Abstract: A body support sling (100) for supporting a patient from a patient hoist (10). The sling (100) comprises a leg support portion (60) adapted to support the thighs of a patient and a torso support portion (70) adapted to support the torso of a patient. According to an aspect of the invention, the sling (100) comprises a connecting portion (40). The connecting portion (40) comprising a front pair of suspension straps (41, 42) and a rear pair of suspension straps (43, 44) each being adapted to be connected to the patient hoist (10), the front pair of suspension straps (41, 42) being adapted to extend in front of the patient and the rear pair of suspension straps (43, 44) being adapted to extend behind the patient when the sling (100) is worn by the patient. The rear pair of suspension straps (43, 44) are attached to the torso support portion (70) and the front pair of suspension straps (41, 42) are attached to the leg support portion (60).

Abstract: A ceiling lift tilt management system includes first and second motor units, which are attachable to a rail system of a medical care facility. Each motor unit includes a flexible strap, which can be coiled or uncoiled within the motor unit to raise or lower a spreader bar attached thereto. Coiling or uncoiling of the straps can cause raising or lowering of a sling attached to the spreader bars. The system also allows for tilting of the spreader bars by coiling or uncoiling a leading motor unit strap. The system includes a control system that measures the relative lengths of the two straps in order to ensure that relative tilt between the spreader bars does not exceed a threshold. Once a threshold tilt for height difference is reached, further user requests for additional tilting are prohibited. Patient comfort and safety are therefore ensured.

Abstract: A spreader bar assembly includes first and second spreader bars and a coupling member that extends between the two spreader bars and holds them together. The spreader bars are pivotally coupled to the connecting member and are able to pivot with respect to the connecting member in a single direction only. The connecting member may be a telescopic structure with a rod and cylinder and is able to extend and contract in length. Also, there may be rotation within the spreader bar, in the example, rotation of the rod within the cylinder. This enables the spreader bar assembly to accommodate loading differences from one side of a spreader bar to the other. The structure enables two spreader bars to be manipulated together, reducing the risk of injury to a patient or caregiver.

Abstract: A patient lift connector for attaching and detaching a patient lifting bar to a load supporting member in a patient lifting system is described. The connector includes a connector body including a connecting block configured to be fixedly attached to the patient lifting bar. The connector also includes a pin holder coupled to the load supporting member and configured to be inserted through the connector body and into the connecting block, and an attachment latch secured to the connector body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position within the connector body. When the attachment latch moves from the closed position to the open position, the pin holder is allowed to be inserted into the connecting block and thereby allow the lifting bar to be attached to the load supporting member.

Abstract: A patient ceiling lift system including motor units that are attached to independent pivotable support members of a support frame assembly. The motor units are able to pivot on the support frame and relative to one another, which enables the motor units to follow the loading direction on tension support members connectable to a patient sling and eliminate motor unit side loading.

Abstract: A ceiling lift assembly includes first and second motor units which can be operated together in a dual mode configuration and which can be operated in a single mode operation, in which only one of the motor units is operative with the other motor unit being dormant. The system provides routines for switching between the single and dual modes of the assembly and which ensure that in each mode the necessary parts of the apparatus are in an operative condition, whereas those parts of the apparatus which are not used are placed in a storage condition to avoid inconvenience or injury to personnel and patients. The apparatus also includes a motor unit support device of a structure which can accommodate asymmetric loads, on one motor unit only without causing deformation of the support structure.

Abstract: A patient lift for transporting patients having a hoist assembly, a lift assembly and an integrated flexible load-bearing supporting member. The flexible load-bearing supporting member is retractable into the hoist assembly and has integrated load-bearing, data communications, and power components to transmit data and/or power to/from the hoist assembly and lift assembly.

Abstract: A spreader bar assembly includes first and second spreader bars and a coupling member that extends between the two spreader bars and holds them together. The spreader bars are pivotally coupled to the connecting member and are able to pivot with respect to the connecting member in a single direction only. The connecting member may be a telescopic structure with a rod and cylinder and is able to extend and contract in length. Also, there may be rotation within the spreader bar, in the example, rotation of the rod within the cylinder. This enables the spreader bar assembly to accommodate loading differences from one side of a spreader bar to the other. The structure enables two spreader bars to be manipulated together, reducing the risk of injury to a patient or caregiver.

Abstract: A ceiling lift assembly includes first and second motor units which can be operated together in a dual mode configuration and which can be operated in a single mode operation, in which only one of the motor units is operative with the other motor unit being dormant. The system provides routines for switching between the single and dual modes of the assembly and which ensure that in each mode the necessary parts of the apparatus are in an operative condition, whereas those parts of the apparatus which are not used are placed in a storage condition to avoid inconvenience or injury to personnel and patients. The apparatus also includes a motor unit support device of a structure which can accommodate asymmetric loads, on one motor unit only without causing deformation of the support structure.

Abstract: A patient ceiling lift system including motor units that are attached to independent pivotable support members of a support frame assembly. The motor units are able to pivot on the support frame and relative to one another, which enables the motor units to follow the loading direction on tension support members connectable to a patient sling and eliminate motor unit side loading.

