Lift systems with integrated disinfecting components and methods of operating the same

Abstract

Lift systems, disinfecting components, and methods of disinfecting a lifting strap are disclosed. A lift system includes a housing having a wall defining an opening therethrough, a motor disposed within the housing, and a disinfecting component. The motor is operable to extend and retract a lifting strap through the opening. The disinfecting component is disposed within the housing adjacent to at least a portion of the lifting strap. The disinfecting component includes a radiation emitting component configured to emit ultraviolet radiation towards the portion of the lifting strap.

Description

LIFT SYSTEMS WITH INTEGRATED DISINFECTING COMPONENTS AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAMECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 562,762, entitled “LIFT SYSTEMS WITH INTEGRATED DISINFECTING COMPONENTS AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME” and filed on March 8, 2024, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein.BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to lift systems for transporting and assisting persons with limited and / or compromised mobility, and in particular, to devices, systems, and methods for cleaning, disinfecting, and / or sanitizing components of lift systems.

[0003] Caregivers in hospitals and other health care facilities may employ a lift system to transport patients suffering from limited mobility, or to assist those patients in their efforts to move about on their own. A representative lift system includes a hoist. One type of hoist is a freestanding, moveable frame unit that is supported on the floor by wheels or casters. Another type of hoist includes a carriage supported from the ceiling of the facility by a ceiling mounted rail system.

[0004] A representative lift system also includes a slingbar having a slingbar hub and a pair of arms that extend in laterally opposite directions from the slingbar hub. A hook-like element resides at the end of each arm. When the lift system is used to lift a patient, the slingbar is attached to the hoist via a lifting strap.

[0005] Use of overhead lifts can occur in environments where sanitary conditions are considered. As such, there exists a desire to ensure that particular components of an overhead lift system are clean and / or sanitary when used. However, existing designs of overhead lifts results in certain components, such as the lifting strap or the like, being configured and / or located such that they are difficult to clean, disinfect, and / or sanitize or are overlooked during a cleaning, disinfecting, or sanitization process, creating the potential for contamination.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] In one aspect, a lift system, includes a housing includes a wall defining an opening therethrough, a motor disposed within the housing, and a disinfecting component. The motor is operable to extend and retract a lifting strap through the opening. The disinfecting component is disposed within the housing adjacent to at least a portion of the lifting strap. The disinfecting component includes a radiation emitting component configured to emit ultraviolet radiation towards the portion of the lifting strap.

[0007] In another aspect, a disinfecting component for a lift system includes a first portion having a first emitter housing holding one or more of a plurality of diodes disposed on a first side of an opening within a wall of a housing of a lift unit. The plurality of diodes are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation. The lift system further includes a second portion including a second emitter housing holding one or more of the plurality of diodes disposed on a second side of the opening within the wall of the housing of the lift unit. The first portion is spaced a distance apart from the second portion to define a passage such that a lifting strap extends through the passage between the first portion and the second portion.

[0008] In yet another aspect, a method of operating a disinfecting component of a lift system includes receiving an input to move a lifting strap of the lift system. The lifting strap is driven by a motor of the lift system to extend or retract. The method further includes adjusting a height of a sling bar coupled thereto, actuating one or more diodes positioned within a housing of the lift system adjacent to a portion of the lifting strap such that ultraviolet radiation emitted by the one or more diodes is directed towards the lifting strap, and causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap such that, as one or more portions of the lifting strap pass the one or more diodes, the ultraviolet radiation impinges on one or more surfaces of the lifting strap.

[0009] In still another aspect, a system for operating a disinfecting component of a lift system includes a lift having a housing containing a lifting strap wound around a spool. The spool is driven by a motor that causes the lifting strap to extend or retract by rotating the spool. The system also includes one or more diodes positioned within the housing and adjacent to a portion of the lifting strap such that ultraviolet radiation emitted by the one or more diodes is directed towards the lifting strap. The system alsoincludes a processor communicatively coupled to the motor and the one or more diodes, the processor configured to receive an input to move the lifting strap, actuate the one or more diodes, and cause the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap such that, as one or more portions of the lifting strap pass the one or more diodes, the ultraviolet radiation impinges on one or more surfaces of the lifting strap.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative lift system according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0012] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of an interconnection of a assembly with a rail of an illustrative lift system according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0013] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an illustrative rail of a lift system according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0014] FIG. 4 depicts a cutaway side view of an illustrative rail of a lift system supporting a carriage of the lift system according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0015] FIG. 5 depicts a cutaway view of a rail mounted lift and various illustrative interior components thereof according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0016] FIG. 6 depicts a detailed cutaway view of a disinfecting component within a rail mounted lift according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0017] FIG. 7 depicts an isolated, partially cut away perspective view of a disinfecting component and a lifting strap according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0018] FIG. 8 depicts an isolated, partially cut away perspective view of a disinfecting component without a lifting strap depicted according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0019] FIG. 9 schematically depicts a block diagram of illustrative internal components of a rail-mounted lift according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.

[0020] FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram of illustrative steps of a method for operating a disinfecting component of a rail-mounted lift according to one or more aspects shown and described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of components of a lift system that includes a lift unit having an integrated disinfecting component for automatically disinfecting components of the lift system, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. One embodiment of a lift is depicted in FIG. 1, in which the lift system includes a railmounted lift. The rail mounted lift includes various lift components that are sanitized, disinfected, and / or cleaned by the disinfecting components, including, but not limited to, a lifting strap.

[0022] The phrase “communicatively coupled” is used herein to describe the interconnectivity of various components of the lifts for the purposes of transmitting and / or receiving signals, transmitting and / or receiving data, and / or the like and means that the components are generally coupled wirelessly such that signals may be exchanged between the components. It should be understood that other means of connecting the various components of the system not specifically described herein (e.g., wired connections) are included without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] The terms “disinfect,” “disinfected,” and “disinfecting,” as used herein refers to an inactivation approach for neutralizing, killing, eliminating, and / or reducing microorganisms that may be present on a surface. Such microorganisms include, but are not limited to, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and / or the like. Similar terms may be used throughout this disclosure (e.g., kill, neutralize, inactivate, eliminate, reduce, sanitize, as well as variations thereof), and are meant to convey the process of disinfecting.

