LEG SUPPORT AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a leg positioning aid and a method for its manufacture.

[0002] Leg positioning devices are used in orthopedic surgery to position a patient's leg, for example during knee surgery, either fully extended or fully or partially bent, as needed. The leg positioning device is temporarily attached to an operating table or a leg rest on an operating table. This attachment is usually done using straps with quick-release fasteners (such as Velcro). Such a leg positioning device is often combined with a separate lateral support for the patient's thigh and / or lower leg, which is considered standard practice and therefore will not be described in detail here.

[0003] A leg positioning aid, in which plate-shaped support elements of varying heights are used in combination with a box-shaped bracket, is known from document CN 112 773 653 A. The box-shaped bracket has a base plate and three side plates. Two of the side plates are parallel to each other. Receptacles for the plate-shaped support elements are arranged at regular intervals along one longitudinal direction of the parallel side plates.

[0004] The prior art also includes the documents CN 115 177 468A, US 2004 / 0070254 A1 and US 2,581,110.

[0005] For example, a leg support aid is known from international design registration DM / 206 429, consisting 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 transversely to a longitudinal extent of the plate, spaced apart such that the height of the gate-shaped support elements increases from the lowest to the highest.

[0006] The purpose of this document is to further develop the leg positioning aid previously known from the international design registration DM / 206 429 with regard to its sterilizability, manufacturability, strength and radiographic signature.

[0007] The above problem is solved by a leg positioning aid having the combination of features of claim 1 and a method for manufacturing a leg positioning aid having the combination of features of claim 16. Preferred embodiments are found in the dependent claims.

[0008] A leg positioning aid consists of a particularly rigid base body with a longitudinal and a transverse direction (viewed from above). The longitudinal direction is longer than the transverse direction. The base body has at least three support areas along its longitudinal direction, allowing it to be placed on a supporting (especially flat) surface. Furthermore, the base body has at least two support areas along its longitudinal direction, designed to support a patient's lower leg or sole of the foot. The support areas are arranged longitudinally between two support areas connected to each other via the respective support area, thus separating adjacent support areas from one another. The support areas of the base body are coplanar, i.e.,They lie in a plane and are spaced apart from each other within that plane. It is permissible for the edges of the support areas to be not coplanar but rounded or even slightly curved upwards to facilitate sliding of the support areas on a flat surface supporting the base (such as the top of an operating table). The support areas have different heights relative to the adjacent support areas. Depending on whether all support areas are used together to support a patient's lower leg, or whether one of the support areas (possibly in conjunction with an adjacent support area) is used to support the sole of a patient's foot, the patient's leg can be stably positioned either straight or bent at the knee. According to the invention, the support areas and the support areas are formed in one piece and thus constitute the base body.

