, shoe modifications, physical therapy, and even surgery. Additionally, it has been found that the painful effects of plantar fasciitis may be treated by dorsiflexing the foot. Dorsiflexion refers to extending the bottom of the foot such that an angle of less than ninety degrees is formed with the lower leg using a dorsiflexion device. Such dorsiflexion devices are worn by the patient overnight which provides relief from the painful effects of plantar fasciitis. The results of a clinical study authored by Powell, M. D., et al., entitled  Effective Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis with Dorsiflexion Night Splints: A Crossover Prospective Randomized Outcome Study , which appeared in  Foot  &amp;  Ankle International/Vol.  19, No. 1/January 1998, revealed an eighty eight percent improvement rate for control group subjects treated solely by wearing dorsiflexion night splints for a period of one month. Moreover, it has been found that a patient may receive benefits from wearing a splint which maintains only the toes in a dorsiflexed position with respect to the foot, without having to dorsiflex the entire foot with respect to the leg. By not having to dorsiflex the entire foot, the splint is much more comfortable for a patient to wear.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,659 and 5,887,591 to Stano and Powell et al. (“Powell”) collectively disclose a restraint including a single wedge disposed between a user&#39;s foot and a foot plate. The wedge in the Powell reference elevates the user&#39;s toes with respect to the foot plate, while the wedge in the Stano reference extends the entire length of the user&#39;s foot. While the Powell reference provides an amount of dorsiflexion of the toes, both references totally lack an elevated heel portion and inventive three-point support system contained in the present invention which will be discussed in more detail below. Additionally, both the Powell and Stano restraints contain the disadvantage of a rigid upper leg portion that is fixedly attached to the user&#39;s leg which is cumbersome and uncomfortable for the user to wear.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No.  4 , 962 , 760  to Jones discloses an orthopedic restraint apparatus having an adjustable ankle articulation system and a foot portion having a hingedly mounted toe member which permits intermittent dorsiflexion of the toes. While the Jones reference discloses features which permit more comfortable patient ambulation, it is cumbersome to wear. Additionally, the Jones device provides for only a limited range of ankle articulation which may be uncomfortable for a patient to wear for an extended period of time, especially when worn overnight. An additional advancement in the art is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,324 to Bronkhorst which discloses a walking device that is strapped to the user&#39;s leg having a raised heel portion and a raised toe support. By being strapped to the user&#39;s leg at a fixed ninety degree angle, the foot is maintained in a dorsiflexed position. However, the purpose of the Bronkhorst device is to prevent a user from ambulating on the ball of the foot, and may not provide sufficient dorsiflexion of the toes. Moreover, because the Bronkhorst device maintains the user&#39;s foot at a fixed ninety degree angle with respect to the leg, it may be uncomfortable for a patient to wear overnight. Accordingly, some users have refused or are unable to wear this device, thereby limiting its utility in this application.  
           [0008]    Therefore, there appears a need in the art for a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis that permits ease of ambulation by the user.  
           [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis that may be comfortably worn for extended periods of time by a patient, namely overnight while the patient sleeps.  
           [0012]    Another further object of the present invention is to provide a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis that is of compact construction.  
           [0013]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis that permits unrestricted ankle movement.  
           [0014]    Yet another further object of the present invention is to provide a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis that is inexpensive to manufacture.  
           [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention are realized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, described by way of example and not by way of limitation, which provides for a foot splint for treatment of plantar fasciitis.  
           [0016]    In brief summary, the present invention overcomes and substantially alleviates the deficiencies in the prior art by providing a foot splint comprising an elongated rigid plate having an elevated proximal region and an elevated distal region. Additionally, the plate further has an upper surface and a lower surface and a securing means extending from the periphery of the plate. In application, the securing means secures a mid-portion of a patient&#39;s foot to the upper surface such that the elevated distal region elevates the toes and the elevated proximal region elevates a heel of the foot for stretching the plantar fascia of the foot.  
