Ups and Downs of Patient Hoists: Precision Power for Patient Mobility

Mobility systems within the healthcare industry can be a vital tool, with patient hoists enabling safe, efficient, and dignified mobility for patients with limited movement. They are essential for bedside transfers and bathroom assistance, and must combine reliability, precision, and adaptability. Central to achieving this is through choosing the most suitable electric motors to power the appliances.

The Role of Patient Hoists in Healthcare

The value of patient hoists is twofold, as they not only reduce physical strain on caregivers but at the same time improve patient comfort and safety. Being widely used in varying settings hoists are available in different configurations, manual, battery-powered, or fully electric, with applications ranging from home care to hospital wards.

Understanding the mechanics behind these systems is essential for the designing process with key considerations including lifting speed, torque, reliability, and the ability to integrate seamlessly with the hoist’s mechanical structure.

Requirements for a Geared Electric Motor

Electric motors used to power patient hoists must be able to balance safety, smooth motion, and reliability under varying loads as well as juggle regulatory compliance and end user comfort. In order to achieve this there are a number of factors to be taken into account which include:

Torque Requirements – Patient hoists require a high starting torque in order to lift a static load smoothly, as well as consistent torque across the lift cycle. Bariatric hoists also need to be able to handle overload conditions without effecting performance. Therefore motors need to accommodate a number of specific requirements:

• Gear reduction is essential (spur or planetary gearboxes)
• Motors must tolerate short-duration peak loads without overheating
• Torque ripple must be minimal to avoid jerky motion

Speed Requirements – Patient hoists in general require slow and predictable speed, although there are some exceptions. For example ceiling hoists run a little faster than other types due to having longer travel paths. The smooth, slow operating speed ensures patient comfort and security, a reduced pendulum effect whilst lifting in addition to regulatory compliance.

Therefore when choosing a motor it is essential to consider:

• Ability to deliberately reduce motor speed via gearing
• Electronic control to enable soft start/stop cycles
• Speed is able to remain stable across load variations

Duty Cycle Requirements – Unlike some applications patient hoists are intermittently used. However, even if used intermittently they still need to be reliable every time. As overheating under such a duty cycle is common, the motor needs to offer:

• An efficient winding design to reduce heat build-up
• An adequate thermal margin for repeated short lifts
• Compatibility with temperature protection (PTC or thermal cut-out)

Quiet Operation – Patient hoists operate in close proximity to people and therefore need to have:

• Low vibrations
• Quiet operation (especially for ceiling hoists)
• Minimal cogging torque

Failing on these basic requirements can make for a very unpleasant experience for both the end user and the hoist operator.

Safety Compliance – When dealing with patient mobility, safety is non-negotiable and is the number one feature of all appliances. The motors used to power the hoists therefore need:

• Self-locking or brake-assisted gear systems
• Controlled descent in power-loss scenarios
• Compatibility with mechanical or electromagnetic brakes
• An ability to integrate with overload protection

Efficiency Requirements – For flexibility many hoists are battery powered. This means the motors need to be efficient in order to maintain battery life, reduce system size and reduce the need for regular recharging. Therefore the motors need to offer:

• High efficiency to maximise battery life
• Predictable current draw under load
• Compatibility with battery management and control electronics

Compact Design – Due to the nature of patient hoists, the motors need to be small and powerful to ensure they fit into clinical and domestic settings. Therefore, OEMs need to take these requirements into consideration:

• Short axial length
• Flexible mounting options
• Output shaft compatibility (internal vs external pinions)

Depending on the design of the appliance these are the elements of the motor which benefit from customisation where it is possible to accommodate power requirements alongside bespoke size specifications.

Suitable Motors

Here at Parvalux, we manufacture and design high-quality geared motors alongside a suite of custom solutions specifically tailored for patient hoist applications.

All of our motors are designed with smooth, controlled motion in mind whilst also maintaining safety, reliability and durability as standard. Different hoist types require different motors, but Parvalux have exactly the motor you need for the job in hand.

External Pinion Applications – For bariatric and high-capacity hoists where high load performance is essential, the Parvalux PM11-GB28 geared motor is a sound choice with its robust torque output and compact design.

This motor is designed to give high starting torque which is vital for initiating lift movement under load. This makes it suitable for small-medium hoist requirements and offers a compact high-torque answer where space is limited. Additionally its speed profile is well-aligned with controlled vertical travel in mobile or small ceiling hoists.

Internal Pinion Applications – Ceiling hoists and other integrated systems would be well-served by the PM90-GB14 geared motor. This is specifically designed for internal pinion setups, and offers precise control, low noise operation, and long-term reliability.

This motor is best suited for larger loads than the PM11-GB28, which is why it is especially effective for ceiling and bariatric hoists which rely on precisely controlled patient positioning. This significant torque capacity ensures reliable lifting even under challenging high-load scenarios.

Both motors are also suited for intermittent duty without overheating and maintaining reliable operation which is vital within a clinical setting where downtime is not acceptable. Additionally, they both have smooth running with minimal noise and vibration.

These motors also have modular gearbox ratios and accessories which means integration into current systems, repairs and upgrades are easier. In addition to our off-the-shelf range, Parvalux offers custom solutions where we work closely with design engineers to develop motors with specific performance characteristics, mounting options, and safety features.

Partnering with Parvalux

With our decades of experience working in medical and mobility applications we are ideal partners on your patient hoist project. We pride ourselves in providing reliable, compliant and robust motor solutions.

We understand our clients and the importance of patient hoists within the medical industry. We appreciate they are essential tools that enhance safety, dignity, and quality of life for patients and caregivers alike.

So, whether you are developing bariatric hoists or ceiling-mounted systems, our team of engineers have the expertise to meet all of your needs. Visit our product pages, or speak with a member of the team for information on our bespoke options.