RLJ 1 Point Brace for Walking Cast

Abstract

Braces also known as spacers that protect the heel of a person wearing a weightbearing cast, with multiple exemplary embodiments such as with a single rear brace or two braces attached to at least one point on either side of the foot, with one brace below the heel and the other behind the heel with a clearance space between each brace and the cast, to redirect loads from the heel to points behind the ankle and forward of the arch.

Claims

1. At least one brace for casts attached to any protective cast over a patient's leg and foot, said cast positioned to absorb and redirect forces that would normally impact the heel of the cast and thereby impact the person's heel.

2. The at least one brace of claim 1 having tabs integral to the brace, such tabs located near attachment points and absorbing loads that could displace the brace while attached.

3. The brace of claim 1 having a single rear brace on weightbearing casts, having clearance to protect the heel from said impacts.

4. The brace of claim 1 as an assembly of at least two braces, at least located to the rear and to the bottom of a cast, having clearance between the cast and the brace to protect the heel from said impacts.

5. The at least one brace of claim 1, attached to at least one point on either side of the foot, with at least one brace behind the heel with a clearance space between the brace and the cast, the brace being attached offset from the axis of typical forces to redirect such typical forces away from the heel to points behind the ankle and forward of the arch.

6. The at least one brace of claim 1 having a maximum load rating of 5 pounds.

7. The at least one brace of claim 1 having a nonlimiting exemplary maximum load rating of 25 pounds, and practitioner safe loading recommendations to the patient according to the practitioner's expected load as to be expected by the patient's lifestyle.

8. The at least one brace of claim 1 having a geometry that is shaped according to a practitioner's preference to prevent unwanted loading, for example to protect an incision that might be aggravated by certain loading or to encourage a particular bone healing; such geometry including but not limited to shapes that have flat sections according to a preferred loading and pointed sections according to nonpreferred loading, such loads being applied by a patient to the cast in their particular lifestyle.

9. least one brace of claim 1 having a mechanical detail that produces a clicking sound when a force is applied, said force and corresponding detail being specified by a practitioner.

10. The at least one brace of claim 1 having decorative and aesthetically pleasing details that are integral to the brace or attached to the brace by the clinician, such as but not including nonlimiting examples of a, floral shapes of suitable size, shape and a pair of ears shape and a tail shape.

11. At least one brace for casts attached to any protective cast over a patient's leg and foot, said cast positioned to absorb and redirect forces that would normally impact the heel of the cast and thereby impact the person's heel; and having electronic sensors and circuitry mounted on the braces to activate when a maximum allowable load is applied to the sensors and brace.

12. The at least one brace and circuitry of claim 11 having at least one LED indicator to flash on and off, at least one time when an overload condition is sensed.

13. The at least one brace and circuitry of claim 11 having an electrical audible alarm to activate at least one sound when an overload condition is present.

14. The at least one brace and circuitry of claim 11 having at least one pressure pad having at least two pressure sensors that respond to a maximum load.

15. A rigid, molded cap attached to any protective cast over a patient's leg and foot, installed using attachment points on either side of the cast, having a spacing adequate to protect the cast from impacts especially in the heel area; the cap further having a seal around the edges to protect the surface of the cast from dirt and other intrusions.

16. The rigid, molded cap of claim 15 further having electronic sensors, lights, and audible alerts that activate with the application of a maximum force. The rigid, molded cap of claim 15 further having sensors with data recording means to measure at least one force experienced during the wearing of a braced cast.

Description

[0028] Certain nonlimiting embodiments are outlined herein, and one of ordinary skill in the art would be aware of modifications or alternatives that would be similar. One of ordinary skill in the art would also be aware of tools and hardware to aid in the installation process, and would use such items to brace, stabilize, locate, prepare, install, secure and similarly apply the methods herein disclosed.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a cast, brace and walking shoe being applied to a right leg, typical of either leg

[0030] FIG. 2 is a nonlimiting demonstration of the bottom of a cast and having one brace, in a horizontal reclining position.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a nonlimiting demonstration of the brace during installation. Fiberglass or plaster is used to secure the brace to the cast.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a two attachments per side brace. demonstrating the forces and resulting torques

