The present specification generally relates to person lifting devices, such as mobile lifts and/or overhead lifts, and methods for operating the same.
Person lifting devices, such as mobile lifts and/or overhead lifts, may used in hospitals, other health care facilities, and sometimes in home care settings to move a person from one location to another or to assist the person in moving. Conventional person lifting devices utilize a sling or other attachment to secure a person to the lifting device and an actuator to lift the person to a higher elevation or lower the person to a lower elevation. In one typical example the caregiver operates the actuator to raise the patient off a bed, repositions the person by moving the lifting device to a desired location, and then operates the actuator again to lower the patient to the destination.
Generally, the various accessories for attachment to the person lifting device have a size and/or weight rating. A need exists for alternative methods for insuring that the correct lift accessories are utilized for lifting a person.
According to one embodiment, a person lifting device may comprise a lift actuator operatively connected to an accessory coupling, whereby the lift actuator raises and lowers the accessory coupling. The person lifting device may also comprise at least one imaging sensor. An electronic control unit may be communicatively coupled to the lift actuator and the at least on imaging sensor, the electronic control unit comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing a computer readable and executable instruction set. When executed by the processor, the instruction set collects, with the at least one imaging sensor, at least one image of a person to be lifted with the person lifting device; determines, automatically with the electronic control unit and based on the at least one image, a characteristic of the person to be lifted with the person lifting device; determines, automatically with the electronic control unit and based on the determined characteristic, an identification of a lift accessory for attachment to the accessory coupling; and, in some embodiments, communicates, automatically with the electronic control unit, the identification of the lift accessory.
According to another embodiment, a method for operating a person lifting device may include collecting, with at least one imaging sensor, at least one image of a person to be lifted with the person lifting device. Thereafter, a characteristic of the person to be lifted with the person lifting device is automatically determined with an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the at least one imaging sensor. The characteristic is determined based on the at least one image. Next, an identification of a lift accessory for attachment to the person lifting device is automatically determined with the electronic control unit based on the determined characteristic. In some embodiments, an identification of the lift accessory is communicated automatically with the electronic control unit to a user of the person lift device.
Additional features of the person lifting devices and methods for operating the person lifting devices described herein will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description describe various embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the various embodiments, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the various embodiments described herein, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the claimed subject matter.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of person lifting devices and methods of operating the same, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. One embodiment of a person lifting device is schematically depicted in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the base 102 may further comprise a mast support 122 disposed on the cross support 132. In one embodiment, the mast support 122 may be a rectangular receptacle configured to receive the lift mast 104 of the person lifting device 100. For example, a first end of the lift mast 104 may be adjustably received in the mast support 122 and secured with a pin, threaded fastener, or a similar fastener coupled to the adjustment handle 124. The pin or threaded fastener extends through the mast support 122 and into a corresponding adjustment hole(s) (not shown) on the lift mast 104. Accordingly, it will be understood that the position of the lift mast 104 may be adjusted vertically (e.g., in the +/−Z direction on the coordinate axes shown in
The person lifting device 100 may further comprise a lift arm 106 which is pivotally coupled to the lift mast 104 at the lift arm pivot 138 at a second end of the lift mast such that the lift arm 106 may be pivoted (e.g., raised and lowered) with respect to the base 102.
In the embodiments described herein, the person lifting device 100 is a mechanized lifting device. Accordingly, raising and lowering the lift arm 106 with respect to the base 102 may be achieved using an actuator such as a lift actuator 204. In the embodiments shown, the lift actuator 204 is a linear actuator which comprises a motor 110 mechanically coupled to an actuator arm 114. More specifically, the motor 110 may comprise a rotating armature (not shown) and the actuator arm 114 may comprise one or more threaded rods coupled to the armature such that, when the armature is rotated, the threaded rods are extended or retracted relative to one another and the actuator arm 114 is extended or retracted. In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
While the embodiments described herein refer to the lift actuator 204 as comprising a motor 110 and an actuator arm 114, it will be understood that the actuator may have various other configurations and may include a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator comprising a mechanical pump or compressor, or a similar type of actuator. Further, in other embodiments, where the lifting device is a cable-based lift system, the actuator may be a motor which pays out and/or takes-up cable thereby raising and/or lowering an attached load. Accordingly, it will be understood that various other types of actuators may be used to facilitate raising and lowering the lift arm and/or an attached load with respect to the base 102.
Still referring to
In the embodiments described herein, the person lifting device 100 may further include at least one imaging sensor 250. In embodiments, the imaging sensor 250 may be, for example, a digital camera. Suitable digital cameras include, without limitation, CCD cameras, CMOS cameras, 3D cameras, gesture recognition cameras, and range cameras. In embodiments, the digital camera may be communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit 202 and the electronic control unit 202 may include one or more computer readable and executable instruction sets for operating the digital camera. In still other embodiments, the imaging sensor 250 may comprise an optical sensor communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit 202 and a plurality of optical elements, such as lenses and the like, positioned relative to the optical sensor and configured to focus light onto a focal plane of the optical sensor.
In the embodiments described herein, the imaging sensor 250 is located on the person lifting device 100 so as to enable the collection of an image of the person to be lifted with the person lifting device 100 prior to attaching the person to the person lifting device 100 or lifting the person with the person lifting device 100. For example, in the embodiment of the person lifting device depicted in
While the imaging sensor 250 has been described as being attached to the lift arm 106 or the lift mast 104 of the person lifting device 100 of
While
In the embodiments described herein the imaging sensor 250 is communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit 202 of the person lifting device 100, either by wire or wirelessly. This connection allows the imaging sensor 250 to be activated from the electronic control unit 202 (or from a remote control or pendant associated with the electronic control unit 202) thereby facilitating image collection via the electronic control unit 202. Image data collected with the imaging sensor 250 may be communicated to the electronic control unit 202, either wirelessly or by wire, and stored in a memory operatively associated with the electronic control unit 202 for further processing and analysis.
While
For example,
In the embodiment of the person lifting device shown in
Referring now to the exploded view of the person lifting device 300 schematically depicted in
Referring now to
In the embodiment of the carriage 306 depicted in
Referring again to
While the imaging sensor 250 has been described as being attached to the underside of the lift unit 304 of the person lifting device 300 of
While
As described hereinabove, the imaging sensor 250 is communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit 202 of the person lifting device 300, either by wire or wirelessly. This connection allows the imaging sensor 250 to be activated from the electronic control unit 202 (or from a remote control or pendant associated with the electronic control unit 202) thereby facilitating image collection via the electronic control unit 202. Image data collected with the imaging sensor 250 may be communicated to the electronic control unit 202, either wirelessly or by wire, and stored in a memory operatively associated with the electronic control unit 202 for further processing and analysis.
Referring now to
Methods of operating the person lifting devices of
In the embodiments described herein, the memory of the electronic control unit 202 may contain computer readable and executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, automatically determine at least one characteristic of a person to be lifted with the person lifting device from at least one image captured with the imaging sensor 250. In embodiments, the at least one characteristic may be, for example, at least one of the height of the person, the weight of the person, whether the person is an amputee, or the like. The electronic control unit 202 utilizes the characteristic to further automatically determine an identification of a suitable lift accessory for attachment to the lift accessory coupling of the lifting device and, in some embodiments, automatically communicates the identification of this lift accessory, such as by displaying a list of suitable accessories on the display communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit 202. The identified lift accessory may be, for example, at least one of a sling bar, a lifting sling, a lifting vest, lifting sheet, and a repositioning sheet, each of which may be specifically designed with certain weight and/or size restrictions.
Still referring to
Thereafter, at step 402 of the flow diagram 400 of
Once the image of the person 500 to be lifted is collected, at step 404 the electronic control unit 202 automatically determines a characteristic of the person 500 to be lifted with the person lifting device based on the collected image. For example, the non-transitory memory of the electronic control unit 202 contains image analysis software which automatically operates on a collected image to identify an outline of the person in the image and, based on this outline, determine a characteristic of the person, such as a height of the person, the weight of the person, and/or if the person is, for example, an amputee. For example, through the use of shape/feature recognition and/or various thresholding filters, the image analysis software may determine an outline of the person and, based on the area of this outline in conjunction with known metrics (e.g., tissue and bone densities), determine a height and/or weight of the person and/or determine if the person is missing one or more limbs.
Once the characteristic of the person has been determined, at step 406 the electronic control unit 202 automatically determines an identification of one or more lift accessories for lifting the person 500 based on the determined characteristic. For example, the memory of the electronic control unit may contain a look-up table (LUT) of various lift accessories for attachment to the accessory coupling and indexed according to one or more characteristics (e.g., height and/or weight). The electronic control unit 202 may search this look-up table for lift accessories which have a characteristic corresponding to the determined characteristic and flag these accessories as suitable for use with the person 500. The process of determining an identification of one or more lift accessories may also take into account which accessories are compatible with the person lifting device and/or accessories attached to the person lifting device, further narrowing the number of lift accessories which may be identified based on the determined characteristic of the person to be lifted.
In some embodiments, once at least one suitable lift accessory has been determined, the electronic control unit 202 may optionally automatically communicate an identification of the lift accessory to a user. For example, in some embodiments, the electronic control unit 202 displays the identification of suitable lift accessories for lifting the person 500 on the display 270. In the event that no suitable lift accessory is identified, the electronic control unit 202 may provide the user with a visible and/or audible warning indicative of such using the display 270, visual indicator 272, and/or audible indicator 274. In some embodiments, in addition to providing a warning when no suitable lift accessory is identified, the electronic control unit 202 may lock-out the actuation controls of the person lifting device to prevent the person lifting device from being used until the controls are unlocked or an appropriate override code is entered.
In some embodiments, the electronic control unit 202 may be further programmed to prevent operation of the person lifting device when a lift accessory other than an identified lift accessory is attached to the person lifting device. In these embodiments, the person lifting device may further include one or more accessory sensors 260 which are communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit 202, either by wire or wirelessly. In embodiments, the accessory sensors 260 may be located in the accessory coupling of the lifting device and/or in an accessory of the lifting device, such as a sling bar. For example, in the embodiments of the person lifting device 100 shown in
In this embodiment, at step 408, the electronic control unit 202 automatically determines an identity of the selected lift accessory either attached to or located in the general vicinity of the person lifting device using the accessory sensor 260. For example, when the lift accessory contains an RFID tag, the accessory sensor senses and reads the RFID tag and communicates the identification of the selected lift accessory either attached to or located in proximity of the person lifting device to the electronic control unit 202. Thereafter, at step 410, the electronic control unit 202 automatically compares the identification of the selected lift accessory with the identification of the lift accessory determined based on the characteristic of the person to be lifted. In the embodiments described herein, the comparison of the identification of the selected lift accessory with the identification of the lift accessory determined based on the characteristic of the person to be lifted may also take into account the compatibility of the selected lift accessory with the person lifting apparatus and/or other lift accessories attached to the person lifting apparatus.
If the identification of the selected lift accessory is different than the identification of the lift accessory determined based on the characteristic of the person, at step 414 the electronic control unit communicates a visual and/or audible warning signal to the user with the display 270, visual indicator 272, and/or audible indicator 274. In some embodiments, the warning signal may be a communication sent from the electronic control unit to a remote location, such as a nurse's station or the like. In some embodiments, in addition to providing a warning when the identification of the selected lift accessory is different than the identification of the lift accessory determined based on the characteristic of the person, the electronic control unit 202 may lock-out the actuation controls of the person lifting device to prevent the person lifting device from being used until the controls are unlocked or an appropriate override code is entered. At step 412, when the selected lift accessory is the same as the identification of the lift accessory determined based on the characteristic of the person, the electronic control unit permits the lifting operation.
In some embodiments, the electronic control unit 202 may be optionally further programmed to prevent operation of the person lifting device when the characteristic of the person is greater than a threshold characteristic of the person lifting device. For example, the person lifting device may have an upper lift weight threshold. The electronic control unit 202 compares the characteristic of the person, as determined from the collected image, to the threshold characteristic of the person lifting device and, if the characteristic of the person is greater than a threshold characteristic of the person lifting device, the electronic control unit 202 prevents operation of the person lifting device.
More specifically, the electronic control unit 202 may automatically determine a threshold characteristic of the person lifting device which, in the embodiments described herein, may be stored in a memory of the electronic control unit 202 or hard coded into the electronic control unit. Thereafter, the electronic control unit automatically compares the threshold characteristic of the lifting device with the characteristic of the person to be lifted and, if the characteristic of the person to be lifted is greater than the threshold characteristic, the electronic control unit communicates a visual and/or audible warning signal to the user with the display 270, visual indicator 272, and/or audible indicator 274. In this embodiment, in addition to sending a warning if the characteristic of the person to be lifted is greater than the threshold characteristic, the electronic control unit 202 may lock-out the actuation controls of the person lifting device to prevent the person lifting device from being used until the controls are unlocked or an appropriate override code is entered.
Based on the foregoing, it should be understood that the person lifting devices described herein include electronic control units which may be used to identify appropriate lift accessories with which to lift a person by utilizing collected images of the person to be lifted. The collected images are analyzed to determine a characteristic of the person to be lifted and, thereafter, determine which of a plurality of lift accessories are suitable for use in lifting the person. In some embodiments, the electronic control unit may be further programmed to provide a warning or even prevent operation of the person lifting device when an identification of an attached selected lift accessory is different than an identification of a lift accessory determined from the collected images. In further embodiments, the electronic control unit may be programmed to provide a warning or even prevent operation of the person lifting device when the characteristic of the person exceeds a threshold characteristic of the person lifting device.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Thus it is intended that the specification cover the modifications and variations of the various embodiments described herein provided such modification and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The present specification claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/187,691 filed Jul. 1, 2015 and entitled “Person Lifting Devices and Methods For Operating Person Lifting Devices,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62187691 | Jul 2015 | US |