A method of rotating a subject includes arranging a lifting aid underneath the subject such that a midline of the subject is off center from a centerline of the lifting aid in a direction opposite of the rotation direction. The lifting aid includes a first loop extending in the rotation direction and a second loop extending in the opposite direction. The method further includes connecting the loops to a sling bar coupled to an overhead lift and directing the overhead lift to raise, where the subject rotates towards the direction of rotation due to the off center location of the subject. The method further includes repositioning the subject when the subject has rotated to a lateral recumbent position and directing the overhead lift to lower, thereby causing the subject to continue rotating.

A hydraulic drive unit for a stretcher has a hydraulic circuit with a differential cylinder, a pump, a tank and a valve assembly. The differential cylinder includes a rod working chamber and a piston working chamber. The valve assembly is switchable into at least a first state and a second state, wherein the rod working chamber is connected to the tank in the first state and to the pump in the second state, and wherein the piston working chamber is connected to the pump in the first state and to the tank in the second state. The tank is a tank separated from the atmosphere with a variable tank volume, so that the hydraulic circuit is configured as a closed hydraulic circuit. A stretcher having such a hydraulic drive unit is also provided.

Method and apparatus for a patient lifting system having an upright pole having a lower end attached to a base wherein the base is mounted on a supporting surface such as a floor proximate a bed of the patient. Extending laterally away from the pole is an angularly adjustable arm or extension which is user selectable to be either; e.g., at a 90-degree angle or a 45-degree angle, which arm is supported by a brace connected. between the extension arm and the upright pole. The pole is rotatable in a 360 degree arc and is hollow on the inside which allows a load line to travel through the interior of the gin pole from its lower end to its upper outlet end and includes a plurality of pulleys which allow the load line to travel through the inside of the hoisting system. Also included as a part of the hoisting system is a load line attached to the lower end of the pole using a wench or the like. The wench is electrically operated by a handheld electrical controller which can be held in the hand of a patient so that the patient can assist in maneuvering himself

Lifting devices for positioning a lift actuator in a high range position and a low range position are disclosed. The lifting devices may include a lift mast, a lift arm pivotally coupled to the lift mast, a lift actuator having a first end and a second end, and a linkage member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the lift actuator is pivotally coupled to the lift mast. The first end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the lift arm and the second end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the second end of the lift actuator such that the lift actuator includes a high range position relative to the lift arm and a low range position relative to the lift arm.

A flexible supporting membrane is made from a stretchable material formed into a sheet that adjusts itself based on the pressure applied by a patient's knees. The membrane includes: a top edge adapted to be located in a vicinity of the knees of the patient when in use; a bottom edge adapted to be located in a vicinity of the patient's ankles when in use; and a first and second lateral edge extending between the bottom edge and the top edge. The flexible supporting membrane further includes a central section and two peripheral sections extending along the direction defined by the lateral edges between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sheet. The peripheral sections are adapted for each supporting one of the two knees of a patient by yielding to the pressure exerted by the knees and thus forming a knee cradling depression.

Control unit (7), especially for a patient lift (1) comprising a base (10) and a power supply (8), said power supply (8) is releasably mounted on the base (10), and comprising locking means for retaining the power supply (8) on the base (10). The locking means comprises a set of slots and protrusions (17,18;20,22) on the base (10) and the power supply (8) and where the protrusions and slots engage each other, when the base (10) and the power supply (8) is displaced sideways in relation to each other. A tab (27) is arranged on an arm (24) of the locking handle (23). The tab (27) goes into the gap (28) between the base (10) and the power supply (8), when the locking handle (23) is locked. Thus, the protrusions (17,20) and slots (18,22) are in engagement with each other and at the same time functioning as a locking mechanism.

A lift and position device and adapter and methods of use therewith designed to aid attendants in moving and propping the various selected body parts of a patient from atop a support surface, for example, a mattress or hospital bed. The device utilizes a base for stability, a separately powered screw jack, radial adjustment head, a cushion cradle and a single or plurality of fitted cushion(s) configured to optimally raise and lower a particular body part of a patient such as his or her arms, torso, legs, back and the like. An adapter device may optionally re-orient the lift and positioning device, as appropriate, to suit the specific needs of an attendant wishing to the lift, shift, position or prop and secure a particular body part of a patient.

A human body positioning system can employ a base that supports a first arm via a first hinge, a second arm connected to the first arm via a second hinge, and a third arm connected to the second arm via a third hinge. A human body may be supported within the third arm by a body support. Each of the arm can be configured with a cutout region positioned to provide physical access to a portion of the human body.

Provided is a transfer device capable of moving a care receiver who has difficulty in walking by himself/herself to a desired place in a comfortable posture. The transfer device is capable of moving a care receiver by a care giver. The transfer device includes: a front wheel and a rear wheel; a support body which supports an upper body of the care receiver; a leg guide portion which is brought into contact with lower leg front surfaces of the care receiver and is inclinable frontward from an approximately vertical state; and a foot placing portion on which soles of the care receiver are placed; a rear wheel advancing and retracting mechanism configured to move the rear wheel rearward in an interlocking manner with frontward inclining of the leg guide portion.

A standing aid for helping a person stand up is proposed, having a frame, at least one support arm arranged movably on the frame and with handles, and a drive device coupled to the frame and to the at least one support arm in order to move the at least one support arm to a lowered and to a raised position, and having at least one padded rest configured to support the shins of the person during the movement of the at least one support arm. The padded rest is formed from a viscoelastic foam with a thickness of at least 6 cm and is dimensioned in such a way that the person's kneecaps at all times bear on the padded rest during the movement of the support arm.