[0033] FIG. 5 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a type of cast shoe that may be applied to a walking/weight bearing cast

[0034] FIG. 6 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a cast with a brace, in a horizontal reclining position

[0035] FIG. 7 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a cast and brace having electronic sonoalerts, sensors and mounting brace.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a warning label.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a cast, brace and walking shoe being applied to a right leg, typical of either leg. 110 demonstrates the cast covering a right leg, with a demonstration of casting tape applied as part of constructing the cast. 120 demonstrates a typical brace, showing attachment areas on either side of the cast. 130 is demonstrative of any walking shoe of any typical design, with the shoe shown in phantom. 140 demonstrates an assembly view of any typical walking shoe, covering a cast with a typical brace. The 140 brace and other braces described herein can be attached or incorporated to the designs of any walking cast or boot of any typical design, using means familiar to those in the art. In this demonstration, the 140 brace is a single rear brace attached in two points at either side of the foot, forward of the heel as shown.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a nonlimiting demonstration of the bottom of a cast and having a brace, in a horizontal reclining position. 210 demonstrates foot and toes extending from a cast. 220 demonstrates the cast. 230 demonstrates the brace which is typically located and secured. 240 demonstrates necessary spacing between the brace and the cast, such spacing being adequate to avoid contact to the rear of the cast.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a nonlimiting demonstration of the brace during installation. A brace 310 is shown having a 312 spacing adequate to avoid contact between the brace and the rear of the cast. The 310 brace is shown with two attachment points. 320 demonstrates using fiberglass, plaster or other casting media to incorporate the 310 brace into the cast and cover the attachment points. 330 demonstrates an assembly view with the attachment point and edges covered with casting material.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a attachments per side brace. 410 attachment points are demonstrated offset in the fore aft and in the vertical axes. Such offset serves to create a torque when most forces are applied to the brace.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a typical walking boot to which a rear brace such as those described herein can be attached using other means that are obvious to those in the art. 510 is walking shoe that is installed over a cast to facilitate walking.

[0042] Drafting note: 520 demonstrates the securing straps and Velcro that are used to secure a walking shoe to a weightbearing cast. These securing straps are demonstrative, nonlimiting and are not shown in other views for clarity.

[0043] Note: though a plaster or fiberglass cast is demonstrated in the figures, other cast-like devices are used to therapeutically secure parts of the body. The brace concept will work with other cast-like devices like a post-operative cast shoe and a 3d printed cast.

[0044] FIG. 6 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a cast with a brace, in a horizontal reclining position demonstrating the forces and resulting torques. The patient 610 leg is shown on a 620 horizontal surface, such as a table or bed. The 630 pillow is demonstrative only of a typical suggestion from a practitioner, used to support the leg. 640 cast is shown with 650 brace assembly. In a 655 walking cast shoe, a single brace is used, and a bottom brace is not present. 670 demonstrates the force applied by the leg and cast resting on the table, shown pointing upward to demonstrate the effect on the cast and foot. Because the 650 brace is present, the 670 load is transferred along a 671 vertical axis to the 672 attachment point or points which are offset from the axis intersecting the patient's heel, creating a demonstrative 674 torque and 676 reactive torque applied to the cast and foot at points away from the patient's heel.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a cast and brace having electronic sonolerts and sensors. 710 demonstrates a liner inside the cast. 720 demonstrates the exterior of the cast. 725 demonstrates a cast brace. 730 demonstrates load sensors at the attachment points for the braces herein described to the cast. 740 demonstrates load sensors attached to the rear, exterior of the brace or flex sensors attached to the inside of the brace. 750 demonstrates lighting such as low voltage LED lamps or

[0046] LED lamp strips with a dispersion lens. 760 demonstrates a sonolert sound generator. The sensors, lamps and sonolerts are wired together so that the sensors activate the lamps and sonolerts when a preset load limit is experienced by the brace and sensors.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a nonlimiting demonstration of a warning label. The content of the label is fluid, but this label is included to demonstrate the necessity of warning labels and instructions for this design.