초록 ▼

The present invention provides methods and an apparatus for treating patients having ulcerations of the lower foot, including patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. The brace generally includes a pair of rigid shells, a fastening system for joining the shells together to form a unified brace a

The present invention provides methods and an apparatus for treating patients having ulcerations of the lower foot, including patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. The brace generally includes a pair of rigid shells, a fastening system for joining the shells together to form a unified brace and a combination of bladders which engage the patient's leg and ankle to off-weight the plantar surface, prevent plantar flexing and minimize shearing forces to the plantar surface. The volume of the bladders may be adjusted by the addition or removal of a filler in order to maintain a uniform pressure between the bladders and the patient's leg. The filler contained in the bladders preferably does not undergo significant expansion or contraction in response to temperature or altitude changes. The brace also preferably includes a series of full-length bladders and a specially designed adjustable bladder located within the ankle and heel region of the brace to maximize off-weighting and to prevent the foot from moving downward toward the footbed of the brace. In addition to providing an effective means for off-weighting the plantar surface of a patient, the brace is reuseable, easy to apply and fully adjustable to accommodate changes in a patient's leg size.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [15.]15. A method for treating ulcerations on a plantar surface of a patient's foot, comprising:(a) inserting the patients' leg between a first and second rigid shell, said first and second rigid shell being adapted for receiving a lower leg and a foot of the patient;(b) positioning a f

[ We claim:] [15.]15. A method for treating ulcerations on a plantar surface of a patient's foot, comprising:(a) inserting the patients' leg between a first and second rigid shell, said first and second rigid shell being adapted for receiving a lower leg and a foot of the patient;(b) positioning a first adjustable bladder so that said first adjustable bladder is sandwiched between said first shell and said leg;(c) positioning a second bladder so that said second bladder is sandwiched between said second shell and said leg;(d) fastening said first and second shell together using a fastening system to form a unified brace; and(e) adjusting the volume of said first adjustable bladder by adding or removing a substantially incompressible filler to elevate at least a portion of the patient's foot from an interior bottom surface of said brace to allow said ulcerations to heal.