The gantry crane

This indoor gantry crane is used to lift patients in and out of bed at one of our local hospitals. They place a cargo like net on the top sheet of the bed, and the patient sleeps on top of the fine mesh net.

Heavy nylon web straps are attached to both sides of the net. When it is time to move, or reposition the patient, the straps are connected to the four hooks, and the operator uses the yellow and black handle to control lifting the patient off the bed.

This gantry crane consists of steel rails hanging from the ceiling, and this allows the lifting mechanism to move anywhere on it's X / Y axis, and reach almost any point in the room. Quite an interesting invention, and made right here in Seattle by Alpha Modalities.

Wendy, the nice nurse who demonstrated the unit, told me that in the bariatric unit, they have a few rooms equipped with two lifting mechanisms, which allow them to lift up to 1000 pounds.