Other

University Health Network

Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Science Centre

Gerald Thomas Griggs

Geoffrey Roy Fernie

Tilak Dutta

Emily Catherine King

Philip Joseph Wilcox

Adam Mathew Sobchak

Brian P Doyle

A device for lifting an article comprises a housing having a leading edge region in fluid communication with an inner chamber. The leading edge region is arranged to engage a region between an article and a support surface beneath the article. An elongate tubular member, closed at one end, and at the other end, in fluid communication with the leading edge region and the inner chamber. The housing is arranged to provide a retracted position in which the elongate tubular member is held relative to the leading edge region and responsive to an operative pressure within the inner chamber so as to unfurl beyond the leading edge region where the elongate tubular member migrates along the access region toward a deployed position in which the tubular member extends a distance such that opposed ends of the tubular member may be used in lifting the article from the support surface.

Lifting assist device

A powered wheel chair device comprises a motorized undercarriage and a support seat for supporting a wheelchair occupant. At least one support arm is located adjacent the seat. A controller is mounted on the arm, the controller including a joystick unit within reach of the occupant. The joystick is in communication with the motorized undercarriage for driving the undercarriage. The joystick includes an upstanding post with a collar, the collar having a periphery with a number of abutment regions located therealong. A number of actuators are provided, each movable from a storage position distal to the corresponding abutment region and a deployed position adjacent the corresponding abutment region. Each actuator is responsive to an obstacle detecting sensor near a corresponding peripheral region of the undercarriage.

Powered wheelchair

Disclosed herein is a device for lifting an article comprising a housing having an inner chamber, the housing having a leading edge region in fluid communication with the inner chamber, the leading edge region being arranged to engage an access region between an article and a support surface beneath the article, an elongate tubular member having a first open end region and a second closed end region, the first open end region being directly or indirectly in fluid tight relation with the leading edge region, the elongate tubular member having a first surface in fluid communication with the inner chamber and an opposite second surface, the housing being arranged to provide a retracted position in which the elongate tubular member is held relative to the leading edge region and responsive to an operative pressure within the inner chamber to unfurl beyond the leading edge region to cause the elongate tubular member to migrate along the access region with the second surface in contact with the article and the support surface and with minimal relative motion between the contacting surfaces of the elongate tubular member, the article and the support surface and toward a deployed position in which the tubular member extends a distance exceeding a lateral dimension of the article with opposed ends of the tubular member being available to be employed for lifting the article from the support surface.

Disclosed herein is a patient transfer device comprising lifting arrangement positionable adjacent a patient and movable between a first position and a second position, and support arrangement for supporting the patient. The support arrangement is attachable to the lifting arrangement along a number of anchor locations thereon, the anchor locations including a pair of central anchor locations, a first pair of outer anchor locations on one side of the pair of central anchor locations and a second pair of outer anchor locations on an opposite side of the central pair of anchor locations; the support arrangement including a pair of central contact locations near a central location on the body of the patient, a first pair of outer contact locations on one side of the pair of central contact locations and a second pair of outer contact locations on an opposite side of the central pair of contact locations. The support arrangement is operable with the lifting arrangement for joining each of the anchor locations to a corresponding one of the contact locations, so as to transfer the patient between an inclined position and an upright orientation when the lifting arrangement moves between the first and second positions.

Patient transfer device

A clutch for altering the direction of a drive unit of a transportation device between a first direction of travel and a second direction of travel, the drive unit having at least one drive wheel connected to a shaft, the shaft being rotatably mounted with respect to the transportation device between at least a first position, corresponding to the first direction of travel, and a second position, corresponding to the second direction of travel, the clutch comprises a housing to receive a portion of the shaft, a lock having a first preset locked position corresponding to the first direction of travel and a second preset locked position corresponding to the second direction of travel and, a connecting member connected to the shaft and the lock for alternately locking the shaft in one of the directions of travel.

Clutch for multi-directional transportation device

A base for receiving a seat has a longitudinally extending chassis having a front end, a rear end, a central portion positioned therebetween and opposed sides extending longitudinally between the front and rear ends; at least one drive wheel mounted below the central portion; a plurality of rotatably mounted wheels positioned around the chassis and mounted at a fixed distance below the chassis; and a biasing member associated with the at least one drive wheel to bias the at least one drive wheel to engage the surface on which the base is situated and reduce the weight supported by the rotatably mounted wheels whereby the rotatably mounted wheels support sufficient weight of the base and the unoccupied seat to define a stable platform.

Motorized chair base

A multi-directional motorized wheelchair having a seat portion and, a back portion, and having two drive wheels, each having a separate motor for driving one drive wheel forwardly or backwardly, independently of the other wheel, a drive wheel mounting beneath the seat, and controls for operating the wheels either simultaneously in the same direction, or one of them in one direction, or simultaneously in opposite directions, and, stabilizer wheels mounted beneath the seat, and extending outwardly from and around the drive wheels, to stabilize the chair.

Multi-directional motorized wheelchair

A walking aid for a handicapped person having a frame with wheels and brakes, handles attached to the frame at a suitable height for a person, who is enabled to push the walking aid along a walking surface, at least one brake operating assembly including a fixed handbar portion fixed as a handgrip extension of the handles, and a moveable member movably secured to the fixed handbar portion in coaxial relation so that the moveable member may be swung relative to the axis of the fixed portion, the moveable member being normally aligned with and substantially coaxial with the fixed portion, movement of said moveable member moving it out of coaxial alignment, and the brake cable being attached between the fixed portion and the moveable member so that movement of the moveable member will cause extension of the brake cable thus retarding the walking aid. Also disclosed is a folding mechanism for a walking aid, having swing arms linked together for swinging between extended and folded positions, and a lock for securing the arms in a semi-folded position and having a seat with height adjustments supported by the swing arms.

Growing community of inventors

Scarborough, Canada

Gerald Thomas Griggs