West Virginia Patent of the Month – July 2025
DARCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. has been granted U.S. Patent No. 12357488 for a new ‘Rear entry walker’ design. This invention aims to solve common issues with traditional walking boots. The new design improves patient comfort and treatment effectiveness. It provides a more stable, lightweight alternative to older walker styles.
A Better Walker Design
The patent details a new shell for a walking boot. The shell has a unique rear opening. This design allows users to put on the boot from the back. It accommodates a wider range of calf sizes. Traditional fixed-calf walkers have a limited fit. The rear-entry design overcomes this problem. It makes the device accessible to more patients.
Advanced Pressure Offloading
The invention features a rigid tibial body. This is fixed to the sides of the boot. This rigid structure prevents unwanted ankle movement. The tibial body also has a specific triangular shape. This shape avoids direct contact with the tibia bone. Instead, it transfers pressure to the surrounding calf muscles. This innovative pressure offloading reduces discomfort. It also decreases plantar pressure by a measured 22-24 percent compared to older designs. The new walker offers a significant improvement in patient care for conditions like forefoot trauma or diabetes-related foot issues.
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The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
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