Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1455—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form with special properties
  • A43B7/146—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form with special properties provided with acupressure points or means for foot massage
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/18—Joint supports, e.g. instep supports
  • A43B7/20—Ankle-joint supports or holders
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
  • A61H9/0078—Pneumatic massage with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
  • A61H9/0078—Pneumatic massage with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs
  • A61H9/0085—Inflated by user's body movement, e.g. ambulatory devices

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for massaging a lower leg, with a floor cushion arranged in the sole region and a bladder arranged in the region of the lower leg, a hose-like connection being formed between the interior spaces of the floor cushion and the bladder.
• Devices for treating hypostatic leg disorders such as B. varicose veins, chronic phlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency and the aftercare or prevention of thromboses are becoming increasingly important due to the widespread use of such diseases.
• the return flow of blood directed towards the heart in such ailments arises as a result of the changed veins. Since these anatomical changes are irreversible, the ongoing reflux causes an increasing congestion of the blood in the damaged veins of the lower leg. The congestion causes the blood to pass from the veins into the surrounding muscles and consequently to harden them. The increasingly hardened muscles cannot apply elastic pressure to the jammed veins and promote blood drainage to the heart.
• WO 90/09115 describes footwear which has an upper leather in which a bladder filled with a fluid is arranged, which is connected to a pump via a regulator, the regulator being set up to maintain a constant pressure generated by the pump to maintain the bladder.
• These shoes are designed to provide optimal support and support for a foot. For this reason, the bladder essentially completely encompasses the instep and ankle area of the foot.
• no pulsating and targeted pressure that supports the blood return function can be exerted on the veins.
• US 5 353 525 A discloses an ankle support which is intended to prevent an ankle injury.
• This ankle brace has a frame with a "heel stirrup" that has a lower part and inner and outer side parts that are substantially parallel to a lower leg.
• the inner side parts have a vinyl air cushion film as they do
• This ankle support is not suitable for the treatment of hypostatic leg disorders, since it cannot be used to improve the flow of blood back towards the heart due to its design
• a very tight fit of the ankle support can inhibit the blood flow in the foot, but this has the disadvantage that blood congestion can occur over the ankle.
• the therapeutic measure is to counteract the ankle area in hypostatic leg conditions, which is counterproductive , because of the traffic jam pressure in the veins is generally increased, which can lead to an increased transfer of blood from the veins into the surrounding muscle tissue.
• a sports shoe which has become known which has a flat pump chamber in the heel region of its sole, which is connected to inflatable bladders which are arranged in the upper shoe in such a way that they support the instep and ankle.
• inflatable bladders which are arranged in the upper shoe in such a way that they support the instep and ankle.
• valves are provided which open when a defined pressure is exceeded and allow air to escape from the bubbles.
• the shoe described serves to protect the foot and ankle area while doing sports. In particular, a so-called "over-ankle" is to be prevented.
• this shoe is also unable to achieve an effect which improves the venous return of blood, since, due to the design, there is no targeted pressure on veins or therapeutically useful areas in the foot or ankle area is exercised.
• An object of the present invention is to support the physiological, functional functions of the blood-draining leg of the leg circulation and to avoid the disadvantages of the devices mentioned above.
• a frame which can be inserted into the interior of a shoe is provided with a base part and at least one side part which projects upwards therefrom, to which the bladder is attached and the bladder on the side part
• the frame is positioned in such a way that it comes to rest in the ankle area above the vena perforantis, whereby when the foot appears, the body weight acting on the floor cushion exerts pressure on the leg's bladder.
• the backflow of blood in the legs can also be supported by attaching a bladder to the side part of a shoe on the inside of the lower leg and positioning the bladder in the shoe so that it lies in the ankle area above the perforated vein, whereby Occurrence of the foot due to the body weight acting on the cushion of the floor, the bladder is exerted on the leg.
• the vena perforantis is of particular importance due to its action as a valve for blood flow back in the leg area. Failure of this valve function is the cause of many vein complaints. If you support the vena perforantis by exerting a rhythmic pressure, synchronized with the walking movement, to act as a reflux valve in your task, this can lead to a decisive relief from vein problems in the leg area. Also in the prophylaxis of venous disorders, it proves useful to support the function of the perforated vein by applying rhythmic pressure.
• a favorable embodiment consists in that a resilient placeholder is enclosed in the floor cushion, which increases the work volume in the floor cushion when the foot is relieved and causes a collapse of the bladder in correlation to the volume shift.
• the springy placeholder being made of open-cell foam.
• an advantageous embodiment is that the bladder, the floor cushion and the hose-like connecting piece between them are made in one piece.
• a pocket to be attached to the bladder and / or the hose-like connecting piece, on its surfaces facing away from the foot, which can accommodate the side part.
• a favorable embodiment consists in that the side part is designed as a U-shaped bracket projecting upwards from the bottom part.
• an advantageous embodiment consists in that a fluid is introduced into the bladder, into the base cushion and into the hose-like connecting piece via a valve, which is located on the side of the bladder facing away from the foot, and / or or can be left out.
• a bore is provided in the upper region of the side part for receiving the valve and thus for fixing the bladder on the frame.
• both the bladder and the base cushion and the tube-like connection between them have proven to be advantageous for both the bladder and the base cushion and the tube-like connection between them to be made of film-weldable plastic.
