Leg support aid and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a leg support aid comprising a body having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q) in a top view. The longitudinal direction (L) extends greater than the transverse direction (Q). The main body has at least three placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least two support regions (20, 21, 22, 23). In the longitudinal direction of the main body, each support region (20, 21, 22, 23) is located between two placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) interconnected by the respective support region. The placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) are coplanar. Each support region (20, 21, 22, 23) has a different height with respect to an adjacent placement region (10, 11, 12, 13, 14). The placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are integrally formed so as to form a main body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a leg support aid and a method for manufacturing the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] Leg support aids are used in orthopedic / surgical operations to support the leg extension or full or partial flexion of a patient as required, for example during knee operations. To this end, the leg support aid is temporarily fixed to the leg support of the operating table or the operating table. This fixing is usually done using straps with quick release fasteners, such as Velcro. Such a leg support aid is usually combined with separate transversely directed supports for the patient's upper leg and / or lower leg, which are part of the prior art and are therefore not described in more detail here.

[0003] A leg support aid is known, for example, from international design registration DM / 206429, which consists of a flat plate on which four gate-shaped support elements are arranged. The gate-shaped support elements have different heights and are arranged parallel to each other spaced apart in the transverse direction to the longitudinal direction of the flat plate, so that the height of the gate-shaped support elements increases from the lowest gate-shaped support element to the highest gate-shaped support element. SUMMARY

[0004] It is the object of the present application to improve the leg support aid known from international design registration DM / 206429 in terms of sterilizability, manufacturability, strength and X-ray characteristics.

[0005] The above object is achieved by a leg support aid having the features of claim 1 and by a method for manufacturing a leg support aid having the features of claim 16. Preferred improvements can be found in the dependent claims.

[0006] Embodiments of the leg support aid comprise a body, in particular a rigid body, having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction (in a top view of the body). The longitudinal direction has a greater extension than the transverse direction. The body has at least three placement zones along its longitudinal direction, by which the body can be placed on a (in particular flat) surface supporting the body. Furthermore, the body has at least two support zones along its longitudinal direction, which are configured to support a patient's lower leg or foot sole. The support zones are each arranged along the longitudinal direction of the body between two placement zones which are connected to each other via the respective support zone, whereby adjacent placement zones are spaced apart from each other by the support zone located therebetween. The placement zones of the body are coplanar, i.e. they lie in one plane and are spaced apart from each other in this plane. It can be permissible that the edge regions of the placement zones are not coplanar, but are rounded, or even slightly pulled upwards, so that the placement zones slide more easily on the plane of the support base support, e.g. the upper side of an operating table. The support zones have a different height with respect to the adjacent placement zones. Depending on whether all support zones are used together to support the patient's lower leg, or whether one of the support zones is used (possibly in cooperation with the adjacent support zone) to support the patient's foot sole, the patient's leg can be stably supported, whether the knee joint is straight or bent. According to the invention, the placement zones and the support zones are integrally formed, in turn forming the body.

