IMPROVED ORTHOTIC SHELL FOR ORTHOPEDIC SOLE INSERT

Abstract

An orthopedic insert is disclosed that comprises an orthotic shell and a plurality of cuts made about at least a portion of the periphery of the orthotic shell. The orthotic shell typically comprises an arch portion made of a semi-flexible material. As a patient's weight is applied to the insert, and particularly the orthotic shell, the cuts localize the flexing in the arch portion as a result of the downward force being applied by the patient, thus reducing pressures along the orthotic edges and diminished muscle strain.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of my orthopedic insert.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an arch typical in the prior art that has a downward force being applied.

FIG. 3 is a side view of my orthopedic arch that has a downward force being applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of my orthopedic insert 10. This is typically the design which a patient will receive. Orthopedic insert 10 comprises a bottom layer 12, heel cushion 14, forward cushion portion 16, orthotic shell 18 and a top cushion layer 20. Items 12, 14, 16 and 20 are typical in the prior art. It is to be noted that there may be variations to this design which will not detract from the purpose of my inventive design of the orthotic shell 18.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are illustrations representing the effects of a downward force “A” upon an orthotic shell. FIG. 2 represents a prior art shell 18p without peripheral cuts the effect of which is a flattening of the overall arch; i.e. the heel and forward portions tend to flex upward as represented by the dashed lines.

FIG. 3 is a representation of the effect when a downward force “A” is applied to an orthotic shell 18 made according to my invention using cuts 22. The semi-flexible orthotic shell flexes only in a localized area with the heel and forward portions substantially maintaining its original shape. It is to be noted that the downward force and its effect on the orthotic shells depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are representations only and the actual flex caused by a patient could be different.

My orthotic shell 18 includes a plurality of cuts 22. In the most preferred embodiment, orthotic shell 18 is limited to providing support to the arch portion of a patient's foot with the plurality of cuts 22 present along the medial and lateral flanges of the orthotic shell. However, the orthotic shell can be fabricated for any portion of a patient's sole, even the entire sole. Further, the plurality of cuts 22 do not have to be limited to the flanges of the orthotic shell and can be fabricated about the entire periphery of the orthotic shell.

Once a patient has a cast taken of his foot and an orthotic shell 18 is created from the mold, cuts 22 are fabricated along the lateral and medial flanges of the shell. The purpose of cuts 22 is to permit the portion of the shell experiencing a specific downward force to flex and localize the effect of the specific downward force so that other areas of the shell will not tend to flex as a result of the specific downward force.

Cuts 22 are substantially spaced apart from one another so that the integrity of orthotic shell 18 is maintained. In other words, too many cuts may render the purpose of the arch, i.e. support, ineffective. The number of cuts to use and its distribution about the periphery is dependent upon the particular patient's foot, and the depth of each notch. Preferably, each notch or cut should be no more than ¼ of the orthotic's overall width and most ⅕ to ⅛ of the width.

As is well known in the art constructing orthopedic inserts, once the orthotic shell 18 is fabricated, the insert will be assembled in a manner including the parts shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. An orthotic shell customized for a patient's foot comprising: an orthotic shell fabricated from a negative cast of a patient's foot, said shell having a top side, a bottom side, a lateral side and a medial side; said orthotic shell having a contoured arch and a plurality of cuts spaced about the lateral and medial sides of the orthotic shell; and, each of said cuts extending inward.

2. The orthotic shell of claim 1 where said insert is constructed of a semi-flexible material.

3. The orthotic shell of claim 1 where said cuts extend inward no more than 25% of its respective width.

4. The orthotic shell of claim 1 where said notches extend inward no more than 20% of its respective width.

5. An orthotic shell customized for a patient's foot comprising: an orthotic shell fabricated from a negative cast of a patient's foot having a top side, a bottom side, a lateral side and a medial side; said insert having a contoured arch and a plurality of cuts spaced about the periphery of said insert; and, each of said notches extending inward from said periphery.

6. The orthotic shell of claim 5 where said insert is constructed of a semi-flexible material.

7. The orthotic shell of claim 5 where said cuts extend inward no more than 25% of its respective width.

8. An orthopedic insert customized for a patient, the insert having an orthotic shell disposed between a cushioned top layer and a cushioned bottom layer where the bottom layer provides stability of the plantar fill, the improvement comprising: a plurality of cuts made along at least a portion of the periphery of said orthotic shell, each of said plurality of cuts extending inward from said periphery.

9. The orthopedic insert of claim 8 where said at least a portion of the periphery is at least a portion of the lateral side of said orthotic shell.

10. The orthopedic insert of claim 8 where said at least a portion of the periphery is at least a portion of the medial side of said orthotic shell.

11. The orthopedic insert of claim 8 where said at least a portion of the periphery is at least a portion of the lateral side of said orthotic shell and a portion of the medial side of said orthotic shell.

12. The orthopedic insert of claim 8 where said at least a portion of the periphery includes the entire periphery of said orthotic shell.