[0009] The one-piece construction of the support and mounting areas avoids gaps between the support elements and the plate, which are difficult to clean and disinfect, compared to gate-shaped support elements mounted on a plate. Furthermore, manufacturing is simplified, as there is no need to mount separate support elements on a base plate. The durability of the leg support is also increased, since the one-piece construction eliminates the risk of the support areas separating from the mounting areas. Finally, the one-piece construction of the support and mounting areas also improves the leg support's radiolucency, as the mounting and support areas, due to the use of the same material, have the same effect on (i.e., absorption of) X-rays.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the material thickness of the base body in the positioning areas deviates by less than 20%, and preferably by less than 10%, and more preferably by less than 5%, from the material thickness of the base body in the support areas, resulting in a substantially constant material thickness. This substantially constant material thickness further improves the uniform radiolucent penetration of the leg positioning aid.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the material thickness of the base body varies by less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, and more preferably less than 5%, both longitudinally and transversely in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the support areas, and is particularly constant. According to another embodiment, the material thickness of the base body in the support areas is between one and seven times, or between one and five times, the material thickness of the base body in the support areas, both longitudinally and transversely in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the support areas. Since X-ray images are usually taken along this direction, this results in particularly uniform penetration of the leg positioning aid by X-rays.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the support areas in the longitudinal direction of the base body have a U-shaped or V-shaped cross-section, with the free ends of the legs of the "U" or "V" of each support area transitioning via radii into the adjacent mounting areas. This cross-section facilitates the manufacture of the leg support aid, as the base body can thus be formed using a simple mold or by forming a plate-shaped base body using dies. Alternatively, due to the use of the same material in the mounting and support areas, 3D printing is also possible. Furthermore, this cross-section results in good support of the support areas on the adjacent mounting areas and consequently in high stability of the leg support aid.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the support areas at the junction of the legs of the "U" or "V" (and thus at the ends of the support areas facing away from the mounting areas) have a support body whose material differs from that of the base body. This allows the base body to be optimized with regard to its strength, and the support bodies to be optimized with regard to their contact with the patient. These support bodies can be manufactured, for example, by casting; alternatively, they can also be manufactured, for example, by cutting or 3D printing.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the base body can be made of a hard plastic such as thermoset or plastomer, and in particular of injection-molded polycarbonate or polyester, while the support bodies can be made of a soft plastic such as rubber or foam, and in particular of closed-cell foam or integral foam (i.e., foam with a solid outer skin). The foam can be, for example, polyurethane or ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. When manufactured using 3D printing, a light-curing resin can be used for the base body. The base body can (especially when manufactured using 3D printing) be subjected to a final surface treatment with resin or lacquer to improve the surface finish.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the support bodies can be permanently connected to their respective support areas by injection molding, bonding, or a snap-fit ​​connection. Connections that result in no or only minimal gap formation are preferred to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the leg support aid. According to an alternative embodiment, the support bodies can also be detachably connected to their respective support areas by a screw connection or snap-fit ​​connection; this allows the support bodies to be adjusted as needed or replaced when worn.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the material used for the support bodies behaves like the material used for the base body with respect to X-ray transmission. Preferably, the material used for the support bodies and / or the material used for the base body is transparent to X-rays (within the limits of what is technically feasible) (e.g., largely free of heavy atoms beyond Cl).

[0017] According to one embodiment, the support bodies extend in a straight line transverse to the base body. Furthermore, the support bodies have projections at their ends in the transverse direction of the base body, oriented away from the base body's contact areas. These projections prevent a patient's lower leg or sole from unintentionally slipping laterally off the support body and thus off the support area. According to one embodiment, the surfaces of the support bodies are rounded. According to another embodiment, some support bodies have recesses in a central section. These recesses can, for example, accommodate a patient's Achilles tendon, thereby increasing positioning comfort.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the support bodies, when mounted on their respective support areas, have a flat surface on one side facing support areas with a lower height than the support area on which the respective support body is mounted, and have a rounded, and in particular cylindrical, surface on the side facing away from the flat surface. According to another embodiment, the flat surfaces of the support bodies, when mounted, form an angle of between 35° and 55°, and in particular between 40° and 50°, and further, in particular, an angle of 45° with a plane defined by the mounting areas.

[0019] These flat surfaces of the support bodies allow for reliable and broad support of the sole of a patient's foot, whereas the rounded surfaces allow for comfortable positioning of the lower leg of a patient.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the support bodies, when mounted on their respective support areas, have a surface on their side facing away from the installation areas which defines a radius between 1 m and 2 m, and in particular 1.5 m, in the transverse direction of the leg support aid.

[0021] This curvature of the surface allows for self-centering and even more comfortable placement of a patient's lower leg.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the support bodies, when mounted on their respective support areas, have weakenings on one side facing away from support areas with a lower height than the support area on which the respective support body is mounted, and in particular air channels extending transversely to the leg support aid inside the support bodies.

[0023] These air channels allow for localized adjustment of the support material's firmness. In areas with many air channels, the support material is comparatively soft. This is recommended for areas of the support material intended to support a patient's lower leg. In areas with few or no air channels, the support material is comparatively firm. This is recommended for areas of the support material intended to support a patient's sole.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the base body, when viewed from above, has the shape of a ladder. The rungs of the ladder, with the exception of the lowest and uppermost rungs, which are formed by the support sections, are formed by the support sections. This fixes the base body in the transverse direction both at the level of the support sections and at the ends of the support sections facing away from the support sections, resulting in high stability of the base body. It is emphasized, however, that it is not detrimental to provide one or more additional rungs formed by support sections between the lowest and uppermost rungs of the ladder. The stiles of the ladder are formed jointly by sections of the support sections and the support sections. The stiles of the ladder do not extend beyond the lowest and uppermost rungs.

