FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a process of orthopedic analysis of feet by remote means which comprises the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet, the transmission of the orthopedic parameters identified; and the determination of a geometric format of an orthopedic sole based on the parameters identified and transmitted remotely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People's lifestyles, particularly of those living in major urban centers, have become ever more intensive, and time is scarce. Additionally, the pressure on cost and speed in delivering services and products means that companies, employees and people in general have to prioritize agility and efficiency in their tasks. In this scenario, services and products offered via Internet have played an increasingly important role in terms of shortening distances and bringing speed to daily tasks. This is the case, for example, of on-line purchases, video-conferencing, industrial processes (such as, for example, the manufacture of products and remote control of production) and even appointments with the doctor.

One of these tasks that can be streamlined by using the Internet is the manufacture of orthopedic soles. In the current state of the art, the process of manufacturing orthopedic soles requires the consumer/patient to appear in person in order to have his/her feet parameters identified.

In the conventional process of producing soles, the analysis of the feet, that is, the measuring of the feet and their maximum pressure points, stationary or in movement is done by using equipment such as the computerized baropodometer (to measure feet in movement) and 2D and 3D scanners (to measure static feet).

Next, after identifying the orthopedic parameters relating to the feet, the conventional process next comprises the modeling of the sole. Generally, a physiotherapist makes the mold of the sole on the computer using specialized software programs, such as CAD, for example, based on the orthopedic parameters identified for determining the geometric format of the sole. Thus, the mold design follows to production of the sole which is normally done on a computerized milling machine.

Accordingly, it is noted that this process can be facilitated if the consumer/patient is not obliged to be present for identification of the orthopedic parameters of his/her feet for the determination of the geometric format of an orthopedic sole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a process of orthopedic analysis of feet by remote means, in which the parameters relating to the feet are identified remotely and then transmitted for the determination of a geometric format of an orthopedic sole.

The objectives of the invention, among others, are achieved by means of a process of orthopedic analysis of feet by remote means, which comprises: remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet; remote transmission of the orthopedic parameters identified; and determination of a geometric format of an orthopedic sole based on the parameters identified and transmitted remotely.

Further according to the present invention, the following characteristics, their technically-possible potential variants, may also be present, on their own or in combination:

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprising identifying a region of the body where pain occurs, and the body regions comprise: feet, knees and ankles;

- identifying the body region where pain occurs comprises identifying the type of pain, the occurrence of the pain and the intensity of the pain;

- the type of pain comprises identifying whether or not there is numbness;

- the occurrence of the pain comprises identifying whether the pain occurs with each step, after intense and continuous physical activity, after a time standing or after sleep or inactivity;

- the intensity of the pain includes ascribing a number, on a scale, for the pain felt;

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprises identifying the format of the feet;

- the format of the feet can be identified by: normal, arched, high arched, flat or very flat;

- identifying the format of the feet comprises identifying whether the person for whom the geometric format of the sole will be determined has one leg shorter than the other and the difference in length between one leg and the other;

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprises identifying the format of the toes of the feet;

- the shape of the toes is identified as: Greek, Egyptian or Roman;

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprises identifying the degree of bunion of the feet;

- the degree of bunion of the feet is identified as: no bunion, mild bunion, moderate bunion or severe bunion;

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprises identifying the existence or not of hammer-shaped toes;

- identifying the existence or not of hammer-shaped toes comprises the indication that the feet are in hammer format;

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprises identifying the existence or not of claw-shaped toes;

- identifying the existence or not of claw-shaped toes comprises the indication that the feet are in claw format;

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprises identifying the shoe size and the shoe type in which the sole will be used and the geometric format of which will be determined remotely;

- the process additionally comprises identifying the gender, the weight and the existence or not of diabetes in the person for which the geometry of the sole will be determined;

- the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters is achieved by filling out an electronic form;

- the electronic form is a form from an Internet site; and

- the transmission of the orthopedic parameters identified is accomplished by means of the Internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objectives, effects and advantages of the process for orthopedic analysis of the feet by remote means of the present invention will be apparent for persons skilled in the art based on the description below of a particular realization, which makes reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a flowchart of a particular realization of the present invention;

Figures 2 to 9 illustrate examples of forms of realization of the stages of remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet; and

Figure 10 illustrate an example of form for realizing the stage of collecting data on the person for whom the sole is designed.

