Foot Orthosis with Swivel Joint for Correcting Foot Malpositions

Abstract

A foot orthosis for correcting foot malpositions, in particular for treating hallux valgus, comprising a toe splint configured to be fastened to a toe and a metatarsal splint configured to be fastened to a metatarsal region of the foot, each of which are pivotably connected relative to one another by means of a swivel joint When the foot orthosis is fastened to the foot, the foot orthosis is configured to exert a first corrective force on the toe via the toe splint and to exert a second corrective force on a metatarsophalangeal joint via the swivel joint in the opposite direction to the first corrective force The swivel joint is provided with a recess which extends along a swivel axis of the swivel joint and is designed such that, when fastened to the foot, a sideways protruding section of the metatarsophalangeal joint is received in the recess.

Claims

1. A foot orthosis for correcting foot malpositions comprising a toe splint configured to be fastened to a toe and a metatarsal splint configured to be fastened to a metatarsal region of the foot, each of which are pivotably connected relative to one another by means of a swivel joint, wherein in a fastened state in which the foot orthosis is fastened to the foot, the foot orthosis is configured to exert a first corrective force on the toe via the toe splint and to exert a second corrective force on a metatarsophalangeal joint via the swivel joint in the opposite direction to the first corrective force, wherein the swivel joint is provided with a recess which extends along a swivel axis of the swivel joint and which is designed such that, in the state fastened to the foot, a sideways protruding section of the metatarsophalangeal joint is received in the recess.

2. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint comprises a hollow trunnion swivel joint.

3. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the recess is provided in the form of a through hole extending along the swivel axis.

4. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint has a maximum width along the swivel axis of not more than 0.6 cm.

5. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein, in the fastened state of the foot orthosis, the sideways protruding section of the metatarsophalangeal joint extends along at least 50% of the maximum width of the swivel joint along the swivel axis.

6. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein, in the fastened state of the foot orthosis, the sideways protruding section of the metatarsophalangeal joint protrudes through the recess.

7. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint is configured to include a sidewall of the swivel joint that delimits the recess and has a minimum radius of curvature of 1 mm to 5 mm.

8. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein a minimum diameter of the recess about the swivel axis is at least 1.5 cm.

9. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein in the fastened state of the foot orthosis, the swivel axis of the swivel joint substantially coincides with a base joint axis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the toe.

10. The foot orthosis of claim 9, wherein the swivel joint is configured such that a relative pivoting movement between the toe splint and the metatarsal splint is released about the swivel axis (S).

11. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint comprises a first joint element connected to the toe splint, and a second joint element connected to the metatarsal splint (17), each of which are form-fittingly engaged along the swivel axis and transversely to the swivel axis of the swivel joint (22).

12. The foot orthosis of claim 11, wherein in the fastened state, the second joint element connected to the metatarsal splint is arranged, along the swivel axis, between the foot and the first joint element connected to the toe splint.

13. The foot orthosis of claim 11, wherein the first joint member forms a joint ring and the second joint member forms a joint pin each of which configured to form-fittingly engage along the swivel axis.

14. The foot orthosis of claim 13, wherein the joint pin or the joint ring is provided with a receiving groove in which a correspondingly configured connecting ring of the joint ring or the joint pin is guided.

15. The foot orthosis of claim 1, which is configured to, in the fastened state, exert a holding force on the metatarsus via the metatarsal splint which is directed opposite to the second corrective force (F2), wherein the swivel joint is configured to, in the fastened state, transmit bending forces between the metatarsal splint and the toe splint which are parallel to the first or second corrective force, and wherein in the state fastened to the foot, the first corrective force, the second corrective force and the holding force are provided in the form of a bending force induced by an elastic deformation of the toe splint and the metatarsal splint.

16. The foot orthosis of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint has a maximum width along the swivel axis of not more than 1.0 cm.

17. The foot orthosis of claim 3, wherein, in the fastened state of the foot orthosis, the sideways protruding section of the metatarsophalangeal joint protrudes through the through hole of the recess along the swivel axis.

18. The foot orthosis of claim 7, wherein the swivel joint is configured to include a sidewall of the swivel joint that delimits the recess and has a minimum radius of curvature of 1 mm to 2 mm.

