A robot includes a motion mechanism capable of operating in accordance with each of a first motion pattern for supporting a user with a first motion representing a standing-up motion and a second motion pattern for supporting a user with a second motion representing a sitting-down motion, a battery that supplies electric energy to the motion mechanism, a control unit that determines a multiple-motion availability index indicating the availability of an operation in accordance with a multiple-motion pattern including the first and second motion patterns on the basis of the battery level and the amounts of energy charge in the battery required for the operations performed by the motion mechanism in accordance with the first and second motion patterns if the control unit detects that the battery level is a first threshold value or lower, and a presentation unit that presents the multiple-motion availability index determined by the control unit.

A robot includes an arm mechanism that operates in accordance with a first motion pattern for supporting a user with a standing-up motion which starts in a sitting posture and finishes in a standing posture, a control unit that (i) acquires first information used to identify a predetermined position of the arm mechanism corresponding to a half-crouching posture of the user during a motion in accordance with the first motion pattern and (ii) detects whether the current position of the arm mechanism operating in accordance with the first motion pattern is included in a first range including the predetermined position identified by the first information, and a presentation unit that presents a first signal if the control unit detects that the position of the arm mechanism is included in the first range.

A lifting apparatus and associated methods for raising a user in a body of water. The lifting apparatus includes a platform configured to receive a wheelchair. The apparatus is reconfigurable between a raised configuration; a lowered configuration; and a storage configuration. The apparatus is configured to maintain the platform in a substantially horizontal orientation in the raised, lowered and storage configurations.

This invention, pertaining to hospital bed, is a new concept development for automation of services for bedridden patients in the variety of environments. The novelty introduced here is the use of robotic arms affixed on hospital type bed that operates by an electric keypad on the bed side or virtually from a remote location, i.e. a nursing station in the case of a hospital stay. The best mode of operation for this invention would be hospitals, home health care or other health care facilities and settings. This invention is a ground-breaking solution for healing the shortage of trained staff in the health care system.

According to embodiments, an overhead lift includes a lift actuator; and a control system communicatively coupled to the lift actuator. The control system may include a control unit comprising a processor with a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and having computer readable and executable instructions and at least one transceiver communicatively coupling the control unit to at least one of a computer, a network, and a data storage device. The processor executes the computer readable and executable instructions to: determine at least one operating characteristic of the overhead lift and an operating time of the overhead lift as the overhead lift is actuated; determine an accumulated load-time parameter for the overhead lift based on the at least one operating characteristic and the operating time; and upload the accumulated load-time parameter to at least one of the computer, the network, and the data storage device.

A patient support apparatus comprising a patient support deck and a base to support the patient support deck from a ground surface, with a first frame assembly comprising a plurality of wheels to facilitate movement of the base, and a second frame assembly with one or more lift arms coupling the base to the second frame assembly. A load cell assembly to sense weight applied to the first frame assembly by the second frame assembly comprises a load cell support assembly coupled to the first frame assembly, and a load cell element coupled to the second frame assembly and mounted onto the load cell support assembly such that the second frame assembly is movable with respect to the first frame assembly along two axes of translation and is pivotable with respect to the first frame assembly about three axes of rotation.

Emergency stop for a linear actuator system, which comprises a housing (13) and an activation button (12) adapted for activating a circuit breaker and where the activation button (12) has a neutral position and an emergency position. The emergency stop further comprises a spring (19) for spring-loading the activation button (12) for retaining the activation button (12) in the neutral position, a latching mechanism adapted for retaining the activation button (12) in the emergency position once it has entered this position, and a release mechanism adapted to unlatch the latching mechanism. The spring-loaded activation button (12) is pivotally connected to the housing (13) and arranged to pivot between the neutral position and the emergency position. The spring-loaded activation button (12) comprises an arm (26,27) having one end attached to the underside (24) of the spring-loaded activation button (12). The housing 13 comprises a wall piece (35,36) adapted for engaging a free end of the arm (26,27). The latching mechanism comprises a protruding part (61,62) on the arm (26,27) and a receiving part (39,40) on the wall piece (35,36), said protruding part (61,62) and said receiving part (39,40) being unlatched when the activation button (12) is in the neutral position and latched when the activation button (12) is in the emergency position. The release mechanism comprises a reactivation button (14,15) movable between a first and second position, said reactivation button (14,15) unlatches the latching mechanism by disengaging the protruding part (61,62) from the receiving part (39,40) when the reactivation button (14,15) is moved from the first position to the second position.

A patient transfer and training aid includes a chassis to which a lifting unit is attached. The lifting unit includes a lifting arm assembly and an active foot support assembly fixed to the chassis. The device also includes a control unit which operates motors of the lifting arm assembly and the active foot support assembly. A patient can activate the foot support assembly to provide vibratory movement of the foot support assembly in order to provide muscle toning and training able to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation of the patient. The device can also be used to aid in the transfer of a patient from one location to another. The device can be used in a variety of different configurations to provide different forms of patient support and training.

A mobile lifting system comprising: a base including a plurality of spaced apart legs extending substantially radially relative to a post extending from the base wherein one or more legs of the base are movable between an expanded stabilizing condition and a retracted condition, the post movably supporting a head configured for rotation about the post, the head having a lifting arrangement attached thereto, the lifting arrangement being arranged for effecting upward and downward movement of a body support arrangement to raise and lower a disabled person during use, the body support arrangement being movable between a supporting position and an inoperative position, the body support arrangement being connected to the base through an electro-mechanical linkage combination which moves the base into the stabilizing condition when the body support arrangement is in the supporting position and moves the base into the retracted condition when the body support arrangement is in the inoperative position; the head being rotatable about the post for rotational movement of the body support arrangement to transfer a person between two seating positions which are angularly displaced and in proximity of the post; wherein end portions of the plurality of legs of the base are arranged substantially equally spaced apart on a diameter about the post when the base is in the stabilizing condition and wherein a first plurality of movable legs are movably attached to a centrally located base housing and a second plurality of fixed legs are fixedly attached to the base housing and wherein each of the movable legs is movable independently with respect to any other of the first plurality of movable legs from a first radial position to a second radial position to bring the base into a partially stabilizing condition; and an actuator configured to be operable by the disabled person to effect movement of the body support arrangement to move the body support arrangement upward and downward on the lifting arrangement and to rotate the head about the post, the post being located substantially at a centre of the base to provide stability as the body support arrangement on the head is rotated about the post while supporting the person and wherein the actuator and the electro-mechanical linkage are operably coupled to move the body support arrangement between a supporting position and an inoperative position.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base and a support frame. The patient support apparatus also comprises a lift assembly that operates to lift and lower the support frame relative to the base. The lift assembly comprises lift members that extend and collapse to lift and lower the support frame. A timing link is pivotally connected to one of the lift members and pivotally connected to the base. Guides operate to guide movement of the lift members during operation. In some cases guided bodies coupled to the lift members move passively in the guides. In other embodiments, driven members coupled to the lift members move actively in the guides to cause lifting and lowering of the support frame.