Leg supporting aid and method for producing same

EP4629956A1Active Publication Date: 2025-10-15INNOVATIVE ORTHOPEDIC TECH IOT
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2024708777
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-03-06
Filing Date
2024-02-29
Publication Date
2025-10-15
Estimated Expiration
2044-02-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing leg positioning aids in surgical orthopedics face challenges in sterilizability, manufacturability, strength, and X-ray transparency, particularly due to gaps between support elements and base plates that complicate cleaning and disinfection, and variations in material thickness affecting uniform irradiation.

Method used

A leg positioning aid with a one-piece design featuring a rigid base body and support areas, made from the same material for uniform X-ray absorption, and adjustable support bodies for enhanced stability and comfort, allowing for secure patient positioning and easy attachment to operating tables.

Benefits of technology

The one-piece design improves sterilizability, durability, and X-ray uniformity, while adjustable support bodies enhance patient comfort and stability, facilitating precise leg positioning and reducing the risk of detachment during use.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a leg supporting aid comprising, in plan view, a main body having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q). The longitudinal direction (L) has a larger extension than the transverse direction (Q). The main body has at least three elevation portions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least two support portions (20, 21, 22, 23). Each of the support portions (20, 21, 22, 23) is arranged, in the longitudinal direction of the main body, between two elevation portions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) which are interconnected by the corresponding support portion. The elevation portions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) are coplanar. The support portions (20, 21, 22, 23) have different heights relative to the adjacent elevation portions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14). The elevation portions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and support portions (20, 21, 22, 23) are integrally formed and thus form the main body.
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Description

[0001] Leg positioning aid and method for producing the same

[0002] The present invention relates to a leg support and a method for its manufacture.

[0003] Leg positioning aids are used in orthopedic surgery to position a patient's leg in an extended or fully or partially bent position as needed, for example, during knee surgery. For this purpose, the leg positioning aid is temporarily attached to an operating table or a leg support of an operating table. This attachment is usually achieved using straps with quick-release fasteners (e.g., Velcro). Such a leg positioning aid is often combined with a separate lateral support for the patient's thigh and / or lower leg, which is state-of-the-art and therefore not described in detail here.

[0004] For example, a leg support aid is already known from the international design registration DM / 206 429. It 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 one another transversely to a longitudinal extension of the plate, spaced apart so that the height of the gate-shaped support elements increases from a lowest gate-shaped support element to a highest gate-shaped support element.

[0005] The object of the present document is to further develop the leg support known from the international design registration DM / 206 429 with regard to its sterilizability, manufacturability, strength, and X-ray signature. The above object is achieved by a leg support with the combination of the features of claim 1 and a method for producing a leg support with the combination of the features of claim 16. Preferred developments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0006] Designs of a leg support aid comprise a particularly rigid base body with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction (as viewed from above). The longitudinal direction has a greater extent than the transverse direction. The base body comprises at least three support regions along its longitudinal direction, with which the base body can be placed on a (particularly flat) surface supporting the base body. Furthermore, the base body comprises at least two support regions along its longitudinal direction, which are designed to support a lower leg or the sole of a patient. The support regions are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base body between two support regions connected to one another via the respective support region, whereby adjacent support regions are spaced from one another by an intermediate support region. The support regions of the base body are coplanar, i.e., they lie in one plane, and are spaced from one another in this plane. It is permissible for the edge regions of the support areas to be not coplanar but rounded or even slightly upwards in order to facilitate the sliding of the support areas on a flat surface carrying the base support (such as the top of an operating table). The support areas have different heights in relation to the adjacent support areas. Depending on whether all of the support areas are used together to support a patient's lower leg, or whether one of the support areas (possibly in conjunction with a neighboring support area) is used to support the sole of a patient's foot, the patient's leg can be stably supported either straight or with the knee bent. According to the invention, the support areas and the support areas are formed integrally and thus form the base body.