19. The foot orthosis of claim 7, wherein the swivel joint is configured to include a sidewall of the swivel joint that delimits the recess and has a minimum radius of curvature of 5 mm.

20. The foot orthosis of claim 11, wherein the first joint element of the swivel joint is integrally or adhesively connected to the toe splint, and the second joint element is integrally or adhesively connected to the metatarsal splint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0063] Further embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, which schematically show in:

[0064] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a foot orthosis in a state fastened to a patient's foot;

[0065] FIGS. 2 and 3 perspective views of the foot orthosis depicted in FIG. 1, in which for overview reasons the foot is not shown;

[0066] FIG. 4 to 8 different views of the foot orthosis depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3 in a state decoupled from the foot;

[0067] FIG. 9 longitudinal section of a swivel joint of the foot depicted in FIGS. 1 to 8;

[0068] FIG. 10 a perspective view of the foot orthosis according to a further embodiment, in which the foot orthosis is fastened to the patient's foot; and

[0069] FIGS. 11 and 12 the foot orthosis depicted in FIG. 10 in a state decoupled from the foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] In the following, embodiments are described on the basis of the Figures. In the Figures, identical, similar or similarly acting elements are denoted by identical reference numerals and a repeated description thereof may be omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

[0071] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a foot orthosis 10 for correcting foot malpositions. In particular, the foot orthosis 10 shown in FIG. 1 is intended and provided for treating hallux valgus, i.e. the pathological malposition of a big toe 12, also referred to as valgus position of the big toe, and of a big toe metatarsophalangeal joint 14, also referred to as varus position of the big toe metatarsophalangeal joint. Further, the shown foot orthosis 10 can be used for preventing hallux valgus. In the following, for simplicity reasons, the term big toe will be abbreviated by the term toe and the term metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe will be abbreviated by the term metatarsophalangeal joint of the toe.

[0072] As can be gathered from FIG. 1, the foot orthosis 10 is configured to be fastened to a foot to be treated in the manner of a clamp, in particular a tension clamp, and to be fixed thereto in a predetermined position. The foot orthosis 10 is designed and configured to, in the shown fastened state, therapeutically act on the foot by selectively applying corrective forces to the foot, in particular to a region of the toe 12 and the metatarsophalangeal joint 14, as will be further specified below.

[0073] The shown foot orthosis 10 is designed to be used on the patient's right foot. For treatment of the patient's left foot, a foot orthosis may be used that is mirror symmetric to the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

[0074] The foot orthosis 10 comprises a toe splint 16 configured to be fastened to the toe 12 and a metatarsal splint 17 configured to be fastened to a metatarsal region of the foot, wherein the metatarsal splint 17 comprises a ball segment 18 and a metatarsal segment 20. The toe splint 16 and the metatarsal splint 17 are pivotably connected relative to one another by means of a swivel joint 22. In the shown configuration, the metatarsal splint 17 is formed by the ball segment 18, which is configured to be arranged in the region of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14, and the metatarsal segment 20, which is configured to be attached to or in the region of the metatarsus.

[0075] In the state fastened to the foot, as indicated in FIG. 2, the foot orthosis 10 is configured to exert a first corrective force F1 on the toe 12 via the toe splint 16, to exert a second corrective force F2 on the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 via the swivel joint 22, and to exert a holding force F3 to the metatarsus via the metatarsal splint 17. The second corrective force F2 is opposed to the first corrective force F1, in particular is parallel to and spaced apart from the first corrective force F1. The holding force F3, which may be a third corrective force, points in direction of the first corrective force F1 and is parallel to and spaced apart from the first corrective force F1.

[0076] The forces F1, F2, F3, acting on the treated foot during use of the foot orthosis 10, are illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the foot is not shown for reason of better visualization. For simplicity reasons, the corresponding forces F1, F2, F3 are shown in the form of individual vectors, wherein each of the forces, of course, is distributively exerted via a corresponding contact surface between the foot and the foot orthosis during use.

