Inventor bids to cut deaths from blood clots

An amateur inventor has developed a device to combat deep vein thrombosis in leg surgery patients.

Philip Hankin's brainchild - a saucer-shaped plastic disc with a replaceable pad, called the Ortho-glide - is designed to help patients exercise during recovery.

It is hoped the invention will help cut the estimated 25,000

deaths from blood clots in the

UK each year. Mr Hankin, 66, came up with the idea following his own experiences of lower-leg surgery.

He said: "Ortho-glide fits under the foot so a patient can slide their leg up and down on any surface to exercise and help with rehabilitation."