The future of patient hoisting

Posted on 10 December 2014 in Patient Hoist Equipment

The use of hoists has significantly increased over the years, this is not only because of technology evolving, but the dangers of manual handling have clearly been outlined. Even though hoists are becoming ever more popular, the way they operate and move seem to have stood still. That is until now.

Developing a product

If you look closely into other specific industries such as trains, they have clearly improved and developed over time. This can been seen through 3 stages, starting with the steam train which then grew into the diesel train following on with bullet trains. This clear growth represents the development of the product and how it makes life easier for the user.

So, how can we apply this to the hoist?

The first thing to do would be to face the challenges in front of you, head on. The main points we feel that need to be considered when developing the hoist is:

Discomfort- With blame often falling on the sling, what about ceiling track hoists, how can we manage this discomfort when manoeuvring from one room to another?
Time — Whether you are the user yourself or you care for someone in need, it is apparent that time can be a significant issue. The quicker a patient can be transferred, the less discomfort they are likely to experience. Can the transfer speed be increased?
Effort — Whilst hoisting is obviously a lot easier than manual handling, it still often requires a good deal of effort, especially from the carer.
Aesthetics — With hoists stereotypically looking noticeably clinical, is there a way in which we can make a hoist look sleek and even tuck it away?

Team Talk

By gathering the Innova team together we combined our care knowledge to produce products that were not only practical but had your best interests at heart.

The AirGlide360 is our personal answer to overhead hoist tracking systems. Mirroring the latest train technology, we’ve used magnetism and special sensors to make the process quicker, ultimately improving comfort for the user. Even though the user isn’t in the sling for too long thanks to the increase in speed, the AirGlide360 is smoother and easier to use.

How does the AirGlide360 work?

Turntable — As previous hoists which enabled the turntable feature required the user or carer to either manually pull a cord or press a switch on the wall, the AirGlide360 has eliminated this problem. Now, if the user wants to move, all they have to do is stop on the track for a couple of seconds and it moves automatically for you.

Transit Coupling — Otherwise known as ‘Gates’, transit couplings are used in conjunction with X-Y systems. Simply pull the track into the right position and the magnetic attraction between the moving and fixed rail conveniently locates it accurately for you.

Aesthetics — We have developed the overhead hoist track so that it can be inserted into the ceiling, providing more of a neutral and neater look. From reviewing the designs of previous hoists, the Airglide360 can now have components such as turntables inserted into the ceiling, which was unable to be done before.

What about the hoist unit itself?

At Innova we’ve made a number of refinements, for example we’ve made a twin trolley and made sure both wheeled sections on it can steer. This means that the transfers through tight corners are smoother and a lot more comfortable.

When conducting our research, we spoke with carers to find out their main concerns. One of them was that there never seemed to be enough charge to carry out the full transfer. From this we have created a special battery protection software that helps keep the batteries in great condition and tells the user when the hoist needs re-charging.

Integralift

The Integralift is possibly our most innovative hoist as it is able to fold into a cupboard when not in use. Not only does it hide away, the cupboard also blends in with the rest of the furniture around it. Even though it is hidden from sight, it is strikingly user-friendly.

What’s next?

Here at Innova we are constantly evolving as a company. We ultimately want to make life easier for you and by improving our products; we are one step closer.

Keep an eye out in 2015 as there will be plenty more announcements from the Innova team!

All of our products including the Airglide360, AirRise260 and Integralift can be viewed on our website. For more information about any of our products or how Innova can help you, call one of our team on 0345 034 1450 or email us direct at [email protected].