Foot orthosis support device method and apparatus

Abstract

A flexible support device adapted to provide overall structural biomechanics support and contouring of a lower limb of a patient by a practitioner where the flexible support device having various indentations to provide proper fitting of a bold for production of an orthosis device in one form.

1 . A method of forming a lower limb orthosis to the lower limb region of the patient, the lower limb region having a foot region and an ankle region, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. positioning a stockinette over the patient's foot and ankle region,    b. selecting a flexible support device from a plurality of flexible support devices, the flexible support device having a heel cup region and a central chamber region,    c. positioning the central cavity region of the flexible support device around the patient's foot,    d. applying a plurality of molding strips around the foot and ankle region of the patient's foot and the flexible support device,    e. allowing the molding strips to form a mold having lower and upper regions,    f. removal of the mold by incising the mold between the lower and upper regions,    g. removing the flexible support device from the mold,    h. sending the mold to a manufacturing facility for use in the production of a lower limb orthosis device for the patient.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereas when positioning the flexible support device, the distal regions, including the metatarsal heads, do not cross the total sulcus having a distal methead proximal toe rise area.  
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereas portions of the flexible support device can be heated and formed to different contours to accommodate the patient's foot.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereas the flexible support device has a forward vertical region that defines a gap region between the toes of the patient and the forward vertical region.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in the  claim 4  whereby the gap region is greater than one quarter of an inch.  
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby a second stockinette is positioned over the flexible support device prior to application of the molding strips.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6  whereby the second stockinette is adapted to provide additional spacing between and inner surface of the mold and the outer surface of the patient's foot.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6  whereby a cutting strip is positioned beneath the second stockinette to assist in cutting and removal of the mold.  
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8  whereby a non-flesh cutting element is used to remove the mold.  
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 8  whereby the cutting strip is attached to the first stockinette prior to application of the second stockinette.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereas the flexible support device is heated in a localized region and reformed in a manner determined by the practitioner to accommodate protrusions or indentations of the patient's lower limb.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereas the flexible support device is incised about a substantially longitudinal direction, and the lateral width is adjusted to provide accommodation for various potential shapes of the foot of the patient.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the flexible support device is retrieved from the plurality of flexible support devices that are in a storage location, whereby the flexible support devices are arranged in a stacked position, whereby an outer surface of an immediately smaller flexible support device is engaged in a chamber region of the immediately larger flexible support device so that the plurality of flexible support devices are arranged in a stacked manner.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  whereby the plurality of flexible support devices in a stored position provide a gauging system for the practitioner to properly select and reselect individual flexible support devices for fitting the patient.  
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the flexible support device provides sufficient rigidity to allow a distribution of pressure upon adjacent regions of the foot and lower ankle region that the practitioner is not in direct contact with to have the mold formfitting to the contours of the patient's foot and maintaining the correct overall biomechanical alignment.  
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  where a heal cup of the flexible support device provides an initial foundational support when molding the patient.  
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15  where the practitioner checks the distal regions to ensure that the metatarsal heads are not crossing the total sulcus.  
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 1  where a two-five sub-region of the flexible support device slopes downwardly in a longitudinally forward direction toward the distal area and downwardly to the laterally outward region and aids in aligning the foot by providing propreaceptive input for the patient to bring about awareness to the patient during the casting process.  
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 1  where following application of the molding strips, the practitioner will exert a force on the distal region of the foot where this force is distributed longitudinally rearwardly to the heel region because of the flexibly controlled deformation of the flexible support device.  
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 1  where the flexible support device has sidewalls with the medial lateral wrap region that provides increased support for positioning the foot into a desired alignment as the strips harden.