Abstract:
Lift pants for improved patient ambulation while the patient is supported by a lift system. The lift pants include a left pant leg and a right pant leg. A lower left leg tightening strap and a lower right leg tightening strap are connected to the pant legs and are utilized to tighten the lift pants around the patient&#39;s feet. A connection means is utilized to connect the lift pants to a lift system. The lift pants have sections that expose the patient&#39;s anal area and genitals so that the patient is able to use a toilet without removing the lift pants. The lift pants are configured so the patient is lifted primarily from his feet. In a preferred embodiment, lift shoes are also included that allow the patient to utilize the system while wearing his favorite shoes or his most comfortable slippers, or while wearing just his socks or while barefoot.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to patient lift systems, and in particular to patient garments used in conjunction with patient lift systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A significant portion of the population of the world has great difficulty in walking. A huge number cannot walk at all. These groups are forced to rely on attendants or mechanical devices such as crutches or wheelchairs for their ambulation. Included are those with ambulation problems due to recent hip and knee replacement surgery and amputees (such as combat veterans, for example) with limbs missing. 
         [0003]    When a person is not able to walk for a period of several weeks or months, his leg muscles tend to degenerate unless physical therapy is provided. If the leg muscles degenerate, extensive physical therapy may be required to enable him to regain his ability to walk. Many people never walk again after an extensive period of relying on devices such as a wheel chair for transportation. 
         [0004]    The prior art includes overhead support systems. These typically include an overhead track with some type of cart riding on the track with a load (which could be a person) suspended from the cart through a suspension tether. Many such systems exist in automated factories. A typical prior art overhead transport system is found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,992. This reference discloses a suspension conveyor system comprising a conveyor device that rolls along a track rail. A major disadvantage of this design, and others like it, is that when tracks intersect, the patient must select which track to take by a switching means. The switching means tends to be complicated, costly and subject to failure. Some exemplary switchless prior art overhead support systems are shown in patents awarded to Applicant, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,996,823; 6,079,578; and 6,315,138 (each of which is incorporated by reference herein). 
         [0005]    Automatic tensioning assemblies are commonly found in prior art overhead transportation systems. Generally, a tensioning assembly will maintain a set load under tension based on the load cell read-out from the torque on the tensioning assembly&#39;s drive motor. Usually, a hand held remote is used to set the load, and raise and lower the object being carried by the transportation system. 
         [0006]    In the prior art, the harnessing system utilized to suspend and support the patient is often cumbersome, uncomfortable and difficult for the patient to manage. For example, patients are unable to adequately use a toilet while connected to the overhead support system. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a better overhead support system including garments that properly support and suspend the patient and allow the patient to comfortably and effectively live his life with dignity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides lift pants for improved patient ambulation while the patient is supported by a lift system. The lift pants include a left pant leg and a right pant leg. A lower left leg tightening strap and a lower right leg tightening strap are connected to the pant legs and are utilized to tighten the lift pants around the patient&#39;s feet. A connection means is utilized to connect the lift pants to a lift system. The lift pants have sections that expose the patient&#39;s anal area and genitals so that the patient is able to use a toilet without removing the lift pants. The lift pants are configured so the patient is lifted primarily from his feet. In a preferred embodiment, lift shoes are also included that allow the patient to utilize the system while wearing his favorite shoes or his most comfortable slippers, or while wearing just his socks or while barefoot. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a pair of lift pants lying face up on a floor. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a pair of lift pants lying face down on a floor. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4-6  show preferred lift pants worn by a patient. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7-8  show a preferred switchless track. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 9-11  show a patient utilizing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 12-14  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention using lift shoes. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 15-17  show the utilization of the present invention with a prosthetic leg. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Support system  1  is attached to overhead hook  2  via strap  3 . Lift motor  4  is controllable by the person having ambulatory disabilities (also referred to as the “patient”) via handheld control device  5 . In a preferred embodiment lift motor  4  is capable of lifting over 400 pounds and is the BHM VOYAGER® Portable Overhead Patient Lifter available from the BHM Corporation in New Brunswick, Canada. Handheld control device  5  is attached to lift motor  4  via cord  6 . Support bars  7  and  8  are rigidly attached to motor  4  via bars  9 . Straps  10 - 13  extend downward from support bars  7  and  8  and are utilized to connect the patient to support system  1 . The length of straps  10 - 13  is adjustable by utilization of clips  14 . Strap  10 - 13  connect to hooks  15 - 18  by utilization of hooks  19 . See also  FIGS. 2-6 . 
