Patent Description:
Most solutions for providing arch support are either rigid and provide a structured system without foot flexibility or flexible and unable to provide plantar support. Device that are rigid and/or uniform are adept to stationary activities, such as, standing, but do not provide support when the user is active as they remain linear to the plantar aspect of the foot. Flexible or softer insole devices allow for increased flexibility, but do not provide sufficient plantar and arch support. Thus, new and improved arch support devices and methods for using the devices are needed to provide both foot and sole flexibility while also providing increased plantar and arch support.

<CIT>) describes an adjustable arch support device comprising a pair of superposed panels secured together to form a side opening pocket. <CIT> describes an arch support provided with means to enable its shape to be adjusted in accordance with the desired support for the arch and a sale which is provided with such a support. <CIT> describes a foot sole supporting material and footwear for supporting loaded body weight by an arch.

The present disclosure is directed toward an orthotic for providing continuous contact with the plantar surface of the foot during all phases of the gait cycle.

According to the claimed invention, an orthotic is provided, comprising:.

These and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the detailed description herein, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure.

Generally stated, disclosed herein are devices for providing arch support for the foot. Further, methods for using the devices to provide continuous contact with the plantar surface of the foot during all phases of the gait cycle are discussed.

In this detailed description and the following claims, the words proximal, distal, anterior or plantar, posterior or dorsal, medial, lateral, superior and inferior are defined by their standard usage for indicating a particular part or portion of a bone or implant according to the relative disposition of the natural bone or directional terms of reference. For example, "proximal" means the portion of a device nearest the torso, while "distal" indicates the portion of the device farthest from the torso. As for directional terms, "anterior" is a direction towards the front side of the body, "posterior" means a direction towards the back side of the body, "medial" means towards the midline of the body, "lateral" is a direction towards the sides or away from the midline of the body, "superior" means a direction above and "inferior" means a direction below another object or structure. Further, specifically in regards to the foot, the term "dorsal" refers to the top of the foot and the term "plantar" refers the bottom of the foot.

Similarly, positions or directions may be used herein with reference to anatomical structures or surfaces. For example, as the current devices and methods are described herein with reference to use with the bones of the foot, the bones of the foot, ankle and lower leg may be used to describe the surfaces, positions, directions or orientations of the devices and methods. Further, the devices and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, disclosed herein are described with respect to one side of the body for brevity purposes. However, as the human body is relatively symmetrical or mirrored about a line of symmetry (midline), it is hereby expressly contemplated that the devices and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, described and/or illustrated herein may be changed, varied, modified, reconfigured or otherwise altered for use or association with another side of the body for a same or similar purpose without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, the devices and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, described herein with respect to the right foot may be mirrored so that they likewise function with the left foot. Further, the devices and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, disclosed herein are described with respect to the foot for brevity purposes, but it should be understood that the devices and methods may be used with other bones of the body having similar structures.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate like or analogous components throughout the several views, and with particular reference to <FIG>, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of an orthotic device or arch support <NUM>. The orthotic device <NUM> includes a base member <NUM>, an arch support portion <NUM>, and a covering <NUM> to moveably couple the arch support portion <NUM> to the base member <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the base member <NUM> includes a top or superior side <NUM> opposite a bottom or inferior side <NUM>, a first or distal end <NUM> opposite a second or proximal end <NUM>, and a medial side <NUM> opposite a lateral side <NUM>. The base member <NUM> may also include a recessed region <NUM> extending into the base member <NUM> from the medial side <NUM>. The distance between the recessed region <NUM> on the medial side <NUM> and the lateral side <NUM> may vary to position the arch support portion <NUM> in the desired location for a given patient and/or a given anatomical pathology. For example, the distance between the recessed region <NUM> and the lateral side <NUM> of the base member <NUM> may be wider or narrower than shown. The base member <NUM> may be made of, for example, a soft rubber, flexible silicone, or a like material that provides support and flexibility to the plantar side of the foot. The inferior side <NUM> of the base member <NUM> may include, for example, a plurality of members (not shown) or a textured surface (not shown). The plurality of members may be, for example, a plurality of hexagonal or polygonal members that allow the base member <NUM> to deform and return to shape during a wearer's gait cycle. The plurality of members may also be positioned in a lattice matrix (not shown). The superior side <NUM> of the base member <NUM> may be, for example, generally flat with contours that match the shape of the foot of the wearer or alternatively, may be, for example, preformed to address anatomical pathologies of the wearer.

