An insole/sole structure contains: a top pad, two massage column modules, a form pad, and a bottom pad. The top pad includes at least one accommodation groove. A respective one of the at least one massage column module includes a holding portion and multiple flexible massaging columns. The respective one massage column module is connected on the top pad by using the holding portion. The multiple flexible massaging columns are held on the holding portion to correspond to a profile of a respective one accommodation groove. A profile of the foam pad and a profile of the bottom pad correspond to a profile of the top pad, such that when the foam pad and the bottom pad are connected, the foam pad and the bottom pad are closed, and the respective one massage column module is limited between the top pad and the foam pad.

Designs and compositions of insoles for footwear are described herein. The insoles may be customized for a given foot. In some examples, the insole (100) includes a base comprising a variable thickness component (205), a directional stiffness component, a stability component, and a reinforcement component. The base may be a single composition that is manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques.

Systems and methods for generating nitric oxide are disclosed. A nitic oxide (NO) generation system includes at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas; and a controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas produced by the at least one pair of electrodes by utilizing duty cycle values of plasma pulses selected from a plurality of discrete duty cycles to produce a target rate of NO production based on an average of discrete production rates associated with each of the plurality of discrete duty cycles.

Systems and methods are described for a shoe sole for relieving pressure from a wearer's metatarsal heads. In one aspect, a shoe sole comprises a shoe outer sole comprising a shaft region, a ball region, and a toe region. The shaft region underlies metatarsal shafts of the wearer and comprises a first lower surface, the ball region underlies metatarsal heads of the wearer and comprises a second lower surface, and the toe region underlies phalanges of the wearer and comprises a third lower surface. The second lower surface is raised relative to the first lower surface and the third lower surface.

Systems and methods are described for a shoe sole for relieving pressure from a wearer's metatarsal heads. In one aspect, a shoe sole comprises a shoe outer sole comprising a shaft region, a ball region, and a toe region. The shaft region underlies metatarsal shafts of the wearer and comprises a first lower surface, the ball region underlies metatarsal heads of the wearer and comprises a second lower surface, and the toe region underlies phalanges of the wearer and comprises a third lower surface. The second lower surface is raised relative to the first lower surface and the third lower surface.

An orthotic footwear system including a removable outsole, a removable reinforced hollow midsole attached to the top of the outsole, and a removable insole attached to the top of the midsole. A removable metatarsal pad can be attached to the top of the insole, and removable support inserts can be attached around the insole for additional support of problematic areas. Support inserts can be used to support the arch area, the heel area, or both. Each of the removable parts can be interchanged with parts of the same type having different ergonomic characteristics. The user can change the parts of the orthotic to suit their needs. Further, the support inserts can be used apart from the rest of the system, with any insole configured to receive them.

A multilayer orthotic/orthosis has a cover layer, a shell layer and a posting layer. The shell layer is formed of a thermoplastic having a moldable temperature. The rigidity of the shell layer, and in particular the rigidity of the thermoplastic is chosen to be of a magnitude to support the portion of the individual at temperatures below the moldable temperature. The shell layer, preferably the thermoplastic, has a flexibility above the moldable temperature to mold the shell layer into a shape to support the portion of the individual. The shell layer has two layers of woven polyester fibers (“scrim”) on the top and bottom. The scrim gives the plastic strength and prevents it from stretching excessively when molding. These unique properties make the material well suited for stacking multiple layers without having excessive bulking of material top lines. Both sides of the shell layer are coated with a layer of hot melt cement/glue/adhesive for easy attachment of various layers or other materials. One side of the shell layer is connected to one side of the cover layer. A posting layer is arranged on a side of the shell layer diametrically opposite the cover layer, and provides support for the orthotic/orthosis in order to prevent rocking, especially when the orthotic/orthosis is for the foot of the individual.

A multilayer orthotic/orthosis has a cover layer, a shell layer and a posting layer. The shell layer is formed of a thermoplastic having a moldable temperature. The rigidity of the shell layer, and in particular the rigidity of the thermoplastic is chosen to be of a magnitude to support the portion of the individual at temperatures below the moldable temperature. The shell layer, preferably the thermoplastic, has a flexibility above the moldable temperature to mold the shell layer into a shape to support the portion of the individual. The shell layer has two layers of woven polyester fibers (“scrim”) on the top and bottom. The scrim gives the plastic strength and prevents it from stretching excessively when molding. These unique properties make the material well suited for stacking multiple layers without having excessive bulking of material top lines. Both sides of the shell layer are coated with a layer of hot melt cement/glue/adhesive for easy attachment of various layers or other materials. One side of the shell layer is connected to one side of the cover layer. A posting layer is arranged on a side of the shell layer diametrically opposite the cover layer, and provides support for the orthotic/orthosis in order to prevent rocking, especially when the orthotic/orthosis is for the foot of the individual.

Sensors, actuators, energy sources, and data processing for enabling artificial intelligent (AI) integrated automated features of intelligent electronic shoes are provided. The intelligent footwear can gather information from the shoe and send the data to a user interface for monitoring the physical activities of the wearer. A smart thermal actuation system can control the internal temperature of the shoe to offer a comfortable experience to the user. Intelligent footwear can also have systems for multipurpose sensing and actuation modules, which can use energy harvested by the user locomotion or by an energy source accompanied by artificial intelligence to gather and process information for ensuring an enhanced user experience.

The present invention relates to an orthotic for a foot, the orthotic having a top side and a bottom side and further comprising a top side raised medial arch structure and a raised lateral arch structure and a flat midfoot section, to a half foot orthotic with the same features, to an orthotic for a foot having a top side valgus and/or varus wedge and a first metatarsal indentation, and to related methods.