DESCRIPTION OF REALIZATIONS OF THE INVENTION

The process for orthopedic analysis of the feet by remote means of the present invention comprises the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet, the remote transmission of the orthopedic parameters identified and the determination of the geometric format of an orthopedic sole based on the parameters identified and transmitted remotely.

The remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters comprises specific stages for identifying each parameter, which may be carried out in any order. Accordingly, the order illustrated in figure 1 should be interpreted as being illustrative of one of the possible realizations of the present invention, such that the order of these stages may be carried out in other configurations without restricting the scope of protection of the present invention.

Therefore, the remote identification of one or more orthopedic parameters relating to the feet comprises, firstly, the stage of identifying a region of the body where pain occurs. As those skilled in the art will know, one of the objectives of the soles is to reduce or eliminate pain felt by the feet, knees and ankles. Accordingly, this stage allows the feet, knees or ankles to be identified as painful regions of the body, it being possible to differentiate whether the pain is felt by the left or right foot, knee or ankle. Hence, for example, it is possible to identify whether the pain is felt in the left foot and in the right ankle, or the right knee and the left ankle, and so on and so forth.

In a particular realization of the present invention, identifying the body region whether pain is felt can be accomplished by means of a form, such as the one illustrated in figure 2, through which a user/patient indicates where he/she feels the pain.

Further in relation to the stage of identifying the pain, it is also possible to identify the type of pain, the occurrence of the pain and the intensity of the pain. The type of pain comprises identifying whether or not there is numbness, that is, whether it occurs only in the region of the body in question or whether there is numbness at this location. The occurrence of pain refers to the moment or frequency with which the pain occurs, and it is possible to identify whether the pain occurs with each step, after intense and continuous physical activity, after a time standing or after sleep or inactivity. The intensity of the pain, in turn, comprises ascribing a number to the pain felt on a scale. For example, on a scale of one to ten, it is possible to identify that the pain felt reached a mark of nine, indicating major intensity.

It is worthwhile highlighting that this stage of identifying pain and the parameters in question can be identified for the foot, ankle or right knee, for the foot, ankle or left knee, or for both feet, knees and ankles, such that it is possible to identify, for example, that a pain occurs with every step of the right foot, this being an intensity pain seven on a scale of one to ten. Alternatively, it is also possible to identify that the pain occurs in the left knee, causing numbness in this knee, and this numbness occurs after inactivity or sleep and has an intensity of eight on a scale of one to ten.

In a particular realization of the present invention, identifying the type of pain, the occurrence of the pain and the intensity of the pain can be done by means of a form such as the one illustrated in figure 3. On this form, the user/patient selects the type of pain, the occurrence of the pain and the intensity of the pain for each part of the body where pain occurs.

Following identification of a region where pains occur, the remote identification comprises the stage of identifying the format of the feet. As persons skilled in the art will know, feet have countless shapes, such that, in this stage, it is possible to identify the formats of the feet as: normal, arched, high arched, flat or very flat. Additionally, this stage of identifying the format of the feet also comprises identifying whether the person for whom the geometric format of the sole will be determined has one leg shorter than the other and the difference in length between one leg and the other, with the objective of providing an offset in the geometric format.

The stage of identifying the format of the feet can be conducted by means of a form such as the one illustrated in figure 4. By means of this form, the user/patient visualizes the different feet formats illustrated and can compare them with the format of his own feet. Additionally, the user/patient himself may identify that one leg is longer than the other, selecting the related parameters, such as, for example, whether the shorter leg is the right leg or the left leg and, also, the difference in size between the legs.

After identifying the format of the feet, the remote identification comprises the stage of identifying the format of the toes of the feet, and this format is identified as: Greek (second toe longer than the other toes), Egyptian (first toe, or "big toe", longer than the other toes) or Roman (first and second toes the same size).

