A shoe support structure comprising a hard rubber-like material and a gel material. The rubber-like material is constructed so that it has a change in thickness beginning at the arch, where it slopes down, leveling out at a thickness of about 1 inches. This change in thickness creates a frontal recess, leaving a bead of rubber at the outer edge. This cavity holds a thick cushion of about 1 inches of highly viscous gel material held in place by the rubber lip and adhered to the elastic material. This creates a cushion when the foot applies weight. The front of the sole and the back of the heel are equal in height, giving the entire surface equal height planes for balance. The two materials are one rubber like, one gel like and slope toward each other at the arch in identical angles.

A shoe having a bio foot pad, including a plurality of circumferential elastic fibers surrounded by a viscoelastic material; wherein said fibers impart a biphasic characteristic to said viscoelastic material; and wherein said fibers under compression develop a plurality of hoop stresses to facilitate load conversion and distribution of axial forces exerted against a heel area of a user.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

The present invention relates generally to a device for supporting the foot and more particularly to a device for relieving pressure from specific areas of the foot, and for relaxing and shortening the musculatures of the foot by raising the arch. Through specific shapes and materials, the design intends to aid in alignment, add comfort, and prevent and relieve many foot problems and other lower extremity ailments. The device is uniquely designed to sit in the midfoot region of an article of footwear to relieve pressure from the heel and forefoot, redistribute pressure more evenly across the foot, and support the foot arches. The device may be constructed from flexible material which allows the orthotic to form to the shape of the shoe it is placed in. The medial wing portion of the orthotic device may utilize the medial wall of a shoe to increase arch support.

An insole for a shoe includes an insole body of elastomeric material having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. A distance between the first major surface and the second major surface is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm. The elastomeric material defines a plurality of voids extending through the elastomeric material from the first major surface to the second major surface. Each void has a dimension between about 1 mm and about 3 mm in a plane parallel at least one of to the first major surface and the second major surface. A minimum distance between adjacent voids is between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm. A shoe insole includes such a cushion. A method of forming an insole for a shoe includes providing an elastomeric material within a mold to form an insole body of elastomeric material.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

Device to mitigate plantar fasciitis heel pain is disclosed. This invention provides localized compression and massaging action to the origin of the plantar fascia, the most frequently occurring site of tissue damage and pain at the heel. The concentrated compression during weight bearing provides pain relief and brings injured tissues closer together to facilitate healing. The shape of the device and its location at the edge of the heel bone also provide a localized massaging action during ambulation to improve blood circulation, which in turn promotes healing. The device of the present invention may be used as a removable insole or in some instances may be formed into the inner sole of an item of footwear.

The invention provides an apparatus and method for the prevention of VTE and related conditions to promote blood flow in a foot, the apparatus including: at least two inflatable bladders (20, 21) adapted to be disposed in use under the foot; and one or more pumps (31, 32) configured to repeatedly inflate and deflate the bladders with a fluid, applying compressive force to the foot in use.

A wearable weight scale, including an extensible fluid-filled insole for measuring and producing data relating to pressure changes within the extensible fluid-filled insole; a transceiver disposed about the extensible fluid-filled insole for transmitting the data; and one or more electronic devices for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data for displaying the data to a user.