More Comfort for Physicians and Patients

Koblenz, September 2009. – Whether the physician is standing up or the patient lying down – STABILUS gas springs provide countless types of specialized furniture in hospitals, doctor’s offices and rehab clinics with maximum mobility and functionality. For example, the locking gas springs in the BLOC-O-LIFT series work safely and silently and are maintenance-free. They are used as design elements in multi-functional operating tables and height-adjustable physician’s chairs, as well as in modern nursing home beds and mobile walkers. Through a piston-valve system, they provide force-assist in the adjusting and variable locking of movable furniture parts, making things easier for the user. Depending on the model, the locking can be unyielding or elastic. These gas pressure springs cover a variety of applications in medical technology; they often are a staple in massage tables, monitor brackets, or wheelchairs.

Overload impossible

Designers of medical technology love using two “specialists” in this series: The BLOC‑O‑LIFT OR and the BLOC-O-LIFT OBT. The OR model provides an override function, protecting the furniture from overload in both the tension and compression directions. In rehab or hospital beds, this gas spring can serve as a movable, positionable connecting element between the head or foot section and a bed’s main section. The OBT (Over Bed Table) model is frequently installed in patient tables. It will allow variable height adjustment with rigid locking in the compression direction, with the upward movement of the table top not requiring a manual actuation mechanism. Its purpose: This will increase ease of operation for the patient and, at the same time, allow fast lifting of the table top by medical staff in an emergency. The self-supporting BLOC-O-LIFT column for height adjustment of dentist’s or physician’s stools by means of a foot pedal is also widely used in medical technology.

Variable and concise adjustment

Another successful product for the manufacture of special medical/therapeutic furniture is the HYDRO-LIFT. This non-locking gas spring is a popular design element where movable furniture parts need to be lifted or lowered into defined positions. In addition to the force-assist, it is characterized by a piston package with a valve-closing mechanism. It allows variable positioning of a furniture part over its entire adjustment range or, optionally, by pre-defined sections of the gas spring stroke – and holds the part in place without mechanical actuation. Within certain limits, this gas spring can also compensate for major weight fluctuations. Some of the application areas for the HYDRO-LIFT are the variable tilt adjustment of foot sections in hospital beds and the free positioning of monitor brackets. This gas pressure spring is also ideal for easy chairs.

The gas springs can be integrated into the planned design using different end fittings. The CAD Simulator on the new STABILUS website can help with this task. Like all products from STABILUS, BLOC-O-LIFT and HYDRO-LIFT are quality products manufactured according to the specifications of DIN EN ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, and EMAS environmental requirements.

467 words/ 3843 characters (incl. spaces)

Note to editors: Text and pictures are available on the Internet at www.pr-box.de !