           [0017]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following more detailed description and drawings in which like elements of the invention are similarly numbered throughout. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foot splint according to the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a side view of the foot splint according to the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the foot splint taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 according to the present invention; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a simplified side view of loading forces applied to a foot by the foot splint according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the foot splint of the present invention is illustrated and generally indicated as  10  in FIG. 1. Foot splint  10  comprises a rigid plate  12  for support, a securing means  14  attached to plate  12  for securing a patient&#39;s foot to splint  10 , a resilient first layer  16  for providing cushioning, and a resilient second layer  18  having a lower surface  19  which provides additional cushioning. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, plate  12  is interposed between first layer  16  and second layer  18  having an elevated proximal region  36  and an elevated distal region  38  for supporting a foot  54  in an extended position and for dorsiflexing toes  56 . As further shown, securing means  14  extends from along the periphery of plate  12  for securing foot  54  in its extended position.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 4 , rigid plate  12  has a proximal end  20  and a distal end  22  with a flat portion  24  formed therebetween which defines a reference plane  31 . Plate  12  further comprises an upper surface  28  and a lower surface  30  bounded by a lateral portion  26 . Extending along proximal end  20  is an elongated proximal region  36  which is defined by a proximal angle  32  that extends above reference plane  31  for securing a patient&#39;s heel  58  (FIG. 4). Preferably, proximal angle  32  is in a range of between 20 and 40 degrees with a 30 degree angle being the most preferred angle. Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4, extending along distal end portion  22  is an elevated distal region  38  that is defined by distal angle  34  which extends above reference plane  31  for securing a user&#39;s toes  56 . Preferably distal angle  34  is in a range of between 20 and 40 degrees with a 30 degree angle being the most preferred angle. As further shown, flat portion  24  supports a portion of a patient&#39;s foot  54  between toes  56  and heel  58  along a flat plane. Formed adjacent lateral portion  26  are longitudinal slots  25  for receiving securing means  14  as shall be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0024]    Another aspect of the present invention is that the resilient first layer  16  includes an upper surface  13  disposed atop upper surface  28  of plate  12  for providing cushioning and added patient comfort. As is particularly shown in FIG. 4, upper surface  13  is sized and shaped to comfortably receive foot  54 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a proximal portion  40  is interposed between plate  12  and first layer  16  along elevated proximal region  36 . One skilled in the art can appreciate that longitudinal slots  25  are also formed in-line with those formed in plate  12  to receive securing means  14 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, resilient second layer  18  is disposed beneath lower surface  30  of plate  12  for providing additional comfort to the patient. Moreover, lower surface  19  of second layer  18  provides a reliable gripping surface for foot splint  10  while the user ambulates.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and  4 , securing means  14  comprises a pair of elongated members  15  for securing foot  54  to foot splint  10 . In assembly, each member  15  is passed through a respective slot  25  adjacent lateral portion  26  by proceeding through first layer  16  and plate  12 . Each member  15  is then forced in a transverse direction between lower surface  30  and second layer  18  toward its corresponding slot  25 . Finally, once each member  15  is secured to its corresponding slot  25  formed adjacent the opposing side of lateral portion  26 , each member  15  is then passed through lower surface of plate  12  such that members  15  extend outwardly through upper surface  13  of first layer  16 . It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that elongated members  15  can pass through and beneath plate  12  for added patient comfort. To secure foot  54 , opposing ends of members  15  are wrapped around foot  54  and attached to one another, preferably with VELCRO®, for ease of assembly and disassembly, although any suitable type of fastener, such as mechanical fasteners, buckles, adhesives or the like may be used.  
         [0027]    As illustrated in FIG. 4, securing means  14  imposes a retaining force  48  on foot  54  which generates resulting first and second reactive forces  50 , 52  along elevated proximal region  36  and elevated distal region  38 , respectively, to define a three point pressure system. The three point pressure system provides proper extension to the plantar fascia of foot  54  without restricting ankle movement when foot splint  10  is properly worn.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 4 , a retaining portion  40  is interposed between plate  12  and first layer  16  and extends from elevated proximal region  36  of foot splint  10 . Preferably, retaining portion  40  includes an adjustable strap  42  having a proximal end  44  securely attached to a side of securing means  14  and a distal end  46  for selective adjustable attachment with an opposing side of securing means  14 . By securing retaining portion  40  to foot  54  after attaching securing means  14  about foot  54 , one skilled in the art can appreciate that foot  54  is effectively captured by foot splint  10 .  
         [0029]    The operation of foot splint  10  shall now be discussed. With securing means  14  and proximal portion  40  in open positions, the patient&#39;s foot  54  is placed in conformal contact with upper surface  13 . By establishing such conformal contact, the patient&#39;s toes  56  are placed in a dorsiflexed position by upper surface  13  along elevated distal region  38 , and the patient&#39;s heel  58  is raised along elevated proximal region  36 . By dorsiflexing the patient&#39;s toes  56 , the patient&#39;s plantar fascia is thereby stretched. As further shown, upon attaching securing means  14  about foot  54  and attaching proximal portion  40  to securing means  14 , a three point pressure system is established that provides maximum stretch to the patient&#39;s plantar fascia which permits the patient to receive the maximum therapeutic benefits of foot splint  10 .  
         [0030]    It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that securing means  14  may be configured to extend from the periphery of foot splint  10  without the requirement that securing means completely wrap around a foot. In other words, by applying an adhesive, or other bonding material or mechanical device along lateral portion  26 , one end of securing means  14  may be attached thereto, with the other end of securing means  14  passing over foot  54  and attaching to the opposing side of lateral portion  26 . Additionally, securing means  14  may further extend transversely through longitudinal slot  25  and pass beneath first layer  16 . In the alternative, securing means  14  may proceed beneath lower surface  19  of second layer  18  before passing around foot  54 .  
         [0031]    It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited by the specification; instead, the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.