[0077] As will be specified below, the individual components of the foot orthosis 10, in particular the toe splint 16 and the metatarsal splint 17, are elastically deformable, wherein the different forces F1, F2, F3 exerted on the foot by the foot orthosis 10 are provided in the form of clamping and/or bending forces induced by elastic deformation of the foot orthosis 10. By this configuration, it may be ensured that the forces F1, F2, F3 exerted by the foot orthosis 10 are persistently applied to the foot even when the foot is moving and its shape changes during use. In this way, it may further be achieved that, upon moving the toe 12 relative to the metatarsus, the corrective force applied thereto is adjusted, for example increased, due to an increasing elastic deformation of the foot orthosis 10, in particular of the toe splint 16 and/or the metatarsal splint 17. This may improve the therapeutic effect provided by the foot orthosis.

[0078] The first corrective force F1, the second corrective force F2, and the holding force F3 are arranged parallel or substantially parallel and are spaced apart relative to each other. The first corrective force F1 and the holding force F3 point in the medial direction and are parallel or substantially parallel to a transverse axis Y of the foot orthosis 10. The second corrective force F2 points in the lateral direction. The first corrective force F1, the second corrective force F2, and the holding force F3 are further arranged orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis X and a vertical axis Z of the foot orthosis 10.

[0079] The toe splint 16 is provided in the form of a bracket or clamp, in particular in the form of a tensioning or bending clamp, which engages around, i.e. encompasses, the toe 12 in the fastened state. In the shown configuration, the toe splint 16 extends from a medial side of the foot, starting from the ball segment 18, along a lower side of the toe 12 to a lateral side of the toe 12. Thus, the toe splint 16 extends in sections, i.e. partially, along the lower side of the toe 12. Alternatively, the toe splint 16 may extend along an upper side of the toe 12. In the shown configuration, the toe splint 16 extends along the toe over a radian of one ? rad around the longitudinal axis L such that the toe splint 16 extends from one side of the toe 12 and the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 to the opposite side of the toe 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0080] The toe splint 16 comprises a contact surface 24 for the toe 12. The contact surface 24 is provided in the form of a turning surface, the orientation of which, i.e. the surface normal of which, changes along the longitudinal toe axis L and can point to the longitudinal toe axis. By this configuration, the contact surface 24 and thus also the toe splint 16 extend along a helical line around the toe 12.

[0081] The toe splint 16 is configured to, in the fastened state, transmit shearing forces and/or bending forces in direction of the first corrective force F1 between the swivel joint 22 and the toe 12 to be treated, thereby contributing in generating the first corrective force F1.

[0082] In order to exert the first corrective force F1 on the toe 12, the toe splint 16 comprises a toe support section 26 which, in the fastened state of the foot orthosis 10, contacts a lateral side of the toe 12, i.e. a side of the toe 12 pointing in lateral direction. The toe support section 26 is formed by a distal end section of the toe splint 16. The toe splint 16 further comprises a toe base section 28 integrally coupled and adhesively bonded to the toe support section 26 and arranged adjacent thereto, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2.

[0083] The toe splint 16, in particular the toe support section 26, is provided in the form of a bending spring or spring element. Thus, the first corrective force F1 is provided in the form of a clamping force or bending force induced by an elastic deformation of the toe splint 16. In other words, the toe splint 16 is provided such that, in the fastened state, the toe splint 16 is arranged in a clamping position in which the toe splint16 is elastically deflected in a direction opposite to the first corrective force F1 with respect to a rest position of the toe splint 16 in which the toe splint 16 is arranged in a state of the foot orthosis 10 being decoupled from the foot.

[0084] For illustrating this structural configuration of the toe splint 16, FIG. 4 shows the foot orthosis 10 in a state decoupled and disengaged from the foot, in which the toe splint 16 is arranged in its rest position. Further, by a dashed line 30, a state of the toe splint 16 is indicated in which it is arranged in the clamping position, i.e. in the fastened state. In the clamping position, an end section of the toe support section 26 is deflected and translationally displaced along the direction opposite to the first corrective force F1 by at least 0.3 cm or 0.5 cm, for example by at least 1.0 cm, with respect to the rest position.

