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Publication Number
US-7458948-B2
Publication Date
2008-12-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A heel-supporting boot capable of supporting a leg of a person in a supine reclining position, such as a bedridden patient, to reduce the risk of bed sores, foot drop, etc. The boot includes a flexible and compressible body having leg and forefoot portions, a continuous cavity within the leg and forefoot portions, an anterior opening to permit a patient's foot and leg to pass therethrough into the cavity, oppositely-disposed lateral regions defined by the leg portion and separated by the anterior opening, and an adjustable closing feature for closing the anterior opening with the lateral regions. A stitch pattern is disposed along at least the forefoot rim, and preferably also the lateral rims, bounding the anterior opening. The stitch pattern is sufficiently close to the forefoot rim and optionally the lateral rims to structurally reinforce the forefoot rim and inhibit elastic and plastic deformation of the forefoot portion.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a heel-supporting boot for a person lying in a supine position. The boot includes a body formed of flexible and compressible foam material having a leg portion and a forefoot portion projecting transversely therefrom, with a continuous cavity defined within the leg portion and forefoot portion. The leg portion supports the patient's lower leg, the heel is suspended within the cavity to reduce heel pressure, and the forefoot portion supports the patient's foot in an upright position to prevent foot drop.
The boot further includes an anterior opening defined in the leg portion and forefoot portion to permit a patient's foot and lower leg to pass therethrough into the cavity. The anterior opening is bounded by oppositely-disposed lateral regions separated by the anterior opening, with the opening further bounded by lateral rims and a forefoot rim. Complementary cavity size and shape support the lower leg above a bed on which the patient reclines.
To address structural reinforcement and deformation control, the boot includes means for adjustably closing a portion of the anterior opening with the lateral regions of the leg portion. The closing means is described structurally using straps and buckles, with fastening means securing the straps by overlapping itself. A stitch pattern comprises stitches disposed along substantially the entire forefoot rim and, in one embodiment, along the entire lateral rims as well, where the stitch pattern thickness-wise narrows and compresses the foam material so that the stitches are recessed in opposite surfaces.
The stitch pattern is sufficiently close to the rims to structurally reinforce the forefoot rim and inhibit elastic and plastic deformation of the forefoot portion, including deformation associated with sagging into plantar flexion, flaring or flattening, and buckling or folding under friction with bed sheets.
Claims Coverage
The partial document provides two independent claims: clm-00001 and clm-00019. Both independent claims cover a heel-supporting foam boot with a complementary leg/forefoot cavity that suspends the heel to reduce heel pressure and supports the foot upright to prevent foot drop, including an adjustably closable anterior opening and a rim-based stitch pattern that structurally reinforces the rims and inhibits elastic/plastic deformation. Across the independent claims, the stitch-pattern details include constant spacing for a first stitch and a second stitch with a nonconstant distance, and one claim specifies multiple rows along lateral rims plus the forefoot rim.
Supine heel-suspending foam cavity with upright forefoot to prevent foot drop
A heel-supporting boot for a person lying in a supine position, the boot including a body formed of flexible and compressible foam material having a leg portion and a forefoot portion contiguous with and projecting in a transverse direction thereto; a continuous cavity defined within the leg and forefoot portions; an anterior opening permitting a patient's foot and lower leg to pass into the cavity; and complementary cavity size and shape so that the leg portion supports the patient's lower leg, the heel of the patient's foot is suspended within the cavity to reduce heel pressure, and the forefoot portion supports the patient's foot in an upright position to prevent foot drop.
Adjustably closable anterior opening with lateral regions
Means for adjustably closing a portion of the anterior opening in the leg portion with the lateral regions of the leg portion.
Rim-bounding recessed stitch pattern to reinforce forefoot rim and inhibit deformation
A stitch pattern comprising at least a first stitch disposed along substantially the entire forefoot rim bounding the anterior opening, the stitch pattern thickness-wise narrowing and compressing the foam material along the forefoot rim so that the first stitch is recessed in opposite surfaces of the foam material, the stitch pattern being sufficiently close to the forefoot rim to structurally reinforce the forefoot rim and inhibit elastic and plastic deformation of the forefoot portion.
Strap-and-buckle closure with overlapping self-securing fastening
The closing means comprising straps attached to the leg portion, a buckle associated with each of the straps, and fastening means on the straps, each strap being attached to one of the lateral regions and sufficiently long to traverse the anterior opening, pass through the buckle associated therewith, and overlap itself so that the fastening means secures the strap to itself.
Multiple rows along lateral rims and forefoot rim with constant and nonconstant stitch spacing
A stitch pattern comprising multiple rows of stitches disposed along substantially the entire lateral rims and the entire forefoot rim bounding the anterior opening; the stitch pattern thickness-wise narrowing and compressing the foam material along the forefoot rim so that the stitches are recessed in opposite surfaces of the foam material; the stitch pattern being sufficiently close thereto to structurally reinforce the forefoot rim and inhibit plastic deformation of the forefoot portion; the stitches comprising a first stitch spaced a substantially constant distance from the forefoot rim and a second stitch closer to the lateral and forefoot rims than the first stitch and spaced a nonconstant distance from the forefoot rim.
Across the independent claims, the main inventive coverage combines a flexible and compressible foam boot for a supine person with a leg/forefoot cavity that suspends the heel to reduce heel pressure while supporting the foot upright to prevent foot drop, an anterior opening adjustably closable with lateral regions using straps and buckles with overlapping self-securing fastening, and a recessed stitch pattern along rim(s) bounding the anterior opening that structurally reinforces the rims and inhibits elastic and plastic deformation, with one independent claim further specifying multiple rows on lateral rims and the forefoot rim and distinguishing constant versus nonconstant spacing for first and second stitches.
Stated Advantages
Reduces heel pressure by suspending the heel within the cavity.
Prevents foot drop by supporting the patient's foot in an upright position.
Structurally reinforces the forefoot rim.
Inhibits elastic and plastic deformation of the forefoot portion.
Inhibits plastic deformation of the forefoot portion (in the multiple-row embodiment).
Documented Applications
Use in a supine position for a person lying in a supine position, including supporting the lower leg above a bed on which the patient reclines.
Heel-supporting use to reduce heel pressure and prevent foot drop for a patient's foot and lower leg passing into the cavity.
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