Limb holder allowing distal actuation along non-linear paths of actuation

An apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient's leg during a surgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

• a substantially rigid support structure;
• a proximal locking swivel joint coupled to a proximal end of the support structure, wherein the proximal locking swivel joint holds the support structure in at least one position relative to a surgical table;
• a gas piston mounting element connected to a mount plate common to the proximal locking swivel joint;
• and
• a gas piston assembly connected to the gas piston mounting element at a first piston end point and connected to the proximal end of the support structure at a second piston end point, wherein at least one of the first piston end point and the second piston end point is movable during operation as a spring in the gas piston assembly is being compressed and extended through the range of motion of the support structure to which it is attached.

An apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient's leg during a surgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

• a support device assembly comprising one or more support structures for supporting the patient's leg during the surgical procedure;
• a piston mounting element connected to a point proximal to the support device assembly, wherein the piston mounting element comprises a first piston end point and a second piston end point;
• and
• a gas piston connected to the piston mounting element at the first piston end point and connected to a distal end of the support structure at the second piston end point, wherein at least one of the first piston end point and the second piston end point is moveable during operation of the gas piston.

An apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient's leg during a surgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

• a support structure having a distal support axis and a proximal support axis with respect to a patient;
• a support boot operable to hold and support a patient's leg;
• a boot mount assembly that couples the support boot to the support structure, wherein the support boot can be (i) moved generally parallel to the distal support axis of the support structure while resisting rotational motion about the distal support axis, (ii) rotated about a medial/lateral axis, and (iii) rotated about a boot float axis;
• and
• an actuation mechanism for independently and selectively enabling and disabling motion in a linear direction along an axis generally parallel to the distal support axis of the support structure.

An apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient's leg during a surgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

• a substantially rigid support structure for supporting the patient's leg, wherein the substantially rigid support structure has a distal support axis and a proximal support axis with respect to a patient;
• a proximal locking swivel joint coupled to a proximal end of the support structure, wherein the proximal locking swivel joint holds the support structure in at least one position relative to a surgical table;
• and
• a support boot mounted via a transverse mount rod that is attached to a distal end of the support structure via a moveable boot mount assembly that allows the release of the support boot in one or more ranges of motion independently and selectively.