[0025] According to one embodiment, elongated holes for receiving a fastening strap are formed in the mounting areas, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one support area. This fastening strap can have a quick-release fastener (for example, in the form of a hook-and-loop fastener) and allows the leg positioning aid to be temporarily attached to an operating table or a leg rest of an operating table.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the support areas of the base body have a greater extent in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the installation areas than the installation areas themselves.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the base body has at least four positioning areas and at least three support areas, or at least five positioning areas and at least four support areas, or at least six positioning areas and at least five support areas. It was found that a larger number of support areas does not lead to a significant improvement in the leg positioning aid, since such precise adjustment of the leg's angle of attack is not necessary. At the same time, fewer than three support areas allow only a very coarse adjustment of the leg's angle of attack.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the height of the support areas relative to the adjacent installation areas is between 1.5 cm and 20 cm, and in particular between 2 cm and 15 cm.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the material thickness of the base body is between 4 mm and 15 mm, and in particular between 8 mm and 12 mm, and further in particular 10 mm.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the support areas are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base body such that their height relative to the adjacent mounting areas increases from one end of the base body to the other end of the base body.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the support areas are arranged longitudinally along the base body such that their free ends (facing away from the adjacent support areas) jointly define a plane which forms an angle of between 5° and 15°, and in particular between 8° and 14°, and further, in particular, of approximately 9.8° or 11.8° with a plane defined by the support areas. When determining this angle, it is sufficient if the plane is common to two support areas, so that other support areas can be disregarded.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the base body has five mounting areas and four support areas, wherein the height of the support areas relative to the respective adjacent mounting areas is 4.1 cm, 6.7 cm, 9.2 cm, and 13.4 cm, if the additional contribution of the support elements used to the height is 4.1 cm, and wherein the perpendicular centers of adjacent support areas are spaced 15 cm apart. The height difference between adjacent support areas is thus between 2 cm and 5 cm, and in particular 2.6 cm, 2.5 cm, and 4.2 cm.

[0033] According to one embodiment, at least the lowest support area of ​​the support areas, viewed longitudinally along the base body and in relation to the adjacent support areas, has a recess. This recess, in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the support areas), is bounded on its side facing away from the support areas by the support body belonging to the support area. Since the lowest support area faces the patient when the leg positioning aid is used, the recess allows the patient's foot to be positioned until the instep comes into contact with the support body. In this way, the patient's leg can be fixed in a sharply angled position. At the same time, damage to the sensitive instep is avoided, as it does not come into contact with the comparatively hard base body but with the comparatively soft support body.Furthermore, the hardness of the support body can be selected independently of the hardness of the base body.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the recess then has a free cross-section – viewed in the longitudinal direction of the base body – which is able to accommodate a rectangle with a width (in the transverse direction of the base body) of more than 8 cm and in particular with a width of between 9 cm and 11 cm and further in particular with a width of 10 cm and a height (perpendicular to the transverse direction of the base body) of between 2 cm and 5 cm and in particular a height of 4 cm.

[0035] Embodiments of a method for manufacturing the leg support aid described above comprise the following steps: manufacturing a base body as described above by injection molding, forming or 3D printing and attaching support bodies to the areas of the support regions of the base body which face away from the adjacent positioning regions, wherein the support bodies are made of a material different from the base body.

[0036] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a leg positioning aid according to one embodiment; Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the leg positioning aid. Figure 1 Figure 3 shows a side view of the leg positioning aid. Figure 1 Figure 4a shows a front view of the leg positioning aid. Figure 1 Figure 4-legged view from behind of the leg support aid Figure 1 Figure 5a is a perspective view of the front of a support body; Figure 5b is a perspective view of the back of the support body; Figure 5c is a front view of the support body; and Figures 6a to 6f show a schematic view of the use of the leg positioning aid from the side.

