Apparatus and method for imaging feet

Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining contours of a patient's foot ankle and lower leg. The apparatus includes an alignment structure that orientates the foot for imaging. The alignment structure includes at least one support member that engages the plantar surface of the foot substantially only in the immediate area of the lateral metatarsal heads of the foot, preferably the fifth metatarsal head. The support generates a dorsally-directed force that locks the midtarsal joint. The alignment structure further includes a saddle that engages the rearfoot and a laser beam for aligning the second metatarsal head with the distal one-third of the lower leg to place the subtalar joint in a neutral condition. The foot is thus suspended in space such that imaging is able to produce an accurate measurement of the subject areas of the foot, ankle and lower leg without distortion of the soft tissues or bone structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for use in determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
 a support and alignment assembly that orientates said foot for imaging, said support and alignment assembly comprising:
 at least one metatarsal head support member that engages a plantar surface of said foot substantially only beneath a lateral forefoot area of said foot; and 
 a mechanism that provides movement of said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction by said at least one support member so as to lock a midtarsal joint of said foot. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an imaging device that captures an image of at least one subject area of said foot and/or said associated ankle and lower leg so as to determine contours of said subject area with said midtarsal joint of said foot locked. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said imaging device comprises:
 a handheld imaging device that is freely moveable by an operator to capture images of subject areas over a bottom and top of said foot and said associated ankle and lower leg of said patient. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 at least one support member that engages said plantar surface of said foot substantially only beneath an area of said fourth and fifth metatarsal heads of said foot. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 a metatarsal head support member that engages said plantar surface of said foot substantially only beneath said fifth metatarsal head of said foot. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism that provides movement of said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 a foot engagement member that supports a rearfoot portion of said foot and a distal aspect of said associated leg and that is mounted for selective movement relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said foot engagement member comprises:
 a cradle that engages a rearfoot portion of said patient's foot and that is translatable towards and away from said at least metatarsal head support member. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism that provides movement of said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 a base on said support and alignment assembly that is adapted for manual movement of said assembly towards and away from said patient. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said support and alignment assembly comprises:
 a collapsible frame having an erected configuration for use and a collapsed configuration for transportation or storage. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said collapsible frame of said support and alignment assembly comprises:
 an upright frame section; 
 a horizontal frame section having the foot engagement member mounted thereon; and 
 at least one hinge interconnecting said upright and horizontal frame sections so that said frame sections are selectively pivotable apart to said erected configuration for use and to said collapsed configuration for transportation or storage. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said upright section of said frame comprises:
 open end and side areas that expose plantar, side and upper surfaces of said foot for imaging by a portable imaging device. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 at least one metatarsal head support member that is adjustable vertically on said upright section of said frame assembly for use with longer and shorter feet. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 at least one metatarsal head support member that is adjustable laterally on said upright section of said frame assembly for use with wider and narrower feet. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 first and second metatarsal head support members mounted to said upright section of said frame assembly for use with right and left feet. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second metatarsal head support members comprise:
 first and second metatarsal head support members mounted on opposite sides of said upright section of said frame assembly for use with right and left feet. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second metatarsal head support members comprise:
 first and second support members slidingly mounted as an opposing pair to said upright section of said frame assembly so as to be movable between opposite sides of said frame assembly for use with right and left feet. 
 
     
     
       17. A method for determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one metatarsal head support member that engages a plantar surface of said foot substantially only beneath a lateral forefoot area of said foot; 
 moving said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction by a said at least one support member so as to lock a midtarsal joint of said foot; and 
 capturing an image of at least one subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg so as to determine contours of said subject area with said midtarsal joint of said foot locked. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of capturing an image of said at least one subject area comprises:
 capturing an image of said at least one subject area by directing a digital imaging device over a bottom and top of said foot and over said associated ankle and lower leg of said patient. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of providing at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 providing at least one metatarsal head support member that engages said plantar surface of said foot substantially only beneath an area of fourth and fifth metatarsal heads of said foot. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of providing said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 providing a metatarsal head support member that engages said plantar surface of said foot substantially only beneath said fifth metatarsal head of said foot. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of providing said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 providing a support and alignment assembly that orientates said foot for imaging and that has said at least one metatarsal head support member mounted thereon. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of providing a support and alignment assembly comprises:
 providing a support and alignment assembly having a frame that is collapsible from an erected configuration for use to a collapsed configuration for transportation or storage. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of moving said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction by said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 engaging said foot with a foot engagement member of said support and alignment assembly; and 
 translating said foot engagement member towards said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot moves into contact with said at least one metatarsal head support member and is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction thereby. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of moving said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction by said at least one metatarsal head support member comprises:
 maintaining said foot in alignment with said support and alignment assembly; and 
 translating said support and alignment assembly towards said foot so that said at least one metatarsal head support member moves into contact with said lateral forefoot area of said foot and said lateral forefoot area is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction thereby. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of moving said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction comprises:
 positioning a plantar surface of a heel of said foot against a heel support member substantially in a common plane with said metatarsal head support member; and 
 plantarflexing said foot against said metatarsal head support member to reactively load said lateral forefoot area of said foot in said dorsal direction. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 constructing an orthotic device from said contours determined from said image captured of at least one subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of constructing an orthotic device comprises:
 constructing an orthotic shoe insert from contours determined from images captured of a plantar surface of said foot. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of constructing an orthotic device comprises:
 constructing an ankle foot orthotic from contours determined from images captured of an upper portion of said foot and from surfaces of said associated ankle and lower leg. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 determining a volume of said subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg from said contours determined from images captured of said at least one subject area. 
 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of:
 constructing an orthotic device that cooperates with said subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg for which said volume has been determined. 
 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of constructing an orthotic device that cooperates with said subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg comprises:
 comparing said determined volume of said subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg with an interior volume of an article that receives said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg so as to determine a remaining volume within said article; and 
 constructing said orthotic device to have a volume that corresponds to said remaining volume within said article so that in combination with said orthotic device the subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg is received in said article with a desired degree of fit. 
 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of constructing an orthotic device that cooperates with said subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg comprises:
 constructing an orthotic device that surrounds said subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg to have a volume that corresponds to said determined volume of said subject area. 
 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of constructing said orthotic device that surrounds said subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg comprises:
 constructing an ankle-foot orthotic that engages an upper portion of said foot and surrounds sides of said associated ankle. 
 