[0024] Existing devices that are used to disinfect surfaces using UVC light technology are generally standalone components that require a user to actively operate. That is, a user has to place an item to be disinfected within the standalone device, activate the standalone device, and wait for the standalone device to complete a disinfection cycle. Certain situations, such as the ones presented herein, render this method ineffective or not feasible. More specifically, in the case of lifting components, particularly those that utilize a lifting strap that can become contaminated, the lifting strap is coiled within a housing unit and is not readily detachable from the housing to be placed within the standalone unit for the purposes of disinfection. As such, individuals are not as likely to utilize standalone units for disinfection. Further, handheld devices, such as a handheld UVC sterilizing wand, have to be particularly used to ensure effective sterilization. If a user does not use the handheld device in the manner in which it is intended, the device is generally ineffective in disinfecting surfaces. In the case of a lifting strap, which can be rather long in length, the likelihood of improper technique for sterilizing is high. As such, there exists a need for a component that is integrated with the lifting unit and particularly positioned to disinfect the lifting strap during the course of normal use, as it eliminates user error and does not require additional steps for use.

[0025] FIG. 1 generally depicts an embodiment of an illustrative lift system 100. The lift system 100 generally includes a lift unit (e.g., a rail-mounted lift 102) having an assembly 104 that is slidably coupled to a rail 120 via a carriage 106. The rail 120 extends along a ceiling of a space, such as various rooms and corridors of a hospital or other medical facility, as one example. The assembly 104 of the rail-mounted lift 102 contains one or more components that can be used to lift a person, as described in greater detail herein. In some embodiments, the rail-mounted lift 102 may also include a hand control unit 112 that is used for controlling the assembly 104.

[0026] While the description provided herein relates to the rail-mounted lift 102 depicted in FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that other lifting systems and components thereof are included within the scope of the present application. For example, the lift system 100 could be a mobile lift, such as a free standing device (e.g., a free standing lift unit) that is movable along a ground (e.g., a floor surface of a hospital or medical facility). In addition, while not specifically described herein, the lift system 100 may further include other devices communicatively coupled thereto, such as, for example, a remote control unit, a wall mounted control unit, a central control and / or tracking unit (e.g., a nurse's station unit), and / or the like.

[0027] As noted above, the rail-mounted lift 102 generally includes the assembly 104 coupled to a rail 120. More specifically, the assembly 104 is slidably coupled to the rail 120 via the carriage 106. The assembly 104 may be used to support and / or lift a subject with a lifting strap 108 which is coupled to a motor (not shown) contained within the assembly 104. The motor facilitates extending or retracting the lifting strap 108 from the assembly 104, thereby raising and lowering a subject attached to the lifting strap 108, as described in greater detail herein. More specifically, a subject may be attached to the lifting strap 108 with a sling bar 110 or a similar accessory attached to the lifting strap 108. That is, the sling bar 110 or a similar accessory may be attached to a harness or sling in which the subject is positioned, thereby facilitating the lifting operation.

[0028] Various components of the assembly 104 may be operated with the hand control unit 112 that is communicatively coupled to the assembly 104, a wall-mounted control, a remote control and / or the like. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hand control unit 112 is directly wired to the assembly 104. In other embodiments, the hand control unit 112 may be omitted. Rather, control of the assembly 104 is completed via one or more other components not depicted, such as a wall-mounted control, a remote control, a user’s mobile device, and / or the like. In other embodiments, the hand control unit 112 may be supplemented with another component, such as a wall-mounted control, a remote control, a user’s mobile device, and / or the like.

[0029] In some embodiments, the hand control unit 112 may include a display 114, one or more user interface controls 116, and / or a sensing device 118. The display 114 is generally any liquid crystal display (FCD), light emitting diode (FED) display,electronic ink (e-ink) display, or the like that can display information to a user. In some embodiments, the display 114 may be configured as an interactive display that can receive user inputs (e.g., a touch screen display or the like). The one or more user interface controls 116 may be hardware components that receive inputs from a user and transmit signals corresponding to the inputs, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a touch screen, a remote control, a pointing device, a video input device, an audio input device, a haptic feedback device, and / or the like. In some embodiments, the display 114 and one or more of the user interface controls 116 may be combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen display or the like. The display 114 and / or the one or more user interface controls 116 may be used, for example, to allow a user to manually provide comments for operating the assembly 104 and / or inputting information, such as, for example, turning on or off a disinfecting component, adjusting parameters of a disinfecting component, setting a timer for a disinfecting component, activating / deactivating an automatic operation of a disinfecting component, inputting information pertaining to an identity of the user, an identity of a subject, a location or sub-location of the assembly 104, providing instructions for programming and / or pairing the assembly 104 with one or more other components, and / or the like. In some embodiments, the sensing device 118 of the hand control unit 112 contains hardware for sensing a code and transmitting data corresponding to the code. Illustrative hardware includes, but is not limited to, an imaging device, an infrared (IR) receiver, a radio frequency identification (RFID) detector (e.g., an electromagnetic field generator), a wireless receiver (e.g., a radio utilizing a wireless technology standard such as Bluetooth or 802.1 lx), or the like. In a particular embodiment, the sensing device 118 is an imaging device that is adapted to read a barcode (or any other symbology, quick response (QR) code, or the like).

[0030] Referring now to the exploded view of the lift system 100 schematically depicted in FIG. 2, the assembly 104 is mechanically coupled to a carriage 106, which facilitates slidably positioning the assembly 104 along the rail 120. In the embodiments of the assembly 104 described herein, the assembly 104 includes a connection rail 202 which is mounted to a top surface of the assembly 104. The connection rail 202 facilitates connecting and securing the assembly 104 to the carriage 106. In the embodiment of the assembly 104 shown in FIG. 2, the connection rail 202 has a T-shaped configuration and the carriage 106 has a receiving slot 204 with a complimentary configuration for receiving the connection rail 202. The carriage 106 may be secured to the connection rail 202 with a fastener 206, such as a bolt and nut as depicted in FIG. 2, which extends transversely through openings in the carriage 106 and a corresponding opening in the connection rail 202.

