Patient mobility system

Abstract

A patient mobility system. The system includes a patient support assembly with which a user interfaces much as with traditional crutches. The patient support assembly provides handgrips and under-arm support members on either side of the patient's body, as well as a standby seat member upon which a user can transition from waling to sitting at any time while engaged with the patient support assembly. The seat member is detachable from the remainder of the patient support assembly, and configured for reversibly docking with a chair, whereby a user can first sit in the chair, engage the seat member with the remainder of the patient support assembly, and then, under assistance of a wench which raises and lowers patient support assembly, move from a sitting to a standing position for walking or therapy.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A patient mobility system comprising: 
 a patient support assembly having user support means for supporting a user while walking or standing, and further including a reversibly attachable seat support member positioned, when attached to the remainder of said patient support assembly, for supporting a user in a seated position;    patient support assembly suspension means for suspending said patient support assembly from an overhead position relative to said patient support assembly, said patient support assembly suspension means including height adjustment means for alternatively raising and lowering said patient support assembly;    a chair; and    docking means for reversibly engaging said seat support member with said chair. ns.    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said patient support assembly suspension means includes an elongate track member from which said patient support assembly is moveably suspended, said track member defining a track path, and further comprising carriage means movably interfaced with said track member whereby said carriage means may move, while remaining securely interfaced with said track member, from a first point along said track path to a second point along said track path, said carriage means being affixed to said suspension/spacer member.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said patient support assembly suspension means include a frame having a base portion for contacting and moving relative to a floor or ground surface and a overhead support portion which extends from said base portion to a point sufficiently vertically distant from said floor or ground surface whereby patient support assembly is suspended and positions said patient support assembly at a height for aiding a patient in ambulation while engaged with said patient support assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein said patient support assembly suspension means includes wench for alternatively raising and lowering said patient support assembly relative to a ground or floor surface.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 3  wherein said patient support assembly suspension means includes wench for alternatively raising and lowering said patient support assembly relative to a ground or floor surface.