Cam walker with removable collar

Abstract

A CAM walker includes a removable collar assembly configured to engage a cast or other brace device being worn on a lower extremity received in the walker. The collar assembly includes portions, such as paddles, configured to be brought into engagement with the brace device sufficiently to inhibit anterior and posterior movement of the proximal end of the walker relative to the proximal end of the lower extremity received therein.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A CAM walker configured for use with a brace device, wherein the brace device is configured to be worn on a lower extremity of a user and received in the CAM walker, the CAM walker comprising:
 a frame comprising posterior and anterior portions, and configured to control ankle movement of the lower extremity, the frame having distal and proximal ends adapted to operatively engage portions of a foot and a calf, respectively; and   a collar assembly configured to be selectively fittable to, and manually separable from, the proximal end of the frame;   wherein the brace device is interposed between the collar assembly and the lower extremity when worn on the lower extremity and received in the frame of the CAM walker; and   wherein the collar assembly has an engagement area oriented and configured such that when the collar assembly is fitted to the proximal end of the frame, the engagement area contacts an opposing surface of the brace device.   
     
     
         2 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the distal and proximal ends of the frame define a first lever arm having a first length, wherein the frame is configured to reduce force on the foot during gait as a function of the first lever arm, and wherein the engagement area is configured to extend to locations proximal to the proximal end of the frame and to engage the brace device at said locations to define a second lever arm having a second length greater than the first length, thereby reducing force on a plantar surface of the foot when received in the CAM walker. 
     
     
         3 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the distal and proximal ends of the frame defines a first lever arm having a first length, wherein the frame is configured to reduce force on the foot during gait as a function of the first lever arm, and wherein the engagement area is configured to extend to locations proximal to the proximal end of the frame and to engage the brace device at said locations to define a second lever arm having a second length greater than the first length, thereby reducing force on a plantar surface of the foot when received in the CAM walker. 
     
     
         4 . The CAM walker of  claim 3 , wherein the second length of the second lever arm is greater than the first length of the first lever arm by about 30% to about 40% of the first length. 
     
     
         5 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement area of the collar assembly is adapted to engage opposing brace surfaces extending in a circumference defining a circumferential surface area, and is sized to engage at least 40% of the circumferential surface area of the opposing surface of the brace device. 
     
     
         6 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein the collar assembly further comprises a collar closure system having portions configured for transmitting radially inward force on the engagement area of the collar assembly sufficient to substantially maintain an engagement of the brace device by the engagement area during a gait cycle associated with the lower extremity. 
     
     
         7 . The CAM walker of  claim 6 , wherein the collar closure system comprises a spacer sized to extend between respective lateral and medial locations on the collar assembly and selectively securable therebetween to urge the engagement area radially inwardly to engage the brace device. 
     
     
         8 . The CAM walker of  claim 7 , wherein the collar assembly comprises a posterior portion, and lateral and medial engagement members extending from the posterior portion. 
     
     
         9 . The CAM walker of  claim 8 , further comprising a posterior AFO and an anterior AFO, each AFO located to contact respective posterior and anterior portions of the brace device when the brace device is received in the frame;
 wherein the anterior AFO has a longitudinally extending reinforcing stay and respective pairs of lateral and medial fingers extending transversely from the reinforcing stay, the fingers configured to removably fasten the anterior AFO relative to the frame;   wherein one of the pairs of lateral and medial fingers is located both to engage the lateral and medial engagement members of the collar assembly when the collar assembly is selectively fitted to the proximal end of the frame and to engage lateral and medial portions of the frame when the collar assembly has been manually separated from the frame.   
     
     
         10 . The CAM walker of  claim 7 , wherein the engagement area comprises a planar surface and a pattern of protrusions extending outwardly from the planar surface, the protrusions sized and oriented to engage the opposing surface of the brace device at locations corresponding to the protrusions. 
     
     
         11 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein the collar assembly has lateral and medial flexible engagement members and at least one flexible strap, the lateral and medial, flexible engagement members and the flexible strap having respective, opposing ends interconnected to each other, the engagement members and flexible strap having respective inner surfaces defining a substantially cylindrical volume having a circumference sized to circumferentially receive the brace device therein;
 wherein the inner surfaces of the engagement members and the flexible strap comprise the engagement area;   wherein the flexible strap is adjustable to transmit a radially inward force on the engagement area over 360° of the circumference.   
     
     
         12 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein the brace device is selected from the group consisting of a cast, a splint, and a bandage. 
     
     
         13 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises:
 an anterior ankle-foot orthosis configured to be selectively fittable to, and manually removable from, the anterior portion of the frame;   wherein the anterior ankle-foot orthosis comprises a longitudinally extending stay and at least one pair of transversely extending fingers; and   wherein the at least one pair of transversely extending finger's comprise finger engagement areas; and   wherein the proximal end of the frame comprises engagement portions located to oppose the finger engagement areas when the anterior ankle-foot orthosis is fitted to the frame.   
     
     
         14 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the frame comprises a proximal edge and the collar assembly comprises a distally oriented slot adapted to receive the proximal edge therein when the collar assembly is fitted to the frame. 
     