       Lift Pants 
       [0018]    Before utilizing support system  1 , the patient must put on lift pants  20 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  show lift pants  20  placed on a floor prior to being worn.  FIG. 2  shows lift pants  20  placed so that they are facing upwards.  FIG. 3  shows lift pants  20  so that they are placed facing downwards.  FIGS. 4-6  show a rear view, side view and front view of lift pants  20  after the patient has donned them. Outer right leg strap  22  extends down the outside of the right leg as shown. Outer left side leg strap  23  extends down the outside of the left leg as shown. Outer right leg tightening strap  24  is sewn to strap  22  as shown. Outer left leg tightening strap  25  is sewn to strap  23  as shown. Inner right leg strap  26  extends down the inside of the right leg as shown. Inner left leg strap  27  extends down the inside of the left leg as shown. Inner right leg tightening strap  28  is sewn to strap  26  as shown. Inner left leg strap  29  is sewn to strap  27  as shown. Upper straps  30  and  32  are attached as shown. They both extend around the buttocks of the patient and then around towards the front of the pants. Diagonal upper straps  36  and  38  extend upward diagonally from outer right leg strap  22  as shown. Diagonal upper straps  37  and  39  extend upward diagonally from outer left strap  23  as shown. Loop  15  is attached to strap  36 , loop  16  is attached to strap  37 , loop  17  is attached to strap  39  and loop  18  is attached to strap  38 . Tightening clips  40  and  41  are sewn onto lift pants  20  as shown ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, lift pants  20  are fabricated from easily washable material (such as cotton) so that the lift pants can be washed easily in a home washing machine. The material is chosen to ensure that cleanliness can be easily maintained and so that the material is kept free of body wastes and bacteria. Straps may be made from a variety of strong flexible material. One preferred material for the strap is vinyl. 
       Donning the Lift Pants 
       [0020]      FIGS. 4-6  show a patient wearing lift pants  20 . After putting on lift pants  20  the patient also puts on boots  45  and  46 . Boots  45  and  46  include tightening clips  50 - 53  sewn onto the sides of the boots as shown. After putting on lift pants  20  and boots  45  and  46  the patient connects the tightening straps to the boots. For example strap  25  is connected to clip  53 , strap  24  is connected to clip  50 , strap  28  is connected to clip  51 , strap  29  is connected to clip  52 . The straps are tightened so that there is only little slack in straps  22 ,  23 ,  26  and  27 . Loops  15 - 18  are connected to straps  10 - 13  of lift system  1 , as explained above. Loops  15 - 18  are located at the waist area of lift pants  20 . Right frontal tightening strap  30  is pulled upward through clip  41  and tightened. Left frontal tightening strap  32  is pulled upward through clip  42  and tightened. Clips  41  and  42  are located at the waist area of lift pants  20 . From the front of the patient straps  30  and  32  are sewn around the inside of the patient&#39;s legs and approximately half way up the patient&#39;s buttocks ( FIG. 4 ). The front portion of straps  30  and  32  are not sewn so that they can be attached clips  41  and  42 . 
       Lifting Force from the Feet 
       [0021]    As can be seen by reference to the figures, a majority of the lifting force is accomplished from the feet. Applicant has determined that this is the most comfortable and natural form of supporting the patient. This lies in contrast to prior art systems where the patient utilizes a harnessing system that supports the patient under the chest, under the arms or under the genital area. With lift pants  20  the anal area and genitals are uncovered by lift pants  20  and the patient is lifted primarily from the feet. The patient may put on a short skirt (not shown) to cover these regions for modesty. 
