There is provided a movement assistance robot in which a single type of movement assistance robot can take care of multiple users having different physical abilities. A movement assistance robot 20 includes a robot arm unit 22 that is disposed in a base 21 traveling using drive wheels driven by a drive source, that includes multiple arms which are mutually and relatively movable by a drive unit, and that is configured to be transformable into multiple form types respectively coping with multiple movement postures (standing-upright walking assistance mode, hand support walking assistance mode, elbow support walking assistance mode, standing-upright riding movement mode, and seat riding movement mode) of a care receiver M1, a holding unit 23 that is disposed in a distal end portion of the robot arm unit 22 so as to support a care receiver, a selective operation unit that selects one form type from the multiple form types, and a transformation control unit that drives the drive unit and transforms the robot arm unit into a form type selected by the selective operation unit.

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.

A method of using a transfer system includes: supporting a first docking cone of the transfer system by a first support platform to orient a docking cone axis of the first docking cone with a vertical axis; inserting the first docking cone into a first docking cup of a transfer device of the transfer system; and locking the first docking cone within the first docking cup by a security mechanism of the transfer device, the security mechanism comprising a first security lever and a second security lever.

Described is a transfer belt for assisting transportation of an individual. The transfer belt includes a waist band, a pair of thigh bands, each thigh band configured to be secured around a leg of the individual; and a pair of interconnecting straps, each interconnecting strap connecting a thigh band with the waist band. A bridge strap connects the pair of thigh bands to one another to enhance stability of the individual during transportation. The transfer belt supports the patient's center of gravity, in both a seated or standing position, to allow for a transfer from a seated position to a standing position without adjusting the device.

A lifting device may include a main body member and a top member that is detachably connectable to portions of the main body member. The top member may include a top and a hoist assembly that is connected to and extends outwardly from the top. The lifting device may be used to assist in lifting a patient from a seated or a prone position. The main body member is moveable between a collapsed position that is defined as side support member of the main body member being positioned adjacent to a support connecting member of the main body member, and the opened position is defined as a side support members of the main body member being positioned substantially perpendicular to the support connecting member.

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.

A patient maneuvering apparatus including a substantially planar body having a top surface, a bottom surface opposing the top surface, a left end, and a right end. The patient maneuvering apparatus also includes a first handle disposed at the left end of the body and a second handle disposed at the right end of the body, a mesh layer with a mesh layer thickness at least partially defining the bottom surface, a fabric layer of an absorbent material at least partially defining the top surface and with a fabric layer thickness, and a border spanning the perimeter of the body, surrounding the mesh and fabric layers, and with a border thickness greater than the mesh layer thickness and the fabric layer thickness.

A patient turning device for a patient support apparatus. The patient turning device includes a first and second bladder assembly each including a plurality of layers and seals defining a bladder volume. The bladder volumes are selectively inflatable with fluid to expand the respective bladder assembly, and consequently move a patient support surface of the patient support apparatus. A portion of a lower layer of the first bladder assembly and a portion of an upper layer of the second bladder assembly define an overlapping region of the bladder volumes. The patient turning device is coupled to an underside of a carrier sheet and positioned between a crib assembly and a bottom cover. An augmenting feature is configured to resiliently expand as at least one of the first and second bladder assemblies receives the fluid to move at least a portion of the crib assembly away from a patient support deck.

A patient transport apparatus comprising a support frame, a base, a bracket coupled to the support frame and comprising a channel being non-linear, a frame assembly coupled between the support frame and the base and comprising a slidable member disposed in the channel, the slidable member being moveable between a plurality of different positions in the channel to place the support frame in a plurality of different poses relative to the base. The patient transport apparatus also comprises a sensor configured to detect the slidable member in the channel and produce a reading, as well as a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the reading from the sensor, determine the position of the slidable member in the channel based on the reading, and determine the pose of the support frame relative to the base based on the determined position of the slidable member.

Medical couch apparatus is provided capable of reducing the overrun amount even if the overrun occurs while shortening the stop distance when the top is urgently stopped to make it difficult for the overrun to occur. The frame is arranged between the couch body and the top to be guided in the rostrocaudal direction of the subject by the couch body. The driving unit transfers the top in the rostrocaudal direction via the frame. The guide unit is arranged between the frame and the top to guide the top in the rostrocaudal direction. The biasing mechanism biases the top in the opposite direction of the transfer direction of the top. The bias control unit applies the force to the top to be transferred in the opposite direction for the frame through the biasing force by the biasing mechanism when the transfer of the top by the driving unit is stopped.