[0085] In the fastened state of the foot orthosis 10, the ball segment 18 is arranged in the region of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 and lies against the foot in the region of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14. The ball segment 18 comprises a ball support section 32 which contacts the ball of the metatarsophalangeal joint in the fastened state of the foot orthosis 10, more specifically which contacts the ball of the metatarsophalangeal joint at a medial and plantar section. The ball segment 18 further comprises a ball base section 34, which constitutes a section of the ball segment 18 extending along the plantar surface of the foot. The ball base section 34 is integrally coupled and adhesively bonded to the ball support section 32 and arranged adjacent thereto, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 3.

[0086] The ball segment 18, in particular the ball support section 32, is provided in the form of a bending spring. Thus, the second corrective force F2 is provided in the form of a clamping force or bending force induced by an elastic deformation of the ball segment 18. In other words, the ball segment 18 is configured such that, in the fastened state, the ball segment 18 is arranged in a clamping position in which the ball segment is elastically deflected in a direction opposite to the second corrective force F2 with respect to a rest position in which the ball segment is arranged in a state of the foot orthosis 10 decoupled from the foot. An end section of the ball support section 32 in the clamping position can be deflected and translationally displaced by at least 0.3 cm or 0.5 cm relative to the rest position along the direction opposite to the second corrective force F2.

[0087] The ball segment 18 is connected to the metatarsal segment 20 in a force- and torque-transmitting manner. The metatarsal segment 20 is configured to be fastened to the metatarsus of the foot to be treated. Further, the metatarsal segment 20 is partially arranged opposite to the ball segment 18, in particular opposite to the ball support section 32. The metatarsal segment 20 is provided in the form of a bracket or clamp, in particular a clamping bracket, which in the fastened state of the foot orthosis 10 partially engages around a lateral metatarsal region, in particular a lateral midfoot region. The metatarsal segment 20, provided in the form of a bracket, may be configured to, in the fastened state, receive shearing forces and/or bending forces, in particular in the direction of the holding force, and to transmit these forces between the ball segment 18 and the metatarsus of the foot to be treated.

[0088] In other words, the metatarsal splint 17 is provided in the form of a bracket or clamp, in particular in the form of a bending spring or spring element, which partially engages around the metatarsus in the fastened state.

[0089] For applying the holding force to the metatarsus, the metatarsal segment 20 comprises a metatarsal support section 36 which lies against a lateral side of the metatarsus in the fastened state of the foot orthosis 10. The metatarsal support section 36 may be formed by an end section of the metatarsal segment 20. The metatarsal segment 20 further comprises a metatarsal base section 38. The metatarsal base section 38 is integrally coupled and adhesively bonded to the metatarsal support section36 and is arranged adjacent thereto, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2.

[0090] The metatarsal segment 20, in particular the metatarsal support section 36 and the metatarsal base section 38, is provided in the form of a bending spring or spring element. Thus, the holding force F3 is provided in the form of a clamping force or bending force induced by an elastic deformation of the metatarsal segment 20. In other words, the metatarsal segment 20 is configured such that, in the fastened state, the metatarsal segment 20 is arranged in a clamping position in which the metatarsal segment 20 is elastically deflected in a direction opposite to the holding force F3 with respect to a rest position of the metatarsal segment 20 in which the metatarsal segment 20 is arranged in a state of the foot orthosis 10 being decoupled from the foot. This structural configuration is illustrated in FIG. 4 by a further dashed line 44 indicating a state of the metatarsal segment 20 in which the metatarsal segment 20 is arranged in the clamping position, i.e. in the fastened state. An end section of the metatarsal support section 36 in the clamping position, with respect to its rest position, is deflected and translationally displaced along the direction opposite to the holding force F3 by at least 0.5 cm or 1.0 cm, for example 2 cm.

[0091] For fastening the foot orthosis 10 to the foot, the metatarsal splint 17 and/or the toe splint 16 optionally may be provided with bandages. For example, the toe splint 16 may use a bandage or a support band to force- and/or from-fittingly fix the toe 12 clamped in the toe splint 16 relative to the toe splint 16. For doing so, the bandage or the support band may lie against the toe 12 at least partially in its circumferential direction and may be connected to the toe splint 16. Furthermore, the metatarsal segment 20 may be provided with a second bandage or support band, which extends around the metatarsus in its circumferential direction and which is coupled to the metatarsal segment 20 at its ends in order to fix the metatarsus in the metatarsal segment 20 in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner.