[0007] The integral construction of the placement zones and the support zones avoids gaps between the support elements and the plate, which are difficult to clean and disinfect, compared to door-shaped support elements mounted on a plate. Furthermore, manufacturing is made easier, since there is no need to mount separate support elements on the base plate. The durability of the leg support aid is also improved, since due to the integral construction, there is no risk of the support zones detaching from the placement zones. Finally, the integral construction of the placement zones and the support zones also improves the ability of the leg support aid to be penetrated by X-rays, since the placement zones and the support zones have the same effect (i.e. absorption) on X-rays due to the use of the same material.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the deviation of the material thickness / thickness of the body in the placement zones from the material thickness / thickness of the body in the support zones is less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, whereby the body has a substantially constant material thickness / thickness. This substantially constant material thickness / thickness further improves the ability of the leg support aid to be uniformly penetrated by X-rays.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the material thickness of the body in the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the placement area is less than 20% and preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5% and especially constant in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the body. According to an embodiment, the material thickness of the body in the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the placement area is between one and seven times or between one and five times the material thickness of the body in the placement area in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the body. This results in a particularly uniform penetration ability of the X-rays into the leg positioning aid, since the X-ray image is usually taken along this direction.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the support areas have a U-shaped or V-shaped cross section in the longitudinal direction of the body, the free ends of the legs of the "U" or "V" of each support area merging via a radius into the placement area adjacent to the support area. This cross section makes it easier to manufacture the leg support aid, since the body can be formed using a simple casting mold or by plastically deforming a plate-shaped body using stamping. Alternatively, 3D printing can also be used for the manufacture, since the placement area and the support area use the same material. Furthermore, this cross section results in a good support of the support area on the adjacent placement area and thus in a high stability of the leg support aid.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the support areas have a support body at the point of merging of the legs of the "U" or "V" and thus at the end of the support area facing away from the placement area, the material of the support body being different from the material of the body. This allows the body to be optimized in terms of its strength and the support body to be optimized in terms of its contact with the patient. The support bodies can be manufactured, for example, by casting; alternatively, the support bodies can also be manufactured, for example, by cutting or 3D printing.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the body can consist of a hard plastic such as a duromer or a plastomer and in particular of injection-molded polycarbonate or polyester, and the support body can consist of a soft plastic such as rubber or a foam material and in particular of a closed-cell foam material or a one-piece foam, i.e. a foam material with a solid outer skin. The foam material can be, for example, polyurethane or ethylene propylene diene rubber. For example, when manufacturing using 3D printing, a light-curing resin can be used for the body. The body can finally be surface-treated with a resin or paint, in particular when manufacturing using 3D printing, in order to improve the surface quality.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the support bodies can be connected to the respective support zones in an undetachable manner by injection molding or gluing or snap connection. In this case, a connection is preferred which results in little or no formation of gaps in order to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the leg support aid. According to an alternative embodiment, the support bodies can also be connected to the respective associated support zones in a detachable manner by screw connection or snap connection; thus, the support bodies can be adjusted if necessary or replaced when worn out.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the material used for the support bodies behaves similarly to the material used for the main body in terms of penetration by X-rays. Preferably, the material used for the support bodies and / or the material used for the main body is transparent to X-rays (within the technically possible range) (e.g. substantially free of heavy atoms other than CI).

[0015] According to an embodiment, the support bodies extend linearly in the transverse direction of the main body. Furthermore, the support bodies have protrusions at their ends in the transverse direction of the main body, which are oriented away from the lying area of the main body. These protrusions prevent the patient's lower leg or foot sole from sliding laterally from the support body and thus from the support zone by accident. According to an embodiment, the surface of the support bodies is rounded. According to an embodiment, some support bodies have recesses in the central portion. These recesses can, for example, receive the patient's Achilles tendon, thereby increasing the support comfort.

[0016] According to an embodiment, in the state mounted on the respective associated support zone, the support bodies have a flat surface on the side facing the support zone having a lower height than the support zone on which the respective support body is mounted, and the support bodies have a rounded surface, in particular a cylindrical surface, on the side facing away from the flat surface. According to an embodiment, in the mounted state of the support bodies, the flat surface of the support bodies forms an angle of between 35° and 55°, in particular an angle of between 40° and 50°, more particularly an angle of 45°, with the plane defined by the lying area.

[0017] These flat surfaces of the support bodies allow a reliable and flat support of the patient's foot sole, while the rounded surface allows a comfortable support of the patient's lower leg.

[0018] According to an embodiment, in the state mounted on the respective associated support zone, the support bodies have a surface on the side thereof facing away from the lying area, which defines a radius of curvature in the transverse direction of the leg support aid of between 1 m and 2 m, in particular 1.5 m.

[0019] This curvature of the surface allows the patient's lower leg to be placed automatically centered and more comfortably.

