Support structure for radial application

A support structure for releasably clamping onto a body relative to a central axis in use, the support structure comprising:

• a plurality of links connected at a plurality of pivots spaced about the axis;
• and
• an array of contact members depending from the plurality of links at angularly spaced locations about the axis,
• wherein pivoting of the plurality of links causes actuation of the contact members in a substantially radial direction relative to the axis such that said contact members communicate an applied contact force about the body in use so as to clamp the support structure to the body via the array of contact members, the plurality of links comprising two arrays of links arranged about the axis, each link in each of the two arrays being attached (i) at first and second spaced-apart pivot points along a length of said link to an adjacent one of the plurality of links in a same array, and (ii) at an intermediate pivot point between the first and second pivot points to one of the plurality of links of the other array of links,
• wherein the support structure comprises a contact member guide for each contact member comprising an elongate guide member extending from each contact member in a radial direction to a further pivot point of the link network that is spaced from the contact member, and
• wherein pivoting of the plurality of links causes the pivot point to slide through the contact member.