[0031] In embodiments, the carriage 106 generally includes a carriage body 208 having an extension 210 to which a plurality of support wheels 212a, 212b, 212c, and support wheel 212d (collectively, support wheels 212) are rotatably attached for supporting the carriage 106 in the rail 120. The support wheels 212 facilitate positioning the carriage 106 and assembly 104 along the length of the rail 120. In the embodiments described herein, the carriage 106 is depicted with four support wheels 212. However, it is contemplated that the carriage 106 may be constructed with fewer than four (4) support wheels 212. For example, in some embodiments, the carriage 106 may be constructed with one or two support wheels 212 (e.g., a pair of support wheels 212). Accordingly, it should be understood that the carriage 106 includes at least one support wheel 212. The support wheels 212 are positioned on axles 214 which extend transversely through the carriage body 208. Each support wheel 212 is secured to the axle axles 214 with a fastener, such as retaining clips 216, such that the support wheels 212 are rotatable on the axles 214. In the embodiment of the carriage 106 depicted in FIG. 2, the support wheels 212 are passive (e.g., the support wheels 212 are not actively driven with a drive mechanism) and the assembly 104 is manually traversed along the rail 120 (e.g., such as when a user pushes or pulls the assembly 104 along the rail 120). However, in alternative embodiments (not shown), the support wheels 212 may be actively driven, such as when the support wheels are coupled to a drive mechanism. In such embodiments, referring also to FIG. 1, the drive mechanism may be communicatively coupled to a control unit (such as the hand control unit 112, a wall- mounted control, and / or a remote control) which actuates the drive mechanism and facilitates traversing the assembly 104 along the rail 120 with the drive mechanism. As such, a user may actuate one or more user interface controls on the hand control unit 112 or the like to cause the assembly 104 to traverse along the rail 120. Further, a user may adjust a speed, a direction, and / or the like of the movement of the assembly 104 along the rail 120 via the one or more user interface controls on the hand control unit112 or the like. Further, a user may utilize data obtained regarding the lift system 100, a subject, and / or the like to determine potential movement parameters (e.g., speed, direction, starting / stopping, and / or the like). In some embodiments, the one or more user interface controls on the hand control unit 112 or the like may be provided to a user based on potential movement parameters. For example, if a subject has a particular mobility score or the like, the one or more user interface controls on the hand control unit 112 or the like may be adjusted, limited, provided, and / or the like based on the mobility score. For example, a speed may be limited to a particular speed (e.g., a maximum, not-to-exceed speed) for a particular mobility score such that, when the user actuates the one or more user interface controls on the hand control unit 112 or the like, the assembly 104 will not move along the rail 120 at a speed higher than the limited particular speed.

[0032] Still referring to FIG. 2, the carriage 106 may further include bumper assemblies 218 positioned on either end of the carriage body 208 in some embodiments. The bumper assemblies 218 may be attached to the carriage body 208 and secured in place with the axles 214 which extend transversely through the carriage body 208. The bumper assemblies 218 may include rubber end caps 220 which cushion the carriage 106 when the carriage 106 encounters an end stop 222 located at either end of the rail 120, the end stops 222 being secured in the rail 120 by a fastener 224, which may be a bolt and a nut in some embodiments. In the embodiments of the carriage 106 described herein, the bumper assemblies 218 are optional and, as such, it should be understood that the carriage 106 may be constructed without the bumper assemblies 218.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lift system 100 further includes the rail 120 in which the carriage 106 is slidably disposed for relative movement to the rail 120. Accordingly, it should be understood that, when the assembly 104 is mechanically coupled to the carriage 106, the assembly 104 may be traversed along the rail 120 with the carriage 106. In the embodiment of the rail 120 shown in FIG. 3, the rail 120 is generally formed from a metallic material, such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a similar metallic material. Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rail 120 generally includes an upper portion 302, a first sidewall 304 integrally formed with the upper portion 302, and a second sidewall 306 integrally formed with the upper portion 302. The upper portion 302, the first sidewall 304, and the second sidewall 306 are oriented such thatthe upper portion 302, the first sidewall 304 and the second sidewall 306 form a carriage support channel 312 in which the carriage 106 is slidably disposed. To that end, the first sidewall 304 further includes a first support flange 308 which extends from the first sidewall 304 into the carriage support channel 312 and the second sidewall 306 further includes a second support flange 310 which extends from the second sidewall 306 into the carriage support channel 312. In the embodiments described herein, the first support flange 308 and the second support flange 310 are generally opposed to one another and lie in a common horizontal plane (e.g., the x-y plane in the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 3). The first support flange 308 and the second support flange 310 may also be substantially parallel with the upper portion 302 of the rail 120. However, it should be understood that other configurations of the support flanges 308, 310 and the upper portion 302 of the rail 120 are also contemplated. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the support flanges 308, 310 may be upwardly angled with respect to the horizontal plane. In addition, it should be understood that the structure of the rail 120 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 is illustrative and that other rail configurations are contemplated.

[0034] The construction of the lift system 100 will now be described with specific reference to the exploded view of the assembly 104 shown in FIG. 2 and the cross section of the assembled lift system 100 shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the carriage 106 is installed on the assembly 104 by inserting the connection rail 202 into the corresponding receiving slot 204 of the carriage 106 and securing the carriage 106 on the connection rail 202 with the fastener 206. The assembly 104 with attached carriage 106 is then suspended from the rail 120 by positioning the extension 210 of the carriage body 208 in the rail 120 such that the support wheels 212a, 212b are slidably engaged with the first support flange 308 and the second support flange 310, respectively.

[0035] Turning now to FIG. 5, a cross sectional view of the lift system 100 is depicted, showing internal components within the assembly 104 of the rail-mounted lift 102. More specifically, the assembly 104 includes a housing 522 having a wall 524 that defines an interior in which various components of the assembly 104 are located, including, but not limited to, a disinfecting component 500, a motor housing 510 containing a motor 512, a spool 514, and / or the like. The wall 524 includes an interiorsurface 526 opposite an exterior surface 528 and may define at least one opening 530 through which components can pass through the interior of the housing 522 to an exterior (e.g., the lifting strap 108 as depicted in FIG. 5). FIG. 5 depicts the opening 530 on a bottom surface thereof (e.g., a surface facing the -Y direction of the coordinate axes of FIG. 5). However, it should be appreciated that other configurations are contemplated and included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0036] The motor housing 510 contains a motor 512 driving the spool 514 (e.g., the motor 512 drives rotational movement of the spool 514). The spool 514 may be arranged to rotate around a central axis 516 that, in some embodiments, is generally perpendicular to a direction in which the lifting strap 108 extends out of the assembly 104 (e.g., the +Y / -Y axis of the coordinate axes depicted in FIG. 5). However, other arrangements are contemplated and included within the scope of the present disclosure. The lifting strap 108 extends from a proximal end 520 thereof to a distal end 518 thereof. The proximal end 520 of the lifting strap 108 may be coupled to and / or coiled around the spool 514 within the motor housing 510 (and thus may be referred to as fixed end). The distal end 518 of the lifting strap 108 may extend out of the motor housing 510 and the assembly 104 (e.g., through the opening 530) and be coupled to the sling bar 110. The distal end 518 of the lifting strap 108 may be referred to as the free end of the lifting strap 108. The motor 512 within the motor housing 510 may be any motor now known or later developed that is configured to rotate the spool 514 around the central axis 516 such that the proximal end 520 of the lifting strap 108 either coils or uncoils around the spool 514 depending on the direction of rotation. As a result, the lifting strap 108 is retracted (e.g., taken up) or extended (e.g., paid out) as a result of the rotation of the spool 514 around the central axis 516, as depicted by the arrows extending in the +Y / -Y directions in the coordinate axes of FIG. 5 and described in further detail herein. The motor 512 may further be configured to rotate the spool 514 at a particular speed so that the lifting strap 108 retracts or extends at a particular rate, as described herein. As also described herein, the speed can be adjusted to speed up or slow down the particular rate at which the lifting strap 108 is extended or retracted in order to effectively expose the lifting strap 108 to radiation.

