A SUPPORT DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A PART OF THE BODY OF A SUBJECT ON A SUPPORT PLATFORM, AND A KIT OF PARTS AND A METHOD FOR SUPPORTING A SUBJECT IN A SUPINE STATE ON A SUPPORT PLATFORM

摘要

A kit of parts for supporting a subject on an operating table comprises head, arm, leg, foot and trunk support devices (5 to 9). The head support device (5) comprises a central support element (12) and a neck support element (17) for supporting the back of the head and neck, respectively, of the subject, and primary and secondary side members (22,23) for engaging and supporting the sides of the head and neck, respectively, of a subject. First and second platform engaging elements (20,21) extend downwardly from the central support element (12) for supporting the central support element (12) spaced apart above the operating table. A resiliently deformable strengthening member (25) extends through the neck support element (17) between the first platform engaging elements (20) and co-operates with the central support element (12) and the neck support element (17) for urging the primary and secondary side members (22,23) into engagement with the sides of the head and neck of the subject when the head support device (5) is in a loaded state. The resilience of the strengthening member (25) is such that as soon as the load is removed, the strengthening member (25) co-operates with the central support element (12) and the neck engaging element (17) to urge the primary and secondary side members (22,23) outwardly substantially instantaneously to thereby return the head support device (5) to its unloaded state. Each of the arm, leg, foot and trunk support devices (6 to 9) operate in a substantially similar manner.