[0037] The following describes an embodiment of a leg positioning aid with reference to the figures. Figure 1 a perspective view of the leg positioning aid, and are Figure 2 a schematic overview, Figure 3 a side view, Figure 4a a view from the front and Figure 4b a rear view of the leg positioning aid Figure 1 The front view is the view that faces the patient when using the leg positioning aid.

[0038] The leg support aid according to the embodiment has a base body made of light-curing resin with a greater extent in the longitudinal direction L than in the transverse direction Q.

[0039] How well a synthesis of Figures 1 to 3 , 4a and 4b As can be seen, the base body has five coplanar mounting areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, with which the leg positioning aid can be placed on a surface such as a Figures 6a to 6fThe operating table shown can be placed on it. Between two adjacent support areas 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13 and 13 and 14 in the longitudinal direction of the base body, a support area 20, 21, 22, 23 is provided, which is formed in one piece with the adjacent support areas 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13 and 13 and 14. The support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 have an end (the "tip" of the support areas) that is not in line with the adjacent installation areas 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13, and 13 and 14. This tip defines a height H0 of 4.1 cm, H1 of 6.7 cm, H2 of 9.2 cm, and H3 of 13.4 cm for the respective support area 20, 21, 22, 23 (the height is measured from the surface of the installation areas). Support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 are provided at the ends of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 that are not in line with the adjacent installation areas 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 later.The support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 each increase the height of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 by a height HS of 4.1 cm. The perpendicular centers of adjacent support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 are spaced apart from each other by a constant distance A of 15 cm along the longitudinal direction L of the base body. At this distance, the foot of an average patient with a flexed knee rests comfortably on the respective support body and is simultaneously supported by the support body of an adjacent support area. The material thickness T of the base body is the same in the positioning areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 and is 1.0 cm. The above dimensions can be reduced for particularly small patients and increased for particularly large patients. The material thickness T of the base body depends essentially on the material used.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 are arranged such that their heights H0, H1, H2, and H3 rise or fall in the longitudinal direction L of the base body. The ends of the support areas 20, 21, and 22, which are defined by the adjacent mounting areas 10 and 11, 11 and 12, and 12 and 13, define a plane E1 which forms an angle α of 9.8° with a plane defined by the mounting areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. The two outermost support areas 20 and 23 define a plane E2 which forms an angle β of 11.8° with a plane defined by the mounting areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the height difference between adjacent support areas 20, 21, and 22 is approximately constant at around 2.5 cm. In contrast, the height difference between the two highest support areas, 22 and 23, is significantly increased (almost doubled) and amounts to 4.2 cm. This ensures that when the patient's leg is fully extended, their knee is positioned at a height similar to that of a bent leg. This improves ergonomics for the surgeon. [The text abruptly ends here, so the translation stops as well.] Figures 6a to 6f referred.

[0042] As in Figures 6a to 6fAs shown schematically, the ends of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 serve to support the sole of a patient's foot P3 or the lower leg P2 of the patient via the respective support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33. Depending on which of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 is used, this results in a different angle of between approximately 180° and approximately 30° being set between the thigh P0 and lower leg P2 in the area of ​​a knee joint P1. Figures 6a to 6f The figures also show the operating table (OP) on which the leg positioning aid is detachably attached by means of fastening straps B1 and B2, which are passed through the elongated holes 40, 41, 42, and 43. Figures 6a to 6f The surgical drape, which covers the leg positioning aid during an operation and is thus positioned between the leg positioning aid and the leg or foot of a patient, is not shown.

[0043] At the in Figure 6fIn the position shown, the leg is bent so sharply that the calf of the lower leg P2 comes into contact with the thigh P0. This is also referred to as hyperflexion and results in a preload of the knee joint P1 away from the thigh P0. To fix the leg in this position, the patient's foot P1 is secured by the lowest support area 20. As shown Figure 4aAs can be seen, the lowest support area 20 has a recess S into which the patient's foot P1 is inserted until the instep rests against the underside of the support body 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess S has a width WS of 10 cm and a height HS of 3 cm, and is shaped like a rounded rectangle. However, the dimensions of the recess S are not limited to these values. It is sufficient if the recess S is shaped in such a way that it can at least partially accommodate the patient's foot P1. It is important that the recess S is limited upwards (away from the plane defined by the support areas) by the relatively soft support body 30, so that the patient's instep does not come into contact with the relatively hard material of the base body and be injured.

