Beds – With means for relocating an invalid – With a hoisting – lifting – elevating – or raising device
Patent
1997-10-15
2000-03-14
Trettel, Michael F.
Beds
With means for relocating an invalid
With a hoisting, lifting, elevating, or raising device
5 871, 5 851, 5 891, 5 861, A61G 714
Patent
active
060354658
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to patient lifting and support systems generally.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There exists a wide variety of patient lift and support systems. The following U.S. Patents are believed to represent the state of the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 274,527; 841,702; 1,072,959; 1,059,815; 1,694,084; 2,636,188; 2,846,091; 3,721,437; 3,780,663; 4,243,147; 4,256,098; 4,410,175; 4,545,575; 4,721,182; 4,905,989; 4,907,571; 4,911,426; 4,948,118; 4,973,044; 5,077,844; 5,123,131; 5,147,051; 5,185,895; 5,190,507.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide improved patient support apparatus which greatly enhances the freedom of movement of patients without sacrificing safety considerations.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention patient support apparatus including:
a patient support assembly;
a winch for vertically displacing the patient support assembly;
yieldable force application apparatus operative to apply a restraining force to the patient support assembly; and
a displacement limiter operative to limit the vertical displacement of the patient support assembly in at least one direction. There as also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a force limiter for limiting the amount of force exerted by a patient when moving on a support surface.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the patient support assembly includes multiple patient engagement elements which are selectably arranged thereon for determining the configuration of the patient when supported.
Preferably, the patient support assembly is inflatable.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the yieldable force application apparatus is connected in series with the winch.
Preferably, the displacement limiter includes a shock absorber.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the patient support apparatus also includes a support arm. Preferably the support arm is pivotably supported for rotation in a horizontal plane and is associated with the winch.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the patient support apparatus also includes a support arm rider which is displaceable along the support arm.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the patient support apparatus also includes a cable which is selectably wound and tensioned at opposite ends thereof by the winch and by the yieldable force application apparatus respectively.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a patient operable control of the winch and the yieldable force application apparatus.
Preferably, the winch and the yieldable force application apparatus are located at a fixed location.
Preferably, the patient support apparatus also includes a movable frame onto which the patient engagement assembly, the winch and the yieldable force application apparatus are supported.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the patient support apparatus is operative in accordance with at least one, more preferably two, even more preferably three and most preferably all of the following operational modes: RIGID, SELECTABLE FIXED TENSION, VARIABLE TENSION and PROGRAMMED RAISE/LOWER.
Preferably, the RIGID mode is characterized in that a desired vertical position of the patient engagement assembly is maintained, notwithstanding variations in the vertical tension applied thereto.
Preferably, the SELECTABLE FIXED TENSION mode is characterized in that a desired vertical tension is applied to the patient engagement assembly.
Preferably, the VARIABLE TENSION mode is characterized in that the vertical tension applied to the patient engagement assembly varies as a function of the vertical position thereof within selectable limits.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the PROGRAMMED RAISE/LOWER mode is characterized in that a vertical force is periodi
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Kelman Elliot
Trettel Michael F.
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