Patent ID: 8856981
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
1. A stability controlled assistive lifting harness apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a frame; an actuator attached to said frame; a lifting harness configured to support a user and to be raised and lowered by said actuator, said lifting harness being provided with at least one surface pressure sensor located within the lifting harness which measures a force applied to a user by the lifting harness; a handhold, said handhold including a handhold sensor; a harness tension sensor which measures a force applied to the lifting harness by said motor; and a controller which receives outputs from said surface pressure sensor and said harness tension sensor and controls operation of said actuator based on the outputs of the surface pressure sensor and the harness tension sensor, wherein said harness is configured to be selectively fitted to various body parts of a user who is in an upright or reclined position, said controller controls operation of the actuator from moving a user between said positions, wherein activation of the actuator is semi-automatically controlled based on sensed engagement of said handhold, and said controller prevents operation of the actuator when it is determined, based on the outputs of the surface pressure sensor and the harness tension sensor, that a user is not properly positioned relative to the lifting harness.