US3905376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pedicure prosthesis for the metatarsal arch of the foot
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-30
•
Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1993-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A support for the metatarsal arch of the foot is formed by injection of a self-curing non-foamable fluid material into the arch support enclosure. This fluid material automatically cures into a rigid support or prosthesis for the arch of the foot. This polymerizable material is normally contained in either a insert under the foot or by a balloon-like material, in either case the polymerizable material is pumped or injected into the resulting enclosure. The same method can be used to form in situ prosthesis casts for any part of the body, that is, to form splints, braces, etc., contoured directly to the portion of the human body for which it is designed to lend support. The self-curing material is preferably a cross-linkable prepolymerized material which includes an initiator, and the self-curing is achieved by the application of mild temperatures, i.e., not greater than 120*F. Also, the self-curing can be achieved by the application of actinic radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 Amos N Johnson
- 👤 Richard D Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/04; A43; A43B; A43B1/00; A43B1/0027; A43B1/0036; A43B7/00; A43B7/14; A43B7/28; A61L; A61L15/00; A61L15/07; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
The process for preparing a prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which comprises: (a) placing a fluid, curable, non-foamable material in a prosthesis enclosure, said fuid self-curable material being comprised of an admixture of a cross-linkable prepolymerized material and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (b) curing in situ said fluid curable material at a temperature between 59* and 120*F. to form a rigid cured material which conforms to the shape of the affected portion of the body and which has essentially the same volume in the pre-cured states as in the cured state, there being no gas given off during the curing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
The process for preparing a prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which comprises: (a) placing a fluid, curable, non-foamable material in a prosthesis enclosure, said fuid self-curable material being comprised of an admixture of a cross-linkable prepolymerized material and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (b) curing in situ said fluid curable material at a temperature between 59* and 120*F. to form a rigid cured material which conforms to the shape of the affected portion of the body and which has essentially the same volume in the pre-cured states as in the cured state, there being no gas given off during the curing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fluid, curable, non-foamable material is a self-curing material, and wherein said self-curing material is permitted to cure in situ.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said prosthesis enclosure is first placed in a shoe, wherein said affected part of the body is the metatarsal arch of a foot, and wherein said prosthesis enclosure is placed on the affected portion of said body by placing said foot in said shoe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein pressure is placed on said fluid self-curing material before it completely cures so that said fluid self-curing material takes the shape of metatarsal arch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said prosthesis enclosure is a sealed envelope, with at least its top surface being elastic, wherein said fluid self-curing material is placed in said prosthesis enclosure by piercing a side of said prosthesis enclosure with an elongated, hollow tube device and force injecting said fluid self-curing material through said elongated, hollow tube device into said prosthesis enclosure, and wherein said hollow tube device is removed after said fluid self-curing prosthesis enclosure and said side of said prosthesis enclosure is rapidly sealed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said region of said shoe of said prosthesis enclosure which is placed by said hollow tube device is self-curing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said prosthesis enclosure is a rigid insert that is placed on or affixed to the insole of said shoe, said insert comprising a flat plate that extends across the width of said insole and extends lengthwise at least across the metatarsal arch of said foot, a low side wall on the side away from said metatarsal arch which completely covers said arch when said foot is inserted in said shoe, said foot serving as the top of said prosthesis enclosure, wherein said fluid self-curing material is placed in said prosthesis enclosure by means of a tube inserted between said high side wall and said foot, and wherein said tube is rapidly removed after said fluid self-curing material is placed in said prosthesis enclosure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said self-curing material is an admixture of an acrylate ester monomer, an acrylate ester prepolymer and an activated free-radical initiator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said admixture also contains a plasticizer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the self-curing material is an admixture of (i) polymethyl methacrylate and a cross-linking agent, such having been pre-polymerize to just below the gel point, (ii) methyl methacrylate and (iii) an activated free-radical initiator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the self-curing material is an admixture of styrene, a carboxylated monomer, a carboxylated bimonomer of prepolymer, and a polyvalent salt curing agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said curing is achieved by means of actinic radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said curable material contains a filler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
The prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which consists of a prosthesis enclosure adapted to be placed on the affected part of the body and a rigid, cured, non-foamed material, within the prosthesis enclosure, said rigid, cured, non-foamed material comprising a prepolymerized material cross-linked by an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, said rigid, cured, non-foamed material having been cured at a temperature between 59* and 120*F., said rigid, cured, non-foamed material being adapted to conform to the shape of the affected portion of the body, and said rigid, cured, non-foamed material having essentially the same volume in the cured state it had in the pre-cured state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
The prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which consists of a prosthesis enclosure adapted to be placed on the affected part of the body and a rigid, cured, non-foamed material, within the prosthesis enclosure, said rigid, cured, non-foamed material comprising a prepolymerized material cross-linked by an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, said rigid, cured, non-foamed material having been cured at a temperature between 59* and 120*F., said rigid, cured, non-foamed material being adapted to conform to the shape of the affected portion of the body, and said rigid, cured, non-foamed material having essentially the same volume in the cured state it had in the pre-cured state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The prosthesis of claim 14 wherein said prosthesis enclosure is located on the insole of a shoe where the metatarsal arch of a foot is located.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The prosthesis of claim 15 wherein said prosthesis enclosure is a sealed enclosure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
The prosthesis of claim 16 wherein said prosthesis enclosure is a rigid insert that is placed on or affixed to said insole of said shoe, said insert comprising a flat plate that extends lengthwise across the width of said insole and extends lengthwise at least across the metatarsol arch of said foot and a low side wall on the side away from the metatarsol arch which completely covers said arch when said foot is inserted in said shoe, said foot serving as the top of said prosthesis enclosure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The prosthesis of claim 17 wherein said prosthesis enclosure is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The prosthesis of claim 14 wherein said curable material contains a filler.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
The process for preparing a prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which consists of: (a) placing a fluid, curable non-foamable material in a prosthesis enclosure, said fluid self-curable material being comprised of an admixture of a cross-linkable prepolymerized material and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (b) curing in situ said fluid curable material at a temperature between 59* and 120*F. to form a rigid cured material which conforms to the shape of the affected portion of the body and which has essentially the same volume in the pre-cured state as in the cured state, there being no gas given off during the curing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
107 words
The process for preparing a prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which consists of: (a) placing a fluid, curable non-foamable material in a prosthesis enclosure, said fluid self-curable material being comprised of an admixture of a cross-linkable prepolymerized material and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (b) curing in situ said fluid curable material at a temperature between 59* and 120*F. to form a rigid cured material which conforms to the shape of the affected portion of the body and which has essentially the same volume in the pre-cured state as in the cured state, there being no gas given off during the curing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
116 words
The prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which consists of a prosthesis enclosure adapted to be placed on the affected part of the body and a rigid, cured, non-foamed material, containing a filler or a plasticizer or both, within the prosthesis enclosure, said rigid cured, non-foamed material comprising a prepolymerized material cross-linked by an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, said rigid, cured, non-foamed material having been cured at a temperature between 59* and 120*F., said rigid, cured, non-foamed material being adapted to conform to the shape of the affected portion of the body, and said rigid, cured non-foamed material having essentially the same volume in the cured state it had in the pre-cured state.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
116 words
The prosthesis for supporting or restraining a part of the body which consists of a prosthesis enclosure adapted to be placed on the affected part of the body and a rigid, cured, non-foamed material, containing a filler or a plasticizer or both, within the prosthesis enclosure, said rigid cured, non-foamed material comprising a prepolymerized material cross-linked by an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, said rigid, cured, non-foamed material having been cured at a temperature between 59* and 120*F., said rigid, cured, non-foamed material being adapted to conform to the shape of the affected portion of the body, and said rigid, cured non-foamed material having essentially the same volume in the cured state it had in the pre-cured state.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |