The present application relates generally to hospital equipment and, more specifically, to a patient lift system.
Patient lift systems are known. For example, companies such as V. Guldmann A/S of Århus, Danmark, Prism Medical Canada of Concord, Canada, the ArjoHuntleigh portion of the Getinge Group AB of Getinge, Sweden, the Liko portion of Hill-Rom, Inc. of Batesville, Ind., and Tollos, Inc. of Barrie, Canada are known to manufacture and distribute patient lift systems.
The known patient lift systems are typically designed to be attached to a track fastened to the ceiling of a room. Once installed, the patient lift system is suspended from the track. The track may be seen to provide a range of possible locations. The track may also provide the patient lift system with electrical power.
Unfortunately, the size of the known patient lift systems may be seen to be too large, especially for a small room or a room with a low ceiling. Similarly, the shape of known lift systems might be considered to be ungainly.
Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show example implementations; and in which:
A patient lift system described herein may be seen to help lift and mobilize a disabled person in a home or in an institution with minimal effort from a caregiver. The patient lift system includes a lift, a carry bar and a hand control. The lift, the carry bar and the hand control have shapes and features that may be seen to facilitate quick and easy cleaning. Notably, gaps have been minimized for infection control purposes. Typically, a patient lift system includes an integral trolley for connecting the patient lift system to a track. For the patient lift system described herein, the trolley and lift system are separate pieces that are easily and quickly either attached or detached.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a patient lift system for connecting to a track. The system includes a trolley arranged to form a mechanical and electrical connection to the track. The system further includes a lift unit chassis operable to form an electrical connection and a mechanical connection with the trolley, the chassis enclosing: a strap hub; a hub gear attached to the strap hub; a plurality of gear shafts; a plurality of gears; and a plurality of motors, each motor of the plurality of motors arranged to drive a respective gear shaft among the plurality of gear shafts, each gear shaft of the plurality of gear shafts connected to a respective gear among the plurality of gears, the plurality of gears arranged such that the hub gear rotates responsive to rotation of the gear shafts by the motors. The system further includes a strap extending external to the lift unit chassis, attached, at a first end, to the strap hub and attached, at a second end, to a connector and a carry bar connected to the connector, wherein the rotation of the hub gear acts to gather or release the strap, thereby raising or lowering the carry bar.
Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific implementations of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
A first hook-shaped quick release trolley latch 312A is supported by the first pivot pin 308A between the plates 330R, 330L of the trolley block 320. The first quick release trolley latch 312A is sheathed in a first trolley latch cover 310A. Similarly, a second hook-shaped quick release trolley latch 312B is supported by the second pivot pin 308B between the plates 330R, 330L of the trolley block 320. The second quick release trolley latch 312B is in a second trolley latch cover 310B. The first trolley latch cover 310A and the second trolley latch cover 310B may, for example, be formed of plastic.
A first track guide 316A is positioned under, and attached to, the first end 314A of the trolley block 320. A second track guide 316B is positioned under, and attached to, the second end 314B of the trolley block 320. The track guides 316, which may, for example, be formed of plastic, assist in maintaining the quick release trolley 300 in position in the track 108. Without the track guides 316, the quick release trolley 300 may be inclined to tilt under transverse forces. In operation, a majority of the quick release trolley 300 is carried within the track 108, with only the quick release trolley latches 312A, 312B extending through a slot-like aperture in the track 108 to engage the quick release trolley plate 204 of the lift unit chassis 102.
As illustrated in
A slot in the second quick release trolley latch 312B that extends out of the top of the trolley block 320 carries a second charging bolt 303B and a second charging bolt biasing member 332B. The second charging bolt biasing member 332B urges the second charging bolt 303B toward an upper end of the slot in the slot in the second quick release trolley latch 312B. A second charging contact 302B is mounted to the second charging bolt 303B.
The first charging contact 302A and the second charging contact 302B may be formed of AISI/SAE 1020 steel.
The trolley 300 includes a quick release trolley spring (generically, a biasing member) 304 arranged to bias the portion of the first quick release trolley latch 312A that extends out of the top of the trolley block 320 toward the portion of the second quick release trolley latch 312B that extends out of the top of the trolley block 320. Accordingly, the quick release trolley spring 304 acts to bias the bottom of the first quick release trolley latch 312A away from the bottom of the second quick release trolley latch 312B. The quick release trolley spring 304, the first quick release trolley latch 312A and the second quick release trolley latch 312B may be formed from AISI/SAE 1020 steel.
The lift unit chassis 102 may include one or more indicator light emitting diodes (LEDs), which, when illuminated, may be visible outside of the lift unit chassis 102. Responsive to sensors (not shown) within the lift unit chassis 102 determining that the lift unit chassis 102 is installed improperly, notification circuitry (not shown) may control an indicator LED of a particular color (for example, red) to illuminate. Furthermore, the notification circuitry may control an audio alarm, such as a buzzer, as a secondary indicator that the lift unit chassis 102 is installed improperly. The notification circuitry may control the red LED to remain illuminated (and the buzzer to continue to sound) until the sensors determine that the lift unit chassis 102 has been installed properly. Responsive to the sensors determining that the lift unit chassis 102 is installed properly, the notification circuitry may control an indicator LED of another color (for example, green) to illuminate and remain illuminated until the lift unit chassis 102 has been disconnected from the trolley 300.
A first lift motor 620A and a second lift motor 620B are fastened to the motor mounting plate 610. The first lift motor 620A connects to a first motor shaft 608A. Similarly, the second lift motor 620B connects to a second motor shaft 608B. The first lift motor 620A may include a spindle lock for preventing the first lift motor 620A from back driving. Similarly, the second lift motor 620B may include a spindle lock for preventing the second lift motor 620B from back driving. Fastened to the strap hub 602, outside of the space, is a hub gear 630. Teeth of a first motor gear 604A, mounted to the first motor shaft 608A, are positioned to mesh with teeth of a first idler gear 606A. Teeth of the first idler gear 606A are positioned to mesh with teeth of the hub gear 630. Teeth of a second motor gear 604B, mounted to the second motor shaft 608B, are positioned to mesh with teeth of a second idler gear 606B. The strap hub 602, the first idler gear 606A, the second idler gear 606B, the first motor shaft 608A and the second motor shaft 608B may, for example, be formed from AISI/SAE 1020 steel.
In overview, the patient lift system 100 may be seen to help lift and mobilize a disabled person with minimal effort from a caregiver.
In one aspect of the present application, the lift motors 620A, 620B are direct current (DC) motors that are powered by the batteries that are hidden by the battery compartment covers 230R, 230L. An alternating current (AC) electrical circuit may be formed as the first charging contact 302A contacts a first charge point (not shown) within the track and the second charging contact 302B contacts a second charge point (not shown) also within the track.
Via the first charging bolt 303A, the current received by the first charging contact 302A may be transferred to the first quick release trolley latch 312A and from the first quick release trolley latch 312A to the first latching post 502A. The current may then flow from the first latching post 502A to the second latching post 502B through battery charging circuitry (not shown) within the lift unit chassis 102. From the second latching post 502B, the circuit is completed through the second quick release trolley latch 312B, the second charging bolt 303B and the second charging contact 302B. It should be appreciated that the design of the battery charging circuitry is fairly routine and may include relays, integrated circuits, resistors and other electronic components.
In operation, the caregiver may employ the hand control unit 110 to control the patient lift system 100 to cause the first lift motor 620A and the second lift motor 620B to rotate their respective motor shafts 608A, 608B. Indeed, signals from the hand control unit 110 may be received, within the lift unit chassis 102, at control circuitry (not shown). Responsive to receiving the signals, the control circuitry may control flow of current from the batteries to the first lift motor 620A and the second lift motor 620B. The rotation of the first motor shaft 608A effects rotation of the first motor gear 604A, which effects rotation of the first idler gear 606A. Similarly, the rotation of the second motor shaft 608B effects rotation of the second motor gear 604B, which effects rotation of the second idler gear 606B. The rotation of the first idler gear 606A and the second idler gear 606B causes rotation of the hub gear 630, which causes rotation of the strap hub 602 in a manner that, in one direction, allows the strap 104 to spool out of the lift unit chassis 102, thereby lowering the carry bar 106. The rotation of the first idler gear 606A and the second idler gear 606B causes rotation of the hub gear 630, which causes rotation of the strap hub 602 in a manner that, in the other direction, allows the strap 104 to spool up into the lift unit chassis 102, thereby raising the carry bar 106.
With the carry bar 106 lowered, the care giver may connect a first end of a sling (not shown) to the first hook 112A of the carry bar 106 and may connect a second end of the sling to the second hook 112B of the carry bar 106. The caregiver may then position the sling under the patient to be moved. Once the sling has been appropriately positioned, the caregiver may, through appropriate actuation of one or more buttons on the hand control unit 110, control the patient lift system 100 so that the first lift motor 620A and the second lift motor 620B rotate their respective motor shafts 608A, 608B to, indirectly, cause rotation of the strap hub 602 in a manner that, in one direction, allows the strap 104 to spool up, into the lift unit chassis 102, thereby raising the carry bar 106 and the patient in the sling.
The patient lift system 100 of
The relatively small size of the patient lift system 100 is facilitated through the selection of small powerful motors for the first lift motor 620A and the second lift motor 620B. Furthermore, the patient lift system 100 may be considered to have been enhanced relative to competitive devices through the use of efficient metal gearing to reduce power loss through internal friction. Indeed, spur gears with high strength bushing or bearings may be used for the hub gear 630, the first idler gear 606A, the second idler gear 606B, the first motor gear 604A and the second motor gear 604B. Consequently, deflection may be minimized while reducing rotational resistance.
A value representative of efficiency is current draw. It may be illustrated that the patient lift 100 may draw only 12 Amps for a task that may cause a competitive system to draw 20 Amps or more.
In addition, the overall shape is designed for aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, the overall shape is designed for seam lessness, which may be seen to address infection control concerns. Conveniently, the lift unit chassis 102, the carry bar 106 and the hand control unit 110 have been designed to have shapes and features that may be seen to facilitate quick and easy cleaning. Furthermore, gaps have been minimized for infection control purposes.
Moreover, the patient lift system 100 may include a sterile strap cover (not shown) to fit the exposed length of the strap 104 to provide protection against infection. This strap cover (not shown) may be mounted, on one end, to a carry bar attachment mechanism on the carry bar 106 and, on the other end, to a lift unit chassis attachment mechanism on the lift unit chassis 102. Conveniently, minimal effort from user is required to install such a strap cover. The strap cover may be disposable or may be configured for easy sterilization.
The hand control unit 110 is also designed with infection control in mind. In order to provide a seamless hand control unit 110, the hand control unit 110 is designed with touch sensitive controls that have no seams and, thereby, facilitate cleaning. The touch sensitive controls are designed to allow for operation by a user wearing gloves, a user wearing no gloves or through other plastic covers around the hand control unit 110. By designing features that take into account infection control, the patient lift system 100 could be installed in areas where sterilization and infection control is a major concern, e.g., in an operating room. Furthermore, the touch sensitive controls allow caregivers with limited dexterity to operate the patient lift system 100 with ease.
Another feature allows for hospital administration to manage lift stock by installing track all around the hospital, while utilizing only a few lifts at any given point. Such ease of management is facilitated by the quick release trolley system. The quick release trolley system is designed with a multiple hook system that allow for a connection to be formed between the trolley 300 and the lift unit chassis 102. The trolley 300 is designed such that the installation of the lift unit chassis 102 to the trolley 300 is a one hand operation. The connection to be formed between the trolley 300 and the lift unit chassis 102 provides both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection. A visual and/or audio confirmation may provide, to a user, feedback for confirmation of correct installation. Indeed, for audio confirmation of correct installation, one or more tones may be generated. Upon detection of an incorrect installation, an audio buzzer may be activated to alert the user. For visual confirmation, the lift unit chassis 102 may be equipped with multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) whose illumination may be visible outside of the lift unit chassis 102. Upon detecting that the patient lift system 100 is not installed correctly, circuitry within the lift unit chassis 102 may arrange the illumination of a red LED. The red LED may remain illuminated until the patient lift system 100 is installed properly. To prevent accidental disengagement, the patient lift system 100 employs a passive locking system, which is designed such that the user must apply force to the lift unit chassis 102, e.g., lift the lift unit chassis 102 and press the quick release trolley buttons 202A, 202B toward each other to disengage the lift unit chassis 102 from the trolley 300. The quick release latches 312A, 312B are designed to ensure they do not move unless and until is lifted upwards to remove load from the quick release latches 312A, 312B before being able to press the quick release latches 312A, 312B inwards to disengage.
Moreover, in areas where there is possibility of a patient with a weight that surpasses a weight limit, the track can be outfitted with multiple trolleys but without the lift unit chassis 102. When there is need for lifting a particularly heavy patient, the user can simply bring in a second lift unit chassis 102 and quickly connect the second lift unit chassis 102 to the trolley 300. This allows for sharing of patient lift systems 100 between multiple rooms.
To provide a lift unit chassis 102 with such a small size required innovation on the mechanical level as well on the electrical level. The lift unit chassis 102 was designed such that two motors 620 are used to wind the strap 104 upon the spool 702, thereby lifting the patient. The use of the two motors 620 enables the strap 104 and the center of gravity to remain at the center of the lift unit chassis 102. The strap hub 602 is arranged in parallel with the gear shafts 608 of the motors 620. This provides a high efficiency system that is both powerful and compact.
In addition, for maintenance, the lift unit chassis 102 is designed with separate battery compartments. Separate battery compartments the user does not have to disassemble the main covers to replace batteries. In addition, the unit is designed to accept multiple battery technologies such as Li—Po, Ni-Mh, etc., to ensure ease of switching to a different battery type if need ever arises.
The motors 620 also incorporate a spindle lock technology that prevents the motors 620 from back driving and ensures a smooth consistent acceleration and deceleration.
The carry bar 106 is also designed with usability and infection control in mind. A quick connect design allows the user to quickly engage and disengage the carry bar 106 from the strap 104. Passive safety systems in the quick connect carry bar hooks 112A, 112B ensures no accidental disengagement occurs. The user has to lift the carry bar 106 such that the tension is removed between the strap 104 and the carry bar 106 before being able to disconnect the carry bar 106 from the strap 104. Thus, possibility of accidental disengagement is minimized. Seamless design of covers ensure no infection control issues arise from use of the units.
Patient lift systems are primarily used in areas where the patients are too fragile to move themselves and require assistance. This also means that these patients are easily susceptible to infections. Although the patient lift system 100 is designed with infection control in mind, other devices within the room may not have been designed with the same care.
The patient lift system 100 may also include a light wand (not shown) to help with infection control. The light wand may connect to a light wand trolley unit that is received within, and receives electrical power from, the track 108. Alternatively, the light wand may detachably connect to the lift unit chassis 102. Further alternatively, the light wand may employ a built-in connection to the lift unit chassis 102. The light wand may include a light source for generating light in a spectral range that is known to kill bacteria. In use, a user my actuate a switch to illuminate the light source and then cast the light generated by the light source upon exposed surfaces of the patient lift system 100.
Consider that the slot-like aperture in the track 108 may allow bacteria into the track 108. It is proposed herein to minimize exposure of the inside of the track 108 to the ambient environment.
Conveniently, while the opposing portions of the track 108 define a gap of a certain dimension, the seal 802 defines a gap 804 of significantly smaller dimension.
In operation, the seal portions 802A, 802B are arranged to flex to allow the quick release trolley latches 312A, 312B to enlarge and extend through the gap 804 to engage the quick release trolley plate 204 of the lift unit chassis 102. It will be understood that, along the length of the track 108, wherever the quick release trolley latches 312A, 312B are not extending through the gap 804, the gap 804 is maintained at a minimum.
The above-described implementations of the present application are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular implementations by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the application, which is defined by the claims appended hereto.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62308316 | Mar 2016 | US | |
62237199 | Oct 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15766257 | Apr 2018 | US |
Child | 16733976 | US |