     
     
       34. A method for determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, said method comprising:
 providing at least one metatarsal head support member that engages a plantar surface of said foot beneath one or more metatarsal heads of said foot with a plantar surface of a midfoot and a plantar surface of a rearfoot of said foot completely unobstructed;   moving said lateral forefoot area of said foot relative to said at least one metatarsal head support member so that said lateral forefoot area of said foot is reactively loaded in a dorsal direction by said at least one support member so as to lock a midtarsal joint of said foot; and   capturing an image of at least one subject area of said foot and/or associated ankle and lower leg so as to determine contours of said subject area with said midtarsal joint of said foot locked.    
     
     
       35. A method for determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, the method comprising:
 utilizing a support member to reactively load a plantar surface of a forefoot of the foot in a dorsal direction to lock a midtarsal joint of the foot with a plantar surface of a midfoot and a plantar surface of rearfoot of the foot completely unobstructed; and   capturing an image of at least one subject area of the foot and/or the associated ankle and lower leg so as to determine contours of the at least one subject area with the midtarsal joint of the foot locked.    
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35 wherein utilizing the support member to reactively load the plantar surface of the forefoot of the foot in the dorsal direction includes engaging the plantar surface with the support member beneath one or more metatarsal heads of said foot.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 35 wherein utilizing the support member to reactively load the plantar surface of the forefoot of the foot in the dorsal direction includes engaging the plantar surface substantially only beneath a lateral forefoot area of the foot.  
     
     
       38. The method of claim 35 wherein utilizing the support member to reactively load the plantar surface of the forefoot of the foot in the dorsal direction includes engaging the plantar surface of the forefoot with the support member substantially only beneath an area of fourth and fifth metatarsal heads of the foot.  
     
     
       39. The method of claim 35 wherein utilizing the support member to reactively load the plantar surface of the forefoot of the foot in the dorsal direction includes engaging the plantar surface of the forefoot with the support member substantially only beneath an area of a fifth metatarsal head of the foot.  
     
     
       40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
 prior to capturing the image, projecting a visual reference line onto a dorsal portion of the foot to assist in aligning the foot for imaging.    
     
     
       41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:
 adjusting the foot and the associated ankle and lower leg of the patient relative to the visual reference line such that a second metatarsal head and ray of the foot and a distal portion of an anterior section of the lower leg are aligned with each other.    
     
     
       42. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
 prior to capturing the image, positioning a subtalar joint of the foot in a neutral condition prior to capturing the image of the at least one subject area.    
     
     
       43. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
 prior to capturing the image, supporting an area of the rearfoot generally above a heel and behind the associated ankle of the foot in a saddle member.    
     
     
       44. The method of claim 35 wherein utilizing the support member to reactively load the plantar surface of the forefoot of the foot in the dorsal direction includes adjusting a position of the support member relative to a frame to which the support member is coupled.  
     
     
       45. An apparatus for use in determining contours of a foot and/or an associated ankle and lower leg of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a support and alignment assembly to assist in orientating the foot for imaging, the support and alignment assembly comprising:
 at least one support member configured to engage a plantar surface of a forefoot of the foot to assist in locking a midtarsal joint of the foot for imaging; and 
 a light-projecting device configured to project a visual reference line onto a dorsal portion of the foot to assist in aligning the foot for imaging.  
   
     
     
       46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the support and alignment assembly further comprises a frame structure, and wherein the at least one support member is movably coupled to the frame structure to enable adjustment of the at least one support member to accommodate feet of different sizes.  
     
     
       47. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the support and alignment assembly further comprises a frame structure, and wherein the light-projecting device is coupled to the frame structure and oriented to project the visual reference line toward a foot receiving area between opposing sides of the frame structure.  
     
     
       48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein, when the foot is received in the foot receiving area with the subtalar joint of the foot in a neutral condition, the light-projecting device is oriented to project the visual reference line to align with a second metatarsal head and ray of the foot and a distal portion of the lower leg.  
     
     
       49. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the support and alignment assembly further comprises a rearfoot saddle member configured to engage and support an area of the rearfoot generally above a heel and behind the associated ankle of the foot.