The arch support portion <NUM> includes a plurality of arch members <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Each arch member <NUM> of the plurality of arch members <NUM> includes, for example, a top or superior portion <NUM>, a bottom or inferior portion <NUM>, a first or distal end <NUM>, a second or proximal end <NUM>, a medial side <NUM>, and a lateral side <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The superior portion <NUM> of the arch members <NUM> may be, for example, arced or curved between the medial side <NUM> and the lateral side <NUM> of the arch members <NUM>. The superior portion <NUM> of the arch members <NUM> may be, for example, arced or curved in a convex orientation, a concave orientation, or a combination of convex and concave orientations between the medial side <NUM> and the lateral side <NUM>. The lateral side <NUM> may also be, for example, arced or curved as it extends between the superior portion <NUM> and the inferior portion <NUM> of the arch members <NUM>. The inferior portion <NUM> may be, for example, relatively planar or flat as it extends between the medial side <NUM> and the lateral side <NUM>. The medial side <NUM> may also be, for example, relatively planar or flat as it extends between the superior portion <NUM> and the inferior portion <NUM> of the arch members <NUM>. In addition, at least one first arch member <NUM> may be, for example, tapered in a distal to proximal direction between the first and second ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the arch member <NUM>, and at least one second arch member <NUM> may be, for example, tapered in a proximal to distal direction between the first and second ends <NUM>, <NUM>. In an embodiment, the center arch member <NUM> may be, for example, planar or flat in a proximal-distal direction, i.e. may not be tapered. Although shown as an odd number of arch members <NUM>, i.e., five arch members <NUM>, the arch support portion <NUM> may have, for example, any number of arch members <NUM>, which may be an odd or even number of arch members <NUM>, as needed to provide continuous contact with the plantar surface of the foot with any given anatomical pathology.

Each arch member <NUM> includes an opening or hollow portion <NUM> extending from the first or distal end <NUM> to the second or proximal end <NUM> of each arch member <NUM>. The size and shape of the hollow portion <NUM> may be selected, for example, to provide the desired support and flexibility for a patient's plantar arch through the entire gait cycle. The edges of the hollow portion <NUM> of each arch member <NUM> may form, for example, a rimmed edge around the perimeter of each arch member <NUM> on the first and second ends <NUM>, <NUM>. The rimmed edge of the arch members <NUM> may be, for example, rounded, curved, smooth or the like to allow for each arch member <NUM> to translate with respect to the adjacent arch members <NUM>. The plurality of arch members <NUM> may be, for example, collated or positioned relative to each other to form the shape of the arch of the foot. The plurality of arch members <NUM> may, for example, align in a resting state, as shown in <FIG>, to form the arch support portion <NUM> of the orthotic device <NUM>. Alternatively, the arch members <NUM> may be, for example, offset such that they are positioned in a non-linear planar orientation, as needed to provide continuous contact with the plantar surface of the wearer's foot. In addition, the planes of each arch member <NUM> may be, for example, positioned generally perpendicular to the recessed region <NUM> of the base member <NUM>, or alternatively, the planes of each arch member <NUM> may be, for example, positioned at varying angles relative to the recessed region <NUM> of the base member <NUM>. The position of the planes of each arch member <NUM> relative to the recessed region <NUM> of the base member <NUM> may be selected to provide continuous contact with the plantar surface of the wearer's foot for a given anatomical pathology. The arch support portion <NUM> may be, for example, semi-flexible. The arch members <NUM> may be, for example, made of slices of plastic or a like material that provide the desired support for the arch of a patient's foot and also the desired flexibility to move during the gait cycle.

