Apparatus and method for positioning a body part

1 . A method of positioning a body part of a patient, comprising:

placing a body part in at least two retention elements that are mounted to a portable support structure, each retention element comprising a first retention element and a second retention element, each of which having a holding portion and an open region, and each retention element being movable between a receiving position in which the open region faces upward and a retention position in which the open region faces at least partially sideways, wherein the retention elements are in the receiving position when the body part is placed therein;

moving the retention elements into the retention position such that the open regions of the first retention elements face inward and the open regions of the second retention elements face outward; and

raising at least a portion of the portable support structure to thereby raise at least a portion of the body part such that the body part is in a desired position for performing a procedure on the patient.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the retention elements from a medial position laterally outward to a lateral position.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the procedure comprises a urinary catheterization procedure and wherein:

the portable support structure comprises a left linkage unit, a right linkage unit, and a crossmember having a left connector attached to the left linkage unit and a right connector attached to the right linkage unit;

the retention elements are leg cuffs including a left upper leg cuff and a left lower leg cuff attached to the left linkage unit, and a right upper leg cuff and a right lower leg cuff attached to the right linkage unit; and

placing the body part in at least two retention elements comprises placing a left leg in the left upper leg cuff and the left lower leg cuff, and placing a right leg in the right upper leg cuff and the right lower leg cuff.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising moving the left upper leg cuff such that the open region faces inward, moving the left lower leg cuff such that the open region faces outward, moving the right upper leg cuff such that the open region faces inward, and moving the right lower leg cuff such that the open region faces outward.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising moving the left upper leg cuff such that the open region faces outward, moving the left lower leg cuff such that the open region faces inward, moving the right upper leg cuff such that the open region faces outward, and moving the right lower leg cuff such that the open region faces inward.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising moving the left connector of the crossmember laterally outward and moving the right connector of the crossmember laterally outward such that the left upper leg cuff and the right upper leg cuff are spaced further apart from each other.

7 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising moving the left connector of the crossmember laterally outward and moving the right connector of the crossmember laterally outward such that the left upper leg cuff and the right upper leg cuff are spaced further apart from each other, and wherein raising at least a portion of the support structure comprises raising the crossmember.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein:

the left linkage unit has a first bar, a second bar, and a rotatable joint coupled to the first bar and the second bar;

the right linkage unit has a first bar, a second bar, and a rotatable joint coupled to the first bar and the second bar; and

raising at least a portion of the support structure comprises lifting the crossmember and rotating the first bar of the left linkage unit and the second bar of the left linkage unit about the rotatable joint of the left linkage unit and rotating the first bar of the right linkage unit and the second bar of the right linkage unit about the rotatable joint of the right linkage unit.

9 . A method of positioning a body part of a patient, comprising:

placing a body part in at least two retention elements that are mounted to a portable support structure, each retention element comprising a first retention element and a second retention element, each of which having a holding portion and an open region, and each retention element being movable between a receiving position and a retention position; and

moving the retention elements into the retention position such that the open regions of the first retention elements face a first direction and the open regions of the second retention elements face a second direction different than the first direction.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising raising at least a portion of the portable support structure to thereby raise at least a portion of the body part such that the body part is in a desired position for performing a procedure on the patient.

11 . The method of claim 9 further comprising moving the retention elements from a medial position laterally outward to a lateral position.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:

each retention element is affixed to the portable support structure at a mount having a retainer,

each retention element further includes a connector received in the retainer, and

wherein the retention elements are rotatable relative to the mounts such that the connectors slide through the retainers.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the portable support structure comprises a left linkage unit, a right linkage unit, and a crossmember having a left connector attached to the left linkage unit and a right connector attached to the right linkage unit;

the retention elements are leg cuffs including a left upper leg cuff and a left lower leg cuff attached to the left linkage unit, and a right upper leg cuff and a right lower leg cuff attached to the right linkage unit; and

placing the body part in at least two retention elements comprises placing a left leg in the left upper leg cuff and the left lower leg cuff, and placing a right leg in the right upper leg cuff and the right lower leg cuff.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising moving the left upper leg cuff such that the open region faces inward, moving the left lower leg cuff such that the open region faces outward, moving the right upper leg cuff such that the open region faces inward, and moving the right lower leg cuff such that the open region faces outward.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising moving the left upper leg cuff such that the open region faces outward, moving the left lower leg cuff such that the open region faces inward, moving the right upper leg cuff such that the open region faces outward, and moving the right lower leg cuff such that the open region faces inward.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising moving the left connector of the crossmember laterally outward and moving the right connector of the crossmember laterally outward such that the left upper leg cuff and the right upper leg cuff are spaced further apart from each other.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising raising at least a portion of the portable support structure to thereby raise at least a portion of the body part such that the body part is in a desired position for performing a procedure on the patient.