The modern trend toward an aging population is increasing the number of mobility-compromised patients. A transition from a seated to standing position may be a formidable task for a mobility challenged patient but can be facilitated by a patient lift device. The myriad of patient lifts on the market, however, tend to passivate patients by hindering participation in normal life activities. Such devices either lift patients vertically without allowing the natural forward motion of the transfer, or leverage the patient’s knees against a stop while pulling them forward to create upward motion. Often, caregivers are even instructed to pull certain lifts backwards as the patient comes up to allow them to travel through the necessary forward arc of motion. Patient handling and resulting caregiver injury is a leading cause of occupational injury. According to the CDC, there is no safe way for one person to lift another without a patient lift. Patient lifts are generally expensive, bulky, and difficult to use. The average household simply cannot accommodate nor afford a lift. Very few lift systems hold the patient up, and then allow them to ambulate. Non-ambulatory patients are often relegated to a wheelchair, and this lack of mobility further compromises their health. Patients falling and sliding onto the floor are common and typically require EMS assist in a floor to stand transfer, even when no significant injury occurs. Due to the required first responder calls, burdening healthcare costs are placed on the patient.
The lift frame lifts the patient through the necessary natural arc of motion when the linear actuator extends. The offset created by the actuator plate allows the lift frame to travel the necessary distance. When the linear actuator extends, the actuator plate offset causes the lift frame to move upwards about the pivot axle. This translates into the arc of motion necessary for a natural sit to stand transfer. When the linear actuator retracts, the device lowers the patient in the same fashion and along the same arc.
Existing solutions pick patients up in a linear fashion and are not meant for in-home use. Others use a linear lift mechanism, which is an unnatural motion and prohibits the patient from independent operation.