[0020] According to an embodiment, in the state mounted on the respective associated support zones, the support body has, on the side facing away from the support zone whose height is lower than the support zone on which the corresponding support body is mounted, a weakening, in particular an air channel extending in the transverse direction of the leg support aid within the support body.

[0021] These air channels allow local adjustment of the stiffness of the support body. In areas where there are many air channels, the support body is relatively soft. It is recommended to use this for the area of the support body intended to support the patient's lower leg. In areas where there are few or no air channels, the support body is relatively stiff. It is recommended to use this for the area of the support body intended to support the patient's foot.

[0022] According to an embodiment, in a top view, the main body has the shape of a ladder. In this case, in addition to the lowest and highest rungs formed by the resting zones, the rungs of the ladder are formed by the support zones. Thus, the main body is defined on the one hand on the plane of the resting zones and on the other hand on the plane of the ends of the support zones facing away from the resting zones, which results in a high stability of the main body. However, it is important to note that it is not harmful to provide one or more additional steps formed by resting zones between the lowest and highest rungs of the ladder. The ladder stringers are formed jointly by the parts of the resting zones and the support zones. The ladder stringers do not extend beyond the lowest and highest rungs.

[0023] According to an embodiment, an elongated hole for receiving a fastening strap is formed in a resting zone spaced apart from at least one support zone. This fastening strap can have quick-release fasteners (for example, in the form of Velcro) and allow the temporary fixing of the leg support aid on the operating table or on the leg supports of the operating table.

[0024] According to an embodiment, in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the resting zones, the support zones of the main body have a greater extension than the resting zones with respect to this plane.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the main body has at least four resting zones and at least three support zones, or at least five resting zones and at least four support zones, or at least six resting zones and at least five support zones. It has been found that a larger number of support zones does not lead to an essentially improved leg support aid, since such precise adjustment of the set angle of the leg is not necessary. At the same time, fewer than three support zones only allow very rough adjustment of the set angle of the leg.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the height of the support zones with respect to the adjacent resting zones is between 1.5 cm and 20 cm, in particular between 2 cm and 15 cm.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the material thickness of the main body is between 4 mm and 15 mm, in particular between 8 mm and 12 mm, and more particularly 10 mm.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the support zones are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the body such that their height relative to an adjacent placement zone increases from one end of the body to the other end of the body.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the support zones are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the body such that their free ends, which face away from the end of the adjacent placement zone, jointly define a plane which forms an angle with the plane defined by the placement zone of between 5° and 15°, in particular between 8° and 14°, more particularly approximately 9.8° or 11.8°. When determining this angle, it is sufficient if this plane is common to two support zones, so that the other support zones can be ignored.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the body has five placement zones and four support zones, wherein the height of the support zones relative to an adjacent placement zone is 4.1 cm, 6.7 cm, 9.2 cm and 13.4 cm, if the additional contribution of the support body to the height is 4.1 cm, and wherein the perpendicular bisectors of the adjacent support zones are each spaced apart by 15 cm. Thus, the height difference between adjacent support zones is between 2 cm and 5 cm, in particular 2.6 cm, 2.5 cm and 4.2 cm.

[0031] According to an embodiment, at least the lowest support zone relative to an adjacent placement zone has a recess when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the body, which recess is limited on its side facing away from the placement zone in the height direction (perpendicular to the plane defined by the placement zone) by the support body associated with the support zone. Since the lowest support zone faces the patient when using the leg support aid, this recess allows accommodating the foot of the patient until the instep comes into contact with the support body. In this way, the leg of the patient can be fixed in a strongly bent position. At the same time, damage to the sensitive instep is avoided, since it is not in contact with the relatively hard body, but with the relatively soft support body. In addition, the hardness of the support body can be chosen independently of the hardness of the body.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the recess then has a free cross-section which can accommodate a rectangle with a width (in the transverse direction of the body) of more than 8 cm, in particular between 9 cm and 11 cm, and more particularly 10 cm, and a height (perpendicular to the transverse direction of the body) of between 2 cm and 5 cm, in particular 4 cm, when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0033] An embodiment of a method of manufacturing the above-mentioned leg support aid comprises the following steps:

