EP0495862B1 - Patient lifting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A cross-beam (31, 34) fixed to a slide (7) mobile along a column (5) carries seat forming means (41) and two separate rigid back elements (36) adapted to be slid respectively behind the back of a patient, on either side of the patient, without having to lift the patient, and associated with means (39) for connecting them respectively on one side and on the other side of said patient to the cross-beam (31, 34) which is itself placed in front of said patient. The seat forming means (41) are adapted to be slid under the thighs or buttocks of said patient without having to lift the patient. The patient lifter is comprised of means (40) in order to pivot the back elements (36) and to make said patient pass from the lying position on his back to the seated position and vice versa.

Description

The present invention relates to a patient lift.

DE-A-746 785 discloses a patient lift comprising a base frame provided with rollers, a column fixed on the frame, a slide movable along the column and means for moving the slide the along the column, the slide carrying means forming a cross member, substantially parallel to the base, which support means forming a seat as well as means forming a backrest, the patient lift also comprising means for pivoting the means forming a backrest around an axis substantially parallel to the crosspiece to bring a patient from the lying position on the back to the sitting position and vice versa.

The cross member of this patient lift is located under the seat means, and the backrest means are fixed in cantilever to the seat means and articulated with respect to them, so that these means have a relatively thick important and are heavy, relatively bulky, and not very easy to use.

It is therefore practically necessary to lift a patient to place him on the patient lift, whether this patient is initially in a sitting or lying position, on a bed or on the floor. The use of this patient lift therefore requires nursing staff to make significant and strenuous physical efforts.

We also know a patient lift equipped with wide straps that we pass one under the thighs, the other behind the back of a patient, therefore lifting the latter, whether seated or lying on the back. It is also necessary to lift the patient's back to move the patient from the lying position on the back to the sitting position. We hook the straps to the crosspiece which is placed in front of the patient's chest, the patient lift providing only the lifting function of the straps to carry the patient.

Again, strenuous physical efforts are required of the nursing staff, and the straps create a very unpleasant pendulum effect when the patient is moving.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of known devices and to propose a patient lift of the aforementioned type which makes it possible to take charge of a patient in a sitting position on any seat or in a lying position on the back, whether on a bed or on the floor, without any strenuous physical effort on the part of the person using the patient lift of the invention, this patient lift is also simple, relatively light and easy and quick to use.

According to the invention, the patient lift of the aforementioned type is characterized in that the backrest means consist of two separate, substantially rigid backrest elements, configured so that they can be slid respectively behind the back of a patient in position sitting or lying, on one side and the other of said patient, without having to lift the latter, in that the means forming a seat are configured so that they can be slid under the thighs or under the buttocks of said patient without having to lift the latter, and in that the backrest elements and the means forming the seat are associated with means for connecting them respectively, in an erasable manner during the adaptation of the patient lift to said patient, with the means forming a crosspiece , the latter being placed in front of said patient.

Thus, for a patient in the lying position, even on the ground, it is easy to slide the backrest elements behind his back and fix them to the cross-member, then to slide the means forming a seat under his thighs or under his buttocks, in order to lift the means forming a crosspiece to lift the patient in a seated or lying position without effort for the user of the patient lift.

According to a first version of the invention, the patient lift comprises a cross member which is fixed relative to the slide and which carries two rigid uprights suspended under the cross member; at least one front arm, adapted to carry the corresponding backrest element in an adjustable manner, is articulated at one of its ends to the free lower end of each of the uprights and is connected to the cross-member by traction means, and separate seating elements are attached respectively to the lower end of each of the uprights.

The traction means thus make it possible to pivot the front arms which each carry a backrest element, in order to move a patient from the lying position to the sitting position and vice versa.

According to another version of the invention, the cross-member means comprise a transverse arm substantially parallel to the base and mounted at one end of a crank, the crank being at its other end fixed radially on a rotary shaft parallel to the transverse arm and carried by the slide, the back elements are each associated with an element to connect them respectively rigidly in an adjustable manner at the ends of the transverse arm, and the slide comprises actuation means for rotating the shaft, the transverse arm and the backrest elements of approximately 90 ° between a low position and a high position, in one direction or the other, to bring in a seated position a patient initially in a lying position on the back and vice versa.

