Customizable fitted apparatus

Abstract

A customizable fitted device for immobilizing injuries and a method for constructing the fitted device is provided. The fitted device can be used to stabilize an al 1, wrist, hand, leg, knee, ankle, foot or other body parts through custom formation. The device can be formed by a sidewall having one or more sidewall sections that can be secured together using retaining clips positioned within retaining clip slots on the device. The device can further include one or more openings defined in the sidewall of each device section while maintaining rigidity in the sidewall. The device can be constructed by of creating a 3D image scan of the particular body part in which the device will be applied, creating a design of the device to precisely match the contours of the 3D image scan, and using a 3D printer to construct the device according to the design.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable fitted immobilization device for a body portion comprising:
 a sidewall formed by one or more shell sections, the shell sections each having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, wherein the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of each shell section collectively forms a plurality of longitudinal ends, and wherein the sidewall is configured for generally conforming to the body portion;   at least one longitudinal sidewall seam extending longitudinally along the sidewall between an upper sidewall edge and a lower sidewall edge, wherein each longitudinal sidewall seam removably joins two longitudinal ends of the plurality of longitudinal ends;   a first connector receiver pair positioned along a first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam, the first connector receiver pair comprising:
 a first connector receiver positioned on the sidewall and adjacent to the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam, the first connector receiver having a slot defined therein; and 
 a second connector receiver positioned on the sidewall and adjacent to the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam and positioned opposing the first connector receiver relative to the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam, the second connector receiver having a slot defined therein; and 
   a first connector configured for securing the first and second connector receivers of the first connector pair together when the sidewall is joined along the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam;   wherein, when the first connector secures the first and second connector receivers, the first connector receiver pair and the first connector together provide structural stability for the device in three directional axes.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam has a configuration that provides structural stability to the device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam has a wave-like configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinal ends of each longitudinal sidewall seam substantially conform to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a plurality of voids defined in the sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein a configuration of the plurality of voids defines a plurality of structural ribs, each structural rib located between two or more voids of the plurality of voids. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of voids is arranged in a configuration that provides structural stability for the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein first connector receiver is positioned adjacent to the second connector receiver so that the slots of the first and the second connector receivers align to form a continuous opening of the connector receiver pair when the sidewall is joined together at the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second connector receivers each contain a receiver wall located along the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam, and wherein the receiver walls have a configuration relative to one another that provides structural stability for the device along the first at least one longitudinal sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each connector receiver further comprises:
 a top wall extending away from the device sidewall in a generally perpendicular direction;   a first receiver wall positioned laterally inward from the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam and extending generally perpendicular between the device sidewall and the receiver top wall; and   a second receiver wall positioned along the first sidewall seam and extending between the device sidewall and the receiver top wall, the second receiver wall generally conforming to the first at least one longitudinal sidewall seam;   wherein the receiver slot is defined between the first and the second receiver walls and   extends generally perpendicularly from the first and the second lateral walls.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second receiver wall of the first connector receiver conforms to the second receiver wall of the second connector receiver. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a configuration that structurally stabilizes the device in the three directional axes when the connector is securing the first connector receiver pair. 
     
     
         13 . A connector for use with a removable fitted body portion immobilization device, the connector comprising:
 an upper arm;   a lower arm;   a resilient bridge connecting the upper aim and the lower arm together at one end of the connector;   a retaining rib extending downward from the upper arm toward the lower arm, the retaining rib having a lower edge with an inwardly protruding lip; and   a groove defined in the lower arm directly below the retaining rib and configured for receiving a portion of the retaining rib lower edge;   wherein the connector is configured for providing structural stability to the device   
     
     
         14 . The connector of  claim 13 , wherein the lower aim is configured for being inserted through a slot defined through a connector receiver pair located on the device. 
     
     
         15 . The connector of  claim 14 , wherein the distance between the resilient bridge and the retaining rib is slightly greater than a combined width of the connector receiver pair. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shell sections comprises a single shell section and the at least one longitudinal sidewall seam comprises a single longitudinal sidewall seam removably joining the first and the second longitudinal ends of the shell section. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shell sections comprises a first shell section and a second shell section, wherein the at least one longitudinal sidewall seam comprises a first longitudinal sidewall seam and a second longitudinal sidewall seam, and wherein the first longitudinal sidewall seam removably joins the first longitudinal end of the first shell section and the first longitudinal end of the second shell section and the second longitudinal sidewall seams removably joins the second longitudinal end of the first shell section and the second longitudinal end of the second shell section. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector receiver and the second connector receiver are integrally connected to the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The process of designing a fitted, removable body part immobilization device, the process comprising:
 collecting information about a body portion of a user; and   manipulating the collected information to develop a customized immobilization device that includes the following structural properties: removable, lightweight, breathable, waterproof, and structural stability in three different directional axes.   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein the customized immobilization device is designed to structurally conform to the body portion of the user and be selectively removed and applied to the body portion of the user.