Methods and systems for sizing an orthotic device

Abstract

A method for selecting size of an orthotic for a foot is described, where the method comprises collecting certain measurements for a foot, such as a length corresponding to a distance from a proximal point of the heel to a base of a metatarsal head and, optionally, a width w corresponding to a distance from the medial edge of the foot at approximately the base of the first metatarsal head to the lateral edge of the foot at approximately the base of the fifth metatarsal head, and, optionally, a height h corresponding to the height of the lateral foot arch relative to ground. The height h is measured, in some cases, with the foot in an adjusted or restored condition. The measurements are used to recommend or to select a size of an orthotic product.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for selecting size of a foot orthotic, comprising:
 determining a length   corresponding to a distance from a back of a heel to approximately a base of a metatarsal head of a foot;   determining a height h of a lateral arch of the foot, the height h corresponding to a distance between a surface on which the foot is placed to a plantar surface of the foot approximately at an intersection defined by a lateral cuneiform bone, a navicular bone and a cuboid bone;   selecting a foot orthotic size based on length   and height h.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length   is taken as the distance from the back of the heel to the base of the first metatarsal head. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length   is taken as the distance from the back of the heel to the base to the base of the fifth metatarsal head. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length   is taken from a most proximal point of the base of the heel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a height h comprises determining the height h corresponding to a distance between a surface on which the foot is placed to a plantar surface of the foot in an area lateral to the intersection of the lateral cuneiform, navicular and cuboid bones. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a length   , determining a height h or both is performed on a foot manipulated to adjust one or more bones of the foot to a restored position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said determining is performed on a foot that is manually manipulated to adjust one or more bones of the foot to a restored position. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said determining is performed on a foot that is manipulated using a device or instrument to adjust one or more bones of the foot to a restored position. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more bones comprise one or more bones in the midfoot. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bones in the midfoot comprise bones in the lateral cuneiform-navicular-cuboid (LCNC) complex. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a width w corresponding to a distance from a medial edge of the foot at approximately the base of the first metatarsal head to a lateral edge of the foot at approximately the base of the fifth metatarsal head. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting a foot orthotic size comprises selecting a foot orthotic size based on length   and height h and a foot orthotic width based on width w. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting a foot orthotic size comprises selecting a foot orthotic size based on length   and a foot orthotic width based on width w. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting further comprises selecting a foot orthotic size from a library of sizes for foot orthotics. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the library comprises a library of orthotic sizes based on length   and height h, wherein each size is available in the library at more than one width. 
     
     
         16 . A method for selecting a size of a foot orthotic, comprising:
 determining at least two of the following measurements for a foot having a heel, a midfoot, a medial edge and a lateral foot arch:
 (i) a length   corresponding to a distance from a proximal point of the heel to a base of a metatarsal head; 
 (ii) a width w corresponding to a distance from the medial edge of the foot at approximately a base of a first metatarsal head to the lateral edge of the foot at approximately a base of a fifth metatarsal head; and 
 (iii) a height h corresponding to a height of the lateral foot arch relative to ground; 
   recommending a size of a foot orthotic based on the determined measurements.   
     
     
         17 . A system to determine size of a foot orthotic, comprising:
 instructions to measure a length   corresponding to a distance from a proximal heel point to a base of the first or the fifth metatarsal head;   a size selection matrix that correlates length   to a foot orthotic size.   
     
     
         18 . A system to determine size of a foot orthotic, comprising:
 instructions to measure at least two of:
 (i) a length   corresponding to a distance from a proximal heel point to a base of the first or the fifth metatarsal head; 
 (ii) a width w corresponding to a distance from the medial edge of the foot at approximately the base of the first metatarsal head to the lateral edge of the foot at approximately the base of the fifth metatarsal head; and 
 (iii) a height h corresponding to the height of the lateral foot arch relative to ground; 
   and   a size selection matrix that correlates the two measurements to an orthotic size.   
     
     
         19 . A library of foot orthotics, comprising:
 a collection of foot orthotics, each orthotic in the collection assigned a size that corresponds to a measurement of length   taken as a distance from a proximal heel point to a base of the first or the fifth metatarsal head; wherein each size is provided in at least two different widths w.