[0007] The one-piece design of the support areas and the support 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, production is simplified because there is no need to mount separate support elements on a base plate. The durability of the leg support aid is also increased because the one-piece design eliminates the risk of the support areas becoming detached from the support areas. Finally, the one-piece design of the support areas and the support areas also improves the X-ray penetration of the leg support aid because the support areas and the support areas have the same effect on (i.e., absorption of) X-rays due to the use of the same material.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the material thickness of the base body in the support areas deviates by less than 20%, preferably by less than 10%, and more preferably by less than 5%, from the material thickness of the base body in the support areas, whereby the base body has a substantially constant material thickness. This substantially constant material thickness further improves the uniform X-ray penetration of the leg support.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the material thickness of the base body varies both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the base body in a direction that is perpendicular to a plane defined by the setup areas by less than 20% and preferably by less than 10% and more preferably by less than 5% and is in particular constant. According to one embodiment, the material thickness of the base body, both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the base body in a direction that is perpendicular to a plane defined by the setup areas, in the support areas corresponds to between one and seven times or between one and five times the material thickness of the base body in the setup areas. Since X-ray images are usually taken along this direction, this leads to particularly uniform X-ray penetration of the leg positioning aid.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the support areas have a U-shaped or V-shaped cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the base body, with the free ends of the legs of the "U" or "V" of each support area merging via radii into the support areas adjacent to the support area. This cross-section facilitates the manufacture of the leg support aid, as the base body can be formed using a simple casting mold or by forming a plate-shaped base body using stamping. Alternatively, due to the use of the same material in the support areas and the support areas, production using 3D printing is also possible. Furthermore, this cross-section ensures good support of the support areas on the adjacent support areas and consequently, a high level of stability for the leg support aid.

[0011] 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 support areas) have a support body made of a different material than 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 contact with the patient. These support bodies can be manufactured, for example, by casting; alternatively, the support bodies can also be manufactured by cutting or 3D printing.According to one embodiment, the base body can then be made of hard plastic such as, for example, duromer or plastomer, and in particular of injection-molded polycarbonate or polyester, and the support bodies can be made of soft plastic such as, for example, rubber or foam, and in particular of closed-cell foam or integral foam (i.e., foam with a rigid outer skin). The foam can be, for example, polyurethane or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. When manufactured using 3D printing, a light-curing resin, for example, can be used for the base body. The base body can (especially when manufactured using 3D printing) finally be subjected to a surface treatment with resin or varnish to improve the surface quality.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the support bodies can be permanently connected to the respective support area by injection molding, gluing, or a snap connection. Connections that result in no or only minimal gap formation are preferred to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the leg support. According to an alternative embodiment, the support bodies can also be detachably connected to the respective support area by a screw connection or snap connection; this makes it possible to adapt the support bodies as needed or to replace them when they become worn.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the material used for the support bodies behaves in the same way as the material used for the base body with regard to X-ray penetration. The material used for the support bodies and / or the material used for the base body is preferably transparent to X-rays (as far as technically possible) (e.g. largely free of heavy atoms beyond Cl). According to one embodiment, the support bodies extend in a straight line in the transverse direction of the base body. Furthermore, the support bodies have projections at their ends in the transverse direction of the base body, which projections are oriented away from the support areas of the base body. These projections prevent a patient's lower leg or sole of the foot from inadvertently slipping sideways off the support body and thus the support area. According to one embodiment, surfaces of the support bodies are rounded.According to one embodiment, some support bodies have recesses in a central section. These recesses can accommodate, for example, a patient's Achilles tendon, thus increasing support comfort.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the support bodies, when mounted on a respective associated support region, have a flat surface on a side facing support regions of lower height than the support region on which the respective support body is mounted, and the support bodies have a rounded and, in particular, cylindrical surface on a side facing away from the flat surface. According to one embodiment, the flat surfaces of the support bodies, when mounted, enclose 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 installation regions.

