Spiral brace

Abstract

A spiral brace has an inner surface that corresponds to a digital representation of an injured limb. The spiral brace can wrap around a length of the limb in a helical manner. The body of the spiral brace may be a single piece structure that is fenestrated to provide air circulation to the injured limb.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brace for supporting a limb of a patient comprising:
 a brace body having a spiral shape that wraps more than one full turn around the limb of the patient; and   an inner surface of the brace body that corresponds to a digital representation of the limb of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein a proximal portion of the brace body fits around a forearm portion of the limb and a distal portion of the brace body fits around a hand portion of the limb. 
     
     
         3 . The brace of  claim 2  wherein the distal portion of the brace surrounds a thumb portion of the limb. 
     
     
         4 . The brace of  claim 2  wherein a width of the brace body at the proximal portion is greater than 0.5 inch and less than 2 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The brace of  claim 2  wherein the distal portion of the brace body has a palmar section that supports a palm of the hand portion and a dorsal section that fits over a dorsum of the hand portion. 
     
     
         6 . The brace of  claim 5  wherein the inner surface of the brace body at the palmar section of the distal portion includes a convex surface. 
     
     
         7 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein a thickness of the elongated spiral shape of the brace body is greater than 0.05 inch and less than 0.50 inch. 
     
     
         8 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein a pitch of the elongated spiral shape is greater than 2 inches and less than 6 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The brace of  claim 1  wherein the brace body is fabricated from a plurality of fused planar layers that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The brace of  claim 9  wherein the spiral shape of the brace body defines a center axis and the plurality of fused planar layers are approximately parallel to the center axis. 
     
     
         11 . The brace of claim I wherein the brace body has a single piece spiral configuration. 
     
     
         12 . A brace for supporting an arm of a patient, the arm having fingers, a hand, a wrist and a forearm, the brace comprising:
 a brace body having a spiral configuration that wraps more than one full turn around the arm of the patient to at least partially immobilize the arm of the patient; and   an inner surface of the brace body that corresponds to a digital representation of the arm of the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The brace of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a distal limb support at the distal end of the brace, the distal limb support at least partially surrounds the hand and movement of fingers is not restricted by the distal limb support. 
 
     
     
         14 . The brace of  claim 13  wherein an edge of the distal limb support is adjacent to a palmar digital crease of the hand. 
     
     
         15 . The brace of  claim 13  wherein an edge of the distal limb support does not extend over proximal phalanx segments of the fingers. 
     
     
         16 . The brace of  claim 13  wherein an edge of the distal limb support does not extend over a thenar portion of the hand allowing a thumb of the hand to move freely. 
     
     
         18 . The brace of  claim 13  wherein the interior surface of the brace at the distal limb support has a convex surface that is adjacent to a palmar surface of the hand. 
     
     
         19 . The brace of  claim 13  wherein the brace prevents palmar flexion movement of the hand. 
     
     
         20 . The brace of  claim 13  wherein the brace allows rotational movement of the hand about a center axis of the brace relative to the forearm. 
     
     
         21 . The brace of  claim 12  wherein the brace body includes a distal limb support that is adjacent to a palmar surface of the hand, a middle section that is adjacent to an posterior surface of the wrist and a proximal limb support at the proximal end of the brace, the proximal limb support that adjacent to a anterior surface of the forearm. 
     
     
         22 . The brace of  claim 12  wherein the brace body has a single piece spiral configuration.