Wheelchair-Portable Patient Lift

Abstract

A patient lift is an assistive device for patients who lack sufficient strength or muscle control to be transferred between a wheelchair and a toilet or other places. Patient lifts of two kinds are commonly used: overhead lifts and mobile lifts. Nevertheless, because of its size and weight, carrying even a mobile lift with a wheelchair is difficult when leaving home. This study examined a novel portable patient lift that is small and light, sufficient to be carried using a wheelchair in a folded state. It is compact, light, and portable because it has no actuator. Moreover, its operation is simple. It is useful not only at home or in a nursing home but on any flat surface during daily excursions and activities, even in a conventional lavatory. A caregiver can transfer a user with a small force because this lift has a sliding mechanism that brings the fulcrum closer to the patient's center of mass. Experimental results underscore the effectiveness of the proposed patient lift.