[0015] These flat surfaces of the support bodies allow for reliable and even support of the sole of a patient's foot, whereas the rounded surfaces allow for comfortable positioning of a patient's lower leg.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the support bodies, when mounted on a respective associated support area, have on their side facing away from the installation areas a surface which defines a radius of between 1 m and 2 m and in particular of 1.5 m in the transverse direction of the leg support aid.

[0017] This curvature of the surface allows for self-centering and even more comfortable support of a patient's lower leg.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the support bodies, when mounted on a respective associated support region, have, on a side facing away from support regions of lower height than the support region on which the respective support body is mounted, weakened portions and, in particular, air channels extending in the transverse direction of the leg support aid in the interior of the support bodies.

[0019] These air channels allow the firmness of the support elements to be locally adjusted. In areas with numerous air channels, the support element is comparatively soft. This is recommended for areas of the support elements intended to support a patient's lower leg. In areas with few or no air channels, the support element is comparatively hard. This is recommended for areas of the support elements intended to support a patient's sole.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the base body has the shape of a ladder when viewed from above. The rungs of the ladder, with the exception of the bottom and top rungs, which are formed by support areas, are formed by the support areas. As a result, the base body is fixed in the transverse direction on the one hand at the level of the support areas and on the other hand at the level of the ends of the support areas facing away from the support areas, which leads to a high level of stability of the base body. It is emphasized, however, that it is not detrimental to provide one or more additional rungs formed by support areas between the bottom and top rung of the ladder. The stiles of the ladder are formed jointly by sections of the support areas and the support areas. The stiles of the ladder do not protrude beyond the bottom and top rung.

[0021] According to one embodiment, elongated holes for receiving a fastening strap are formed in support areas 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 support to be temporarily attached to an operating table or a leg rest of an operating table.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the support regions of the base body have a greater extension in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the installation regions, with respect to this plane, than the installation regions.

[0023] 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 has been found that a larger number of support areas does not lead to a significant improvement in the leg positioning aid, since such a precise adjustment of the angle of a leg is not required. At the same time, fewer than three support areas allow only a very rough adjustment of the angle of a leg.

[0024] 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. 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.

[0025] 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 installation areas increases from one end of the base body to the other end of the base body.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the support regions are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base body such that their free ends (facing away from the adjacent installation regions) jointly define a plane that forms an angle of between 5° and 15°, and in particular between 8° and 14°, and more particularly approximately 9.8° or 11.8°, with a plane defined by the installation regions. When determining this angle, it is sufficient if the plane is common to two support regions, so that other support regions can be disregarded.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the base body has five installation areas and four support areas, wherein the height of the support areas relative to the respective adjacent installation areas is 4.1 cm, 6.7 cm, 9.2 cm, and 13.4 cm, if the additional contribution of the support bodies used to the height is 4.1 cm, and wherein the perpendicular bisectors of adjacent support areas are each spaced apart by 15 cm. 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.

[0028] According to one embodiment, at least the lowest support region of the support regions in relation to the adjacent support regions, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the base body, has a recess, which recess is delimited in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the support regions) on its side facing away from the support regions by the support body associated with the support region. Since the lowest support region faces the patient when the leg positioning aid is in use, the recess allows a patient's foot to be accommodated until the instep comes into contact with the support body. In this way, a patient's leg can be fixed in a strongly bent position. At the same time, damage to the sensitive instep of the foot is avoided, since it comes into contact with the comparatively soft support body rather than the comparatively hard base body.In addition, the hardness of the support body can be selected independently of the hardness of the base body.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the recess then has - viewed in the longitudinal direction of the base body - a free cross-section which can 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.

[0030] Embodiments of a method for producing the leg support described above comprise the following steps:

[0031] Manufacturing a base body as described above by injection molding, forming, or 3D printing, and attaching support bodies to the areas of the support areas of the base body that face away from the adjacent installation areas, wherein the support bodies are made of a different material from the base body. Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Herein:

[0032] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a leg support aid according to one embodiment;

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the leg positioning aid from Figure 1;

[0034] Figure 3 is a side view of the leg support aid from Figure 1;

[0035] Figure 4a is a front view of the leg support aid from Figure 1;

[0036] Figure 4b is a rear view of the leg support from Figure 1;

[0037] Figure 5a is a perspective view of the front of a support body;

[0038] Figure 5b is a perspective view of the back of the support body;

[0039] Figure 5c is a front view of the support body; and

[0040] Figures 6a to 6f schematically show the use of the leg positioning aid viewed from the side.

