Adjustable brace

Abstract

An adjustable brace includes a first portion for supporting one surface of a patient and a plurality of adjustable portions that allow the internal cross section of the brace to be adjusted. When a limb is injured, a patient may have a swollen limb and the adjustable brace can be set to a large cross section. As the limb heals, the swelling decreases and the limb cross section also decreases due to atrophy. The adjustable couplings are adjusted to reduce the cross section to properly fit the limb of the patient and provide proper protection and support during the healing process.

1 . An adjustable brace comprising:
 a first portion for supporting a first surface of a limb;   a plurality of adjustable portions that are coupled to the first portion for supporting a second surface of the limb that is opposite the first surface of the limb; and   a plurality of hinges attached to a first edge of the first portion and each of the plurality of hinges coupled to one of the plurality of adjustable portions;   wherein inner surfaces of the first portion corresponds to a digital representation of the first surface of the limb and inner surfaces of the plurality of adjustable rigid portions correspond to a digital representation of the second surface of the limb.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable brace of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of adjustable couplings attached to a second edge of the first portion opposite the first edge for releasably coupling the second edge of the first portion to the plurality of adjustable portions. 
 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable brace of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of adjustable couplings are adjustable to alter cross sections of the brace. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable brace of  claim 2  wherein each of the adjustable couplings includes a plurality of slots or holes and an elongated structure that is placed through some of the plurality of slots or holes to hold each of the adjustable couplings in fixed positions. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable brace of  claim 4  wherein for each of the adjustable couplings, distances between the hinge and each of the plurality of slots or holes are substantially the same. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable brace of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a locking mechanism for securing the elongated structure within some of the plurality of slots or holes to prevent a patient from adjusting the brace. 
 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable brace of  claim 6  wherein the locking mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism that prevents the elongated structure from being removed from some of the plurality of slots or holes. 
     
     
         8 . An adjustable brace comprising:
 a first portion for supporting a first surface of a limb;   a plurality of adjustable portions that are coupled to the first portion for supporting an injured portion of the limb that is opposite the first surface of the limb;   a plurality of hinges attached to a first edge of the first rigid portion and each of the plurality of hinges coupled one of the plurality of adjustable portions; and   a plurality of adjustable couplings attached to a second edge of the first portion opposite the first edge for releasably coupling the second edge of the first portion to the plurality of adjustable portions;   wherein inner surfaces of the plurality of adjustable portions can be adjusted to fit closely against the second surface of the limb in a swollen state and adjusted to fit closely against the second surface of the limb in a normal unswollen state.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable brace of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of adjustable couplings are adjustable to alter cross sections of the brace. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable brace of  claim 8  wherein each of the adjustable couplings includes a plurality of slots or holes and an elongated structure that is placed through some of the plurality of slots or holes to hold each of the adjustable couplings in fixed positions. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable brace of  claim 10  wherein for each of the adjustable couplings, distances between the hinge and each of the plurality of slots or holes are substantially the same. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable brace of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a locking mechanism for securing the elongated structure within some of the plurality of slots or holes to prevent a patient from adjusting the brace. 
 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable brace of  claim 12  wherein the locking mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism that prevents the elongated structure from being removed from some of the plurality of slots or holes. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable brace of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of hinges are adjustable to alter cross sections of the brace. 
     
     
         15 . An adjustable brace comprising:
 a first portion for supporting a first surface of a limb;   a plurality of adjustable portions that are coupled to the first portion for supporting a second surface of the limb that is opposite the first surface of the limb; and   a first plurality of adjustable couplings attached to a first edge of the first portion and each of the first plurality of adjustable couplings coupled to one of the plurality of adjustable portions;   wherein inner surfaces of the first portion corresponds to a digital representation of the first surface of the limb and inner surfaces of the plurality of adjustable portions correspond to a digital representation of the second surface of the limb.   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable brace of  claim 15  wherein each of the first set of adjustable couplings includes a first plurality of slots or holes. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable brace of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a first elongated structure that is placed through some of the second plurality of slots or holes to hold each of the first set of adjustable couplings in fixed positions. 
 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable brace of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a second plurality of adjustable couplings attached to a second edge of the first portion opposite the first edge for releasably coupling the second edge of the first portion to the plurality of adjustable portions. 
 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable brace of  claim 18  wherein each of the second plurality of adjustable couplings includes a second plurality of slots or holes. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable brace of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a second elongated structure that is placed through some of the second plurality of slots or holes to hold each of the second plurality of adjustable couplings in fixed positions.