As shown in <FIG>, the lateral side <NUM> of each arch member <NUM> is positioned adjacent to the medial side <NUM> of the base member <NUM> in a recessed region <NUM>. The arch members <NUM> may, for example, directly contact at least a portion of the medial side <NUM> of the base member <NUM> or be spaced apart from the base member <NUM>. The arch members <NUM> may also be positioned to correspond to the position of a patient's foot arch when the plantar side of the foot contacts the base member <NUM>. The arch members <NUM> may also be positioned, for example, at the most lateral portion of the arch. The arch members <NUM> may be, for example, coupled to or secured to the base member <NUM> by a covering <NUM>, such as an elastic covering or deformable covering <NUM>. The covering <NUM> may be secured to the base member <NUM> by, for example, coupling or sealing the covering <NUM> to a rim (not shown) of the base member <NUM>. The covering <NUM> may be, for example, sealed into a rubber rim on the medial side or edge <NUM> of the base member <NUM> and the rim may be inset into the base member <NUM>. The covering <NUM> surrounds or encases the arch members <NUM> to retain order and shape of the arch support portion <NUM>. The covering <NUM> also allows for the arch members <NUM> to form the arch support portion <NUM> of the orthotic device <NUM> and also to move with respect to the other arch members <NUM>. In addition, the covering <NUM> may allow for the arch members <NUM> to overlap with the adjacent arch members <NUM> as the shape of the foot arch changes during a person's gait cycle. The covering <NUM> may be made of, for example, an elastic fabric material or another material that stretches and is flexible.

A method, which is not part of the claimed invention, of using the orthotic device <NUM> is also disclosed. The method includes the plurality of arch members <NUM> aligning to provide consistent segmental pressure to the arch, primarily, the plantar fascia, during the flat foot and mid stance phase of the gait cycle. Next, during the heel off and toe off phases of the gait cycle, the plurality of arch members <NUM> slide past the neighboring or adjacent arch members <NUM> based on the flexion of the foot and the shape change of the sole providing contiguous pressure to the arch/plantar fascia. Then, during the mid-swing stance phase of the gait cycle, the plurality of arch members <NUM> remain in an overlapped arrangement to provide equal segmental pressure to the arch/plantar fascia. Next, during the heel strike phase of the gait cycle, the individual arch members <NUM> again slide past neighboring or adjacent arch members <NUM> corresponding to the change in shape of the sole providing contiguous pressure on the arch/plantar fascia. Finally, during the flat foot and mid stance phase of the gait cycle, the plurality of arch members <NUM> realign to allow the plurality of arch members <NUM> to repeat the movement cycle.

Claim 1:
An orthotic device (<NUM>), comprising:
a base member (<NUM>);
an arch support portion (<NUM>); and
a covering (<NUM>) coupling the arch support portion (<NUM>) to the base member (<NUM>); and
wherein the arch support portion (<NUM>) comprises:
a plurality of arch members (<NUM>) surrounded by the covering (<NUM>) and spaced apart from the base member (<NUM>);
each arch member (<NUM>) of the plurality of arch members (<NUM>) comprises:
a top portion (<NUM>);
a bottom portion (<NUM>) opposite the top portion (<NUM>);
a first end (<NUM>);
a second end (<NUM>) opposite the first end (<NUM>);
a medial side (<NUM>) coupled to the top portion (<NUM>) on one end and the bottom portion (<NUM>) on another end; and
a lateral side (<NUM>) coupled to the top portion (<NUM>) on one end and the bottom portion (<NUM>) on another end; and characterized in that
an opening (<NUM>) extends from the first (<NUM>) to the second end (<NUM>).