It is therefore very easy to adapt the patient lift to the size and build of a patient. The transverse arm which pivots with the backrest elements constitutes in all positions with the latter a retaining element for the patient's bust in all directions.

Following an interesting version of the invention, seat means intended to be slid under the thighs of a patient in a seated position are adapted to be fixed and suspended from the transverse arm when the latter is in its high position or in a position close to its position high.

It is thus easy to bring a patient from the lying position to the sitting position by pivoting the transverse arm, then adapting such seating means to the transverse arm to lift a patient already in a sitting position on a bed, on a wheelchair, on the ground or the like.

According to an advantageous version of the invention, the back elements and the seating means are fixed to a transverse bar normally parallel to the transverse arm, fixed to the latter and adapted to pivot relative to the latter around a axis located in its middle and substantially vertical when the transverse arm is in its high position.

This increases the possibilities of using the patient lift provided that the basic frame always ensures its stability.

According to a preferred version of the invention, each backrest element also includes a sub-axillary support intended to be passed under the arm of a patient.

It is thus possible to lift a patient who has lost all tone of the back muscles. It is also thus possible to use the patient lift of the invention as a support device for walking.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description below.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation du lève-malade de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en élévation de face d'un second mode de réalisation du lève-malade de l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté du lève-malade de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus du lève-malade des figures 2 et 3, la barre transversale supportant les éléments de dossier et les moyens d'assise ayant pivoté de 90° par rapport au bras transversal.

In the appended drawings given for information only:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view in perspective of a first embodiment of the patient lift of the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevation view of a second embodiment of the patient lift of the invention,
• Figure 3 is a side view of the patient lift of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a top view of the patient lift of Figures 2 and 3, the crossbar supporting the backrest elements and the seat means having rotated 90 ° relative to the transverse arm.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the patient lift comprises a frame forming a base 1 provided with rollers 2, a column 5 fixed on the frame 1, a slide 7 movable along the column 5 and means for moving the slide 7 along column 5.

The base frame 1 is in known manner formed of bars 1a, 1b, 1c articulated at 3 and 4 to allow the patient lift to be folded up in order to store it, and to allow ensuring the best possible stability of the patient lift during use. The joints 3 and 4 can be quickly blocked by respective screws 3a and 4a. The rollers 2 are pivotally mounted on the frame 1.

The column 5 is pivotally mounted relative to the base 6. It has a hollow C-shaped section to receive the slide head 7 in a T shape. The slide head 7 is internally threaded to receive an endless screw 8 housed at inside the column 5 and maneuvered by the crank 9 to move the slide 7 along the column 5.

The patient lift comprises a cross-member 10 which is fixed relative to the slide 7 and which carries two rigid uprights 11 suspended under the cross-member 10. The uprights 11 are kept inclined relative to the vertical by suitable reinforcements, not shown, in order to clear the bust of the patient relative to the column 5. The spacing of the uprights 11 is adjustable.

The cross-member 10 carries, in known manner, means forming a backrest and means forming a seat.

According to the invention, the backrest means consist of two separate, substantially rigid backrest elements 14, configured so that they can be slid respectively behind the back of a patient in a seated or lying position, on one side and from the 'other of said patient, without having to lift it, and associated with means for connecting them respectively to the cross member 10 on one side and the other of said patient.

To this end, an anterior arm 18, adapted to carry the corresponding backrest element 14 in an adjustable manner, is articulated at one of its ends at 12 at the free lower end of each of the uprights 11 and is connected to the cross-member 10 by traction means such as for example a winch 20 housed in the cross-member 10, and actuated by a crank 21 to wind a cable 22 whose free end is fixed to the arm 18.

Two seat elements 13 intended to be slid under the buttocks of a patient are respectively fixed in overhang at the joint 12 at the lower end of the corresponding upright 11. The point of gravity G of a patient is close to these seat elements 13 and must have a projection on the ground G 'located inside the support polygon defined by the rollers 2.

A headrest 15 is fixed on the front arm 18 close to the column 5.

