Abstract: An overhead lift system may include a motor and a lift strap connected to the motor. The motor raises and lowers the lift strap. A hand controller may be communicatively connected to the motor. The hand controller includes a force sensor associated with the body of the hand controller such that force applied to the body is detected with the force sensor. An orientation sensor may also be arranged within the body and determines an orientation of the hand controller. A control unit may be communicatively connected with the motor, the force sensor, and the orientation sensor. The control unit detects a force applied to the hand controller with the force sensor, determines a direction of motion of the hand controller with the orientation sensor, and provides a signal to the motor to raise or lower the lift strap based on the force and orientation of the hand controller.

Abstract: Lifting devices for positioning a lift actuator in a high range position and a low range position are disclosed. The lifting devices may include a lift mast, a lift arm pivotally coupled to the lift mast, a lift actuator having a first end and a second end, and a linkage member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the lift actuator is pivotally coupled to the lift mast. The first end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the lift arm and the second end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the second end of the lift actuator such that the lift actuator includes a high range position relative to the lift arm and a low range position relative to the lift arm.

Abstract: A slingbar includes a sling attachment member. The sling attachment member includes a frame including a base having a top end and a bottom end, and a hook extending from the bottom end to a hook terminus. The hook terminus and the top end of the base define an opening. The hook, base, and opening bound an interior of the attachment member. A closure element includes an outboard gate hinged to the hook terminus and an inboard gate hinged to the base. The gates have a default state in which each gate extends laterally only part way across the opening.

Abstract: Modular chair systems and methods of transporting a subject using a modular chair system are described. A modular chair system includes a seat component, a chair component, and a wheelchair component. The seat component includes a seat having a planar lower surface with one or more recesses and one or more attachment bars disposed in each of the recesses. The chair component includes one or more chair latch mechanisms and the wheelchair component includes one or more wheelchair latch mechanisms. Each attachment bar corresponds to one of the chair latch mechanisms and one of the wheelchair latch mechanisms such that the seat component is configured to be placed upon the chair component or the wheelchair component and releasably held in place by the chair latch mechanisms or the wheelchair latch mechanisms.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sling for supporting a subject such as a patient includes a panel assembly including a left flank with a left end, a right flank with a right end, and an interflank panel. The interflank panel has a left extremity permanently joined to the left end of the left flank and a right extremity permanently joined to the right end of the right flank. The sling also includes a left closure element and a right closure element which are securable to each other and releasable from each other to adjust an effective dimension of the sling. In another embodiment, the sling includes a frangible closure member which secures the left flank to the right flank.

Abstract: An overhead subject lift includes a lift assembly configured to be movably engaged with an overhead rail, the lift assembly including a coupler for coupling a subject to the lift assembly, an extendable member coupled to the coupler, an actuator for moving the coupler and the extendable member, and a sensor that detects a position of at least one of the extendable member and the coupler in at least one of a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A sling for supporting a subject such as a patient includes a panel assembly including a left flank with a left end, a right flank with a right end, and an interflank panel. The interflank panel has a left extremity permanently joined to the left end of the left flank and a right extremity permanently joined to the right end of the right flank. The sling also includes a left closure element and a right closure element which are securable to each other and releasable from each other to adjust an effective dimension of the sling. In another embodiment, the sling includes a frangible closure member which secures the left flank to the right flank.

Abstract: A person relocation device includes sheet which defines a person space for a person. The sheet includes a left lateral strap, a right lateral strap, a head end strap and a foot end strap. Each strap is attached to the sheet only at a perimeter thereof and does not extend into the person space. The straps are adapted to be connected to a hoist so that when all of the straps are so connected and tensioned by the weight of the person the sheet suspends the person in a seated posture.

Abstract: According to embodiments, an overhead lift includes a lift actuator; and a control system communicatively coupled to the lift actuator. The control system may include a control unit comprising a processor with a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and having computer readable and executable instructions and at least one transceiver communicatively coupling the control unit to at least one of a computer, a network, and a data storage device. The processor executes the computer readable and executable instructions to: determine at least one operating characteristic of the overhead lift and an operating time of the overhead lift as the overhead lift is actuated; determine an accumulated load-time parameter for the overhead lift based on the at least one operating characteristic and the operating time; and upload the accumulated load-time parameter to at least one of the computer, the network, and the data storage device.

Abstract: A switch assembly for a lift unit includes a switch, an emergency stop device, and a reset actuator. The switch is arranged to move between a closed position, wherein the switch electrically couples a lift motor of the lift unit to an energy source, and an open position, wherein the switch electrically decouples the lift motor from the energy source. The emergency stop device is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the closed position to the open position. The reset actuator is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the open position to the closed position, wherein the reset actuator is controllable to move the switch from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A sling support assembly is configured to be moved by a lift assembly. The sling support assembly includes a frame and a plurality of sling coupling mechanisms configured to removably couple a sling to the sling support. At least a portion of the frame is movable to selectively change the spatial relationship of the plurality of sling coupling mechanisms.