[0044] As can be seen from a synthesis of the Figures 1, 2 , 4a and 4bAs can be seen, the other support areas 21, 22 and 23 also have recesses. However, these primarily serve to save material and / or for aesthetic reasons.

[0045] Due to the in Figure 3 and 6a to 6f The approximately V-shaped cross-section of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 allows them to effectively transfer the force exerted by the patient's leg to the adjacent support areas 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

[0046] To prevent the patient's foot P3 or lower leg P2 from slipping laterally off the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 and to increase patient comfort, the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 are equipped with adhesive support elements 30, 31, 32, 33 made of integral foam. The support elements 30, 31, 32, 33 have projections 303, 313, 323, 333 at their ends in the transverse direction Q of the base body, which are oriented away from the contact areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the base body and prevent the patient's foot or lower leg from slipping laterally. Furthermore, the support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 define a radius R1 of 1.5 m in the transverse direction Q of the base body between the projections 303, 313, 323, 333 (and thus, in the assembled state, on their side oriented away from the mounting areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the base body).

[0047] The support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 are described with reference to the Figures 5a to 5cThe following describes in more detail using the example of support body 33: The support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 each have a flat surface 301, 311, 321, 331 on one side, which, when the support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 are mounted, forms a plane defined by the installation areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Figure 3 The support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 enclose the angle γ of 45° shown and have a cylindrical surface 332 on one side facing away from the flat surface. In the area of ​​the cylindrical surface 332, the support bodies have air channels (not shown in the figures) extending transversely to the leg support aid within their interior. In the assembled state, the flat surface 301, 311, 321, 331 of the support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 is oriented towards support areas 20, 21, 22, 23, which have a lower height than the support area 20, 21, 22, 23 on which the respective support body 30, 31, 32, 33 is mounted.

[0048] In the Figure 2The top view shows the structure as a ladder, the outermost rungs of which are formed by the erection areas 10 and 14, and the innermost rungs by the support areas 20, 21, 22, and 23. The stiles of this ladder are formed jointly by sections of the erection areas 11, 12, and 13 and the support areas 20, 21, 22, and 23.

[0049] In the mounting areas 11 and 13 of both stiles, elongated holes 40, 41, 42 and 43 are formed, through which a (only in Figures 6a to 6f The fastening strap (shown) can be threaded through it. Using this fastening strap, the leg positioning aid can be flexibly attached to an operating table or a leg rest of an operating table.

[0050] In the present embodiment, the base body of the leg support described above was manufactured by 3D printing on an "LC Magna v.2" 3D printer using a light-curing resin marketed under the name "Magna Hard". Both the "LC Magna v.2" 3D printer and the "Magna Hard" light-curing resin can be obtained from Photocentric Ltd (3D), Titan House, 20 Titan Drive, Peterborough, PE1 5XN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The base body was then given a surface coating in the form of a paint finish to improve the surface quality.

[0051] Alternatively, the basic body of the leg positioning aid described above can be formed by injection molding the basic body and gluing the support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 to the areas of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 of the basic body, which are facing away from the adjacent setup areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. In In such a case, it is usually not necessary to improve the surface quality of the base body by means of a coating.

[0052] Alternatively, it is also possible, for example, to form the base body by shaping a sheet-like (especially thermoplastic, i.e., plastomeric) material using a press, and then attach the support bodies. In this case, too, it is usually not necessary to improve the surface quality of the base body by applying a coating.

[0053] In order to adapt the leg positioning aid well to different patient groups (e.g. children or patients of short stature) (especially with regard to the distance between the support areas and the height of the support areas), it is advantageous to manufacture the basic body using 3D printing.

[0054] In In the illustrated embodiment, the same support bodies were used for all support areas. Alternatively, it is also possible to use differently shaped support bodies for different support areas.