[0037] Also depicted in FIG. 5 is a disinfecting component 500 disposed within the assembly 104. The disinfecting component 500 includes a first portion 502, a secondportion 506, and a guide member 508. The first portion 502 and the second portion 506 each generally include an array of radiation emitting components that emit radiation, as described in greater detail herein. The first portion 502 and the second portion 506 are arranged within the assembly 104 at a distance away from each other to define a passage 504 therebetween. The passage 504 is generally aligned with the opening 530 in the wall 524 the assembly 104 such that the lifting strap 108 can pass through the passage 504 and the opening 530 in the assembly 104, as described in greater detail herein. The guide member 508 is generally positioned between the spool 514 and the disinfecting component 500. The guide member 508 may act as a supporting surface for the lifting strap 108 between the spool 514 and the first portion 502 / second portion 506 so that the guide member 508 guides the lifting strap 108 towards the passage 504 between the first portion 502 and the second portion 506. In some embodiments, the guide member 508 may be omitted.

[0038] FIG. 6 depicts a detailed view of the first portion 502 and the second portion 506 within the assembly 104. The first portion 502 and the second portion 506 are generally positioned on or near the interior surface 526 of the wall 524 that surrounds various components of the assembly 104 (FIG. 5). However, other locations and configurations are contemplated and included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] With reference also to FIG. 5, the first portion 502 includes a first emitter housing 604 that houses a first strip 606 of diodes 608 and the second portion 506 includes a second emitter housing 610 that houses a second strip 612 of diodes 614. Both the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 are shaped to contain the first strip 606 and the second strip 612, respectively, while leaving an exposed portion of the first strip 606 and the second strip 612, respectively. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 are C shaped, with an open end that faces inwardly and toward the other of the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610. Further, one or more surfaces of the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 may optionally be reflective. That is, one or more interior surfaces of each of the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 may be formed from a reflective material and / or coated with a reflective material so as to direct and / or focusradiation emitted by the diodes 608, 614 in a particular direction (e.g., toward the lifting strap 108). This arrangement and configuration of the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 effectively causes radiation emitted by the respective diodes 608, 614 to be emitted inwards or toward the lifting strap 108 extending through the passage 504 therebetween. It should be appreciated that other shapes of the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 and / or other features for reflecting and / or focusing radiation toward the lifting strap 108 are contemplated and included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 6 also depicts a shield 616 disposed on the exterior surface 528 of the housing 522 adjacent to the opening 530. The shield 616 may generally be positioned to reflect or absorb radiation emitted by the diodes 608, 614 to prevent or minimize radiation from being emitted out of the opening 530 into the environment exterior to the housing 522. In some embodiments, the shield 616 may be optional. In still other embodiments, the body of the housing 522 around the opening 530 may be constructed to act as the shield 616 (e.g., having walls that are arranged, contain a reflective coating, and / or the like to reflect or absorb radiation).

[0041] FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative arrangement of the lifting strap 108 relative to the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610, as well as the components thereof, and FIG. 8 depicts the arrangement of the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 relative to one another with the lifting strap 108 omitted for ease of illustration.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 are spaced a distance 602 apart from one another to form the passage 504. The distance 602 is not limited by this disclosure, and may generally be any distance. In some embodiments, the distance 602 may correspond to a size of the opening 530 in the wall 524 of the housing 522 (e.g., the width of the opening 530 in the wall 524 of the housing 522 is substantially equivalent to the distance 602). In other embodiments, the distance 602 may be larger than a width of the opening 530 such that the wall 524 acts as a shield, as described herein. In some embodiments, the distance 602 may exceed a width of the lifting strap 108 such that the lifting strap 108 is able to pass between the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610. The distance 602 may be minimized so as to ensure the lifting strap 108 is as close to the diodes 608,614 as possible as it passes through the passage 504. In some embodiments, the distance 602 may be such that the lifting strap 108 contacts a portion of the first emitter housing 604 and / or the second emitter housing 610 within the passage 504. In other embodiments, the distance 602 may be such that the lifting strap 108 does not come into contact with either the first emitter housing 604 or the second emitter housing 610 within the passage 504. However, the distance 602 may also be such that the various components of the first portion 502 and the second portion 506 do not hinder movement of the lifting strap 108 therebetween.

[0043] As noted herein, the first emitter housing 604 and the second emitter housing 610 may each house the first strip 606 and the second strip 612, respectively. The first strip 606 and the second strip 612 each include a radiation emitting component (e.g., a plurality of diodes 608, 614) embedded therein. The diodes 608, 614, as the term is used herein, refers to any device or component that is configured to emit radiation, particularly radiation having a wavelength that is known to kill, neutralize, or minimize harmful effects of contaminants that may be present on the lifting strap 108. For example, the diodes 608, 614 may be light emitting diodes (FEDs) that emit radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum (e.g., having a wavelength of about 10 nanometers to about 400 nanometers), particularly Ultraviolet-C (UVC) radiation (also known as germicidal ultraviolet radiation) having a wavelength of about 180 nanometers to about 280 nanometers. Such radiation is generally understood to cause mutations in genetic material via dimerization, which prevents reproduction of certain contaminants. Illustrative examples of a diode that may be used in the first strip 606 and / or the second strip 612 includes, but is not limited to, the OSLON® UV 6060, SU CZHEF1.VC UVC TED or the OSLON® UV 3535 LED, both of which are manufactured by ams-Osram AG (Premstatten, Austria). The first strip 606 and / or the second strip 612 may include any number of the diodes 608, 614, particularly a sufficient number of the diodes 608, 614 to ensure appropriate treatment of the lifting strap 108 as it passes through the passage 504. While FIGS. 5-8 depict the diodes 608, 614 as being arranged in a single strip array, the present disclosure is not limited to such. That is, the diodes 608, 614 may be arranged in any other fashion that is effective to project the UVC light on the lifting strap 108 as described herein. In some embodiments, the diodes 608, 614 mayeach extend in an array that is sized to generally correspond to a width of the lifting strap 108, as shown, for example, in FIG. 7.