[0092] The toe splint 16 and/or the metatarsal splint 17, in particular the ball segment 18 and/or the metatarsal segment 20, are thin-walled. In particular, the toe splint 16 and/or the ball segment 18 and/or the metatarsal segment 20 may be formed by or consist of plate-shaped and/or shell-shaped elements having a maximum thickness of less than 3 mm or 2 mm or 1 mm.

[0093] The toe splint 16, the ball segment 18 and the metatarsal segment 20 can be made of a plastic material. In particular, a plastic material may be used which is plastically deformable when being subjected to high forces, i.e. which are higher than the corrective forces F1, F2 and the holding force F3, or heat. By this configuration, the foot orthosis may be easily adapted in its geometric design to a foot to be treated. In this way, also the corrective and holding forces F1, F2, F3 induced by elastic deformation may be adapted.

[0094] According to a further development, at least one of the support sections 26, 32, 36 may have a lower stiffness, in particular against shearing and/or bending forces in direction of the first or second corrective force F1, F2, compared to the base section 28, 34, 38 arranged adjacent thereto. Specifically, the at least one support section 26, 32, 36 may be made of a material which has a lower modulus of elasticity or a lower hardness, for example a lower Shore hardness, compared to the material of the adjacent base element 28, 34, 38.

[0095] As depicted in FIG. 8, the ball base section 34 and the metatarsal base section 38 are coupled to each other such that they are translationally displaceable relative to each other along an axis that is in a plane with, but transverse to the longitudinal axis X and a transverse axis Y of the foot orthosis 10, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 8. In other words, the two sections 34, 38 are translationally displaceable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y of the foot orthosis 10. The foot orthosis 10 is configured such that the two sections 34, 38 can be fixed in a desired position relative to each other in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner.

[0096] Optionally, the foot orthosis 10 may further comprise a foot cushion 42 which is configured to be releasably coupled to the ball base section 34 and/or the metatarsal base section 38 and is displaceable relative thereto in order to arrange the foot cushion 42 in a patient-specific manner, as indicated by arrow B in FIG. 8.

[0097] As set forth above, the toe splint 16 and the metatarsal splint 17 are pivotably coupled relative to each other by means of the swivel joint 22 about the swivel axis S. The swivel joint 22 is adapted to transmit bending forces parallel to the first or the second corrective force F1, F2 between the metatarsal splint 17 and the toe splint 16 in the state of the foot orthosis 10 fastened to the foot, wherein the first corrective force F1, the second corrective force F2, and the holding force F3 are provided in the form of a bending force induced by an elastic deformation of the toe splint 16 and the metatarsal splint 17.

[0098] For interacting with the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 of the foot to be treated, i.e. for exerting the second corrective force F2, the foot orthosis 10 is equipped with the swivel joint 22. The configuration of the swivel joint 22 is specified below with reference to FIG. 9, which shows a longitudinal section along the swivel axis S through the swivel joint 22.

[0099] As can be gathered from FIG. 9, the swivel joint 22 is provided with a recess 44 along its swivel axis S and is designed such that, when the foot orthosis 10 is fastened to the foot, a sideways protruding section 46 of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 is at least partially received in the recess 44. This is illustrated in FIG. 9 by a dashed line indicated by reference numeral 46. The sideways protruding section 46 of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 may be or form a pseudoexostosis.

[0100] The swivel joint 22 is a hollow trunnion swivel joint. In other words, the components forming the swivel joint 22 are designed to be hollow along the swivel axis S such that the swivel joint 22 is provided with the recess 44 around and along its swivel axis S. The swivel joint 22 is designed such that, in the fastened state of the foot orthosis 10, the swivel joint 22 is arranged on the foot and the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 such that the swivel joint 22 is arranged circumferentially around the sideways protruding section 46 of the metatarsophalangeal joint 12, for example around a pseudoexostosis, wherein the sideways protruding section 46 of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 at is arranged least partially in the recess of the swivel joint 22.

