Ankle-Foot Orthosis

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an ankle-foot orthosis ( 1 ) for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, comprising: a resiliently flexible sock-like orthotic structure ( 10 ) formed of first ( 12 ) and second ( 14 ) tubular sections set at an angle to one another, wherein the second tubular section is capable of being opened for insertion of the patient's foot and lower leg into respective ones of said first and second tubular sections, the orthosis further comprising at least one closure member ( 34 ) that can be passed round at least part of the periphery of the second tubular section and secured in place to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient.

1 . An ankle-foot orthosis for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, the orthosis comprising: a resiliently flexible sock-like orthotic structure formed of first and second tubular sections set at an angle to one another, wherein the second tubular section is capable of being opened for insertion of the patient's foot and lower leg into respective ones of said first and second tubular sections, the orthosis further comprising at least one closure member that can be passed round at least part of the periphery of the second tubular section and secured in place to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient. 
     
     
         2 . An orthosis according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure member is located outside of the periphery of the second tubular section when the second tubular section is in said closed position. 
     
     
         3 . An orthosis according to  claim 1 , wherein the second tubular section has a configuration selected from one of the following configurations:
 (a) the second tubular section is longitudinally split to define an insertion slit, first and second edge portions of the slit being configured to lie substantially adjacent one another when the second tubular section is in the closed position; or   (b) the second tubular section comprises first and second edge portions, said second edge portion being separable from the first portion to permit the second tubular section to be opened and being configured to overlie the first edge portion when the second tubular section is in the closed position.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An orthosis according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one closure member is fixedly attached to the orthotic structure. 
     
     
         6 . An orthosis according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one closure member comprises a first closure fixedly attached to said second tubular section, and a second closure fixedly attached to the second edge portion, at least a free end of the second closure being securable to the first closure to secure the second tubular portion in said closed position. 
     
     
         7 . An orthosis according to  claim 6 , wherein said first closure and at least part of said second closure include appropriate complementary parts of a mechanical hook and loop securing system to permit the second closure to be secured to said first closure. 
     
     
         8 . An orthosis according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one closure member comprises a strap fixedly attached at one end to one of said first and second edge portions, said strap being configured to be passed round the entire circumference of the second tubular section before being secured to itself to urge the second tubular section towards the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . An orthosis according to  claim 8 , wherein at least parts of respective faces of said strap include appropriate complementary parts of a mechanical hook and loop securing system to permit the strap to be secured to itself once it has been passed round the entire circumference of the second tubular section. 
     
     
         10 . An orthosis according to  claim 9 , wherein the closure member comprises a strap fixedly attached by means of speed rivets to said second edge portion, such that the speed rivets bear on said first edge portion when the orthosis is in the closed position and not on the patient's lower leg. 
     
     
         11 . An orthosis according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one closure member is at least partly separable from the orthotic structure. 
     
     
         12 . An orthosis according to  claim 11 , wherein said second tubular section has configuration (a), and each said at least one closure member comprises first and second closures fixedly attached to respective ones of said first and second edge portions, and a removable closure strip attachable to both of said first and second closures to secure the second tubular section in said closed position. 
     
     
         13 . An orthosis according to  claim 11 , wherein said second tubular section has configuration (b), and the at least one closure member comprises a first closure fixedly attached to said second tubular section, a second closure fixedly attached to the second edge portion, and a removable closure strip attachable to both of said first and second closures to secure the second tubular section in said closed position. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An orthosis according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one closure member is wholly removable from the orthotic structure and is configured to be passed round the entire circumference of the second tubular section before being secured to itself to urge the second tubular section towards the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . An orthosis according to  claim 16 , wherein said second tubular section carries a plurality of loops through which a said closure member can be threaded to retain the closure member in a fixed position with respect to the second tubular section. 
     
     
         18 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An orthosis according to  claim 1 , wherein the orthotic structure is of silicone elastomer, said silicone elastomer having a Shore A durometer selected from the group consisting of: a Shore A durometer of 30 to 80, a Short A durometer of 40 to 70, and a Short A durometer of 50 or 65. 
     
     
         23 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . An ankle-foot orthosis for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, the orthosis comprising: a resiliently flexible sock-like orthotic structure formed of first and second tubular sections set at an angle to one another, wherein the second tubular section comprises first and second parts that are configured to be movable apart to open said orthotic structure for insertion of the patient's foot and lower leg into respective ones of said first and second tubular sections, the orthosis further comprising at least one closure member separately formed from said resiliently flexible orthotic structure and coupled to said second tubular section in such a manner that said closure member is provided with at least one free end, said at least one closure member being configured to be passed circumferentially round the entire periphery of the second tubular section prior to being secured to itself to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An orthosis according to  claim 32 , wherein each said at least one closure member is configured to be passed circumferentially round the periphery of said second tubular section in such a manner that over-tightening of each said closure member and hence over-tightening of said second tubular section, is prevented. 
     
     
         36 . An orthosis according to  claim 35 , wherein said first part of said second tubular section is arranged to overlie said second part of said second tubular section when said orthosis is in said closed position, said first part of said second tubular section is arranged to be moveable away from said second part in a first direction to open said second tubular section, and each said closure member is arranged to be passed in said first direction circumferentially round the periphery of said second tubular section prior to being secured to itself to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient. 
     
     
         37 . An orthosis according to  claim 36 , wherein each said at least one closure member comprises a strip of material having a first face and a second opposite face, wherein said first face is arranged to face inwardly towards the periphery of said second tubular section and said second face is arranged to face outwardly from the periphery of said second tubular section when said closure member is secured about the periphery of said second tubular section, at least part of said first face including mechanical hooks of a complementary mechanical hook and loop closure and at least part of said second face including complementary mechanical loops of a mechanical hook and loop closure. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of manufacturing an orthosis for resisting plantarflexion of patient's foot, the method comprising:
 preparing a silicone elastomer having a resilience which is appropriate for resisting the particular degree of excessive plantarflexion experienced by the patient;   applying the silicone elastomer to a three-dimensional representation of the patient's foot and lower leg to form a resilient sock-like orthotic structure formed of first and second tubular sections set at an angle to one another, said second tubular section being capable of being opened for insertion of the patient's foot and lower leg into respective ones of said first and second tubular sections;   allowing the silicone elastomer to cure;   and fixedly attaching at least one closure member to the orthosis, wherein the closure member is passable, in use, round at least part of the periphery of the second tubular section and securable in place to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient.