A mobile lifting system comprising: a base including a plurality of spaced apart legs extending substantially radially relative to a post extending from the base wherein one or more legs of the base are movable between an expanded stabilizing condition and a retracted condition, the post movably supporting a head configured for rotation about the post, the head having a lifting arrangement attached thereto, the lifting arrangement being arranged for effecting upward and downward movement of a body support arrangement to raise and lower a disabled person during use, the body support arrangement being movable between a supporting position and an inoperative position, the body support arrangement being connected to the base through an electro-mechanical linkage combination which moves the base into the stabilizing condition when the body support arrangement is in the supporting position and moves the base into the retracted condition when the body support arrangement is in the inoperative position; the head being rotatable about the post for rotational movement of the body support arrangement to transfer a person between two seating positions which are angularly displaced and in proximity of the post; wherein end portions of the plurality of legs of the base are arranged substantially equally spaced apart on a diameter about the post when the base is in the stabilizing condition and wherein a first plurality of movable legs are movably attached to a centrally located base housing and a second plurality of fixed legs are fixedly attached to the base housing and wherein each of the movable legs is movable independently with respect to any other of the first plurality of movable legs from a first radial position to a second radial position to bring the base into a partially stabilizing condition; and an actuator configured to be operable by the disabled person to effect movement of the body support arrangement to move the body support arrangement upward and downward on the lifting arrangement and to rotate the head about the post, the post being located substantially at a centre of the base to provide stability as the body support arrangement on the head is rotated about the post while supporting the person and wherein the actuator and the electro-mechanical linkage are operably coupled to move the body support arrangement between a supporting position and an inoperative position.

A mobility aid assembly for lifting and lowering a user; the assembly including an articulated lifting arm releasably mounted to a base structure; a first portion of the lifting arm operable between a lowered position and a raised position by a linear actuator; a first end of the linear actuator pivotally connected to the first portion of the lifting arm and, wherein a second end of the linear actuator is releasably mounted so as to avoid injury to the user if the linear actuator moves the first portion of the lifting arm to an excessively lowered position in which the first portion of the lifting impinges on the user.

Also described is a method of changing disposition of fork elements of a fork of a disability aid assembly from a first position in which the fork elements are parallel to a horizontal centerline of the disability aid assembly and a second position in which outer ends of the fork elements are more widely separated than inner ends of the fork elements; the method including the steps of: providing swivellable wheels at the outer ends of the fork elements with locking mechanisms, locking each of the swivellable wheels at an angle in which the direction of the swivellable wheel is “toed out” relative to a centerline of the fork element, moving the disability aid assembly in a forward direction to drive the fork elements from the first position into the second position, moving the disability aid assembly in a rearward direction to drive the fork element from the second position into the first position.

An improved wheelchair lift-transfer device provides capabilities for a patient or caregiver to independently control the wheelchair and lift functions to elevate and move about safely. The compact lift-transfer device is readily usable to assist in transporting and lifting patients from various locations including wheelchairs, beds and chairs. Further, the lift-transfer device is also collapsible for storage and transport.

A patient transport apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising a lift mechanism between a base and a support frame to move between an extended configuration defining a first distance and a retracted configuration defining a second distance. An interface generates a user signal. A sensor generates a sensor signal corresponding to force acting on the base relative to the support frame. A controller determines if the user signal corresponds to an extend or retract command; determines if the force acting on the base has exceeded a predetermined threshold value based on the sensor signal; drives the lift mechanism toward the extended configuration where the user signal corresponds to the extend command and toward the retracted configuration where the user signal corresponds to the retract command; and interrupts driving the lift mechanism to stop motion of the lift mechanism in response to the sensor signal exceeding the predetermined threshold value.

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.

An autonomous mobile device with an extensible mast to raise and lower a payload, such as a camera, relative to a main body. The mast comprises a set of telescoping sections. A motor moves a flexible rack between a first spool and the mast to raise or lower the mast. For example, during extension a motor-driven pinion engages teeth on the flexible rack, pulling the rack from the first spool and pushing up the mast. A cable stored on a second spool may be extended and retracted with the flexible rack. The cable transfers one or more of data or power between the main body and the payload. A mechanism provides for sequenced deployment of the mast, with the innermost section moving first. While raising the mast, the mechanism engages between adjacent telescoping sections, locking them in place. While lowering the mast, the mechanism selectively releases section by section.

An orthotic device is provided which includes a first structural element; a second structural element which is rotatably attached to the first structural element across a joint; a first rotary actuator which imparts rotational motion to the first structural element relative to the second structural element about a first axis; and a second rotary actuator which imparts rotational motion to the first structural element relative to the second structural element about a second axis. Each of the first and second rotary actuators is selected from the group consisting of parallel eccentric actuators and rotary actuators.

The invention provides an electronically control motorized lifting device for transfer of a paraplegic between seated positions. A post extends from a wheeled base and movably supports a head for upwards and downwards movement. A lifting arm arrangement is pivotably secured to the head. The head is also rotatable about the post and the base movable between an expanded stabilizing condition and a retracted condition. The latter condition allows the lifting device to fit through a standard width doorway. Movement of the base between these conditions is effected by pivoting of the lifting arm arrangement into and out of a lateral supporting position. The base preferably includes five legs extending substantially radially from the post with two of the legs foldable towards adjacent legs.

A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient transport apparatus includes an auxiliary wheel assembly including an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary wheel drive system, and a control system for operating the auxiliary wheel drive system based on user commands. The control system includes a processor that is programmed to receive a user command to operate the auxiliary wheel drive system in a drive mode and responsively operate a motor control circuit to transmit power signals to a motor to rotate the auxiliary wheel. The processor is also programmed to receive a user command to operate the auxiliary wheel drive system in a free wheel mode and responsively operate the motor control circuit to enable the auxiliary wheel to rotate relatively freely with the auxiliary wheel in a deployed position.

A multi-therapeutic patient lift and parallel bars system is disclosed. The multi-therapeutic patient lift and parallel bars system includes a patient lift system that is built into parallel bars, to lift patients who cannot stand. This multi-therapeutic patient lift and parallel bars system combines several devices together, for more room, convenience, decreased clutter, and more available storage with increased ease of moving patients around in an area that could already be crowded.