Abstract: A ceiling lift tilt management system includes first and second motor units, which are attachable to a rail system of a medical care facility. Each motor unit includes a flexible strap, which can be coiled or uncoiled within the motor unit to raise or lower a spreader bar attached thereto. Coiling or uncoiling of the straps can cause raising or lowering of a sling attached to the spreader bars. The system also allows for tilting of the spreader bars by coiling or uncoiling a leading motor unit strap. The system includes a control system that measures the relative lengths of the two straps in order to ensure that relative tilt between the spreader bars does not exceed a threshold. Once a threshold tilt for height difference is reached, further user requests for additional tilting are prohibited. Patient comfort and safety are therefore ensured.

Abstract: A patient lift for transporting patients having a hoist assembly, a lift assembly and an integrated flexible load-bearing supporting member. The flexible load-bearing supporting member is retractable into the hoist assembly and has integrated load-bearing, data communications, and power components to transmit data and/or power to/from the hoist assembly and lift assembly.

Abstract: A patient lift for transporting patients having a hoist assembly, a lift assembly and an integrated flexible load-bearing supporting member. The flexible load-bearing supporting member is retractable into the hoist assembly and has integrated load-bearing, data communications, and power components to transmit data and/or power to/from the hoist assembly and lift assembly.

Abstract: A patient lift connector for attaching and detaching a patient lifting bar to a load supporting member in a patient lifting system is described. The connector includes a connector body including a connecting block configured to be fixedly attached to the patient lifting bar. The connector also includes a pin holder coupled to the load supporting member and configured to be inserted through the connector body and into the connecting block, and an attachment latch secured to the connector body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position within the connector body. When the attachment latch moves from the closed position to the open position, the pin holder is allowed to be inserted into the connecting block and thereby allow the lifting bar to be attached to the load supporting member.

Abstract: A patient lift connector for attaching and detaching a patient lifting bar to a load supporting member in a patient lifting system is described. The connector includes a connector body including a connecting block configured to be fixedly attached to the patient lifting bar. The connector also includes a pin holder coupled to the load supporting member and configured to be inserted through the connector body and into the connecting block, and an attachment latch secured to the connector body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position within the connector body. When the attachment latch moves from the closed position to the open position, the pin holder is allowed to be inserted into the connecting block and thereby allow the lifting bar to be attached to the load supporting member.

Abstract: A patient lift connector for attaching and detaching a patient lifting bar to a load supporting member in a patient lifting system is described. The connector includes a connector body including a connecting block configured to be fixedly attached to the patient lifting bar. The connector also includes a pin holder coupled to the load supporting member and configured to be inserted through the connector body and into the connecting block, and an attachment latch secured to the connector body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position within the connector body. When the attachment latch moves from the closed position to the open position, the pin holder is allowed to be inserted into the connecting block and thereby allow the lifting bar to be attached to the load supporting member.

Abstract: A patient lift for transporting patients having a hoist assembly, a lift assembly and an integrated flexible load-bearing supporting member. The flexible load-bearing supporting member is retractable into the hoist assembly and has integrated load-bearing, data communications, and power components to transmit data and/or power to/from the hoist assembly and lift assembly.

Abstract: An all-fiber, phase controlled interferometer device is disclosed as well as its method of manufacture. This device is suitable for use in an optical DPSK demodulation system. It is comprised of two optical fiber couplers, each having two input and two output ports and two branches between the couplers of unequal length. The couplers have a splicing ratio of 50% over the wavelength operating range of the device. The two branches between the couplers are shaped to provide one bit of delay between the branches and are also shaped to make a compact device. Also, the two branches are formed in such a manner as to minimize birefringence in the device. In addition, a fiber heater is provided to heat the longer branch so as to obtain phase control of the interferometer. The method of producing such a device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An all-fiber, phase controlled interferometer device is disclosed as well as its method of manufacture. This device is suitable for use in an optical DPSK demodulation system. It is comprised of two optical fiber couplers, each having two input and two output ports and two branches between the couplers of unequal length. The couplers have a splicing ratio of 50% over the wavelength operating range of the device. The two branches between the couplers are shaped to provide one bit of delay between the branches and are also shaped to make a compact device. Also, the two branches are formed in such a manner as to minimize birefringence in the device. In addition, a fiber heater is provided to heat the longer branch so as to obtain phase control of the interferometer. The method of producing such a device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging device for protectively enclosing an optical component in a substantially clean and anhydrous environment without imparting undue mechanical stresses on the optical component and adjacent segments of optical fiber coupled thereto. An intermediate component is used in combination with a sealing material for sealing the fiber aperture of a protective housing while allowing an optical fiber to extend therethrough. The protective housing is made out of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that closely matches that of the optical fiber. A chain of material CTE that includes the CTE of the intermediate component is used in order to circumvent the need for a sealing material having a high melting temperature. The packaging device is also designed so as to reduce water ingress by optimizing the configuration of the sealing component and adjacent structures.