[0041] An embodiment of a leg support is described below with reference to the figures. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the leg support, Figure 2 is a schematic plan view, Figure 3 is a side view, Figure 4a is a front view, and Figure 4b is a rear view of the leg support from Figure 1. The front view is the view facing a patient when the leg support is in use.

[0042] The leg positioning aid according to the embodiment has a base body made of light-curing resin with a greater extension in the longitudinal direction L than in the transverse direction Q.

[0043] As can be clearly seen from a comparison of Figures 1 to 3, 4a and 4b, the base body has five coplanar support areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, with which the leg support can be placed on a surface such as an operating table shown in Figures 6a to 6f. Between two support areas 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13, and 13 and 14 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the base body, a support area 20, 21, 22, 23 is provided, each integrally formed 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 spaced apart from the adjacent installation areas 10 and 11, 11 and 12, 12 and 13 and 13 and 14 (the "tip" of the support areas), which defines a height HO of 4.1 cm, Hl of 6.7 cm, H2 of 9.2 cm and H3 of 13.4 cm of the respective support area 20, 21, 22, 23 (the height is related to 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 spaced apart from 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 bisectors of adjacent support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction L of the base body by a constant distance A of 15 cm. At this distance, the foot of an average patient rests comfortably on the respective support body with the knee bent 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 support areas 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 and the support areas 20, 21, 22, and 23, at 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 primarily on the material used.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the support regions 20, 21, 22, 23 are arranged such that their heights H0, H1, H2, and H3 increase or decrease in the longitudinal direction L of the base body. The ends of the support regions 20, 21, and 22 spaced apart from the adjacent installation regions 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 installation regions 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. The two outermost support regions 20 and 23 define a plane E2, which forms an angle β of 11.8° with a plane defined by the installation regions 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the height difference between adjacent support areas at support areas 20, 21, and 22 is approximately constant and amounts to approximately 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 causes a patient's knee, with a straight leg, to approach the height at which the knee is with a bent leg. This improves ergonomics for a surgeon. Reference is made to Figures 6a to 6f.

[0046] As schematically shown in Figures 6a to 6f, the ends of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 serve to support the sole of a patient's foot P3 or the patient's lower leg P2 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 able to be set between the thigh PO and the lower leg P2 in the area of ​​a knee joint PI. Figures 6a to 6f also show the operating table OP, on which the leg positioning aid is detachably attached by means of fastening straps B1, B2, which are passed through the elongated holes 40, 41, 42, and 43. In Figures 6a to 6f, a surgical drape which covers the leg positioning aid during an operation and is thus arranged between the leg positioning aid and the leg or foot of a patient is not shown.

[0047] In the position shown in Figure 6f, the leg is bent so sharply that the calf of the lower leg P2 comes into contact with the thigh PO. This is also referred to as hyperflexion and leads to a preload of the knee joint PI away from the thigh PO. To fix the leg in this position, the patient's foot PI is secured by the lowest support area 20. As can be seen from Figure 4a, the lowest support area 20 has a recess S for this purpose, into which the patient's foot PI is inserted until the instep rests against the underside of the support body 30. For this purpose, the recess S in the embodiment shown has a width WS of 10 cm and a height HS of 3 cm, as well as the shape of 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 such that it can at least partially accommodate the patient's foot PI.It is important that the recess S is limited upwards (away from the plane defined by the installation areas) by the comparatively soft support body 30 so that the back of the patient's foot does not rest on the comparatively hard material of the base body and is injured.

