# US 11,432,979 B2 · Smart sling device using pneumatically driven growth mechanism

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- Number: US 11,432,979 B2
- Document ID: US11432979B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/067,763
- Filed: 2020-10-12
- Published: 2021-07-01
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-26
- Assignees: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
- Applicants: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
- Inventors: Hyunki In; Keri Kim; Seung Jun Lee; Myungjoong Lee; Jeongryul Kim; Hong Jun Cho; Yong Hwan Moon; Jonggyu Choi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432979B2

## CPC

- A61G 7/1028: {by a support moving on air cushion}
- A61G 7/1019: {Vertical extending columns or mechanisms}
- A61G 7/1021: {Inflatable cushions}
- A61G 7/1026: {Sliding sheets or mats}
- A61G 7/1036: {facilitating loading and unloading of the patient, e.g. using flaps or additional tilting}
- A61G 7/1046: {Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels}
- A61G 7/1055: {Suspended platforms, frames or sheets for patient in lying position}
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)

## Abstract

A smart sling device includes a body; a support rod installed at the body; and a sling member installed at the support rod and inserted under a patient to support the patient therebelow, and the sling member includes an expanding unit having an accommodation space for accommodating air therein, the expanding unit expanding due to a pneumatic pressure generated by the accommodated air to support the patient therebelow; and an expansion limiting unit installed at the expanding unit to limit expansion of the expanding unit in one direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A smart sling device, comprising:
a body;
a support rod installed at the body; and
a sling member installed at the support rod and inserted under a patient to support the patient therebelow,
wherein the sling member includes:
an expanding unit having an accommodation space for accommodating air therein, the expanding unit expanding due to a pneumatic pressure generated by the accommodated air to support the patient therebelow; and
at least three expansion limiting units installed at the expanding unit to limit expansion of the expanding unit in one direction,
wherein the expanding unit has first and second portions formed at a front side thereof to convexly protrude in an expanding direction,
wherein the at least three expansion limiting units extend in a direction intersecting with the expanding direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The smart sling device according to claim 1,
wherein two support rods are provided so that the expanding unit is installed at one support rod and expands toward the other support rod by the pneumatic pressure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The smart sling device according to claim 1,
wherein the at least three expansion limiting units are installed at the expanding unit in a direction intersecting with the one direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The smart sling device according to claim 3,
wherein the at least three expansion limiting units are installed at the expanding unit in parallel with each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The smart sling device according to claim 3,
wherein the expansion limiting units are respectively installed at one surface of the expanding unit that is contactable with the patient and the other surface thereof opposite to the one surface with the accommodation space being interposed therebetween.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The smart sling device according to claim 3,
wherein the at least three expansion limiting units are installed at a side surface of the expanding unit that is connected to one surface of the expanding unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The smart sling device according to claim 1,
wherein a tension transmission member is installed inside the expanding unit to generate a tension so as to lift the patient after the expanding unit completely expands.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The smart sling device according to claim 1,
wherein a tension transmission member is installed at an outer side of the expanding unit so that the tension transmission member applies a tension to the expanding unit when the expanding unit expands.