       Lift Shoes 
       [0022]      FIGS. 12-14  show another preferred embodiment that includes the utilization of lift shoes  130 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12-14  vertical leg strap  122  and diagonal upper straps  138  and  136  are sewn into lift pants  132  so that they are covered by the pants. This is visually more appealing to someone looking at the pants yet still it supplies the strength of the above described preferred embodiment. Tightening strap  135  extends outside of pants  132  and is available for connection to lift shoes or boots. 
         [0023]      FIG. 13  shoes a side view of a preferred lift shoe  143 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the patient is wearing his favorite slippers  144 . To don lift shoes  143 , the patient slips his foot inside lift shoes  143  as shown in  FIG. 14 . Outer tightening strap  135  is inserted into clip  146  and tightened. Likewise, inner tightening strap is also connected and tightened. Consequently, lift shoe  143  functions as a stirrup allowing the patient to wear his favorite shoes, slippers or boots or even to go in sock covered feet or to be barefoot. 
         [0024]      FIG. 16  shows a patient with a prosthetic leg. It is also possible for a patient with a prosthetic leg to use the present invention. For example, in  FIG. 15  the patient utilizes lift pants  132  and lift shoes  143  in the same manner as described above in reference to  FIG. 14 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 17  shows another manner in which a patient with a prosthetic leg can utilize the present invention. In this preferred embodiment tightening strap  159  connects to bone pin  157 . Bone pin  157  is rigidly connected to the patient&#39;s bone. This allows the lifting force to act directly on the patient&#39;s bone as shown. The prosthetic leg hangs below also as shown. 
       Genitals and Anal Area Exposed 
       [0026]    As clearly shown in the  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the genitals  207  and the anal area  206  of the patient are left uncovered by lift pants  20 . This enables the patient to utilize a toilet while still wearing lift pants  20  and even while still connected to lift system  1 . This is a tremendous improvement over the prior art. It gives great independence to the wearer of lift pants  20  and patient of lift system  1 . It allows persons with ambulatory disabilities to wear the lift pants continuously for 24 hour per day, if need be, without taking the lift pants off to use the toilet, for example. As indicated above a short skirt can be used to cover these regions. 
       Utilization of the Lift System in Conjunction with the Lift Pants 
       [0027]    By utilizing lift system  1  in conjunction with lift pants  20  ( FIG. 1 ), a patient can lighten the force felt by his feet while standing or walking. Motor unit  4  can be adjusted so that the patient can feel a range of weight that extends from 0 pounds up to his full natural weight. In a preferred embodiment, all current testing has shown that the patient adjusts lift system 1 so that he weighs approximately 20 percent of his actual weight. For example a man who normally weighs 200 pounds would adjust lift system 1 so that his feet support a weight of 40 pounds instead. 
       Utilization of the Lift System for Sitting 
       [0028]      FIGS. 9-11  show the utilization of lift system  1  for sitting. In  FIG. 9 , the patient has positioned himself in front of a chair. In  FIG. 10 , the patient has manipulated control unit device  5  so the motor unit  4  has lowered lift system  1  downwards. The patient is leaning backwards and allows himself to be lowered. In  FIG. 11  lift system  1  has completely lowered the patient down into the chair. The patient can now relax and enjoy sitting on the chair. In a similar fashion, lift system  1  can be utilized to lower the patient onto a toilet so that he is appropriately sitting on the toilet. 
         [0029]    The patient would then be able to use the toilet because his genitals and anal area are uncovered, as explained above. 
       Preferred Switchless Track 
       [0030]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show a preferred switchless track  70 . Track  70  is preferably mounted into the ceiling of the person&#39;s residence. Platform  80  includes multiple casters  82  mounted to its bottom as shown. Hook  2  extends downward from platform  80  through slot  75 . Strap  3  of lift system  1  is connected to hook  2 . In this fashion a patient is able to walk about the room underneath slot  75 . 
         [0031]    Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in addition to a private residence switchless track  70  could be mounted in a variety of locations, including a VA hospital, a rehab center, a hospital, or a nursing home. Also, while the above description continuously referred to the patient as being a male, it should be understood that the patient may also be female and that lift pants  20  may be worn by a female patient, allowing her to be lifted primarily from the feet and exposing her genitals and anal area. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.