A rear arm 19, located on the other side of the upright 11 relative to the corresponding front arm 18, is also articulated at 12 at one of its ends at the lower end of each of the uprights 11, and is connected to the cross-member 10 by traction means such as the winch 20 on which a second cable 23 is wound, the free end of which is fixed to the arm 19.

Each posterior arm 19 is adapted to carry in an adjustable manner supports 16, 17 of the legs of a patient respectively at the level of the thighs and at the level of the calves near the heels. The supports 16 and 17 are shown diagrammatically in the form of arches, but may be elements of morphological shape adapted to their use.

The respective lengths of the uprights 11 and of the arms 18 and 19 are adjustable, these elements being for example telescopic and each constituted by two parts, one of which fits into the other and is fixed relative to the latter by a pin 24 passed in a hole 25.

The mode of use of this first embodiment of the patient lift of the invention is as follows.

For example, the backrest elements 14 and the seat elements 13 are placed behind the back and under the buttocks of a patient. If the patient is in a supine position, the supports 15, 16, 17 are also placed for the head and the legs. We approach the patient lift, we assemble the different supports on the arms 18 and 19 and the latter and the seat elements 13 on the uprights 11. We can then lift the patient in the supine position using the crank 9. If the winch 20 is then maneuvered by means of the crank 21, the arms 18 and the backrest elements 14 are pivoted upward to seat the patient while the arms 19 are pivoted downward to lower the legs thereof . It is also possible to pivot the arms 18 or the arms 19 alone by modifying the attachments thereof.

As a variant, the uprights 11 can be moved apart from one another to set up the back and seat elements on one side and the other of the patient, before locking these uprights in their normal position.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, elements similar to those shown in Figure 1 have the same reference number. The worm is preferably actuated by a hydraulic or electric motor 30.

In this embodiment, the patient lift comprises a horizontal transverse arm 31, parallel to the base frame, and mounted at one end of a crank 32, perpendicular thereto; the crank 32 is at its other end fixed radially on a rotary shaft 33 parallel to the transverse arm 31 and carried by the slide 7.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a crossbar 34 normally parallel to the arm 31 is fixed under the latter and is capable of pivoting relative to the arm 31 about a vertical axis 35 located in the middle (see Figure 4). This pivoting is prohibited by known means not shown such as pins, for example.

Backrest elements 36, each comprising a tray 37 of morphological shape and a sub-axillary support 38 intended to be passed under the arm of a patient, are fixed in an adjustable and rigid manner by tie rods 39 at the respective ends of the bar transverse 34. The sub-axillary support 38 has an appropriate morphological shape, for example semi-circular. The tie rods 39 can for example be snapped into appropriate openings of the bar 34, or are hinged mounted on the latter.

The slide 7 carries actuating means 40 such as a hydraulic or electric motor to make rotate the shaft 33, the crank 32, the transverse arm 31, the bar 34 and the backrest elements 36 by approximately 90 ° between a low position and a high position, shown respectively in phantom and in solid lines in the figure 2, in one direction or the other to bring into a seated position a patient initially in a lying position on the back and vice versa.

As shown in the figures, seat means 41 intended to be slid under the thighs of a patient in a seated position are adapted to be fixed and suspended from the crossbar 34 when the latter is in its high position or a neighboring position from its high position.

As shown in Figure 3, these seat means 41 may be constituted by a single plate 41 having two concave parts intended to receive the thighs of a patient. The tray 41 is hooked in its center by a rod 42 whose upper end is retained in the axis 35 by the crossbar 34. The tray 41 has no roughness and can be slid under the patient's thighs without risk of injury this last. The rod 42 is for example adapted to be snapped quickly at its two ends on the one hand into a hole in the plate 41, on the other hand into an opening of the transverse bar 34.

As a variant, the seat means could be constituted by two individual elements each suspended rigidly in cantilever from one end of the transverse bar 34, or the plate 41 could be suspended by two tie rods at the ends of the bar 34.

A headrest 43 consisting of a bead 44 carried by two uprights 45 is fixed to the backrest elements 36 by fasteners 46 provided on the latter.

Finally, a footrest 47 can be inserted in the openings 48 formed under the plate 41 (see Figures 2 and 3).

The mode of use of the patient lift according to this preferred embodiment of the invention is as follows.

To lift a seated patient, for example on a wheelchair, it is easy to arrange the backrest elements 36 behind the patient's back, the sub-axillary supports 38 under his arms, the transverse arm 31 and the transverse bar 34 being in their high position in front of the patient. It is also easy to slide the plate 41 under the thighs of the latter and to fix the rod 42. It then suffices to lift the whole assembly fixed to the slide 7 by turning the screw 8 by means of the motor 30. It is possible to then transport the patient freely in a seated position and place him on another seat or lay him on a bed: for this last operation, the patient seated on the bed is placed, the rod 42 and the plate 41 are removed, and rotates the shaft 33 and the crank 32 to rotate the patient's bust back and lengthen the latter.

In the case of a patient lying on his back, on a bed or on the ground, the slide 7 is adjusted so that the shaft 33 is substantially at the patient's level, and the transverse arm 31 and the crossbar 34 in their low position. The plates 37 of the backrest elements 36 are slid under the patient's back, by placing the sub-axillary supports 38 of these elements under the arms of the latter. The tie rods 39 are fixed on the bar 34.

The shaft 33 is then made to rotate about 90 ° to bring the patient substantially to the sitting position. In this position, or close to this position, slide the plate 41 under the patient's thighs and fix this tray 41 by the rod 42 to the crossbar 34. The patient is then lifted with the whole assembly by rotating the worm screw 8 as above.

In general, the patient lift is designed and adjusted so that the axis of articulation of the backrest elements corresponds substantially to the axis of articulation of the hips of the patient to be lifted.

It can therefore be seen that the patient lift of the invention makes it possible to take charge of a patient in any position without any strenuous physical effort being necessary on the part of the user of this patient lift.

When the transverse arm 31 is in the high position and the patient is seated on the platform 41, the transverse bar 34 can be released relative to the arm 31 and rotated by 90 ° or 180 ° to more easily present the patient in front of a wheelchair or toilet, for example.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, and many changes and modifications can be made to them without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is thus possible to modify the form and the method of attachment of the various elements of the backrest 14, of the seat 13, of support for the legs 16, 17 and of the head 15. It is likewise possible to modify the form and the method of attachment of the elements. backrest 36 and seat means 41. It is also possible to give up the crossbar 34 and the pivoting possibilities which it allows, and directly fix the tie rods 39 and the rod 42 to the transverse arm 31 which then has the same length than the crossbar 34.

It is also possible to adapt to the patient lift of the invention all other known accessories such as a balance, battery or hydraulic pump supplying motors 30 and 40. It is likewise possible to adapt to the frame of base a swivel control assembly comprising two twin wheels and a control bar, these wheels being able to be motorized.

It is also possible to add to the patient lift of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 other accessories such as additional seating means allowing the transport of a patient in the lying position, these accessories being able to be fixed either to the slide 7 or to column 5, ie at the crank 32. It is thus possible, for example, to lift a patient with the plate 41 and sit him on a wider seat which is then fixed to the crossbar 34 in place of the plate 41. can also lift a patient above his bed using only the backrest elements 36 with the sub-axillary supports 38 for the few seconds necessary to slide a wider seat under his buttocks, his heels remaining supported on the bed.

It is also possible to modify the dimensions, orientations and relative arrangements of the crank 32, of the transverse arm 31, of the transverse bar 34 and of the tie rods 39 to adapt the patient lift of the invention to any other specification of use, and in particular to be able to install a seat to carry a patient in a semi-recumbent position, that is to say bust at about 45 ° with respect to the horizontal and legs stretched out horizontally. It is understood that it is possible in all cases to stop the rotation of the shaft 33 and of the crank 32 in any position of the latter, and that all the dimensions can be adjustable.

One can finally mount on the embodiment of Figure 1 the support elements, and in particular the backrest elements 36, that of Figures 2, 3 and 4 and vice versa.

The base frame and the casters can obviously be provided with regulatory safety accessories such as locking brakes and the like.

