The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 08, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 05, 1999
Jeffrey L. Jensen, Highlands Ranch, CO (US);
Paul P. Burek, Aurora, CO (US);
Rose Biomedical Research, Denver, CO (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and an apparatus for treating patients having ulcerations of the lower foot, including patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. The brace generally includes a pair of rigid shells, a fastening system for joining the shells together to form a unified brace and a combination of bladders which engage the patient's leg and ankle to off-weight the plantar surface, prevent plantar flexing and minimize shearing forces to the plantar surface. The volume of the bladders may be adjusted by the addition or removal of a filler in order to maintain a uniform pressure between the bladders and the patient's leg. The filler contained in the bladders preferably does not undergo significant expansion or contraction in response to temperature or altitude changes. The brace also preferably includes a series of full-length bladders and a specially designed adjustable bladder located within the ankle and heel region of the brace to maximize off-weighting and to prevent the foot from moving downward toward the footbed of the brace. In addition to providing an effective means for off-weighting the plantar surface of a patient, the brace is reuseable, easy to apply and fully adjustable to accommodate changes in a patient's leg size.