Claims

1. A leg supporting aid, comprising: a main body which has a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q) in plan view, wherein the longitudinal direction (L) has a greater extent than the transverse direction (Q), wherein the main body has at least three placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least two support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) along its longitudinal direction (L), wherein in the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body each of the at least two support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) respectively is located between two adjacent placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) connected to one another via the respective support region, wherein the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) are coplanar, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) have different heights relative to the adjacent placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), and wherein the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are jointly manufactured in one piece and thus constitute the main body, characterized in, that the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) have U-shaped or V-shaped cross-sections in the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body, wherein the free ends of the legs of the "U" or "V" of each support region merge into the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) adjacent to the support region.

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

3. The leg supporting aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) have a support body (30, 31, 32, 33) at the junction of the legs of the "U" or "V", the material of which support body differs from the material of the main body.

4. The leg supporting aid according to claim 3, wherein the main body consists of injection-moulded polycarbonate or polyester or light-curing resin, and / or wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) consist of foam material and in particular of polyurethane or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber.

5. The leg supporting aid according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are non-detachably connected to the respectively associated support region by injection-molding or adhesive bonding, or wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are detachably connected to the respectively associated support region by a screw connection or snap-on connection.

6. The leg supporting aid according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) extend in a straight line in the transverse direction (Q) of the main body and have projections at their ends in the transverse direction (Q) of the main body, which projections are oriented away from the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) of the main body.

7. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) have a flat surface on a side which faces support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) having a smaller height than the support region (20, 21, 22, 23) on which the respective support body (30, 31, 32, 33) is mounted, and have a rounded and in particular cylindrical surface on a side facing away from the flat surface.

8. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) each have a surface on their sides facing away from the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), which surface defines a radius of curvature of between 1 m and 2 m and in particular of 1.5 m in the transverse direction (Q) of the leg supporting aid.

9. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) have weakenings on a side which faces away from support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) having a smaller height than the support region (20, 21, 22, 23), and in particular air ducts extending through the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) in the transverse direction (Q) of the leg supporting aid.

10. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein elongated holes (40, 41, 42, 43) for receiving a fastening strap are formed in placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) that are spaced apart from one another by at least one support region.

11. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) have a greater extent in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane defined by the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) in relation to this plane than the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14); and / or wherein a height (H0, H1, H2, H3) of the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) relative to the adjacent placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is between 1.5 cm and 20 cm and in particular between 2 cm and 15 cm.

12. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a material thickness of the main body is between 4 mm and 15 mm and in particular between 8 mm and 12 mm and more particularly 10 mm.

13. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body such that their height (H0, H1, H2, H3) relative to the adjacent placement regions (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 at least four placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least three support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) or wherein the main body has at least five placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least four support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) or wherein the main body has at least six placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least five support regions (20, 21, 22, 23), and / or wherein the main body has five placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and four support regions (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein the height (H0, H1, H2, H3) of the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) relative to the adjacent placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is 4.1 cm, 6.7 cm, 9.2 cm and 13.4 cm, and wherein perpendicular bisectors of adjacent support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are each spaced apart by 15 cm.

14. The leg supporting aid according to one of claims 3 to 13, wherein at least the lowest support region (20) relative to the adjacent placement regions (10, 11) has a recess (S) as seen in the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body, which recess (S) is limited in the height direction by the support body (30) associated with the support region (20).

15. The leg supporting aid according to claim 14, wherein the recess (S) has a free cross-section as seen in the longitudinal direction (L) of the main body, which is able to accommodate a rectangle with a width of more than 8 cm and in particular of between 9 cm and 11 cm and further in particular of 10 cm and a height of between 2 cm and 5 cm and in particular of 4 cm.

16. A method for producing a leg supporting aid according to one of claims 3 to 15, comprising the following steps: providing a main body by injection molding, plastic deformation or 3D printing, wherein the main body has a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q) in plan view, wherein the longitudinal direction (L) has a greater extent than the transverse direction (Q), and wherein the main body has at least three placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least two support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) along the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are respectively located between two placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) connected to one another via the respective support region (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) are coplanar, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) have different heights relative to the adjacent placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), and wherein the placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are manufactured in one piece and thus constitute the main body; and attaching support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) to the regions of the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) which face away from the adjacent placement regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are formed from a material different from the main body.