LIFT SUPPORT/FALLS INTERVENTION SYSTEM FOR THE ELDERLY

提出了一期SBIR计划，以确定技术可行性 以及开发安装在天花板上、由电池供电的 移动式患者生命支持和跌倒干预系统。这是活动的 系统将保留被动坠落的固有安全特性- TRDC已经在开发SafeTM跌倒干预系统 国家老龄研究所赞助。虽然是针对老年人的 人口，这一新系统也将有重要的应用 康复人群。在其第一阶段和第二阶段计划期间， 被动坠落-SafeTM系统已经证明了它能够减少 意外跌落时撞击和潜在伤害的能量减少了95%以上。 这一新的第一阶段工作将是早期工作的自然延伸 计划；即提供电动病人升降机- 支撑和跌倒干预系统也将利用固有的 当前Fall-SafeTM系统的安全特性。在建议的 第一阶段计划，将设计、制造和测试一个原型系统 以确定其性能特点。预计这将是 活动、移动的Fall-SafeTM设备将使用相同的架空轨道和 支持服装，并将保留固有的故障保护功能， 早些时候是为无源设备开发的。如果成功，则 这种主动系统的开发将扩大坠落的应用范围-- SafeTM系统对老年患者病房的日常护理 康复人群，提供更安全的患者抬起和护理， 减少护理人员伤害暴露，做好制度准备 在住宅环境中使用。

A Phase I SBIR program is proposed to determine the technical feasibility and necessary requirements to develop a ceiling-mounted, battery-powered, mobile patient life-support and fall-intervention system. This active system will preserve the inherent safety features of the passive Fall- SafeTM falls intervention system already being developed by TRDC under National Institute of Aging sponsorship. Although directed towards elderly populations, this new system would also have significant application to rehabilitation populations. During its Phase I and II programs, the passive Fall-SafeTM system has demonstrated its capability for reducing the energy for impact and potential injury during accidental falls by over 95%. This new Phase I effort would be a natural extension of the earlier program; i.e., the provision of an electrically-powered patient lift- support and falls intervention system that would also utilize the inherent safety features of the current Fall-SafeTM system. During the proposed Phase I program, a prototype system will be designed, fabricated and tested to determine its performance characteristics. It is anticipated that this active, mobile Fall-SafeTM device will utilize the same overhead track and support garments and will preserve the inherent fail-safe features that were developed earlier for the passive device. If successful, the development of this active system would extend the application of the Fall- SafeTM system to the elderly patient's rooms and daily care of rehabilitation populations, provide for safer patient lifting and care, reduce the exposure for nursing attendant injury, and prepare for systems use in residential settings.