In a particular realization of the present invention, this stage can be carried out by means of a form, such as the one shown in figure 5. On this form, the formats of the toes of the feet are illustrated, such that the user/patient may easily compare them with the format of his toes and thus make the identification.

Next, the remote identification comprises identifying the degree of bunion of the feet, and this degree is identified as: no bunion, mild bunion, moderate bunion or severe bunion.

In a particular realization of the present invention, this stage can be carried out by means of a form, such as the one shown in figure 6. On this form, the bunion degree formats of the feet are illustrated, such that the user/patient may easily compare them with the degree of bunion of his feet and thus make the identification.

After identifying the degree of bunion, the remote identification comprises identifying the existence or not of hammer-shaped toes or the existence of not of claw-shaped toes. If the toes are hammer-shaped or claw- shaped, indicate what these toes are.

In a particular realization of the present invention, identifying hammer-shaped toes can be done by a form such as the one illustrated in figure 7. By means of the form, the consumer/patient may select the option according to the existence or not of hammer-shaped toes. If the toes are this shape, the consumer/patient may indicate what the toes are.

A similar form may be provided to conduct the stage of identifying the existence of claw-shaped toes, such as, for example, the form shown in figure 8. This form is filled out in the same way as the form used for identifying hammer-shaped toes.

Lastly, the remote identification comprises identifying the shoe size and the shoe type in which the sole will be used and the geometric format of which will be determined remotely.

In a particular realization of the present invention, this stage may be carried out by means of a form, such as the form illustrated in figure 9. On this form, it is possible to choose the shoe size and shoe type to be used with the sole. The list of shoe types illustrated in figure 9 is not exhaustive, such that other shoe types may be selected, such as, for example, women's footwear.

The present invention further comprises a stage of collecting data on the person for whom the sole is designed, and this stage comprises identifying gender, weight and whether or not the person is diabetic. In a particular realization of the present invention, this stage can be conducted by a form, such as the one illustrated in figure 10.

In a particular realization of the present invention, the remote identification described previously and the collection of personal data are accomplished by means of filling out an electronic form, and this electronic form can be form from an Internet site. Hence, the patient/consumer himself can identify the orthopedic parameters and fill out the form at a remote location, without having to leave his home or place of work, for example. Alternatively, a health professional, such as, for example, a physiotherapist or an orthopedist, may use this form to submit the orthopedic parameters of a patient/consumer from his own office, without the need for this patient/consumer to go to a specific place for identifying the parameters. Therefore, the forms illustrated in figures 2 to 10 can be electronic forms or, particularly, electronic forms from an Internet site, by means of which the remote identification and the collection of person data of the present invention can be conducted remotely.

After identifying one or more parameters from among those described above, the process of the present invention advances to the transmission stage of these parameters. In a particular realization of the present invention the orthopedic parameters are transmitted via Internet and, more particularly, this transmission is carried out from an Internet site where the electronic form is located, based on which the orthopedic parameters relating to the feet can be identified.

The data transmitted are received and used for determining the geometric format of one or more orthopedic soles. There are several techniques for manufacturing soles, such that, based on the parameters collected by the process of the present invention, the sole can be manufactured by conventional methods already known by persons skilled in the art.

Accordingly, as can be seen, the invention provides substantial advantages in terms of facility and agility, as it allows orthopedic parameters relating to the feet of a patient/consumer to be identified by himself, or by a health professional, remotely, that is, in his work environment, at his home or, also, at the very office of the orthopedist or physiotherapist, without the need for the patient/consumer to go to a specific place for identifying the parameters. Consequently, the present invention has the further advantage of reducing cost for the consumer/patient, as there will be no need to pay for the sections of identifying the orthopedic parameters at a specific place, nor is there a need to pay for the costs for travelling to such place.

Although the description of the above invention makes reference to a process of orthopedic analysis of feet by remote means, the process of the present invention can be carried out for other types of applications and may have changes in the way in which it is implemented, to the extent that the scope of protection of the invention is only limited by the content of the accompanying claims, possible equivalent variations being encompassed therein.