Medical equipment designed for patient, doctor comfort

Vertical lift is required in a wide range of medical equipment where accessibility and comfort can improve care and patient outcomes. Patient applications – such as wheelchair lifts, examination tables, and dentist’s chairs – or clinical ones such as adjustable nurses’ stations and non-contact tonometers used by opticians all – require vertical lift to provide appropriate care and an optimal patient experience.

The latest lifting columns come in a broad range of models with features to match these application needs. Whatever the combination of speed, range of movement, or capacity loading is required, experts in lifting columns deliver solutions that improve equipment performance, cost, and design for doctor and patient benefit.
 

Extension-to-retraction ratio

The Thomson LC series offers speed and performance. For example, the LC2000 can improve machine performance by providing high load capacity and stroke length, which meet the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) legal height requirements while offering the speed needed to maintain efficiency of operation.

The column uses a telescopic lead screw with a nesting three-piece extrusion to enable a small minimum retracted length and great extension-to-retraction ratio. For use in equipment such as wheelchairs, examination tables, and ergonomic workstations, this series provides up to 2,000N loading and, as standard, can operate at 15mm/s to 19mm/s. Custom designed units can also be manufactured for higher speeds, and have been proven up to 25mm/s.
 

High load capacity models

LC3000 is designed for bariatric, chiropractic, and other applications where high load capacity is necessary. The LC3000 uses a ball screw with a three-piece extrusion, which has additional extrusion overlap to allow for extended-length bushings. This design provides a load capacity of up to 3,000N with high moment loading in a compact frame size. The column also has a very short retracted length and the smooth, quiet operation required for medical or home environments.
 

Powerful and quiet

All components within Thomson lifting columns are designed for low, consistent noise and smooth operation to foster a pleasant working environment and help keep patients relaxed and calm. The units use high-performance linear actuators with a noise-dampening cover, making them good for use in medical applications without the need for additional noise attenuation. Each column uses a single motor and screw, ensuring smooth operation and patient comfort, while allowing lower amp draw and longer life.
 

Ergonomically right

Lifting columns are telescopic to maximize the extension-to-retraction ratio and give flexibility in range of movement required to improve patient, doctor, and operator ergonomics. For example, powered wheelchairs built with lifting columns will feature a minimal retracted height making it easier for patients to get into the chair and offering the proper extension, enabling users to reach high objects such as wall cabinets. In addition, examination tables or dentistry chairs can be adjusted to allow patients the ease of getting on the table, and then they can be quickly and smoothly moved to the optimum height, ensuring doctor/dentist comfort and reduced risk of back injuries. Rapid, smooth movement ensures comfort and safety without compromise to the efficiency of patient throughput.
 

Bearing the load

Lifting columns are stand-alone actuators that provide lifting force while handling potential moment loads of up to 400Nm. The design uses engineered-polymer slide bushings to provide column moment loading capability. These bushings slide along the extrusion as the column telescopes and are keyed to enable up to 40% more moment load than alternate designs. A loading brake ensures the load holds, even on power failure, to provide safety for the user.

In applications where there is too much side load for a single column, two or even four units can be synchronized using either a combination of the Thomson encoder and DCG control or any suitable third-party controller. The resulting system offers more stability, load capacity, and moment load capacity as required, while still being easy to install and integrate into the overall machine.

Reducing machine, lifetime costs

The outside of the columns, made with an aluminum extrusion, are designed to be visible. An attractive exterior means that no additional covers or shrouds are required, simplifying the machine design and reducing manufacturing costs. Pre-drilled mounting holes and an end of stroke limits, which require no external limit switches, further ensure an easy-to-mount, cost-effective solution.

The fully enclosed columns use high viscosity grease to prolong life, and they provide 10,000 cycles at full load, giving reliable lifetime performance with no ongoing maintenance or greasing requirements.
 

Best for your application

There are three models of lifting columns from Thomson, offering features and benefits designed to provide the right balance between extension-to-retraction ratio, load capacity, speed, and cost for any given application.

For applications, such as baby incubators, optician testing machines, and mobile carts, where the extension-to-retraction ratio is not as critical, the LC1600 uses a two-piece extrusion to provide stroke lengths of up to 400mm. Featuring a loading capacity of up to 1,600N, it still delivers exceptionally quiet operation.
 

Readily customizable

Thomson lifting columns can be customized to meet precise application requirements. Provisions for higher retracted lengths, mounting plates with customer specific mounting arrangements, special cable lengths, and double or extended bushings to provide greater moment load are all available.

These lifting columns are self-supporting, compact, and produce a smooth, quiet lifting motion for patient peace of mind. They are designed to give the height flexibility required to avoid back injuries and meet high load and extension requirements. All units come as complete systems with an attractive housing, making installation and machine design simpler. In addition, the columns provide rapid movement for the amount of loads they can lift, delivering the required performance without compromise to productivity. The design also means that a single, central column can handle significant moment loads or, if required, multiple columns can be synchronized into an overall machine design.

Choosing the right lifting column ensures that machine builders can get the features they need for their particular application in a solution, which is cost-effective and easy to install, while providing a better overall performance and user experience.

Thomson Industries Inc.
www.thomsonlinear.com

About the author: Kyle Thompson, product line manager for linear systems and can be reached at thomson@thomsonlinear.com.