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US-20260124056-A1 - ORTHOPEDIC WALKER

US20260124056A1US 20260124056 A1US20260124056 A1US 20260124056A1US-20260124056-A1

Abstract

An orthopedic walker includes a body formed from at least one polymeric material and having a unitary construction. The body forms first and second portions divided by a median plane and connected to one another by a footbed. The first and second portions extend from the footbed and form an interior volume for receiving a foot and lower leg of a user. The first and second portions are arranged to articulate about or from the median plane to expand and retract the interior volume. The body consists of the first and second portions, and the footbed inclusive of an outsole having a tread as a continuous structure formed unitarily from the at least one polymeric material. The at least one polymeric material is an expanded thermoplastic.

Inventors

  • Larus Gunnsteinsson
  • Sindri Pall Sigurdsson
  • Jane PRICE
  • Asdis BJORNSSON
  • Matthew Barrientos

Assignees

  • OSSUR ICELAND EHF

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251230

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An orthopedic walker, comprising: a body formed from at least one polymeric material and having a unitary construction; the body forming first and second portions divided by a median plane and connected to one another by a footbed, the first and second portions extending from the footbed and defining an interior volume arranged to receive a foot and lower leg of a user; wherein the footbed includes an outsole formed unitarily with the body from the at least one polymeric material; wherein the body forms an anterior opening extending along the body between the first and second portions; and the body forms a posterior opening extending along the body between the first and second portions; and wherein the first and second portions are resiliently articulable relative to the median plane to permit expansion and contraction of the interior volume.
  2. 2 . The orthopedic walker of claim 1 , wherein the anterior opening extends from a toe region of the body to a proximal edge of the body.
  3. 3 . The orthopedic walker of claim 1 , wherein the posterior opening extends from a proximal edge of the body toward the footbed.
  4. 4 . The orthopedic walker of claim 1 , wherein the anterior opening and the posterior opening remain at least partially open when the orthopedic walker is worn by the user.
  5. 5 . The orthopedic walker of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are arranged to deflect away from one another during donning of the orthopedic walker and to return toward one another.
  6. 6 . The orthopedic walker of claim 1 , further comprising at least one strap arranged to extend across at least one of the anterior opening or the posterior opening.
  7. 7 . The orthopedic walker of claim 6 , wherein the at least one strap cooperates with the body to form a circumferential securing system.
  8. 8 . The orthopedic walker of claim 1 , wherein the body and the outsole are formed from an expanded polymeric material.
  9. 9 . The orthopedic walker of claim 8 , wherein the expanded polymeric material comprises ethylene-vinyl acetate.
  10. 10 . The orthopedic walker of claim 1 , wherein the orthopedic walker is configured for use on either a right leg or a left leg of a user.
  11. 11 . An orthopedic walker, comprising: a unitary polymeric body defining a foot-receiving portion and a lower-leg-receiving portion, the unitary polymeric body having a semi-rigid construction; the unitary polymeric body defining an interior volume accessible through at least one longitudinal opening formed in the body, the longitudinal opening arranged for resilient expansion of the body during donning and contraction of the body; an outsole formed unitarily with and integrally from the unitary polymeric body; and an inflatable liner positioned within the interior volume, the inflatable liner comprising at least one bladder configured to selectively expand within the interior volume wherein inflation of the bladder urges the unitary polymeric body toward a closed configuration about the foot-receiving portion and the lower-leg-receiving portion.
  12. 12 . The orthopedic walker of claim 11 , further comprising a pump supported by the unitary polymeric body and fluidly coupled to the inflatable liner.
  13. 13 . The orthopedic walker of claim 12 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the inflatable liner and accessible from an exterior surface of the unitary polymeric body.
  14. 14 . The orthopedic walker of claim 11 , wherein the inflatable liner includes at least one bladder arranged to contact both the foot-receiving portion and the lower-leg-receiving portion.
  15. 15 . The orthopedic walker of claim 11 , wherein the inflatable liner is removable from the interior volume.
  16. 16 . The orthopedic walker of claim 11 , wherein the inflatable liner is configured to fill voids between the interior volume of the unitary polymeric body and anatomical features of a user.
  17. 17 . The orthopedic walker of claim 11 , wherein the unitary polymeric body provides structural support to the foot and lower leg without a separate rigid frame.
  18. 18 . The orthopedic walker of claim 11 , wherein the at least one longitudinal opening extends from a toe region of the body to a proximal edge of the body.
  19. 19 . The orthopedic walker of claim 11 , wherein the outsole is configured to contact a ground surface without attachment of a separate outsole component.