[0034] The body as described above is manufactured by injection molding, plastic deformation or 3D printing, and the support body is attached to the region of the support zone of the body facing away from the adjacent placement zone, the support body being formed from a different material than the body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Embodiments of the application are explained in more detail below, with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 a perspective view of a leg support aid according to an embodiment is shown.

[0037] Figure 2 a schematic top view of the leg support aid of Figure 1

[0038] Figure 3 a side view of the leg support aid of Figure 1

[0039] Figure 4a a front view of the leg support aid of Figure 1

[0040] Figure 4b a rear view of the leg support aid of Figure 1

[0041] Figure 5a a front perspective view of the support body is shown.

[0042] Figure 5b a back perspective view of the support body is shown.

[0043] Figure 5c a front view of the support body is shown; and

[0044] Figures 6a to 6f the use of the leg support aid is shown schematically from the side.

[0045] Embodiments of a leg support aid are described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a leg support aid, Figure 2 is a schematic top view, Figure 3 is a side view, Figure 4a is a front view of the leg support aid, Figure 4b is Figure 1 is a rear view of the leg support aid ofThe front view is the view facing the patient when using the leg support aid.

[0046] The leg support aid according to this embodiment has a main body made of light-curing resin, which has a greater extension in the longitudinal direction L than in the transverse direction Q.

[0047] From Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 4a and Figure 4b ​​​In the combined view, it is clear that the main body has five coplanar placement zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 with which the leg support aids can be placed on the surface of a table such as the one shown Figures 6a to 6f Between two adjacent placement zones 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13 and 13 and 14 in the longitudinal direction of the main body, support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 are provided which are made in one piece with the adjacent placement zones 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13 and 13 and 14. The support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 have an end (the "top end" of the support zone) which is spaced apart from the adjacent placement zones 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13 and 13 and 14, which end defines a height H0 of 4.1 cm, H1 of 6.7 cm, H2 of 9.2 cm and H3 of 13.4 cm (the height is relative to the surface of the placement zones) of the respective support zone 20, 21, 22, 23. Support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 are provided at the end of the support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 which is spaced apart from the adjacent placement zones 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13 and 13 and 14. These support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 will be explained in more detail below. The support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 each increase the height of the respective support zone 20, 21, 22, 23 by a height HS of 4.1 cm. The midlines of the adjacent support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction L of the main body by a constant distance A of 15 cm. At this distance, the feet of an average patient rest well on the respective support body with the knees bent and at the same time supported by the support body of the adjacent support zone. The material thickness / thickness T of the main body is the same in the placement zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and the support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 and amounts to 1.0 cm. For particularly small patients, the above dimensions can be reduced, and for particularly large patients, the above dimensions can be increased. The material thickness / thickness T of the main body is essentially dependent on the material used.

[0048] In the shown embodiment, the support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 are arranged such that their heights H10, H1, H2 and H3 increase or decrease in the longitudinal direction L of the main body. The ends of the support zones 20, 21 and 22 which are spaced apart from the adjacent placement zones 10 and 11, 11 and 12 and 12 and 13 define a plane E1 which forms an angle a of 9.8° with the horizontal plane defined by the placement zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. The two outermost support zones 20 and 23 define a plane E2 which forms an angle β of 11.8° with the plane defined by the placement zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0049] In the shown embodiment, the height difference between adjacent support zones 20, 21 and 22 is approximately constant and amounts to about 2.5 cm. In contrast, the height difference between the two highest support zones 22 and 23 increases significantly (almost doubles) and amounts to 4.2 cm. This results in the knee height of the patient when the leg is straightened to be close to the height at which the knee is located when the leg is bent. This improves the ergonomics for the surgeon. Reference is made to Figures 6a to 6f .

