During the medical examination or treatment of a patients leg it is often desirable for the leg to be elevated above a surface, such as a bed or operating table, upon which the patient is lying. It is also desirable for the leg to be inflected such that the angle formed between the lower leg and upper leg is between 175° and 35°. By lower leg it is meant that part of the leg below the knee, that is to say the part incorporating the tibia and fibula. By upper leg it is meant that part of the leg above the knee, that is to say the part incorporating the femur.

During an examination the patient may be able to hold their leg in position however during treatment, and in particular surgery, this is generally not possible. It is known for a leg to be supported during surgery by a stirrup stand arranged such that the stand is supported upon an operating table and supports the underside of the knee. However, such a method of support does not necessarily support the leg in the best manner for surgery to be performed thereon.

According to the present invention there is provided a leg support comprising a first member arrangeable, in use, to support a patients lower leg, and having a second member arrangeable, in use, to support the patients upper leg, the leg support being adjustable to suit different patients.

The first member may have a first end pivotally linked to a first end of the second member and the leg support may include positioning means arranged to set the angle of inflection between the first and second members and maintain them in position relative to one another.

Preferably, the angle of inflection may be adjusted between 175° and 35°.

More preferably between 160° and 45°.

Preferably, the positioning means comprises a base member arranged to define a plurality of positions for a second end of one of said first or second members relative to the other of said members.

Preferably, the base member comprises a substantially planar member having a plurality of projections extending therefrom and arranged to define said plurality of positions for the second end of the said member.

Preferably, the base member is arranged to define a fixed position for a second end of the other of said members relative to the base member.

Preferably, the base member is arranged to define a plurality of positions for the second end of the first member and a fixed position for the second end of the second member.

Preferably, the base member defines at least 3 positions for the second end of the first member. More preferably between 4 and 6 positions.

Preferably, the second end of the second member is pivotally linked to the base member. Preferably, the second member is pivotally linked to an end of the base member.

Preferably, the base member comprises one section to which the second member is pivotally linked and which defines said plurality of positions for the second end of the first member.

Preferably, the leg support is arranged such that the second end of the first member is releasably held in place by abutting against a protrusion of the base

member and can be repositioned by being lifted away from the protrusion and then lowered such that it abuts another protrusion.

Preferably, the base member is arranged to be supported upon an operating table.

Preferably, the first member comprises a substantially planar surface arranged to abut the underside of a patients leg.

Preferably, the second member comprises a substantially planar surface arranged to abut the underside of a patients leg.

Preferably, the length of the first member is adjustable.

Preferably, the length of the first member is adjustable between at least 3 lengths. More preferably, between at least 4 lengths.

Preferably, the first member comprises two telescopic sections arranged to move relative to one another. Preferably, the first telescopic section comprises the first end of the first member. Preferably, the second telescopic section comprises the second end of the first member. Preferably, the first telescopic section comprises a cavity arranged to receive a part of the second telescopic section. Preferably, the leg support further comprises a fixing means to set the position of the telescopic sections relative to one another. The first telescopic section may comprise a plurality of apertures arranged to cooperate with one or more apertures in the second telescopic section such that a bar can be passed through aligned apertures in the telescopic sections to fix their positions relative to one another.

Preferably, the length of the second member is adjustable.

Preferably the length of the second member is adjustable between at least 3 lengths. More preferably, between at least 4 lengths.

Preferably, the second member comprises two telescopic portions arranged to move relative to one another. Preferably, the first telescopic portion comprises the first end of the second member. Preferably, the second telescopic portion comprises the second end of the second member. Preferably, the first telescopic portion comprises a cavity arranged to receive a part of the second telescopic portion. Preferably, the leg support further comprises a fixing means to set the position of the telescopic portions relative to one another.

The first telescopic portion may comprise a plurality of apertures arranged to cooperate with one or more apertures in the second telescopic portion such that a bar can be passed through aligned apertures in the telescopic portions to fix their positions relative to one another.

Preferably the first and second members are pivotally linked by at least one hinge. More preferably they are linked by two hinges.

Preferably the second member and base member are linked by at least one hinge. More preferably, they are linked by two hinges.

Preferably, the leg support is arranged such that the distances between the first and second ends of the first member, the first and second ends of the second member and the second end of the first member and the second end of the second member can be adjusted.

The invention will now be illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of a leg support.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the leg support of Figure 1 in a second position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the leg support of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the leg support of Figure 1 showing a leg being supported thereby.

Figure 5 shows a leg support in a third position.

Figure 6 shows a leg support in a fourth position.

Figure 7 shows a leg support in a fifth position.

Figure 8 shows a leg support with the bars removed.

As best illustrated by Figures 1 to 3 a leg support 10 comprises a 31 first member 20 having its first end 21 linked to a first end 31 of a second member 30 by hinges 40a, 40b. The leg support 10 further comprises a base member 50 linked to a second end 32 of the second member 30 by hinges 60a 60b.

The base member 50 comprises projections 51a-f arranged to abut against a second end 22 of the first member 20 to define a plurality of positions therefore.

The first member 20 comprises two telescopic sections 23,24. The first telescopic section 23 comprises a cavity (not shown) arranged to receive a narrower part 25 of the second telescopic section 24. The first telescopic section 23 comprises apertures 25a-d as does the part 25 of the second telescopic section 24 (not shown).

A bar 70 is arranged to pass through one of the apertures 25a-d and a corresponding aperture in the part 25 of the second telescopic section 24 aligned therewith to fix the position of the first and second telescopic sections 23,24 relative to one another.

The second member 30 comprises two telescopic portions 33,34. The first telescopic portion 33 comprises a cavity (not shown) arranged to receive a narrower part 35 of the second telescopic portion 34. The first telescopic portion 33 comprises apertures 36a-d as does the part 35 of the second telescopic portion 34 (not shown).

A bar 80 is arranged to pass through one of the apertures 36a-d and a corresponding aperture in the part 35 of the second telescopic portion 34 aligned therewith to fix the position of the first and second telescopic portions 33,34 relative to one another.

As best illustrated by Figure 4 a leg is supported by the leg support 10 such that the first member 20 abuts a patients lower leg 100 and the second member 30 abuts a patients upper leg 101.

Figures 5 to 8 show the leg support 10 in a range of alternative positions.

In use the leg support 10 can be sat on an operating table 200 and adjusted to a position which provides the most convenient position of a patients leg for a surgical operation to be performed. By adjusting the position of the second end 22 of the first member 20 relative to the base 50 the angle 6 between the first member 20 and second member 30 can be adjusted. The position can be adjusted by lifting the end 22 of the first member 20 up and over a protrusion 51a-f and re-positioning it such that it abuts another protrusion 51a-f.

The lengths of the first and/or second members 20,30 can be adjusted by removing the bar 70 or 80 therefrom and extending or withdrawing the second

telescoping section or portion 24,34 and then replacing the rod 70 or 80.

Thus the angle between the first and second members 20,30 can also be adjusted without adjusting the position of the second end 22 of the first member 20 relative to the base 50.

The possibility to adjust the lengths of the first and second members 20,30 and the angle therebetween as well as the distance between the second ends 22,32 of the first and second members 20,30 allows the leg support 10 to be used to support varying sizes of legs in a range of positions to give the best position for surgery to be performed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s).

The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.