Toe brace designs

Abstract

In various embodiments, provided are braces for use in supporting the metatarsophalangeal joint, reducing or maintaining the intermetatarsal angle, enhancing or maintaining alignment of the hallux, or combinations thereof in a subject having hallux valgus.

1 . A brace for treating hallux valgus in the foot of a subject, comprising:
 a distal portion comprising a preformed cavity defined therein that is adapted to receive and encapsulate at least a portion of the hallux of the foot, the distal portion spanning a length of at least a portion of the proximal phalanx bone of the foot;   a proximal portion comprising a preformed cavity defined therein that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the midfoot and hallux of the foot, the proximal portion continuous with the distal portion;   a medial face defined by portions of the distal and proximal portions, the medial face spanning a length of at least a portion of the metatarsal and proximal phalanx on the medial side of the hallux of the foot;   a primary stabilization member integral with at least a portion of the medial face and providing rigidity, resiliency, cushioning, or combinations thereof, to reduce or maintain a hallux valgus angle of the foot, said stabilization member selected from woven fibers, stitching, a panel, a rod, and a rib; and   optionally, one or more additional stabilization members adapted to provide one or more of rigidity, resiliency, or cushioning to at least a part of the distal portion, at least a part of the proximal portion, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . A brace according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion cavity is defined by (i) a distal face and an inter-phalangeal face of the distal portion, (ii) the portion of the medial face defined by the distal portion, and (iii) portions of ventral and dorsal faces that are defined by the distal portion, the ventral and dorsal faces being defined by portions of the distal and proximal portions. 
     
     
         3 . A brace according to  claim 2 , wherein the proximal portion cavity is defined by (i) a proximal face, a lateral face, and an intermediate face of the proximal portion, (ii) the portion of the medial face defined by the proximal portion, and (iii) portions of the ventral and dorsal faces that are defined by the proximal portion. 
     
     
         4 . A brace according to  claim 3 , wherein the inter-phalangeal face is adapted to span the length of at least a portion of the proximal phalanx on the lateral side of the hallux. 
     
     
         5 . A brace according to  claim 4 , wherein the medial face and inter-phalangeal face span the length of at least a portion of the distal phalanx of the hallux. 
     
     
         6 . A brace according to  claim 4 , wherein the medial face, the inter-phalangeal face, or combinations thereof comprise one or more additional stabilization members. 
     
     
         7 . A brace according to  claim 6 , wherein the one or more additional stabilization members are independently selected from woven fibers, stitching, panels, pads, rods, ribs, cushions, and inserts. 
     
     
         8 . A brace according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more additional stabilization members are selected from natural fibers, synthetic fibers, polymeric materials, hydrogels, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A brace according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary stabilization member is selected from carbon fibers, Teflon, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polyHEMA, silicon hydrogels, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A brace according the  claim 9 , wherein the distal portion and proximal portion comprise a material of construction selected from rubber, synthetic rubber, natural fibers, and synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         11 . A brace according to  claim 10 , wherein the material is Neoprene. 
     
     
         12 . A brace for treating hallux valgus in the foot of a subject, comprising:
 a ventral face adapted to span the ventral side of the midfoot and hallux of the foot;   a dorsal face adapted to span the dorsal side of the midfoot and hullux of the foot;   a medial face adapted to span a length of at least a portion of the metatarsal and proximal phalanx on the medial side of the hallux of the foot;   a preformed distal cavity adapted to span a length of at least a portion of the proximal phalanx bone of the foot and receive and encapsulate at least a portion of the hallux of the foot, the distal cavity defined by (i) a distal face, (ii) an inter-phalangeal face adapted to span a length of at least a portion of the proximal phalanx on the lateral side of the hallux, (iii) a portion of the ventral face; (iv) a portion of the dorsal face, and (v) a portion of the medial face;   a preformed proximal cavity adapted to receive and encapsulate at least a portion of the midfoot and hallux of the foot, the proximal cavity defined by (i) a proximal face, (ii) a lateral face, (iii) an intermediate face, (iv) a portion of the medial face, (v) a portion of the ventral face, and (vi) a portion of the dorsal face; and   a primary stabilization members integral with at least a portion of the medial face and providing rigidity, resiliency, cushioning, or combinations thereof, to reduce or maintain a hallux valgus angle of the foot;   wherein the ventral face, dorsal face, medial face, distal cavity, and proximal cavity are of unitary construction.   
     
     
         13 . A brace according to  claim 12 , comprising one or more additional stabilization members adapted to provide one or more of rigidity, resiliency, or cushioning to at least a part of the distal portion, at least a part of the proximal portion, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A brace according to  claim 13 , wherein the medial face and inter-phalangeal face span the length of at least a portion of the distal phalanx. 
     
     
         15 . A brace according to  claim 14 , wherein the medial face, the inter-phalangeal face, or combinations thereof comprise the one or more additional stabilization members. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating hallux valgus in a subject, comprising:
 applying to the subject foot a brace comprising:
 a distal portion comprising a preformed cavity defined therein that is adapted to receive and encapsulate at least a portion of the hallux of the foot, the distal portion spanning a length of at least a portion of the proximal phalanx bone of the foot; 
 a proximal portion comprising a preformed cavity defined therein that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the midfoot and hallux of the foot, the proximal portion continuous with the distal portion; 
 a medial face defined by portions of the distal and proximal portions, the medial face spanning a length of at least a portion of the metatarsal and proximal phalanx on the medial side of the hallux of the foot; and 
 a primary stabilization member integral with at least a portion of the medial face and providing rigidity, resiliency, cushioning, or combinations thereof, to reduce or maintain a hallux valgus angle of the foot, said stabilization member selected from woven fibers, stitching, a panel, a rod, and a rib; 
   wherein the applied brace supports the metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot, reduces or maintains the intermetatarsal angle of the foot, enhances or maintains alignment of the hallux, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , comprising one or more additional stabilization members adapted to provide one or more of rigidity, resiliency, or cushioning to at least a part of the distal portion, at least a part of the proximal portion, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more additional stabilization members are selected from natural fibers, synthetic fibers, polymeric materials, hydrogels, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the distal portion cavity is defined by (i) a distal face and an inter-phalangeal face of the distal portion, (ii) the portion of the medial face defined by the distal portion, and (iii) portions of ventral and dorsal faces that are defined by the distal portion, the ventral and dorsal faces being defined by portions of the distal and proximal portions. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the proximal portion cavity is defined by (i) a proximal face, a lateral face, and an intermediate face of the proximal portion, (ii) the portion of the medial face defined by the proximal portion, and (iii) portions of the ventral and dorsal faces that are defined by the proximal portion.