[0050] As Figures 6a to 6f schematically shown, the ends of the support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 serve to support the sole of the patient's foot P3 or the patient's lower leg P2 via the respective support body 30, 31, 32, 33. Depending on which of the support zones 20, 21, 22, 23 is used, this means that in the region of the knee joint PI, different angles between the upper leg PO and the lower leg P2 of between approximately 180° and approximately 30° can be set. Figures 6a to 6f Also shown is an operating table OP to which the leg support aid is releasably attachable via the fastening straps B1, B2 passing through the elongated holes 40, 41, 42 and 43. In Figures 6a to 6f , a surgical cloth is not shown which covers the leg support aid during the operation and is thus arranged between the leg support aid and the patient's leg or foot.

[0051] In Figure 6f the shown position, the leg is bent to such an extent that the calf of the lower leg P2 is in contact with the upper leg PO. This is also referred to as hyperflexion, which results in the knee joint PI being pre-tensioned away from the upper leg PO. In order to fix the leg in this position, the patient's foot P3 is fixed by the lowest support zone 20. As can be seen from Figure 4a , the lowest support zone 20 has a recess S into which the patient's foot P3 is inserted until the instep rests against the underside of the support body 30. To this end, the recess S in the shown embodiment has a width WS of 10 cm and a height HS of 3 cm and is shaped as a rounded rectangle. However, the dimensions of the recess S are not limited to these values. It is thus sufficient if the recess S is shaped such that it can at least partially accommodate the patient's foot P3. It is important that the recess S is upwardly delimited by the relatively soft support body 30 (away from the plane defined by the resting zone) such that the patient's instep cannot be injured against the relatively hard material of the main body.

[0052] As can be seen from the combined view of Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4a and Figure 4b , the remaining support zones 21, 22 and 23 also have a recess. However, these are mainly for reasons of material saving and / or aesthetics.

[0053] Due to Figure 3 andFigures 6a to 6f The support zones 20, 21, 22, and 23 have an approximate V-shaped cross-section, which can easily dissipate the force applied by the patient's leg to the adjacent placement zones 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

[0054] To prevent the patient's foot P3 or lower leg P2 from sliding laterally from the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 and to increase patient comfort, the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 are provided with adhesive supports 30, 31, 32, 33 made of integral foam. The supports 30, 31, 32, 33 have protrusions 303, 313, 323, 333 at their ends along the lateral direction Q of the main body. These protrusions are oriented away from the placement areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the main body to prevent the patient's foot or lower leg from slipping laterally. Furthermore, the supports 30, 31, 32, 33 define a radius RI of 1.5 m along the lateral direction Q of the main body between the protrusions 303, 313, 323, 333 (and therefore, in the installed state, on the side away from the placement areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the support).

[0055] The following is for reference. Figures 5a to 5c The examples using support 33 are described in more detail below, as are supports 30, 31, 32, and 33: each of supports 30, 31, 32, and 33 has a flat surface 301, 311, 321, and 331 on one side, which, in the installed state of supports 30, 31, 32, and 33, form with the plane defined by placement areas 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14. Figure 3 The support body has an angle y of 45° as shown, and a cylindrical surface 332 on the side facing away from the flat surface. In the region of the cylindrical surface 332, the support body has an air passage (not shown) extending in the lateral direction of the leg support auxiliary. In the installed state, the flat surfaces 301, 311, 321, 331 of the supports 30, 31 face the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 on which the corresponding supports 30, 31, 32, 33 are mounted, with a height lower than that of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 on which the corresponding supports 30, 31, 32, 33 are mounted.

[0056] Figure 2 The top view shown illustrates the pattern of the ladder, with its outermost rungs formed by placement areas 10 and 14, and its inner rungs formed by support areas 20, 21, 22, and 23. The ladder beams are formed by a portion of placement areas 11, 12, and 13, and a portion of support areas 20, 21, 22, and 23.