[0048] As can be seen from a combined view of Figures 1, 2, 4a, and 4b, the remaining support areas 21, 22, and 23 also have recesses. However, these primarily serve to save material and / or for aesthetic reasons. Due to the approximately V-shaped cross-section of the support areas 20, 21, 22, and 23 shown in Figures 3 and 6a to 6f, they can effectively transfer the force exerted by the patient's leg to the adjacent support areas 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

[0049] To prevent the patient's foot P3 or lower leg P2 from slipping sideways off the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 and to increase patient comfort, the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 are provided with glued-on support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 made of integral foam. The support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 have projections 303, 313, 323, 333 at their ends in the transverse direction Q of the base body. These projections are oriented away from the support areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the base body and prevent the patient's foot or lower leg from slipping sideways. Furthermore, the support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 define a radius RI 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 installation areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the base body).

[0050] The support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 are described in more detail below using the example of the support body 33 with reference to Figures 5a to 5c: The support bodies 30,

[0051] 31, 32, 33 each have on one side a flat surface 301, 311, 321, 331, which, in the assembled state of the support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33, forms an angle y of 45°, shown in Figure 3, with a plane defined by the support areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and have a cylindrical surface 332 on a side facing away from the flat surface. In the area of ​​the cylindrical surface 332, the support bodies have air ducts (not shown in the figures) extending in the transverse direction of the leg support aid. In the assembled state, the flat surface 301, 311, 321, 331 of the support bodies 30, 31,

[0052] 32, 33 are 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.

[0053] The plan view shown in Figure 2 depicts a ladder whose outermost rungs are formed by the support areas 10 and 14 and whose inner rungs are formed by the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23. The stiles of this ladder are jointly formed by sections of the support areas 11, 12, and 13 and the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23.

[0054] In the mounting areas 11 and 13 of both beams, elongated holes 40, 41, 42, and 43 are provided, through which a fastening strap (shown only in Figures 6a to 6f) can be threaded. Using this fastening strap, the leg support can be flexibly attached to an operating table or to a leg rest of an operating table.

[0055] 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 light-curing resin sold under the name "Magna Hard." Both the "LC Magna v.2" 3D printer and the light-curing resin "Magna Hard" are available from Photocentric Ltd (3D), Titan House, 20 Titan Drive, Peterborough, PEI 5XN, United Kingdom. The base body was then coated with a lacquer to improve the surface quality.

[0056] Alternatively, the base body of the leg support described above can be formed by injection molding the base body and gluing the support bodies 30, 31, 32, 33 to the areas of the support areas 20, 21, 22, 23 of the base body that face away from the adjacent support areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. In such a case, it is generally not necessary to improve the surface quality of the base body by applying a coating.

[0057] As an alternative, it is also possible, for example, to form the base body by forming a plate-shaped (particularly thermoplastic, i.e. plastomer) material using a press, and then to attach the support bodies. Even in this case, it is normally not necessary to improve the surface quality of the base body by applying a coating. In order to be able to adapt the leg positioning aid to different patient groups (e.g. children or patients of short stature) (particularly with regard to the distance between the support areas and the height of the support areas), it is advantageous to produce the base body using 3D printing. In the embodiment shown, 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

Patent claims 1. A leg support aid, comprising: a base body which, in plan view, has a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q), wherein the longitudinal direction (L) has a greater extent than the transverse direction (Q), wherein the base body has at least three erection regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least two support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) along its longitudinal direction (L), wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) of the base body between two erection regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) connected to one another via the respective support region, wherein the erection regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) are coplanar, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are arranged relative to the adjacent Installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) have different heights, and wherein the installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and support areas (20, 21, 22, 23) are formed in one piece and thus form the base body.

2. Leg support aid according to claim 1, wherein the material thickness of the base body in the support areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) 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 (20, 21, 22, 23), and / or wherein the material thickness of the base body in the longitudinal direction (L) and transverse direction (Q) of the base body in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane defined by the support areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) by less than 10% and more preferably by less than 5% and in particular is constant, and / or wherein the material thickness of the base body in the longitudinal direction (L) and transverse direction (Q) of the base body in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane defined by the installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) in the support areas (20, 21, 22, 23) corresponds to between one and seven times or between one and five times the material thickness of the base body in the installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14).

