Therapeutic sock for diabetics

Abstract

A sock for diabetics that is anti-microbial and allows for wound detection is provided. The sock has a colored cuff section, a colored calf section attached to the cuff section, a colored ankle section attached to the calf section, and a foot section. The foot section has a colored top section and a white bottom section, where the bottom section includes a heel section, an instep section and a toe section. The toe section has a seamless toe and the foot section includes a plurality of materials wherein at least one of the materials incorporates silver coated fibers.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION [0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 785,159, filed in the U.S. on Mar. 23, 2006.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to therapeutic socks and particularly to therapeutic socks for diabetics that increase circulation, allow for early detection of wounds and are anti-microbial. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] People with diabetes are prone to many foot disorders because of complications associated with diabetes. These complications are neuropathy, retinopathy and poor blood circulation. Neuropathy or nerve damage can cause numbness in the extremities including the legs, feet and toes. This numbness makes it difficult for person to discover wounds or irritation. If these injuries go unnoticed they can become infected or with further deterioration of limbs. Circulatory problems may make it difficult for an injury to heal. Diabetes related foot and leg problems include, but a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] Accordingly, a therapeutic sock for diabetics that is aesthetically pleasing, anti-microbial and allows for easy detection of wounds, drainage or blood is provided. A particular embodiment of the present invention is based on a compression sock produced by Eurosocks North America, of Warwick, R.I. as particularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,397 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This embodiment provides long-legged sock that includes a cuff section and a calf section incorporating a first elastic thread together with a basic thread. Also provided is an ankle section incorporating the first elastic thread and a second elastic thread together with the basic thread, an instep section incorporating the second elastic thread and a third elastic thread together with the basic thread; and a foot section incorporating the third elastic thread together with the basic thread.

Problems solved by technology

People with diabetes are prone to many foot disorders because of complications associated with diabetes.

Neuropathy or nerve damage can cause numbness in the extremities including the legs, feet and toes.

This numbness makes it difficult for person to discover wounds or irritation.

If these injuries go unnoticed they can become infected or with further deterioration of limbs.

Circulatory problems may make it difficult for an injury to heal.

Diabetes can also cause charcot foot, which is a deformity that develops as a result of loss in sensation and a broken bone that leads to the destruction of the soft tissue of the foot caused by ligament degeneration

When there is nerve damage it can be difficult to detect blood or wound secretions.

Injuries that go undetected can lead to more severe injuries and / or infections.

The dark colored or dyed therapeutic socks have not been useful for drainage, retinopathy or early detection of wounds in a patient's foot.

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