The various elements described above are made of any material suitable for the intended use, and capable in particular of resisting water and antiseptics: metal, plastic, with or without padding.

Finally, and in a known manner, in order to be able to immerse a patient in a bathtub under which the basic frame cannot be entered, plan to anchor it to the ground and / or fix a spacer between a wall and column 5 so as to avoid any risk of tilting of the patient lift.

Claims (10)

1. A patient lifting means, comprising a frame forming a base (1) provided with casters (2), a column (5) fixed to the frame (1), a slide (7) movable along the column (5), and means (8; 9, 30) for moving the slide (7) along the column (5), the slide (7) carrying means which form a cross-member (10, 31, 34) substantially parallel to the base (1), said means supporting seat-forming means (13, 41) and back-rest-forming means (14, 36), the patient lifting means also comprising means for pivoting the back-rest-forming means (14, 36) about an axis substantially parallel to the cross-member (10; 31, 34) to bring a patient from a position in which he is lying on his back to a seated position, and vice-versa, characterised in that the back-rest-forming means (14, 36) comprise two separate back-rest elements (14, 36) which are substantially rigid and so shaped as to be slidable respectively behind the back of a patient in the seated or reclining position, on either side of said patient, without the patient having to be raised, in that the seat-forming means (13, 41) are so shaped as to be slidable beneath the thighs or beneath the buttocks of the said patient without the patient having to be raised, and in that the back-rest elements and the seat-forming means are associated with means (12, 18, 22; 39, 42) for respectively connecting them retractably during adjustment of the patient lifting means to the said patient, to the cross-member forming means (10; 31, 34), the latter being disposed in front of the said patient.
2. A patient lifting means according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a cross-member (10) which is stationary with respect to the slide (7) and which carries two rigid uprights (11) suspended beneath the cross-member (10), in that at least one front arm (18) adapted adjustably to carry the corresponding back-rest element (14) is articulated at one of its ends to the bottom free end of each of the uprights (11) and is connected to the cross-member (10) by traction means (20, 22) and in that separate seat elements (13) are respectively fixed to the bottom end of each of the uprights (11).
3. A patient lifting means according to claim 2, characterised in that a rear arm (19) situated on the other side of the upright (11) with respect to the corresponding front arm (18) and adapted adjustably to carry means (16, 17) supporting the legs of the patient in the position in which he is lying on his back, is also articulated at one of its ends to the bottom end of each of the uprights (11) and is connected to the cross-member (10) by traction means (20, 23).
4. A patient lifting means according to claim 1, characterised in that the cross-member-forming means comprise a transverse arm (31) substantially parallel to the base (1) and mounted at one end of a crank (32), the other end of the crank (32) being radially fixed on a rotary shaft (33) parallel to the transverse arm (31) and carried by the slide (7), in that the back-rest elements (36) are each associated with an element (39) for fixing them respectively adjustably to the ends of the transverse arm (31), and in that the slide (7) comprises actuating means (40) to rotate the shaft (33), the crank (32), the transverse arm (31) and the back-rest elements (36) fixed to the latter, through about 90° between a bottom position and a top position in either direction to bring a patient initially in a position in which he is lying on his back into the seated position, and vice versa.
5. A patient lifting means according to claim 4, characterised in that seat means (41) slidable beneath the thighs of a patient in the seated position are adapted to be fixed and suspended from the transverse arm (31) when the latter is in its top position or in a position close thereto.
6. A patient lifting means according to claim 5, characterised in that the back-rest elements (36) and the seat means (41) are fixed to a transverse bar (34) normally parallel to the transverse arm (31) and adapted to pivot with respect thereto about an axis (35) situated at its centre and substantially vertical when the transverse arm (31) is in its top position.
7. A patient lifting means according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each back-rest element (36) also comprises a sub-axillary support (38) intended to be passed beneath a patient's arms.
8. A patient lifting means according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also comprises means to support a patient's legs.
9. A patient lifting means according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also comprises means (15, 43) to support a patient's head.
10. A patient lifting means according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that its constituent elements are adjusted for each patient so that the axis of rotation of the back-rest elements (14, 36) substantially coincide with the articulation axis of the patient's hips.

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