A subject support apparatus includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a vest having a first end and a second end, a closure mechanism configured to couple the first end of the vest to the second end of the vest from a bottom end of the vest to a top end of the vest to form a closed loop, and a pair of shoulder straps extending from the vest. The lower portion includes a seat piece having a first end and a second end, and a pair of loop straps extending from the first end and the second end of the seat piece. Subject support systems including the subject support apparatus and methods of lifting a subject using the subject support apparatus are also described.

This invention can help a person in bed to avoid decubitus ulcers. This device has a flexible body support structure (such as a sheet or blanket) which is automatically moved from a first configuration which is flat to a second configuration which enfolds and/or wraps around a person's body. The device turns a person from lying on their first side to lying on their opposite side by: enfolding the person in the support structure; rotating or pivoting the support structure; and then releasing the person by unfolding the support structure.

A patient support apparatus supports a patient and includes a litter. A base is disposed below the litter. A lift mechanism is configured to move the litter and the base relative to one another between extended and collapsed positions. The lift mechanism includes first and second frame assemblies each including an outer frame member and an inner frame member arranged to move within the outer frame member. First and second rollers and first and second slide members are disposed between the outer and inner frame members. The first and second rollers are arranged to roll along at least one of the outer and inner frame members with a load exerted on the lift mechanism from the litter. The first and second slide members are arranged to slide along at least one of the outer and inner frame members with a load exerted on the lift mechanism from the base.

A frame includes a left upright member with a longitudinal open-ended tube at its lower end, a right upright member with a longitudinal open-ended tube at its lower end, and cross member(s) connecting together the upright members in a transversely spaced-apart arrangement wide enough to straddle a person's thighs or hips between the left and right tubes. A sheet of flexible material has left and right pairs of collinear sleeves, with gaps therebetween, attached to lower portions of corresponding left and right edges of the sheet. Left and right rods inserted through the corresponding sleeves, and through the corresponding tubes in the gaps between the sleeves, and attachment of an upper portion of the sheet to an upper portion of the frame, form an upright seat for supporting and lifting a person.

A smart sling device includes a body; a support rod installed at the body; and a sling member installed at the support rod and inserted under a patient to support the patient therebelow, and the sling member includes an expanding unit having an accommodation space for accommodating air therein, the expanding unit expanding due to a pneumatic pressure generated by the accommodated air to support the patient therebelow; and an expansion limiting unit installed at the expanding unit to limit expansion of the expanding unit in one direction.

An auxiliary turning-over device is provided which comprises two parallel support frames at two sides of a sickbed respectively, two rollers rotatably connected on the two support frames, a drive mechanism respectively in drive connection with the two rollers for driving the two rollers to synchronously rotate around respective axis, and a flexible carrier arranged between the two rollers; the two ends of the flexible carrier are respectively wound on the two rollers, and when the two rollers are driven by the drive mechanism to rotate along the same direction, the flexible carrier translates and winds the other roller at the moment of being released from one roller along its translation direction. With a simplified structure, the auxiliary turning-over device help to lower the manual auxiliary labor intensity and cost when the bedridden patient turns over or goes to bed.

A lift, a head support, and methods for use thereof for use with a surgical frame are provided. The lift and the head support can be used with the surgical frame that is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame can include a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon, and the lift and the head support can be used in lifting the patient from a table/gurney and positioning the patient with respect to the main beam.

Support straps having features to aid in positioning and rotating a horizontally laying subject on a support surface, systems including the support straps, and kits of parts including the support straps are described herein. A support strap includes a body having first and second ends spaced a distance apart, at least one first loop extending from the first end, at least one second loop extending from the second end, and indicia on the body, the first loop, and/or the second loop. The indicia indicates an arrangement of the support strap with respect to the subject such that a centerline of the subject is not aligned with a true line of symmetry of the support strap when the first loop is coupled to a first end of a sling bar and the second loop is coupled to a second end of the sling bar.

A device, for grasping a limp body, such as a paraplegic or a quadriplegic patient (19), and transferring the body to another location or moving it into a different position, comprises two pivotally connected sections (12,13), one positioned to grasp the torso portion (18), the other the pelvic one (17). The sections can be kept in line with each other or pivoted toward each other to place the patient in a seated position. Each section comprises an upper frame (14) from the opposite longitudinal edges of which extends a pair of articulated grasping members positioned to move astride the torso or pelvis of the patient. The members include series of transversal cantles which can be directed to curl inwardly toward each other and securely enwrap and grab the load. The frame and the supported patient can then be hoisted, moved and deposited into a supine or seating position. Each member includes a series of successively hinged segments tilted by pulling cables.

The present invention is directed towards an apparatus for holding a patient in a suspended manner on top of a bed for facilitating bed maintenance. The apparatus comprises at least one support member provided in the proximity of the bed. A hammock is disposed on the bed and is mechanically coupled to the at least one support member for being lifted and lowered by the at least one support member. The support members have a telescopic reciprocating configuration. In one embodiment, the support members include fluid operated cylinders, e.g., hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. In another embodiment, the support member is a mechanically operating support member. The mechanically operating support member includes either a rack and pinion arrangement or a lead screw arrangement.