Ankle brace that heals and supports the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon

摘要

An ankle brace including a foot portion, an ankle portion with a strap for securing the brace to the user and a single pneumatic air bladder system. The air bladder system includes a distal U-shaped chamber which surrounds the user's plantar fascia connected via two tapered communicating channels to two proximal chambers positioned on either side of the user's Achilles tendon. Pressure applied to the distal U-shaped chamber results in air flow to the proximal chambers. Air flows back to the distal chamber when that pressure is released. Expansion and contraction of the distal and proximal chambers massages the underlying plantar fascia and Achilles tendon.

主权项

1. A medical device for treating a lower extremity of a user comprising:
a foot sleeve having a length configured for extending along a longitudinal axis of a user's foot, a heel portion and an arch portion, an ankle sleeve coupled to the foot sleeve, and a pneumatic air bladder system including,
a substantially U-shaped air chamber positioned in the foot sleeve, the U-shaped air chamber having a first arm extending laterally along the length of the foot sleeve and within a first lateral portion of the arch portion, a second arm extending laterally along the length of the foot sleeve and within a second lateral portion of the arch portion and a third arm coupling a distal end of the first arm to a distal end of the second arm, wherein the entire U-shaped air chamber extends substantially along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, anda pair of bilateral, elongate air chambers located in the ankle sleeve and fluidly coupled to the U-shaped air chamber.