In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a hoist for facilitating a transition between firstly a seated or lying position and secondly a standing position of an individual, comprising: a movable lifting arm for exerting a lifting force, a connecting element for transferring the lifting force from the lifting arm to the individual, and a movable handle suitable for supporting the hands of the individual during operation of the hoist, wherein the movable handle is configured to shift during operation of the hoist, wherein during operation of the hoist, the movable handle also executes a movement relative to the lifting arm.

A transfer device can transfer a care-receiving person who has difficulty in independent walking to a desired location in a comfortable posture. This transfer device is provided with front wheels and rear wheels and allows a caregiver to move a care-receiving person. The transfer device is characterized by being provided with: a support body for supporting the upper half body of the care-receiving person; a leg guidance part that comes into contact with the anterior surface of the lower legs of the care-receiving person and can be tilted forward from a substantially vertical state; and a foot placement part on which the feet of the care-receiving person are placed. The transfer device has a support body advancing and retreating mechanism that is configured such that the support body moves forward in parallel in link with a forward tilt of the leg guidance part.

An assistance device that more appropriately identifies a user using speech. The assistance device is provided with a speech detector, a name acquiring section that acquires a name of a person based on speech detected by the speech detector, and a user identifying section that identifies a care receiver who is a user of the assistance device based on the name acquired by the name acquiring device.

Disclosed is a mecanum wheel, including a mecanum wheel body and a drive device. A wheel axle hole is formed in the mecanum wheel body. The drive device is partially or completely arranged in the wheel axle hole. The axis of a connecting shaft of the drive device is collinear with a rotary shaft of the mecanum wheel body, and the mecanum wheel body rotates along with a housing of the drive device. Further disclosed are a mecanum wheel with a shock absorbing device, a chassis including at least one pair of mecanum wheels, and an assistant robot including a chassis.

A patient assisting system includes a frame having a sling assembly attachment point and a lifting arm which is movable relative to the frame and which includes a receptacle. When the sling assembly is attached to the attachment point and extends through the receptacle, a portion of the sling travels through the receptacle as the lifting arm moves relative to the frame. Another embodiment includes exactly one four bar linkage comprised of a frame having an attachment point for a sling assembly, a lifting arm having a receptacle, a lower cross arm and an upper cross arm. The lifting arm is adapted to be movable between a person-seated position and a person-standing position. The receptacle is located along the lifting arm so that motion of the lifting arm causes the receptacle to move along a curved path having a concave side which is person-facing.

Devices for bringing a person that has fallen to the ground to an upright position comprise frames adapted to receive a person's body after a person has achieved a lying position, inflatable bladders attached to the frames on which the person's body rests when the bladders are in an uninflated state, the bladders being inflatable from a first position to a second position, and fittings attached to the inflatable bladders for receiving hoses to allow the inflatable bladders to be inflated from the first position to the second position.

A person support apparatus includes a support surface having a patient facing surface and includes a head section, a seat section, and a foot section, the head section and the foot section being rotatable with respect to the seat section. One or more actuators are provided to rotate the head section and the foot section with respect to the seat section. At least one strain gauge is provided proximate the patient facing surface of the support surface to detect a change in pressure against at least one of the head section and the foot section. A controller is configured to transmit a signal to one or more of the actuators to rotate a corresponding one of the head section or the foot section in response to receiving data from the at least one strain gauge indicating a change in pressure that exceeds a predetermined reduction in pressure.

A bathing system, includes a transfer system having a carrier base and a transfer seat. A sliding of the transfer seat relative to the carrier base may facilitate transfer of the transfer seat toward or away from the tub. A first arm and a second arm of the carrier base extends into and overlaps with a first support surface and a second support surface of the tub respectively. A controller may be in operative communication with a plurality of sensors and determine whether the bathing system is in a state where it is permissible to transfer the transfer seat toward or away from the tub and if so, actuate components of the transfer system to permit the transfer of a patient in the transfer system.

A transfer apparatus for receiving the chair seat of a wheelchair and supporting the chair seat in the base of a washing enclosure. The transfer apparatus has a chair support member including a chair support track section that can be positioned in the washing enclosure base, a bridge portion with a bridge track section that is movably mounted to the chair support member. The transfer apparatus includes a lock system usable to secure the bridge portion in an in-use position and engaged with the wheelchair. A first lock inhibits rotational motion of the bridge portion. The first lock includes a retractable locking member that is biased to an extended, locking position. A second lock is usable to prevent longitudinal separation of the bridge portion and the wheelchair. The first and second lock can be automatically engaged when the bridge portion is moved to the in-use position.

A mobility device that includes support assemblies that may be secured to feet, legs, thighs, and torso of a user. An exemplary mobility device may further include an actuator that may be coupled with the exemplary support assemblies and may actuate rotational movements of the exemplary support assemblies with respect to each other. Such movement of support assemblies may accordingly move respective limbs of a disabled user. An exemplary mobility device may allow for a user to change position from a lying position to a standing position or from a standing position to a sitting position, which may significantly increase mobility of a disabled user. An exemplary mobility device may further include an exemplary wheeled base that may allow a disabled user to further move around.