Abstract: A subject support apparatus includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a vest having a first end and a second end, a closure mechanism configured to couple the first end of the vest to the second end of the vest from a bottom end of the vest to a top end of the vest to form a closed loop, and a pair of shoulder straps extending from the vest. The lower portion includes a seat piece having a first end and a second end, and a pair of loop straps extending from the first end and the second end of the seat piece. Subject support systems including the subject support apparatus and methods of lifting a subject using the subject support apparatus are also described.

Abstract: Overhead lifts with control systems are disclosed. The overhead lifts may include a lift actuator communicatively coupled to a control system. The control system may include a control unit comprising a processor and a memory having computer readable and executable instructions and at least one port for communicatively coupling the control unit to at least one of a computer, a network, and a data storage device. The processor executes the computer readable and executable instructions to: determine at least one operating characteristic of the overhead lift and an operating time of the overhead lift as the overhead lift is actuated; determine an accumulated load-time parameter for the overhead lift based on the at least one operating characteristic and the operating time; and provide an indication that a component of the overhead lift requires service based on the comparison of the accumulated load-time parameter to a service constant.

Abstract: A person lift system includes a lift unit, a sling bar that is coupled to the lift unit, where the sling bar includes a plurality of attachment points each having coupling sensors and an electronic control unit that is communicatively coupled to the coupling sensors. The person lift system also includes a lifting accessory having a plurality of lifting points that are adapted to be selectively coupled to the plurality of attachment points of the sling bar. The electronic control unit comprises a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set which, when executed by the processor detects with the coupling sensors whether the lifting accessory is installed in a proper manner and projects an indication when the lifting accessory is installed in the proper manner.

Abstract: A linkage assembly that connects a sling bar to a person lift apparatus includes a link body that connects to the person lift apparatus. The link body has a keyed slot extending therethrough. The keyed slot has a region of reduced dimension. An interlocking member connects to the sling bar. The interlocking member has an interlocking portion that is sized to be slidably received in the keyed slot. The interlocking portion has a region of reduced dimension such that, in an interlocked orientation, the region of reduced dimension of the interlocking portion is offset from the region of reduced dimension of the keyed slot thereby inhibiting removal of the interlocking member from the keyed slot and, in a release orientation, the region of reduced dimension of the interlocking portion is aligned with the region of reduced dimension of the keyed slot thereby allowing removal of the interlocking member from the keyed slot to disconnect the sling bar from the person lift apparatus.

Abstract: An adaptive lift includes a base portion including a plurality of rollers, a lift portion coupled to the base portion, the lift portion including a mast extending upward from the base portion in a vertical direction and a lift arm coupled to the mast, a lift bar coupled to the lift arm, a lift system coupled to the base portion and the lift arm, where the lift system raises and lowers the lift bar with respect to the base portion, a support arm pivotally coupled to the mast and positioned above the base portion in the vertical direction, and a braking system coupled to the support arm, the braking system including a release handle that selectively repositions the braking system between an engaged position, in which the braking system prevents rotation of the plurality of rollers, and a disengaged position, in which the plurality of rollers may rotate.

Abstract: A patient lift system includes a lift housing, a base lift strap having a first end coupled to a lift housing and a second end coupled to a sling bar. The base lift strap is infection controlled. In one embodiment, a protective sleeve covers the base lift strap, wherein the protective sleeve has a first end and a second end. In another embodiment, the base lift strap is chemically treated to provide infection control.

Abstract: A movement system for use with an overhead patient lift system includes a motor. A drum is operatively coupled to the motor. The drum is configured to be selectively driven by the motor to rotate in one of a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction. A lifting strap is coupled to the drum. The lifting strap is extendable and retractable with respect to a carriage of the overhead patient lifting system as the drum rotates. A manual release operatively coupled to the drum is actuatable to selectively disengage the drum from the motor to allow the lifting strap to be manually extended. Also disclosed is an overhead patient lift system including the movement system and a method for manually extending a lifting strap of an overhead patient lift system.

Abstract: A sling bar assembly allows variable positioning of a sling on the sling bar assembly. Some sling bar assemblies include opposing sling bar members that are movable with respect to one another in a lateral direction. Some opposing sling bar members are repositionable between a locked position, in which movement of the sling members with respect to one another is restricted, and an unlocked position. Some sling bar assemblies include multiple sling hooks positioned on a sling bar member. Some sling bar assemblies include a biasing member that permits movement of a sling hook with respect to the sling bar assembly in the lateral direction.