• Fixing the frame to the leg is facilitated in that the frame is provided with an elastic band attached in the upper region of the side part, which can be fastened to the lower leg with a fastener.
• Fig. 1 simplifies a frame in perspective view with attached elements bladder, floor cushion and hose-like connection;
• Figure 2 is a vertical section along the longitudinal axis through a shoe, in which a bladder, a floor cushion and a hose-like connection is integrated.
• Fig. 3 schematically shows a frame with foldable bracket, as shown in Fig 1, the fastening tape is not shown in the figure.
• Fig. 4 shows a frame, as shown in Fig. 3, with attached bladder, pressure pad and hose-like connection.
• Fig. 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of the invention, as it can be used in therapeutic practice.
• the physiologically significant effect is based on a bladder 1, which is located above the perforating vein. It is crucial for the success of the therapy that the bladder is located above the point where the perforated vein emerges on the back of the ankle under the muscles. The desired effect can only be achieved if the bladder is positioned above this point. The positioning is done by individually adapting the frame 8 to the respective foot.
• This design causes the bladder 1 to be held in place.
• Clinical trials have shown that the greatest therapeutic benefit can be drawn from the rhythmic, dynamic pressure exerted on the perforated vein. For this reason, the pressure is generated via a floor cushion 2 located in the heel area, which is compressed by the body weight in the rhythm of the walking movement.
• the entire volume area of the cushion is filled with a cancellous material 4, e.g. B. an open-cell foam with high elasticity.
• the floor cushion 4 is connected to the bladder 1 by a hose-like connecting piece 3, which in the embodiment shown has the shape of a wide hose which, after a few centimeters, divides into two strands and then unites again.
• the bladder 1 shown in FIG Shaping of the connecting piece 3 has the advantage that this creates a recess in the ankle area and that the pressure is not passed on from the floor cushion 2 to the bladder 1 to cause pressure on the ankle. Installation of the entire device in a shoe is also facilitated by this special shape of the connecting piece 3.
• the expansion of the pressure cushion 2 during the relief phase of the foot leads to a shift in the working volume from the bladder 1 to the floor cushion 2, which causes the bladder 1 to collapse.
• the substance that is moved in the floor cushion-connector-bladder system is a fluid.
• the floor cushion 2 is glued to the bottom of the frame 8 in the arrangement shown.
• a partially elastic band 10 which is placed around the lower leg, is attached to the stand.
• the band is designed so that it reacts elastically to venous pressure.
• the adaptation to different lower leg diameters takes place in the illustration shown in FIG. 1 via a Velcro fastener.
• other closures that do not take up too much space are also conceivable.
• FIG. 2 shows a shoe 5 with an integrated therapy unit consisting of a floor cushion in the heel area 2, which is filled with an open-pore, elastic material 4, and a bladder 1 which is placed over the vena perforantis and a tube-like connecting part 3, shown.
• the integration of the therapy unit in a shoe has the advantage that there is no need to put on and adapt the frame 8 and only the shoe has to be put on. This makes it much easier for the frail patient to put on the therapy unit.
• the individual elements must be positioned individually in the shoe, according to the respective foot.
• the use of such a shoe also in the leisure sector seems useful in many ways. So for longer walks, as z. B. can occur when visiting cities, the venous system is supported and symptoms of fatigue are prevented. Even on longer flights, blood return from the legs is supported towards the heart by wearing such shoes in conjunction with simple exercises, e.g. B. up and down the soles of the feet, possible.
• a frame 8 is shown, in which the side part 7 is shaped as a U-shaped bracket.
• the side part 7 can be folded down so that it comes to lie flat on the bottom part of the frame 8. This measure facilitates the transport of the frame or enables simple and space-saving storage. If it is not therapeutically necessary to wear the device permanently, it can easily be stowed in a pocket and put on if necessary.
• Fig. 4 shows a frame 8, as shown in Fig. 3, with attached bladder 1, bottom pad 2 and hose-like connector 3, wherein a pocket 6 is attached to the surfaces of the bladder lund and hose-like connector 3 facing away from the foot, the can accommodate the side part 7 formed as a bracket.
• the bladder 1 and the hose-like connecting piece 3 are fastened to the frame 8 with the pocket 6, which is located on the outer surfaces of the two parts, by pulling the pocket 6 over the side part 7.
• the pocket 6 is constructed in such a way that the side part 7 fits in completely and snugly.
• the bag 6 is made of a tear-resistant, non-elastic and film-weldable plastic. The construction just described simplifies the assembly of the device considerably.
• the bladder 1, the floor cushion 2 and the hose-like connecting piece 3 can thus be transported separately from the frame 8 and easily stowed away.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=3676585

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2000
  • 2000-04-03 AT AT0055900A patent/AT408825B/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-04-02 DE DE50113034T patent/DE50113034D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-04-02 AT AT01921003T patent/ATE373459T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-04-02 ES ES01921003T patent/ES2293983T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-04-02 AU AU2001248125A patent/AU2001248125A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-04-02 EP EP01921003A patent/EP1296632B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-04-02 WO PCT/AT2001/000094 patent/WO2001074288A2/fr active IP Right Grant
• 2002
  • 2002-10-01 US US10/262,535 patent/US20030120190A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events