DynaFlange™

DynaFlange™
Claims Inventor: Dr. Jerome D.Segel

DynaFlange™ A molded semi-rigid orthotic, including an arch support, heel cup and attached rear foot heel post which is worn between the plantar aspect of the foot and a shoe or in-shoe appliance such as an insole, footbed, heel cup or the ground to protect, reposition and control the foot in stance or in motion. Its uniquely designed bottom flanges on the heel post portion dynamically behave like living hinges, deforming at impact to provide graded adaption to uneven surfaces and measured management of ground force reaction, then as it returns to its original molded state, actively resupinates the foot for earlier stability and a more efficient propulsive phase of gait superior to other orthoses. It’s capable of ranged shock absorption, motion control (medial and lateral), energy return, proprioceptive cueing and dynamic resupination of the foot. It becomes active during heel strike which allows for a sooner enhancement to gait than a standard orthosis. In addition, because of its unique 3 dimensional structure, the dynamic flange is active in gait, stance and side to side motions in a self-leveling manner as opposed to other othoses.

All of the above features are achieved by employing a semi-rigid memory material (prototype uses plastic) to interact with the plantar surface of an orthotic when vertical force is applied by an individual, such that the central plantar aspect of the heel post is attached to an intrinsically posted heel cup (can be posted at 0). The natural gaps and overhangs between the concavity of the heel cup and the flat to convex heel post act to control motion, provide energy return, proprioceptive cueing and resupination while allowing for shock absorption. (The gaps can be filled in for aesthetics so long as the interposed material doesn’t interfere with heel cup or heel post material’s ability to deform or return to its unloaded state) This appliance can be used with shoes, footbeds and heel cups as well. The orthotic, heel cup and heel post plate can be customized to the specific needs of an individual by adjusting the length, angle, thickness and degrees of posting of the medial, lateral and distal aspects.

Take, for example, the individual needing a rear foot post, by molding the distal medial aspect on the bottom of the orthotic toward the supporting surface, you can achieve your objective. In fact, you can even grade this rear foot post starting say at 1 degree proximally and end up at 4 degrees distally. Now take for instance that chronic later ankle sprainer, or the Pes Cavus foot type with a substantial lateral arch, or those people with chronically subluxed cuboid bones, the DynaFlange™ affords the lateral foot with the same ability for stability, graded posting and motion control.

During gait cycle, the heel cup and bottom heel plate as a unit begins to work at the inception of heel strike phase. In many people, the heel lands in an inverted position and pronates to absorb shock while the 3 dimensional foot deforms to adapt to uneven and 2 dimensional surfaces. Like a train in motion, the pronatory forces drive the Talus bone inward, downward and forward at a difficult rate to control. The orthotic accepts and limits motion and then, like a spring, returns that absorbed force in energenic resupination as the device returns to its molded state. It manages those extremes of tri-plane foot motion and guides the foot back towards neutral position. It can work the same way for supinators and lateral ankle sprainers. By this mechanism of deformation and reanimation, the foot can act more efficiently, with increased stability and the effects of poor foot and ankle mechanics can be mitigated.

DynaFlange™
Claims Inventor: Dr. Jerome D.Segel

By deformation at impact, then reanimation to its molded 3D state, DynaFlange™ is able to accomplish the following:

is a dynamic motion control devise, stand alone, inshoe or orthotic modification

actively decelerates pronation or supination more efficiently & earlier than orthotics alone

actively absorbs shock, stores the energy and returns it for resupination of the foot

absorbs shock earlier in the gait cycle than standard orthotics/heel cups

manages ground force reaction in a measured fashion

lends heel lift without the same forefoot burden posed by typical heel lifts

provides for a more stable foot by actively assisting the musculoskeletal system and

providing additional cuboid and medial longitudinal arch support

provides increased propulsion over orthotics without the DynaFlange™

actively works to prevent ankle trauma by controlling & rebalancing the foot

works during stance phase and side to side motion far superior to standard

orthoses because it primarily controls frontal plane motion.

modified orthotic has superior slip resistance due to the flange shoe interaction

The Dynaflange™ invention pertains to foot function, mechanics, kinectic chain, gait cycle and the musculoskeletal system. It was invented solely by; Dr. Jerome (Jay) Segel, DPM.

For more information visit www.langerbiomechanics.com