Lifting device for the health care sector

One of the major issues for the staff in the health care sector are the heavy lifts required for moving patients. We are now developing a robotized lifting device in collaboration with staff and patients in nursing homes and hospitals, to achieve a better solution and improved working conditions for the staff.

The most commonly used device today is a bed lift which lifts the patient into a kind of winch. The individual is then suspended in a very uncomfortable position, often feeling frightened and abandoned. The more advanced lifting devices look like forklifts and are better fitted for an industrial setting. In many cases heavy lifts are still made without any help from practical devices.

Our robotic lifting device will enable nursing staff to lift an individual with body contact and closeness, but without straining their bodies so much. It will feel like lifting 5 kg, regardless of the patient's weight. The staff will not have to spend a lot of time to strap themselves to some equipment. They will be able to stand in front of the device and start using it immediately.

Staff involved in the process

Nursing home and hospital staff are involved in the project to ensure that functionality and design meet their day to day needs. This requires a design study in several stages. A visualization is shown for a reference group where the function is explained and the technology is demonstrated. The comments will be implemented and a new visualization developed. The result will be a valid design study that becomes the foundation for a full-scale prototype, which is expected to be completed in 2013.

The project involves Robotdalen, Robotic Agents, Festo, Mälardalen University, VMB AB, LAI illustration, Västmanland County Council and the City of Västerås.