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 ▼

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. nother and are adapted and configured to allow transmission of torque along the elongated assembly in both rotational directions, while also allowing lateral flexure. 17. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the interlocking segments include parallel side surfaces that form interlocking members and also include parallel side surfaces that form grooves, where the interlocking member of one segment interacts with the groove of an adjacent segment. 18. A guidewire, comprising: a core wire having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an elongated tubular assembly connected to the core wire adjacent to the distal portion of the core wire, wherein the elongated tubular assembly includes a plurality of separate and discrete interlocking tubular segments that are adapted and configured to interlock with one another to inhibit adjacent interlocking segments from rotating relative to one another to thereby allow transmission of torque along the elongated tubular assembly in both rotational directions without limiting axial movement between adjacent interlocking segments, while also allowing lateral flexure. 19. The guidewire of claim 18, wherein the guidewire further includes an outer sheath disposed about at least a portion of the elongated tubular assembly. 20. The guidewire of claim 18, wherein the interlocking segments include parallel side surfaces that form interlocking members and also include parallel side surfaces that form grooves, where the interlocking member of one segment interacts with the groove of an adjacent segment. 21. A guidewire, comprising: a core wire having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an elongated assembly connected to the core wire adjacent the distal portion of the core wire, the elongated assembly including means for allowing transmission of torque along the elongated assembly in both rotational directions while not limiting axial movement within the elongated assembly, while also allowing lateral flexure. 22. A medical device, comprising: a core wire having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion has a solid cross-section; and an elongated tubular distal assembly defining an inner lumen, the elongated distal assembly connected to the core wire adjacent the distal portion of the core wire, wherein the elongated tubular distal assembly includes a plurality of separate and discrete interlocking tubular segments that are each configured to prevent rotation of segments relative to adjacent segments without limiting relative axial movement. 23. The medical device of claim 22, wherein the interlocking segments include parallel side surfaces that form interlocking members and also include parallel side surfaces that form grooves, where the interlocking member of one segment interacts with the groove of an adjacent segment.