[0044] It should be understood that while the present disclosure specifically discloses the diodes 608, 614 as being the devices that emit the UVC light on the lifting strap 108, the present disclosure is not limited solely to this technology. That is, other components may be used in lieu of or in addition to the diodes 608, 614. For example, any component that includes a UV bulb or tube, ballast, reflector, quartz glass, a power supply, and / or the like that function to emit a UV light may be used in lieu of or in addition to the diodes 608, 614. In another example, UVC lamps such as the TUV lamps manufactured by Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Eindhoven, Netherlands) may be used in lieu of or in addition to the diodes 608, 614.

[0045] Examples of contaminants that may be eliminated, reduced, inactivated, or the like by the radiation emitted by the diodes 608, 614 (e.g., disinfected) include, but are not limited to, various bacteria, viruses, fungi, and / or the like. Illustrative examples of bacteria include, but are not limited to, E. coli, C. difficile, C. perfringens, various Campylobacter, various Listeria, various Salmonella, various Staphylococcus, various Streptococcus, and / or the like. Illustrative examples of viruses include, but are not limited to, various Hepatitis viruses, various Coronaviruses, various Noroviruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and / or the like. Illustrative examples of fungi include, but are not limited to, various Candida, various Aspergillus, and / or the like. The contaminants may be located directly on the lifting strap 108 or within fluids, mucosa, or the like that may ultimately end up on lifting strap 108 during use (e.g., due to contact with a contaminated source, as a result of airborne contaminants landing on the lifting strap 108, and / or the like). Since such contaminants can be harmful to individuals (including both patients and caregivers), it is desirable to kill, neutralize, and / or minimize the harmful effects on any surface in a facility that has the potential to come into contact (either directly or indirectly) with individuals within the facility and cause an infection to spread.

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 9, a block diagram of illustrative internal components of the lift system 100 (FIG. 1) including the rail-mounted lift 102 and / or the disinfecting component 500 (FIG. 5) is depicted. More specifically, the rail-mounted lift 102 includes, but is not limited to, a motor controller 904, a processor 906, a storage medium908, input / output hardware 910, and / or the diodes 608, 614. A local interface 902 communicatively interconnects the various components of the rail-mounted lift 102.

[0047] The motor controller 904 is generally a device that communicates signals to the motor 512 of the rail-mounted lift 102 and / or controls power delivery to the motor 512 of the rail-mounted lift 102 to cause the motor 512 to extend (e.g., pay out) or retract (e.g., take up) the lifting strap 108 (FIG. 1). For example, the motor controller 904 may be configured to provide signals corresponding to a speed, a direction of movement, a duration of movement, and / or the like to cause the motor 512 to operate accordingly. As will be described in further detail herein, the motor controller 904 may be configured to cause the motor 512 to extend or retract the lifting strap 108 (FIG. 1) at a particular rate to ensure an adequate amount of exposure to the radiation emitted by the diodes 608, 614 for eliminating, reducing, inactivating, and / or the like of contaminants that may or may not present on the lifting strap 108 (e.g., disinfecting the lifting strap 108). The motor controller 904 may also be configured to provide signals for paying out or taking up a certain amount of the lifting strap 108 (FIG. 1) to ensure an appropriate height of the sling bar 110 (FIG. 1) for operation. In some embodiments, the motor controller 904 may also receive feedback signals or the like from the motor 512, such as, for example, signals regarding a speed of operation, a direction of operation, and / or the like. Illustrative examples of devices usable as the motor controller 904 include various processing devices processing components, and / or the like that may be integrated with or communicatively coupled to the motor 512. Such components should generally be understood.

[0048] The processor 906, such as one or more computer processing units (CPU), may be the central processing unit of the rail-mounted lift 102, performing calculations and logic operations to execute a program. The processor 906, alone or in conjunction with one or more of the other elements disclosed in FIG. 9, is an illustrative processing device, computing device, processor, or combination thereof, as such terms are used in this disclosure.

[0049] The storage medium 908, such as read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM), may constitute illustrative memory devices (i.e., non-transitory, processor-readable storage media). Such storage medium 908 may include one or more programming instructions thereon that, when executed by the processor 906, cause theprocessor 906 to complete various processes, such as the processes described herein. Optionally, the program instructions may be stored on a tangible computer-readable medium such as a digital disk, flash memory, a memory card, a universal serial bus (USB) drive, an optical disc storage medium (e.g., Blu-ray™, CD, DVD), and / or other non-transitory processor-readable storage media.

[0050] In some embodiments, the program instructions contained on the processor 906 may be embodied as a plurality of software modules, where each module provides programming instructions for completing one or more tasks. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the storage medium 908 may contain one or more of operating logic 912, communications logic 914, movement logic 916, and diode control logic 918. The operating logic 912 may include an operating system and / or other software for managing components of the rail-mounted lift 102. The communications logic 914 may include programming instructions for facilitating communications between the railmounted lift 102 and various other devices communicatively coupled thereto. The movement logic 916 may generally include programming instructions for receiving movement commands from various components, such as, for example, the hand control unit 112 (FIG. 1) and causing various components of the rail-mounted lift 102 to move, as described herein (e.g., causing the motor controller 904 to instruct the motor 512 to extend and / or retract the lifting strap 108 (FIG. 1). Still referring to FIG. 9, the diode control logic 918 may generally include programming instructions for directing operation of the diodes 608, 614. For example, the diode control logic 918 may direct the diodes 608, 614 to turn on / off, to adjust various light emission settings, and / or the like. It should be understood that the various logic modules described herein with respect to FIG. 9 are merely illustrative, and that other logic modules, including logic modules that combine the functionality of two or more of the modules described hereinabove, may be used without departing from the scope of the present application.

[0051] Still referring to FIG. 9, the input / output hardware 910 may generally include hardware contained within the hand control unit 112, as previously described herein. That is, the display 114 the one or more user interface controls 116, and / or the sensing device 118 may be communicatively coupled to or may represent a portion of the input / output hardware 910 such that one or more user inputs received via the display 114 the one or more user interface controls 116, and / or the sensing device 118 aretransmitted via the input / output hardware 910 and one or more outputs to be displayed to the user are transmitted to the display 114 via the input / output hardware 910. In some embodiments, the sensing device 118 may be communicatively coupled to the input / output hardware 910 such that data corresponding to a sensed code (e.g., image data containing a sensed code) are transmitted via the input / output hardware 910.

[0052] In some embodiments, the input / output hardware 910 may be combined with or supplemented with network interface hardware. That is, in some embodiments, the input / output hardware 910 may be combined with network interface hardware into a single device that allows for communications with other devices, regardless of whether such other devices are located within the rail-mounted lift 102.

[0053] It should be understood that the components illustrated in FIG. 9 are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. More specifically, while the components in FIG. 9 are illustrated as residing within the rail-mounted lift 102, this is a nonlimiting example. In some embodiments, one or more of the components may reside external to rail-mounted lift 102. Similarly, one or more of the components may be embodied in other devices not specifically described herein.

[0054] FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method 1000 of operating a disinfecting component of a lift system. At block 1002, the method 1000 includes receiving an input to move a lifting strap of the lift system. For example, the input may be received via a user interface, such as, for example, the display 114 and / or the user interface controls 116 of the hand control unit 112 (FIG. 1). At block 1004, the method 1000 includes actuating the one or more diodes positioned within the housing of the lift system adjacent to a portion of the lifting strap such that ultraviolet radiation emitted by the one or more diodes is directed towards the lifting strap. As such, the radiation (e.g., the UVC radiation described herein) impinges on the lifting strap as it passes the diodes. At block 1006, the method 1000 includes causing the motor controller to transmit an instruction to the motor to begin operating (e.g., by sending one or more signals to the motor), and as a result, at block 1008, the motor moves the lifting strap to either extend or retract the lifting strap. For example, the motor may cause the spool to rotate such that the lifting strap either winds around the spool (and takes up) or unwinds from the spool (and pays out).

[0055] As each portion of the lifting strap passes the diodes, the radiation impinging thereon may act to eliminate, reduce, and / or inactivate one or more contaminants on the portion of the lifting strap that is exposed to the radiation (e.g., disinfect the lifting strap). In some embodiments, it may be necessary to expose each portion of the lifting strap for a particular period of time in order to ensure an effective amount of radiation impinges thereon to eliminate, reduce, and / or inactivate contaminants (e.g., disinfect the lifting strap). Effective amounts of time to appropriately disinfect using UVC radiation based on particular wavelengths, intensities, distances, and / or the like is generally understood. In one illustrative example, each portion of the lifting strap may be exposed to UV light at a wavelength of 222 nm at a dose of about two millijoules per square centimeter (mJ / cm2) for a period of about 60 seconds to effectively disinfect the portion of the lifting strap. As is evident, in order to ensure a sufficient amount of exposure, it may be necessary to control the speed at which the lifting strap is extended or retracted by the motor. As such, the method 1000 includes receiving, at block 1010, a speed at which the lifting strap is extended or retracted, and at decision block 1012, the method 1000 determines whether the strap speed is sufficient for appropriately disinfecting the lifting strap (e.g., whether the strap speed is slow enough to ensure a sufficient amount of exposure time to the radiation emitted by the diodes). In some embodiments, this determination may be completed, for example, by comparing the motor speed with a look up table, a predetermined speed or range of speeds, and / or the like. In other embodiments, this determination may be completed, for example, by receiving a sensor input corresponding to a speed of the strap movement. If the speed of the motor is not in accordance with a determined speed for disinfection (e.g., STRAP SPEED SUFFICIENT FOR DISINFECTING = NO), then the method 1000 may proceed to block 1014, where the speed is adjusted (e.g., slowed down) and / or the direction is changed (e.g., to ensure that portions of the lifting strap that have already passed the diodes, but at a speed that is too quick, are re-exposed for a sufficient amount of time). If the speed of the motor is in accordance with a determined speed for disinfection, (e.g., STRAP SPEED SUFFICIENT FOR DISINFECTING = YES), then the method 1000 may skip block 1014 and proceed instead to decision block 1016.

[0056] Once the lifting strap has been extended or retracted a desired amount (e.g., an amount specified at the user interface, upon reaching the end of a travel distance, or thelike), a determination of such may be made at decision block 1016. If movement has not been completed (e.g., inputs specified at the user interface indicate additional movement is needed), the method 1000 may return to block 1010. If movement has been determined to be completed, the method 1000 may proceed to block 1018. At block 1018, a signal may be transmitted to the motor to cease moving, thereby stopping movement of the lifting strap. As previously described herein, the motor controller may transmit one or more signals to the motor to stop moving, may terminate electrical power delivery to the motor, or the like. As a result, the motor ceases operation at block 1020, which stops further movement of the lifting strap.

[0057] At block 1022, once the strap is sufficiently disinfected via the method 1000 described herein, the diodes may be deactivated. While the method 1000 is described herein as being activated each time the lifting strap is extended or retracted by the motor, the present disclosure is not limited to such. That is, in some embodiments, the method 1000 may be completed if a signal is received (e.g., via the user interface) to actuate a disinfecting mode. Alternatively, the method 1000 may be completed periodically (e.g., after a particular number of uses, after a particular period of time has elapsed between disinfecting operations, and / or the like). It should also be understood that the steps according to method 1000 are merely illustrative, and certain steps may be eliminated, combined, completed in a different order, supplemented with additional steps, and / or the like without departing from the scope of the present application.

[0058] It should now be understood that the present disclosure relates to lift systems and assemblies that include a disinfecting component that is configured to disinfect the lifting strap that extends from the assembly as the strap is extended or retracted. In addition, the present disclosure relates to the disinfecting component itself, which can be added to an existing lift system as an aftermarket part or the like. Use of the disinfecting component described herein allows for disinfection of a component that can become contaminated with use, but is commonly overlooked with existing disinfection measures. Further, the disinfecting component described herein can be non-intrusive and can operate without affecting the typical and customary use of an overhead lift.

[0059] Further aspects are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0060] A lift system, comprising: a housing comprising a wall defining an opening therethrough; a motor disposed within the housing, the motor operable to extend and retract a lifting strap through the opening; and a disinfecting component disposed within the housing adjacent to at least a portion of the lifting strap, the disinfecting component comprising a radiation emitting component configured to emit ultraviolet radiation towards the portion of the lifting strap.

[0061] The lift system of any preceding clause, further comprising a spool operably coupled to the motor such that the motor drives rotational movement of the spool, wherein the lifting strap is coiled around the spool, and wherein the rotational movement of the spool causes the lifting strap to extend and retract.

[0062] The lift system of any preceding clause, further comprising the lifting strap, the lifting strap having a proximal end coupled to the spool and a distal end that extends out of the housing through the opening.

[0063] The lift system of any preceding clause, further comprising a sling bar coupled to the distal end of the lifting strap.

[0064] The lift system of any preceding clause, further comprising a shield disposed adjacent to the opening in the wall of the housing, the shield configured to reflect the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the radiation emitting component internally within the housing.

[0065] The lift system of any preceding clause, wherein the disinfecting component comprises: a first portion including a first emitter housing holding a first one or more diodes disposed on a first side of the opening within the housing; and a second portion including a second emitter housing holding a second one or more diodes disposed on a second side of the opening within the housing, wherein the first portion is spaced a distance apart from the second portion to define a passage such that the lifting strap extends through the passage between the first portion and the second portion.

[0066] The lift system of any preceding clause, wherein the disinfecting component is positioned at an interior surface of the wall of the housing.

[0067] The lift system of any preceding clause, wherein the radiation emitting component is configured to emit UVC radiation.

[0068] The lift system of any preceding clause, wherein the motor is configured to adjust a speed at which the lifting strap is extended or retracted.

[0069] The lift system of any preceding clause, further comprising a hand control unit communicatively coupled to the motor, the hand control unit comprising a display and / or one or more user interface controls, the hand control unit configured to control the speed at which the lifting strap is extended or retracted.

[0070] The lift system of any preceding clause, further comprising a hand control unit operable to control the motor and / or the disinfecting component.

[0071] The lift system of any preceding clause, further comprising: a processor communicatively coupled to the motor and the disinfecting component; and a non- transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising one or more instructions thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to control operation of the motor and the disinfecting component.

[0072] The lift system of any preceding clause, wherein the housing is a rail-mounted lift housing coupled to a rail via a carriage.

[0073] The lift system of any preceding clause, wherein the rail-mounted lift housing is movable along the rail via the carriage.

[0074] A disinfecting component for a lift system, the disinfecting component comprising:

[0075] a first portion including a first emitter housing holding one or more of a plurality of diodes disposed on a first side of an opening within a wall of a housing of a lift unit, the plurality of diodes configured to emit ultraviolet radiation; and a second portion including a second emitter housing holding one or more of the plurality of diodes disposed on a second side of the opening within the wall of the housing of the lift unit, the first portion being spaced a distance apart from the second portion to define a passage such that a lifting strap extends through the passage between the first portion and the second portion.

[0076] The disinfecting component of any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of diodes are positioned to emit the ultraviolet radiation toward the lifting strap.

[0077] The disinfecting component of any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of diodes are configured to emit UVC radiation.

[0078] The disinfecting component of any preceding clause, wherein the first portion and the second portion are positioned at an interior surface of the wall of the housing of the lift unit.

[0079] The disinfecting component of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more of the plurality of diodes in the first emitter housing are arranged in an array of diodes that extends a distance corresponding to a width of the lifting strap.

[0080] The disinfecting component of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more of the plurality of diodes in the second emitter housing are arranged in an array of diodes that extends a distance corresponding to a width of the lifting strap.

[0081] A lift system comprising the disinfecting component according to any one of the preceding clauses.

[0082] A method of operating a disinfecting component of a lift system, the method comprising: receiving an input to move a lifting strap of the lift system, the lifting strap being driven by a motor of the lift system to extend or retract, adjusting a height of a sling bar coupled thereto; actuating one or more diodes positioned within a housing of the lift system adjacent to a portion of the lifting strap such that ultraviolet radiation emitted by the one or more diodes is directed towards the lifting strap; and causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap such that, as one or more portions of the lifting strap pass the one or more diodes, the ultraviolet radiation impinges on one or more surfaces of the lifting strap.

[0083] The method of any preceding clause, wherein causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap comprises causing a motor controller to transmit one or more signals to the motor.

[0084] The method of any preceding clause, further comprising: receiving feedback regarding a speed of movement of the lifting strap past the one or more diodes; determining that the speed of movement of the lifting strap is not sufficient for disinfecting the one or more surfaces of the lifting strap via the ultraviolet radiation; and causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap at a different speed.

[0085] The method of any preceding clause, wherein the different speed is a faster speed or a slower speed.

[0086] The method of any preceding clause, further comprising: determining that movement of the lifting strap is to cease; causing the motor to stop paying out or taking up the lifting strap; and deactivating the one or more diodes.

[0087] The method of any preceding clause, wherein determining that the movement of the lifting strap is to cease comprises receiving an input to stop moving the strap.

[0088] The method of any preceding clause, wherein receiving the input to stop moving the strap comprises receiving the input from a hand control unit of the lift system.

[0089] The method of any preceding clause, wherein receiving the input to move the lifting strap comprises receiving the input from a hand control unit of the lift system.

[0090] A system for operating a disinfecting component of a lift system, the system comprising: a lift comprising a housing containing a lifting strap wound around a spool, the spool driven by a motor that causes the lifting strap to extend or retract by rotating the spool; one or more diodes positioned within the housing and adjacent to a portion of the lifting strap such that ultraviolet radiation emitted by the one or more diodes is directed towards the lifting strap; and a processor communicatively coupled to the motor and the one or more diodes, the processor configured to: receive an input to move the lifting strap, actuate the one or more diodes, and cause the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap such that, as one or more portions of the lifting strap pass the one or more diodes, the ultraviolet radiation impinges on one or more surfaces of the lifting strap.

[0091] The system of any preceding clause, further comprising a motor controller communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap comprises causing the motor controller to transmit one or more signals to the motor.

[0092] The system of any preceding clause, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive feedback regarding a speed of movement of the lifting strap past the one or more diodes; determine that the speed of movement of the lifting strap is not sufficient for disinfecting the one or more surfaces of the lifting strap via the ultraviolet radiation; and cause the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap at a different speed.

[0093] The system of any preceding clause, wherein the different speed is a faster speed or a slower speed.

[0094] The system of any preceding clause, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine that movement of the lifting strap is to cease; cause the motor to stop paying out or taking up the lifting strap; and deactivate the one or more diodes.

[0095] The system of any preceding clause, wherein determining that movement of the lifting strap is to cease comprises receiving an input to stop moving the strap.

[0096] The system of any preceding clause, further comprising a hand control unit, wherein receiving the input to stop moving the strap comprises receiving the input from the hand control unit.

[0097] The system of any preceding clause, further comprising a hand control unit, wherein receiving the input to move the lifting strap comprises receiving the input from the hand control unit.

[0098] The system of any preceding clause, wherein the lift is a rail-mounted lift or a freestanding lift.