[0057] Elongated holes 40, 41, 42, and 43 are formed in the placement areas 11 and 13 of the two ladder beams, respectively, for fastening bands (only in...). Figures 6a to 6fThe fastening straps can be passed through the elongated holes 40, 41, 42 and 43 (as shown in the middle). Using the fastening straps, the leg support aid can be flexibly fixed to the operating table or to the leg supports on the operating table.

[0058] In the present embodiment, the body of the leg support aid described above is manufactured by 3D printing on a 3D printer "LC Magna v.2" using a light-curing resin sold under the name "Magna Hard". The 3D printer "LC Magna v.2" and the light-curing resin "Magna Hard" are both available from Photocentric Ltd (3D), address: PEI 5XN, Peterborough, Titan House, 20 Titan Drive, Peterborough, PEI 5XN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The body is then provided with a surface coating in the form of a paint in order to improve the surface quality.

[0059] Alternatively, the body of the leg support aid described above can be formed by injection molding the body and adhering the support bodies 30, 31,

[0060] 32, 33 to the regions of the body facing away from the adjacent placement areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0061] 23. In this case, it is generally not necessary to improve the surface quality of the body by means of a coating.

[0062] Additionally alternatively, the body can also be manufactured, for example, by plastic deformation of a plate-shaped material (in particular, a thermoplastic, i.e. plastic material) using an extruder, and the support bodies are then attached. Again in this case, it is generally not necessary to improve the surface quality of the body by means of a coating.

[0063] In order to be able to adapt the leg support aid well to different patient groups (for example, children or patients with a small stature), in particular in terms of the distance between the support areas and the height of the support areas, it is advantageous for the body to be manufactured using 3D printing.

[0064] In the embodiment shown, the same support bodies are used for all support areas. Alternatively, it is also possible to use support bodies of different shapes for different support areas.

Claims

1. A leg support aid characterized by, Comprise: a body having, in a plan view, a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q), wherein the extension of the longitudinal direction (L) is greater than the extension of the transverse direction (Q), wherein the body has, along its longitudinal direction (L), at least three placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least two support zones (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein, in the longitudinal direction (L) of the body, each of the at least two support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) is located between two adjacent placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) connected to each other by the respective support zone, wherein each of the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is coplanar, wherein each of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) has a different height relative to the adjacent placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), and wherein each of the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and each of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) are integrally formed, thereby constituting the body.

2. The leg support aid of claim 1, wherein the deviation of the material thickness of the body in each of the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) from the material thickness of the body in each of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) is less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, and / or wherein, in the longitudinal direction (L) and the transverse direction (Q) of the body, the variation of the material thickness of the body in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by each of the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, and especially preferably constant, and / or wherein, in the longitudinal direction (L) and the transverse direction (Q) of the body, the material thickness of the body in the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by each of the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is between one and seven times or between one and five times the material thickness of the body in the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14).

3. The leg support aid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) have a U-shaped or V-shaped cross-section in the longitudinal direction (L) of the body, wherein the free ends of the legs of the "U" or "V" of each support zone merge into the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) adjacent to the support zone.

4. The leg support aid of claim 3, wherein, the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) have a support body (30, 31, 32, 33) at the point of connection of the legs of the "U" or "V", which is of a different material to the material of the body.

5. The leg support aid of claim 4, wherein, the body is made of hard plastic, in particular of injection-moulded polycarbonate or polyester or light-curing resin, and / or wherein the support body (30, 31, 32, 33) is made of foam material, in particular of polyurethane or ethylene-propylene diene rubber.

6. The leg support aid of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that - the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are non-detachably connected to the respective associated support zones by injection moulding or gluing or snap connection, or - the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are detachably connected to the respective associated support zones by screw connection or snap connection.

