Patent ID: 7381163

Claim:
A closed-loop support system for supporting the weight of a subject, comprising; a flame; a lift line supported by the frame, wherein said lift line consists of a single strand, and said lift line having a load bearing end; a harness connected to the load bearing end of the lift line, for receiving the subject; means for advancing and retracting the lift line, in which the advancing and retracting means is slidably moveable relative to the frame; and a closed-loop control system configured to monitor load on the lift line and in response to load information, to regulate lift line advancement and retraction and thereby control the amount of support provided to the subject, in which the control system comprises: a load sensor; an activator for activating the advancing and retracting means; and a controller receiving load information from the sensor and in response, sending control signals to the activator, and a pressure sensor, and wherein the controller receives information from the pressure sensor and in response, sends control signals to the activator.