  20. 20 . An orthopedic walker, comprising: a unitary body formed from an expanded polymeric material, the unitary body defining first and second portions separated by both an anterior longitudinal opening and a posterior longitudinal opening extending between a toe region and a proximal region of the body; the unitary body including a footbed having an outsole formed integrally with the unitary body; a plurality of straps extending across the anterior longitudinal opening and the posterior longitudinal opening to secure the first and second portions about a foot and lower leg of a user; and an inflatable liner positioned within the unitary body and including at least one bladder inflatable by a pump mounted to the unitary body; wherein the unitary body is resiliently deformable to open during donning and to return toward a closed configuration.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/528,971, filed Nov. 17, 2021. This application incorporates by reference U.S. application Ser. No. 16/266,925, filed on Feb. 4, 2019, and U.S. provisional application No. 63/213,391, filed Jun. 22, 2021, and U.S. provisional application No. 63/115,804, filed Nov. 19, 2020. BACKGROUND Sprains, fractures, and soft tissue injuries involving the lower leg and foot commonly result from household accidents, workplace incidents, and sports-related trauma. Other wounds or sensitive areas in the lower limbs may result from surgical intervention or the effect of certain medical conditions. These injuries affect a broad range of individuals and, while not life-threatening, can increase in severity without treatment, stabilization, and/or protection. Prior art solutions for treating, stabilizing, and/or protecting the lower limb after injury or surgery can be categorized into two approaches: casting systems and orthopedic braces. Each approach can provide the required rigid support to a user's limb, with distinct disadvantages and drawbacks. Known casting systems are typically fabricated directly on a user's limb and conform to the unique anatomy. The casting systems comprise an interior padding and an exterior layer of materials moldable in a first state before transitioning into a rigid material state, e.g., molded plasters or resins applied to a limb and then hardened in place. The casting systems are often difficult and messy to create, are not adjustable once hardened, are not easily removed without being destroyed, are not reusable, are not breathable or hygienic, and must be worn for long, uninterrupted periods. Orthopedic braces include a wide range of splints, braces, and walking boots. The braces can be mass-produced and form complex multi-component systems that allow adjustment or tightening to a user's limb. Such multi-component systems often include several straps or other securing means, with rigid plastic shells or splints for securing a padded structure around a limb, enclosing or wrapping the limb in both a soft or padded internal covering, with a harder frame or external shell. The complexity of the multi-component systems and the cost of the required materials render orthopedic braces uneconomical for personalized construction conforming to the anatomy or treatment needs. There is a need for a stabilizing solution adaptable to a user's anatomy at a low cost, and that is adjustable about the limb of a user, with fewer or no complex multi-component systems. Further, both the unadaptable casting systems and the complex orthopedic braces are bulky and heavy. Many conventional walkers are at least 750 grams, and many are at least 850 g. The exterior surface of a cast may be rough, while the surface profile of an orthopedic brace is uneven, and each can frequently disrupt the use of clothing, furniture, and bedding or cause uncomfortable contact against another limb of the user. There is a further need for a more comfortable solution around the limb and lighter and streamlined in construction, and more convenient in use. An additional challenge in existing devices, including conventional strut walkers, is the unyielding, uncomfortable, and inconvenient nature of existing immobilization techniques. For example, conventional strut walkers comprise a footplate and two unyielding struts (frequently metal) arranged with a shell to immobilize a portion of a user's anatomy. The unyielding characteristics of conventional devices, provided for immobilization, yield a device that is difficult to adapt to a user's individual needs and dimensions, especially around the lower leg, particularly because existing devices are often provided based on a user's shoe size but not based on the size of their lower leg. There is a need for a device that provides needed immobilization while minimizing the challenges presented by the unyielding nature of existing devices. Users find orthopedic walkers uncomfortable due to leg length discrepancies between the healthy leg and the impaired leg donning the walker. Most orthopedic walkers have a heel height of at least 34 mm due to the need to cushion and stabilize the heel. The height results from the multiple layers and thickness required to stabilize the heel. A slight difference in midsole and heel height can cause problems with the user's gait and contribute to the lower back, hip, ankle, and knee pain. The disclosure's orthopedic walker or walking boot bridges the gap between the two prior art solutions, providing the advantages of a solution adjustably conforming to the individual anatomy and without the related drawbacks of added weight, complexity, and cost. SUMMARY An orthopedic walker or walking boot is arranged with a construction to facilitate donning and doffing and provide a limb with reliable protection and support. The walker may be configured as having a semi-rigi