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

4. Leg support aid according to claim 3, wherein the support areas (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 differs from the material of the base body.

5. Leg support aid according to claim 4, wherein the base body consists of hard plastic and in particular of injection-molded polycarbonate or polyester or light-curing resin, and / or wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) consist of foam and in particular of polyurethane or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber.

6. Leg support aid according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are non-releasably connected to the respective associated support area by injection molding or gluing or a snap connection, or wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are releasably connected to the respective associated support area by a screw connection or snap connection.

7. Leg support aid according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) extend rectilinearly in the transverse direction (Q) of the base body and have projections at their ends in the transverse direction (Q) of the base body which are oriented away from the support areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) of the base body.

8. Leg support aid according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) have a flat surface on a side facing support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) with a lower 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.

9. Leg support according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the support body (30, 31, 32, 33) has on its side facing away from the support areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) a surface which in the transverse direction (Q) of the leg support has a radius of between 1 m and 2 m and in particular of 1.5 m.

10. Leg support aid according to one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) on one side, which support areas (20, 21, 22, 23) with lower height than the support area (20, 21, 22, 23), has weakenings and in particular air channels extending through the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) in the transverse direction (Q) of the leg support aid.

11. Leg support aid according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the base body has the shape of a ladder in plan view, wherein rungs of the ladder, with the exception of the lowest and highest rungs, are formed by the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein the lowest and highest rungs are formed by erection regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), wherein stiles of the ladder are formed jointly by sections of the erection regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23), and wherein the stiles of the ladder do not protrude beyond the lowest and highest rungs.

12. Leg support aid according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein elongated holes (40, 41, 42, 43) for receiving a fastening strap are formed in support areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) spaced from one another by at least one support area.

13. Leg support aid according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the support regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) have a greater extent with respect to this plane than the support regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14); and / or wherein the base body has at least four support regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least three support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) or wherein the base body has at least five support regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least four Support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) or wherein the base body has at least six installation regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and at least five support regions (20, 21, 22, 23), and / or wherein a height (H0, H1, H2, H3) of the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) relative to the adjacent installation regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is between 1.5 cm and 20 cm and in particular between 2 cm and 15 cm, and / or wherein a 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, and / or wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) are arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) of the base body such that their the height (HO, HI, H2, H3) relative to the adjacent installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) increases from one end of the base body to the other end of the base body, and / or wherein the base body has five installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and four support areas (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein the height (HO, HI, H2,H3) of the support areas (20, 21, 22, 23) relative to the adjacent installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) is 4.1 cm, 6.7 cm, 9.2 cm and 13.4 cm and the perpendicular bisectors of adjacent support areas (20, 21, 22, 23) are each spaced by 15 cm.

14. Leg support aid according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least the lowest support region (20) in relation to the adjacent support regions (10, 11) has a recess (S) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the base body, which recess (S) is delimited in the vertical direction by the support body (30) associated with the support region (20).

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

16. A method for producing a leg support according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising the following steps: Providing a base body by injection molding, forming or 3D printing, wherein the base body in plan view has a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (Q), wherein the longitudinal direction (L) has a greater extent than the transverse direction (Q), and wherein the base body has at least three installation 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 each arranged between two installation regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) connected to one another via the respective support region (20, 21, 22, 23), wherein the installation regions (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) are coplanar, wherein the support regions (20, 21, 22, 23) have different heights relative to the adjacent installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), and wherein the installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and support areas (20, 21, 22, 23) are formed in one piece and thus form the base body; and Attaching support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) to the areas of the support areas (20, 21, 22, 23) which are remote from the adjacent installation areas (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), wherein the support bodies (30, 31, 32, 33) are formed from a material different from the base body.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Knee replacement variable type angle limiting frame

    CN204428372U