[0101] The recess 44 is provided in the form of a through hole or opening extending along the swivel axis S. The swivel joint 22 is designed such that, in the fastened state, the sideways protruding section 46 of the metatarsophalangeal joint extends along at least 50% or at least 70% or at least 80% of the maximum width or thickness of the swivel joint 22. In the shown embodiment, the sideways protruding section 46 of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14 protrudes through the recess 44 along the swivel axis S. The swivel joint has a maximum width along the swivel axis S, i.e. along the transverse axis Y, of at most 1.0 cm or 0.6 cm.

[0102] The swivel joint 22 comprises a sidewall 48 which delimits the recess 44 and which is arranged circumferentially around the swivel axis. The sidewall 48 has a minimum radius of curvature of 1 mm or 2 mm or 5 mm.

[0103] The recess 44 has a minimum diameter along a direction transverse to the swivel axis S of at least 1.5 cm or at least 2.0 cm or at least 2.5 cm. More specifically, in the shown configuration, the diameter is substantially 3.0 cm.

[0104] In the shown configuration, the swivel axis S of the swivel joint 22 is arranged in alignment, i.e. coincides, or substantially in alignment with the flexion-extension joint axis of the metatarsophalangeal joint 14. The flexion-extension joint axis is understood to be the joint axis about which the toe 12 is pivoted relative to the metatarsus during flexion and extension movements. This is achieved by arranging the swivel joint 22 on the medial side of the foot in the fastened state. Specifically, the swivel joint 22 is designed such that relative pivotal movement between the toe splint 16 and the metatarsal splint 17 is permitted or released only about the swivel axis S.

[0105] As can be gathered from FIG. 9, the swivel joint 22 is constituted by at least two components, but is not limited to this configuration and in alternative embodiments may be constituted by more than two components.

[0106] In particular, the swivel joint 22 comprises a first joint element 50 coupled to the toe splint 16, in particular integrally coupled or adhesively bonded thereto, and a correspondingly designed second joint element 52 which is engaged with the first joint element 50 and which is coupled to the metatarsal splint 17, in particular the ball segment 18, in particular integrally connected or adhesively bonded thereto. Specifically, the first joint element 50 may be formed by an end section of the toe base section 28 and the second joint element 52 may be formed by an end section of the ball support section 32. In the fastened state, the second joint element 52 is arranged, along the swivel axis S, between the foot and the first joint element 50.

[0107] In the shown configuration, the first joint element 50 is provided in the form of a joint ring. The second joint element 52 is provided in the form of a hollow joint pin on which the joint ring, i.e. the first joint element 50, is guided along a guiding surface. The first and the second joint element 50, 52 are designed and are in engagement in such a way that they are form-fittingly coupled along the swivel axis S and transversely thereto.

[0108] For doing so, the second joint element 52 is provided with a receiving groove 54 which extends circumferentially around the swivel axis S and is engaged with a complementary designed connecting ring 56 of the first joint element 50. The receiving groove 54 further extends in radial direction relative to the swivel axis S such that the receiving groove 54 is delimited in both axial directions along the swivel axis S and comprises an opening in radial outward direction. Via the opening, the connecting ring 56 protrudes into the receiving groove 54. In other words, in a longitudinal section along the swivel axis S, the receiving groove 54 has a substantially U-shaped contact or sliding surface 58, also referred to as guiding surface, for the connecting ring 56. Thus, the receiving groove 54 and the connecting ring 56 are form-fittingly engaged in both directions along the swivel axis S. By this configuration, the connection between the first and the second joint element 50, 52 can be effectively prevented from being unintentionally released and, at the same time, a simple and robust design of the joint unit may be ensured. Alternatively, the first joint element may be provided with a receiving groove and the second joint element may be provided with a correspondingly designed connecting ring.

[0109] The swivel joint 22 is designed and configured such that, in the fastened state of the foot orthosis 10, the second joint element 52 is arranged between the foot and the first joint element 50, wherein a connecting stud 60 of the second joint element 52, which forms the receiving groove 54, circumferentially delimits the recess 44 in radial direction. The connecting stud 60 extends along the swivel axis S such that the connecting stud 60 overlaps the first joint element 50 in axial direction of the swivel joint 22 i.e. along the swivel axis S. Specifically, the connecting stud 60 engages around the connecting ring 56. An end portion 62, which laterally delimits the recess 44 at, is arranged in a further recess 64 in the first joint element 50, wherein the further recess 64 is located sideways on the outside of the first joint element 50. By this configuration, a flushed outer surface of the swivel joint 22 is achieved.

