Orthopedic Boot-Tree 3D Design by means of the Integral Curves of Solutions of Differential Equations

Abstract

For the preparation of orthopedic shoes, it is necessary to design boot-trees, where pathological abnormalities of club feet are taken into account as much as possible. For the normal functioning of the club foot, we have to develop such an internal shape of special-purpose footwear, which is comfortable for the patient. This paper describes the methods and issues of the 3D design for constructing the geometric shapes of the main cross sections of the orthopedic boot-tree. In the research process, the authors’ team of this article relied mainly on the patient database, containing the anthropometric, strain-gauge, and pedographic data on club and pathological feet. To construct the shapes of the main cross sections of the orthopedic boot-tree, we have used the integral curves to the suitable second-order differential equations. By means of a computer program, we executed turning and connection of sections of the obtained curves, on the basis of which we have the shapes of transverse-vertical cross sections of the orthopedic boot-tree. This paper also describes the main longitudinal-vertical section and the print of the orthopedic boot-tree in 3D format. By using a program of 3D design (Delcam), a skeleton of the orthopedic boot-tree was constructed in the spatial format.