A spreader bar assembly includes first and second spreader bars and a coupling member that extends between the two spreader bars and holds them together. The spreader bars are pivotally coupled to the connecting member and are able to pivot with respect to the connecting member in a single direction only. The connecting member may be a telescopic structure with a rod and cylinder and is able to extend and contract in length. Also, there may be rotation within the spreader bar, in the example, rotation of the rod within the cylinder. This enables the spreader bar assembly to accommodate loading differences from one side of a spreader bar to the other. The structure enables two spreader bars to be manipulated together, reducing the risk of injury to a patient or caregiver.

A ceiling lift tilt management system includes first and second motor units, which are attachable to a rail system of a medical care facility. Each motor unit includes a flexible strap, which can be coiled or uncoiled within the motor unit to raise or lower a spreader bar attached thereto. Coiling or uncoiling of the straps can cause raising or lowering of a sling attached to the spreader bars. The system also allows for tilting of the spreader bars by coiling or uncoiling a leading motor unit strap. The system includes a control system that measures the relative lengths of the two straps in order to ensure that relative tilt between the spreader bars does not exceed a threshold. Once a threshold tilt for height difference is reached, further user requests for additional tilting are prohibited. Patient comfort and safety are therefore ensured.

A patient lift system includes a lift housing, a base lift strap having a first end coupled to a lift housing and a second end coupled to a sling bar. The base lift strap is infection controlled. In one embodiment, a protective sleeve covers the base lift strap, wherein the protective sleeve has a first end and a second end. In another embodiment, the base lift strap is chemically treated to provide infection control.

A switch assembly for a lift unit includes a switch, an emergency stop device, and a reset actuator. The switch is arranged to move between a closed position, wherein the switch electrically couples a lift motor of the lift unit to an energy source, and an open position, wherein the switch electrically decouples the lift motor from the energy source. The emergency stop device is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the closed position to the open position. The reset actuator is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the open position to the closed position, wherein the reset actuator is controllable to move the switch from the open position to the closed position.

A sling bar assembly allows variable positioning of a sling on the sling bar assembly. Some sling bar assemblies include opposing sling bar members that are movable with respect to one another in a lateral direction. Some opposing sling bar members are repositionable between a locked position, in which movement of the sling members with respect to one another is restricted, and an unlocked position. Some sling bar assemblies include multiple sling hooks positioned on a sling bar member. Some sling bar assemblies include a biasing member that permits movement of a sling hook with respect to the sling bar assembly in the lateral direction.

A person lifting apparatus includes a strap movement system. The person lifting device includes a housing and a lifting strap feeding device located in the housing. The lifting strap feeding device includes a motor connected to a drum and a lifting strap wound on the drum. A sensor provides a signal indicative of force on the lifting strap. A controller receives the signal from the sensor. The controller controls operation of the motor based on the signal. A user input is used to place the strap movement system in a fast mode during which the controller speeds up operation of the motor from a normal operating speed.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for unloading a user's body weight during a physical activity of said user (4), particularly for gait training of said user (4), comprising: a plurality of ropes (41, 42, 43, 44), wherein each rope (41, 42, 43, 44) extends from an associated drive unit (510, 520, 530, 540), is deflected by a passively displaceable deflection device, e.g. a device that is displaceable by means of the forces in the deflected ropes, and then runs to a first free end (41 a, 42a, 43a, 44a) of the respective rope (41, 42, 43, 44), and a node (60) being coupled to said first free ends (41 a, 42a, 43a, 44a) and being designed to be coupled to said user (4), wherein the drive units (510, 520, 530, 540) are designed to retract and release the respective rope (41, 42, 43, 44) so as to adjust a current rope force (FR) along the respective rope (41, 42, 43, 44), which current rope forces add up to a current resulting force (F) exerted on said user (4) via said node (60) in order to unload the user (4) upon said physical activity. Further, the invention relates to a method for controlling such a system.

A lift device includes two vertical extendible tower members, each of the two vertical extendible tower members including, at a first lower distal end, an omnidirectional wheel assembly, and a vertical extension assembly configured to simultaneously raise and lower the two vertical extendible tower members in a vertical direction. The lift device further includes a horizontal extendible transverse member connected between second opposing distal upper ends of the two vertical extendible tower members. The horizontal extendible transverse member further including a horizontal extension assembly configured to extend and retract the horizontal extendible transverse member in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, a traveler carriage configured to move in the horizontal direction upon the horizontal extension assembly between the second opposing distal upper ends of the two vertical extendible tower members, and a payload lifting device configured to raise and lower a payload in the vertical direction with respect to the traveler carriage on the horizontal extension assembly.

An apparatus includes a drive mechanism, a patient support mechanism, and an electronic system. The drive mechanism is included in a trolley and is configured to suspend the trolley from a support track. The drive mechanism includes a first sensor configured to sense an operating condition of the drive mechanism. The patient support mechanism couples to the trolley and includes a tether and a second sensor. The tether can be operatively coupled to a patient such that the patient support mechanism supports the patient. The second sensor is configured to sense an operating condition of the patient support mechanism. The electronic system is included in the trolley and has at least a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to define a gait characteristic of the patient based at least in part on a signal received from the first sensor and a signal received from the second sensor.

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 (PJ2) allowing the coupling member and associated spreader element to pivot with respect to the boom portion about a pivot axis. According to one aspect of the invention, the patient lift apparatus further comprises 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 According to another aspect of the invention, the patient lift apparatus further comprises a quick release mechanism to release the spreader element from the boom portion.