[0110] FIGS. 10 to 12 show a further embodiment of the foot orthosis 10 that differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 in particular in the configuration and arrangement of the toe splint 16 and the metatarsal splint 17. The design of the swivel joint 22, specifically of the first and the second joint element 50, 52, corresponds to the design of the swivel joint 22 as shown in FIG. 9 and as described in the context of the above embodiment.

[0111] FIG. 10 shows the foot orthosis 10 in a state fastened to the foot. The toe splint 16 comprises a toe limb extending along the inner side of the toe in the form of a bracket element and a first support band 66 coupled thereto in the form of a bandage. The first support band 66 is guided around the toe 12 along its circumferential direction and is connected to the toe limb at its ends so as to form- and/or force-fittingly fix the toe limb relative to the toe 12. As such, the toe limb forms a bending spring that is attachable to the toe 12 by means of the first support band 66. The toe limb comprises coupling elements 68, via which end sections of the first support band 66 are force-fittingly connected to the toe limb. In the shown configuration, the coupling elements 68 are provided in the form of slit openings through which the first support band 66 is guided when wrapped around the toe 12 so as to fix the foot orthosis 10 to the foot to be treated and accordingly to apply the first corrective force to the foot via the first support band 66.

[0112] The metatarsal splint 17 comprises a metatarsal limb in the form of a bracket element extending along the inner side of the foot and a second support band 70 coupled thereto in the form of a bandage. The second support band 70 is guided around the metatarsus along its circumferential direction and is connected at its ends to the metatarsal limb so as to form- and/or force-fittingly fix the metatarsal limb relative to the metatarsus. As such, the metatarsal limb forms a bending spring which is attachable to the metatarsal by means of the second support band 70. The metatarsal limb comprises further coupling elements 72, via which end sections of the second support band 70 are force-fittingly connected to the metatarsal limb. In the shown configuration, the further coupling elements 72 are provided in the form of slit openings through which the second support band 70 is guided when being wrapped around the metatarsus so as to fix the foot orthosis 10 to the foot to be treated and accordingly to apply the holding force to the foot via the second support band 70.

[0113] FIGS. 11 and 12 show the foot orthosis 10 in a state decoupled from the foot, in which the support bands 66, 70 are not shown for overview reasons.

[0114] Accordingly, the swivel joint 22 is configured to transmit bending forces parallel to the first and the second corrective force F1, F2 between the metatarsal splint 17 and the toe splint 16 when the foot orthosis 10 is fastened to the foot, wherein the first corrective force F1, the second corrective force F2 and the holding force F3 are provided in the form of a bending force induced by an elastic deformation of the metatarsal splint 16, specifically the toe limb, and the metatarsal splint 17, specifically the metatarsal limb.

[0115] Where applicable, all of the individual features illustrated in the above embodiments can be combined and/or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0116] 10 foot orthosis [0117] 12 big toe [0118] 14 metatarsophalangeal joint [0119] 16 toe splint [0120] 17 metatarsal splint [0121] 18 ball segment [0122] 20 metatarsal segment [0123] 22 swivel joint [0124] 24 contact surface [0125] 26 toe support section [0126] 28 toe base section [0127] 30 clamping position of the toe splint [0128] 32 ball support section [0129] 34 ball base section [0130] 36 metatarsal support section [0131] 38 metatarsal base section [0132] 40 clamping position of the metatarsal splint [0133] 42 foot cushion [0134] 44 recess [0135] 46 sideways protruding section of the metatarsophalangeal joint [0136] 48 sidewall [0137] 50 first joint element [0138] 52 second joint element [0139] 54 receiving groove [0140] 56 connecting ring [0141] 58 contact or sliding surface [0142] 60 connecting stud [0143] 62 end section [0144] 64 further recess [0145] 66 first support band [0146] 68 coupling element [0147] 70 second support band [0148] 72 further coupling element [0149] F1 first corrective force [0150] F2 second corrective force [0151] F3 holding force [0152] S swivel axis.