An overhead support system includes a plurality of posts; a plurality of beams configured to connect to and span between the posts; a counterbalance system configured to be attached to the plurality of posts; a harness configured to be worn by and support a patient; a plurality of pulleys configured to be disposed on the plurality of posts; a plurality of cables, each cable including a first end configured to be operatively connected to the harness and a second end configured to be operatively connected to a counterbalance system, each cable passing over one of the pulleys; and a mechanism configured to selectively adjust a tension in at least one of the plurality of cables to support some or all of the weight of the patient. The counterbalance system compensates to maintain support while the patient is located between the posts and the harness is lower than the pulleys.

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 connection point assembly for a patient lifter spreader bar has a hook member defining a throat having a mouth, the mouth being formed between a distal end of the hook member and an adjacent base portion and a latch assembly operably coupled to the hook member at the mouth and comprising a latch configurable between an open position wherein the latch does not obstruct the mouth and a closed position wherein the latch obstructs the mouth. The connection point assembly comprises a visual indicator indicative of the open position and the closed position.

A balance assist and fall prevention assembly for preventing falls and providing balance assistance includes a plurality of rails and a harness. The rails are mountable to a ceiling of a structure and are selectively interconnectable so that respective rails are extend along an associated route in the structure that is routinely traversed by a user. A trolley is rollably engaged to the plurality of rails. The harness can be selectively donned by the user so that the harness is removably engaged to the user. A tether is engaged to and extends between the harness and the trolley. The tether is selectively length adjustable so as to extend substantially linearly between the harness and the trolley with the user standing substantially upright and beneath the trolley. The tether thus improves balance of the user and to prevents falling of the user.

A vest includes a first panel including a first flap, a second panel including a second flap, a back panel extending from the first panel to the second panel, and a plurality of grips. The back panel defines a first and second arm accesses with first and second panels respectively, and portions of the first, second, and back panels disposed below first and second arm accesses define a body of the vest. The first flap is configured to overlap the second flap. The first flap includes a first front attachment segment configured to attach to a second front attachment segment of the second flap in a closed state of the vest. At least one embodiment or aspect may comprise at least one of the following features: at least one zipper expansion and retraction mechanism; and a leg attachment device for detachably securing a compression vest system to a user's leg.

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

A smart sling for patient transfer assistance includes a first driving unit, a second driving unit, a wire part and a sling unit. The first driving unit is configured to provide a rotational driving force. The second driving unit is spaced apart from the first driving unit by a predetermined distance. The wire part extends between the first driving unit and the second driving unit. The sling unit is configured to unfold toward the second driving unit from a folded state into the first driving unit along the wire part, to position a patient on the sling unit.

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.

The present invention is garments, articles of clothing, and body equipment systems having a bladder system for providing better fit of garments, articles of clothing, and body equipment systems to certain applicable body part(s) or area(s) of a user during use, and for providing greater support, comfort and/or stability to certain applicable body part(s) or area(s) of a user during use. As a non-limiting example, the present invention is compression garments having a clothing component and a bladder system, compression articles of clothing having a clothing component and a bladder system, and also to compression body equipment systems having a bladder system for providing better fit of compression garments, compression articles of clothing, and compression body equipment systems to certain applicable body part(s) or area(s) of a user during use, and for providing greater support, comfort and/or stability to certain applicable body part(s) or area(s) of a user during use.

The invention relates to a transfer device with a roll cloth for transferring patients, wherein the roll cloth has a tubular sleeve with two open ends. In order to satisfy high standards of hygiene and to permit easy cleaning, the roll cloth has, at each of the open ends of the sleeve, a peripheral end profile with an inner face and an outer face, which end profile is elastic, wherein, in the ready-to-use state of the roll cloth, the inner face of an upper portion of the end profile lies on the inner face of a lower portion of the end profile.