Split drum for lift strap in ceiling lift

Abstract

A patient lift system includes a lift housing, a base lift strap having a first end coupled to a lift housing and a second end coupled to a sling bar. The base lift strap is infection controlled. In one embodiment, a protective sleeve covers the base lift strap, wherein the protective sleeve has a first end and a second end. In another embodiment, the base lift strap is chemically treated to provide infection control.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lift strap for use with a patient lift system, comprising:
 a base lift strap comprising a textile; and   at least one chemical treatment applied on the base lift strap operative to provide infection control.   
     
     
         2 . The lift strap of  claim 1 , wherein the textile is woven and comprises at least one of (i) polyester and (ii) nylon. 
     
     
         3 . The lift strap of  claim 1 , wherein the textile is woven and has individual fibers that are impregnated with an antibacterial chemical treatment. 
     
     
         4 . The lift strap of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one additional polymer coating over the antibacterial chemically treated impregnated fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The lift strap of  claim 4 , wherein the chemical treatment is one of (i) an Aegis antimicrobial treatment or (ii) Maedical i-LiNK advance antimicrobial treatment, and wherein the chemical treatment chemically bonds to the impregnated fibers, thereby creating life-long protection against microorganisms and bacteria. 
     
     
         6 . The lift strap of  claim 2 , wherein the woven textile has at least one non-porous wipeable polymer over-coating. 
     
     
         7 . The lift strap of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one outer over-coating layer that seals the base lift strap and the at least one chemical treatment, wherein the base lift strap is one of (i) solid or (ii) woven. 
     
     
         8 . The lift strap of  claim 6 , wherein the over-coating comprises at least one of (i) polyurethane or (ii) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and wherein the over-coating seals the base lift strap such that it is impermeable to chlorinated bleach. 
     
     
         9 . The lift strap of  claim 6 , wherein the over-coating fills in small crevices and spaces between fibers of the woven lift strap and provides a continuous sealed outer surface without any crevices or spaces in which chlorine crystals could form when chlorinated bleach used to clean the lift strap dries. 
     
     
         10 . The lift strap of  claim 1 , wherein the base lift strap comprises:
 a first end coupled to a two-piece lift drum of a lift housing; and   a second end configured to be coupled to a sling bar.   
     
     
         11 . The lift strap of  claim 10 , wherein the lift strap is configured to be wound around an outer work surface of the lift drum. 
     
     
         12 . The lift strap of  claim 10 , wherein the first end of the lift strap is configured to be slidably disengaged from the lift system. 
     
     
         13 . The lift strap of  claim 10 , further comprising a protective sleeve covering the base lift strap. 
     
     
         14 . A patient lift system, comprising:
 a lift housing;   a lifting mechanism within the housing;   a base lift strap having a first end coupled to the lifting mechanism and a second end coupled to a sling bar; and   a protective sleeve covering portions of the base lift strap extending from the lift housing, wherein the protective sleeve has a first end and a second end and is operative to provide infection control.   
     
     
         15 . The patient lift system of  claim 14 , wherein the protective sleeve is disposable and washable. 
     
     
         16 . The patient lift system of  claim 14 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a flexible elongated polymer tube having a double sided adhesive strip at both the first end and the second end of the protective sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The patient lift system of  claim 14 , wherein the second end of the protective sleeve is open. 
     
     
         18 . The patient lift system of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the protective sleeve is sealingly connected to the lift housing around a slot in the lift housing from which base lift strap protrudes. 
     
     
         19 . The patient lift system of  claim 16 , wherein a first side of the double sided adhesive strips is secured to an inner surface of corresponding ones of the first and second ends of the protective sleeve and the double sided adhesive strips have a removable backing paper disposed on a second side of the double sided adhesive strip. 
     
     
         20 . The patient lift system of  claim 14 , wherein the second end of the protective sleeve is secured by its adhesive strip to one of (i) a solid lifting fixture secured to the second end of the base lift strap, or (ii) the sling bar.