     
         15 . A. CAM walker configured for use with a brace device, wherein the brace device is configured to be worn on a lower extremity of a user and received in the CAM walker, the CAM walker comprising:
 a frame comprising posterior and anterior portions, and configured to control ankle movement of the lower extremity, the frame having distal and proximal ends adapted to operatively engage portions of a foot and a calf, respectively; and   a collar assembly configured to be selectively fittable to, and manually separable from, the proximal end of the frame;   wherein the brace device is interposed between the collar assembly and the lower extremity when worn on the lower extremity and received in the frame of the CAM walker;   wherein the collar assembly has an engagement area oriented and configured such that when the collar assembly is fitted to the proximal end of the frame, the engagement area contacts an opposing surface of the brace device;   wherein a distance between the distal and proximal ends of the frame define a first lever arm having a first length, wherein the frame is configured to reduce force on the foot during gait as a function of the first lever arm, and wherein the engagement area is configured to extend to locations proximal to the proximal end of the frame and to engage the brace device at said locations to define a second lever arm having a second length greater than the first length, thereby reducing force on a plantar surface of the foot when received in the CAM walker;   wherein the second length of the second lever arm is greater than the first length of the first lever arm by about 30% to about 40% of the first length;   wherein the collar assembly further comprises a collar closure system having portions configured for transmitting radially inward force on the engagement area of the collar assembly sufficient to substantially maintain an engagement of the brace device by the engagement area during a gait cycle associated with the lower extremity;   wherein the collar assembly has lateral and medial flexible engagement members and at least one flexible strap, the lateral and medial, flexible engagement members and the flexible strap having respective, opposing ends interconnected to each other, the engagement members and flexible strap having respective inner surfaces defining a substantially cylindrical volume having a circumference sized to circumferentially receive the brace device therein;   wherein the inner surfaces of the engagement members and the flexible strap comprise the engagement area;   wherein the flexible strap is adjustable to transmit a radially inward force on the engagement area over 360° of the circumference;   wherein the frame further comprises an anterior ankle-foot orthosis configured to be selectively fittable to, and manually removable from, the anterior portion of the frame;   wherein the anterior ankle-foot orthosis comprises a longitudinally extending stay and at least one pair of transversely extending fingers;   wherein the at least one pair of transversely extending fingers comprise finger engagement areas; and   wherein the proximal end of the frame comprises engagement portions located to oppose the finger engagement areas when the anterior ankle-foot orthosis is fitted to the frame.   
     
     
         16 . The CAM walker of  claim 15 , herein the proximal end of the frame comprises a proximal edge and the collar assembly comprises a distally oriented slot adapted to receive the proximal edge therein when the collar assembly is fitted to the frame. 
     
     
         17 . A CAM walker configured for use with a brace device, wherein the brace device is configured to be worn on a lower extremity of a user and received in the CAM walker, the CAM walker comprising:
 a frame comprising posterior and anterior portions, and configured to control ankle movement of the lower extremity, the frame having distal and proximal ends adapted to operatively engage portions of a foot and a calf, respectively; and   a collar assembly configured to be selectively fittable to, and manually separable from, the proximal end of the frame;   wherein the brace device is interposed between the collar assembly and the lower extremity when worn on the lower extremity and received in the frame of the CAM walker;   wherein the collar assembly has an engagement area oriented and configured such that when the collar assembly is fitted to the proximal end of the frame, the engagement area contrasts an opposing surface of the brace device;   wherein the engagement area of the collar assembly is adapted to engage opposing brace surfaces extending in a circumference defining a circumferential surface area, and is sized to engage at least 60% of the circumferential surface area of the opposing surface of the brace device;   wherein the collar assembly further comprises a collar closure system having portions configured for transmitting radially inward force on the engagement area of the collar assembly sufficient to substantially maintain an engagement of the brace device by the engagement area during a gait cycle associated with the lower extremity;   wherein the collar closure system comprises a spacer sized to extend between respective lateral and medial locations on the collar assembly and selectively securable therebetween to urge the engagement area radially inwardly to engage the brace device;   wherein the collar assembly comprises a posterior portion, and lateral and medial engagement members extending from the posterior portion;   wherein the CAM walker further comprises a posterior ankle-foot orthosis and an anterior ankle-foot orthosis, each ankle-foot orthosis located to contact respective posterior and anterior portions of the brace device when the brace device is received in the frame;   wherein the anterior ankle foot orthosis has a longitudinally extending reinforcing stay and respective pairs of lateral and medial fingers extending transversely from the reinforcing stay, the fingers configured to removably fasten the anterior ankle-foot orthosis relative to the frame; and   wherein one of the pairs of lateral and medial fingers is located both to engage the lateral and medial engagement members of the collar assembly when the collar assembly is selectively fitted to the proximal end of the frame and to engage lateral and medial portions of the frame when the collar assembly has been manually separated from the frame.   
     
     
         18 . The CAM walker of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the frame comprises a foot bed having lateral and medial foot bed sides;   wherein the frame has lateral and medial frame elements partially defining a frame circumference and a corresponding frame volume sized to receive both an ankle and the brace device therein;   wherein the lateral and medial frame elements comprise struts extending upwardly from the foot bed on each of the lateral and medial foot bed sides;   wherein the struts are transversely spaced to be proximate to the opposing surface of the brace device when worn on the lower extremity;   wherein the struts terminate in respective, upper ends; and   wherein the collar assembly is configured to be selectively fittable to, and manually separable from, the upper ends of the struts.   
     
     
         19 . The CAM walker of  claim 18 , wherein the collar assembly comprises a pair of paddles and at least one adjustable strap, each of the pair of paddles having respective anterior and posterior edges and having inner and outer surfaces the inner surfaces having a pattern of radially inwardly extending protrusions formed thereon, the at least one adjustable strap extending between opposing ones of the anterior and posterior edges of the paddles to interconnect the pair of paddles and define a collar circumference, the at least one adjustable strap extending over outer surfaces of each of the pair of paddles so that, upon adjustment of the at least one adjustable strap to decrease the collar circumference, a radially inward force is generated, whereby the pattern of radially inwardly extending protrusions engages the opposing surface of the brace device with the radially inward force. 
     
     
         20 . The CAM walker of  claim 19 , further comprising a posterior brace member of resiliently flexible material extending between the posterior edges of respective paddles.