7. The leg support aid of claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that - the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) extend rectilinearly along the transverse direction (Q) of the main body and have a protrusion at their end along the transverse direction (Q) of the main body, oriented away from the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) of the main body.

8. The leg support aid according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that - the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) have a flat surface on the side of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) facing the side of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) on which the respective support body (30, 31, 32, 33) is mounted, and have a rounded surface, in particular a cylindrical surface, on the side facing away from the flat surface.

9. The leg support aid according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that - each of the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) has a surface on the side facing away from the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) defining a radius of curvature of between 1 m and 2 m, in particular 1.5 m, in the transverse direction (Q) of the leg support aid.

10. The leg support aid according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein, - the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) have a weakening, in particular an air passage extending through the support body (30, 31, 32, 33) in the transverse direction (Q) of the leg support aid, on the side of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) facing away from the side of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) on which the respective support body (30, 31, 32, 33) is mounted.

11. The leg support aid according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that - in a top view, the main body has the shape of a ladder, wherein the rungs of the ladder are formed by the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23), except for the lowest and highest rungs, - wherein the lowest and highest rungs are formed by the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), - the ladder stringers are jointly formed by a portion of the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and a portion of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23), and wherein the ladder stringers do not protrude beyond the lowest and highest rungs.

12. The leg support aid according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that - elongated holes (40, 41, 42, 43) for receiving fastening straps are formed in the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) which are mutually spaced apart by at least one support zone.

13. The leg support aid of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, - the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) extend relative to a plane defined by the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) in a direction perpendicular to this plane more than the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14); and / or - the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) extend relative to a plane defined by the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) in a direction perpendicular to this plane more than the resting zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14); and / or wherein the main body has at least four placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least three support zones (20, 21, 22, 23), or wherein the main body has at least five placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least four support zones (20, 21, 22, 23), or wherein the main body has at least six placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least five support zones (20, 21, 22, 23), and / or wherein the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) have a height (H0, H1, H2, H3) relative to the adjacent placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) of between 1.5 cm and 20 cm, in particular between 2 cm and 15 cm, and / or wherein the material thickness of the main body is between 4 mm and 15 mm, in particular between 8 mm and 12 mm, and more particularly 10 mm, and / or wherein the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) are arranged along the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body such that their height (H0, H1, H2, H3) relative to the adjacent placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) increases from one end of the main body to the other end of the main body, and / or wherein the main body has five placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and four support zones (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein the height of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) relative to the adjacent placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is 4.1 cm, 6.7 cm, 9.2 cm and 13.4 cm, and wherein the median lines of adjacent support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) are each spaced 15 cm apart.

14. The leg support aid of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, At least the lowest support zone (20) relative to the adjacent placement zones (10, 11) has a recess (S) when viewed along the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body, the recess (S) being limited in the height direction by the support body (30) associated with the support zone (20).

15. The leg support aid of claim 14, wherein, The recess (S) has a free cross-section, when viewed along the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body, which can accommodate a rectangle having a width of more than 8 cm, in particular between 9 cm and 11 cm, more particularly 10 cm, and a height of between 2 cm and 5 cm, in particular 4 cm.

16. A method for manufacturing a leg support aid according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising the steps of: A body is provided by injection molding, plastic deformation or 3D printing, wherein In a plan view, the body has a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q), the longitudinal direction (L) having a greater extension than the transverse direction (Q), wherein the body has at least three placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least two support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) along the longitudinal direction (L), wherein each of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) is located between two placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) connected to each other by a respective support zone (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein each of the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is coplanar, wherein each of the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) has a different height with respect to the adjacent placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), and the placement zones (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and the support zones (20, 21, 22, 23) are made in one piece, thus constituting the body; and attaching a support body (30, 31, 32, 33) to the area of the support zone (20, 21, 22, 23) facing away from the adjacent placement zone (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), the support body (30, 31, 32, 33) being formed of a different material than the body.

Images