There is described a patient lift apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a boom portion connected to the supporting frame, and a spreader element coupled to the boom portion via a coupling member. The boom portion and coupling member are joined by a pivot joint allowing the coupling member and associated spreader element to pivot with respect to the boom portion about a pivot axis. The patient lift apparatus can include a damping element coupled between the boom portion and the coupling member to damp rocking movement of the coupling member and spreader element, which damping element is a linear damper having a first end connected to the boom portion and a second end connected to the coupling member. The patient lift apparatus can include a quick release mechanism to release the spreader element from the boom portion.

An inflatable device for lifting a patient includes an inflatable body having a top sheet and a bottom sheet attached along opposing side edges and forming at least one cavity there between, and a plurality of connecting members extending outwardly from the opposing side edges of the inflatable device.

A patient-moving device (1) for patient handling. The device (1) includes a chassis (3), patient-support (5), and knee-rest (37). The device (1) includes a primary pivot (17) and a secondary pivot (11) located eccentrically from the primary pivot (17). A reorientation mechanism (4) is coupled to the patient-support (5), primary pivot (17) and chassis (3). During operation to reorientate the reorientation mechanism (4) during patient handling the patient support (5) is movable relative to the chassis (3) by rotation of the primary pivot (17) and/or secondary pivot (11) and the knee rest (37) is movable relative to at least a portion of the chassis (3).

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.

An apparatus for reorienting a person includes a wrap having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion being releasably securable to one another along an anterior region of the wrap between lateral sides of the person and along a posterior region of the wrap between the lateral sides of the person via a set of fasteners. Each of the lateral portions are dimensioned to extend around a corresponding one of the lateral sides of the person and having anterior and posterior edges that are dimensioned to extend at most partway across to an opposite one of the lateral sides of the person. The wrap is made from flexible materials and dimensioned to extend at least from below knees of the person to above the elbows of the person and snugly retain the person therein.

Overhead lift units are disclosed. In one embodiment, an overhead lift unit includes a carriage having wheels engageable with a rail, a lift frame coupled to the carriage such that the lift frame is suspended from the carriage, and a pair of load beams. The lift frame includes a lift strap extending from the lift frame and a pair of connection points extending from the lift frame. Each load beam of the pair of load beams is attached to one connection point of the pair of connection points of the lift frame at an inferior end of the load beam. Each load beam of the pair of load beams is attached to the carriage at a superior end of the load beam. And each load beam of the pair of load beams comprises a strain gauge operable to register a weight supported on the lift strap.

A subject support lift includes a mast portion, a base portion, and a lockable wheel assembly coupled to the base portion. The lockable wheel assembly includes an axle member, a lockable wheel coupled to the axle member, and a pivot member pivotally coupled to the lockable wheel and defining an axis extending in a vertical direction, where the lockable wheel is rotatable about the axis defined by the pivot member. A locking member is coupled to one of the pivot member or the lockable wheel, the locking member being repositionable between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the other of the pivot member or the lockable wheel, and an unlocked position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the other of the pivot member or the lockable wheel.

There is described a patient lift apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a boom portion connected to the supporting frame via a pivot joint (PJ1) to allow the boom portion to pivot with respect to the supporting frame about a pivot axis (PA1), a boom actuator to mechanically assist pivotal movement of the boom portion with respect to the supporting frame, and a leg/knee support connected to the supporting frame. The leg/knee support is configured to be selectively releasable from the supporting frame and comprises a manually-operable release mechanism forming an integral part of the leg/knee support, which manually-operable release mechanism is configured to allow selective release of the leg/knee support from the supporting frame. The manually-operable release mechanism comprises a retaining device configured to cooperate with a support mount provided on the supporting frame to secure the leg/knee support onto the supporting frame, and a manually-operable handle cooperating with the retaining device to allow selective release of the retaining device from the support mount and thereby allow removal of the leg/knee support from the supporting frame.

A toilet comprising a frame; a bowl supported by the frame; a seat also supported by the frame; a shroud for covering the frame; at least one lift mechanism supported by the frame for adjusting the position of the bowl or seat; at least one sensor for capturing at least one property of a user; and a processor adapted to analyze the at least one property to determine a characteristic of the user is disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a variable-stiffness floating spring mechanism. The variable-stiffness floating spring mechanism can change its stiffness without changing an energy stored by a spring. The variable-stiffness floating spring mechanism can amplify an output of a human user. The variable-stiffness floating spring mechanism can enable augmentation of physical performance beyond the physical capabilities of the human user.