[0099] It is noted that the terms "substantially" and "about" may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

[0100] While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A lift system, comprising: a housing comprising a wall defining an opening therethrough; a motor disposed within the housing, the motor operable to extend and retract a lifting strap through the opening; and a disinfecting component disposed within the housing adjacent to at least a portion of the lifting strap, the disinfecting component comprising a radiation emitting component configured to emit ultraviolet radiation towards the portion of the lifting strap.

2. The lift system according to claim 1, further comprising a spool operably coupled to the motor such that the motor drives rotational movement of the spool, wherein the lifting strap is coiled around the spool, and wherein the rotational movement of the spool causes the lifting strap to extend and retract.

3. The lift system according to claim 2, further comprising the lifting strap, the lifting strap having a proximal end coupled to the spool and a distal end that extends out of the housing through the opening.

4. The lift system according to claim 3, further comprising a sling bar coupled to the distal end of the lifting strap.

5. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a shield disposed adjacent to the opening in the wall of the housing, the shield configured to reflect the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the radiation emitting component internally within the housing.

6. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the disinfecting component comprises: a first portion including a first emitter housing holding a first one or more diodes disposed on a first side of the opening within the housing; anda second portion including a second emitter housing holding a second one or more diodes disposed on a second side of the opening within the housing, wherein the first portion is spaced a distance apart from the second portion to define a passage such that the lifting strap extends through the passage between the first portion and the second portion.

7. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the disinfecting component is positioned at an interior surface of the wall of the housing.

8. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the radiation emitting component is configured to emit UVC radiation.

9. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the motor is configured to adjust a speed at which the lifting strap is extended or retracted.

10. The lift system according to claim 9, further comprising a hand control unit communicatively coupled to the motor, the hand control unit comprising a display and / or one or more user interface controls, the hand control unit configured to control the speed at which the lifting strap is extended or retracted.

11. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a hand control unit operable to control the motor and / or the disinfecting component.

12. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: a processor communicatively coupled to the motor and the disinfecting component; and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising one or more instructions thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to control operation of the motor and the disinfecting component.

13. The lift system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing is a rail-mounted lift housing coupled to a rail via a carriage.

14. The lift system according to claim 13, wherein the rail-mounted lift housing is movable along the rail via the carriage.

15. A disinfecting component for a lift system, the disinfecting component comprising: a first portion including a first emitter housing holding one or more of a plurality of diodes disposed on a first side of an opening within a wall of a housing of a lift unit, the plurality of diodes configured to emit ultraviolet radiation; and a second portion including a second emitter housing holding one or more of the plurality of diodes disposed on a second side of the opening within the wall of the housing of the lift unit, the first portion being spaced a distance apart from the second portion to define a passage such that a lifting strap extends through the passage between the first portion and the second portion.

16. The disinfecting component according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of diodes are positioned to emit the ultraviolet radiation toward the lifting strap.

17. The disinfecting component according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the plurality of diodes are configured to emit UVC radiation.

18. The disinfecting component according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the first portion and the second portion are positioned at an interior surface of the wall of the housing of the lift unit.

19. The disinfecting component according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the one or more of the plurality of diodes in the first emitter housing are arranged in an array of diodes that extends a distance corresponding to a width of the lifting strap.

20. The disinfecting component according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the one or more of the plurality of diodes in the second emitter housing are arranged in an array of diodes that extends a distance corresponding to a width of the lifting strap.

21. A lift system comprising the disinfecting component according to any one of claims 15 to 20.

22. A method of operating a disinfecting component of a lift system, the method comprising:receiving an input to move a lifting strap of the lift system, the lifting strap being driven by a motor of the lift system to extend or retract, adjusting a height of a sling bar coupled thereto; actuating one or more diodes positioned within a housing of the lift system adjacent to a portion of the lifting strap such that ultraviolet radiation emitted by the one or more diodes is directed towards the lifting strap; and causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap such that, as one or more portions of the lifting strap pass the one or more diodes, the ultraviolet radiation impinges on one or more surfaces of the lifting strap.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap comprises causing a motor controller to transmit one or more signals to the motor.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising: receiving feedback regarding a speed of movement of the lifting strap past the one or more diodes; determining that the speed of movement of the lifting strap is not sufficient for disinfecting the one or more surfaces of the lifting strap via the ultraviolet radiation; and causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap at a different speed.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the different speed is a faster speed or a slower speed.

26. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, further comprising: determining that movement of the lifting strap is to cease; causing the motor to stop paying out or taking up the lifting strap; and deactivating the one or more diodes.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein determining that the movement of the lifting strap is to cease comprises receiving an input to stop moving the strap.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein receiving the input to stop moving the strap comprises receiving the input from a hand control unit of the lift system.

29. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein receiving the input to move the lifting strap comprises receiving the input from a hand control unit of the lift system.

30. A system for operating a disinfecting component of a lift system, the system comprising: a lift comprising a housing containing a lifting strap wound around a spool, the spool driven by a motor that causes the lifting strap to extend or retract by rotating the spool; one or more diodes positioned within the housing and adjacent to a portion of the lifting strap such that ultraviolet radiation emitted by the one or more diodes is directed towards the lifting strap; and a processor communicatively coupled to the motor and the one or more diodes, the processor configured to: receive an input to move the lifting strap, actuate the one or more diodes, and cause the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap such that, as one or more portions of the lifting strap pass the one or more diodes, the ultraviolet radiation impinges on one or more surfaces of the lifting strap.

31. The system according to claim 30, further comprising a motor controller communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein causing the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap comprises causing the motor controller to transmit one or more signals to the motor.

32. The system according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive feedback regarding a speed of movement of the lifting strap past the one or more diodes; determine that the speed of movement of the lifting strap is not sufficient for disinfecting the one or more surfaces of the lifting strap via the ultraviolet radiation; and cause the motor to extend or retract the lifting strap at a different speed.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the different speed is a faster speed or a slower speed.

34. The system of any one of claims 30 to 33, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine that movement of the lifting strap is to cease; cause the motor to stop paying out or taking up the lifting strap; and deactivate the one or more diodes.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein determining that movement of the lifting strap is to cease comprises receiving an input to stop moving the strap.

36. The system according to claim 35, further comprising a hand control unit, wherein receiving the input to stop moving the strap comprises receiving the input from the hand control unit.

37. The system according to any one of claims 30 to 35, further comprising a hand control unit, wherein receiving the input to move the lifting strap comprises receiving the input from the hand control unit.

38. The system according to any one of claims 30-37, wherein the lift is a railmounted lift or a freestanding lift.

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