The Handicare AP-450 is a ceiling lift system designed to assist healthcare professionals and caregivers in lifting, positioning, and transferring individuals in homes, institutions, and long-term care facilities. It aims to provide safe, dignified, and comfortable transfers for mobility-impaired individuals while minimizing caregiver strain and risk. The system is designed to be easily moved manually along a track by a caregiver.
Function Description
The AP-450 lift is a motorized unit that raises and lowers an individual directly from above. It is part of a larger ceiling lift system that includes:
- Lift: The motorized unit itself.
- Track: A custom-tailored and securely mounted track (to a ceiling structure, wall, or floor) that provides the path for the lift to traverse.
- Trolley: Mounted inside the track, the trolley has wheels that allow the lift to move along the track. The lift attaches to the trolley via its carabiner and the trolley's eyelet.
- Sling: A specially designed fabric accessory that attaches to the lift's carry bar to hold and support an individual for positioning or transfer.
The AP-450 is a portable ceiling lift, meaning it can be easily moved from one track location to another. Its functions, such as lifting up or down, are controlled by pressing buttons on a digital Hand Control attached to the lift. The lift remains on the track when in use.
Important Technical Specifications
- Lift Motor: 24 VDC
- Charger: Soneil, PS2403SRM26. Input: 100-240 VAC 0.35 Amps, 50-60 Hz. Output: 24 VDC, 1.33 Amps. Only this specific charger model is compatible.
- Batteries: 24 VDC (20 x 1.2 VDC) 4.0 AH, Nickel Metal Hydride.
- Lift Case: Flame Retardant ABS.
- Hand Control IP Rating: IPX6 (Protected against water jets) and IPX7 (Protected against temporary immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes).
- Main Unit IP Rating: IP23 (Protected against access to hazardous parts by finger, protected against vertically falling as a spray up to 60 degrees from vertical).
- Lifting Range: Up to 77 inches (1960mm).
- Lift Weight: 12.2 lb (5.5 kg).
- Maximum Safe Working Load (SWL): 450 lb (204.5 kg). The SWL is determined by the product label on the bottom of the lift.
- Duty Cycle: 1 Minute On - 9 Minutes Off.
- Max Sound Level: Raising Max load 50 dB, Lowering Max load 50 dB on a lift in good working order.
- Service Life: 22,500 cycles or 10 years, whichever comes earlier. The lifting strap should be replaced every 5000 cycles, 3 years, or when wear indicators are grey, whichever comes earlier.
- Usage Environmental Conditions: Temperature: +10° to +35° C (50 to 95 °F). Relative Humidity: 10 to 85% RH. Atmospheric Pressure: 700 to 1010 hPa.
- Storage Environmental Conditions: Temperature: -20° to +40° C (5 to 104 °F). Relative Humidity: 10 to 90% RH. Atmospheric Pressure: 250 to 1010 hPa.
- Rated Performance: 110 lifts at 275 lb (125 kg) or 55 lifts at 450 lb (204 kg), both in the middle of the lifting range (from 54" to 30" visible strap), with a 1 min ON - 9 min OFF duty cycle per charge.
- Strap Safety Factor: Minimum safety factor of 6 in terms of break load.
- Safety Features: "Free Fall" protection system, upper and lower limits, visual "Error" status display, self-locking hand control locking mechanism.
Usage Features
- Hand Control Operation: The digital Hand Control allows for lift motion control, displays active lift status, and provides usage data and diagnostics. It has scroll up/down and OK buttons, and up/down buttons for lift movement. The Hand Control operates in two modes: Control Mode (for command icons and status display) and Diagnostic/Information Mode (for usage and diagnostic information).
- Pivoting Hooks: The AP-450 features hooks that can be turned upwards for storage and transport. For lifting, the hooks must always be in the "DOWN" position.
- Tilt Control: Equipped with a tilt sensor, the lift restricts upward movement if it tilts past a certain angle, requiring adjustment. Tilt should be avoided during transfers.
- Front Cover Membrane: In addition to the Hand Control, the lift can be controlled via a membrane on its front cover, which includes Up/Down and Emergency Down buttons, and an indicator light.
- Charging: The lift charges through a barrel connection on the hand control cable. An indicator light on the bottom cover membrane shows charging status (orange for charging, green for fully charged). The lift can only be charged when the emergency stop switch is in the ON position. The charger has a built-in regulator to prevent overcharging.
- Low Battery Indication: When batteries are low (25%), the indicator lights orange, an audible alarm sounds, and the Hand Control displays "Low Battery." If fully discharged, the indicator lights red, an audible alarm sounds, and the Hand Control displays "Very low battery." In a very low battery state, the UP function is disabled, but Down and Emergency Down functions still operate.
- Emergency Stop: A red Emergency Stop Switch on the back of the lift immediately cuts all power. To lower a patient after an emergency stop, the Emergency Down button on the lift's membrane can be used.
- Emergency Lowering: This system allows lowering the lift if the Hand Control and lift membrane Down buttons fail. Pressing and holding the Emergency Down button on the lift's membrane bypasses other control circuitry to safely lower an individual. An audible alarm sounds when pressed.
- Mounting to Track: The AP-450 can be easily mounted and removed from the trolley with four possible connection types: Standard, Reacher Arm, Lanyard, and Lanyard with Reacher Arm.
- Manual Traversing: As a manual ceiling lift, it is moved along the track by gently pushing the lift or the individual in the sling.
- X-Y System Compatibility: The lift can be used with Handicare X-Y systems featuring two parallel support tracks and a traversing beam, allowing for greater movement and positioning ability within a coverage area.
Maintenance Features
- Regular Inspection: The AP-450 requires regular inspection and maintenance to ensure optimum function.
- Each Use (User): Visual inspection of the lift, track, accessories, and slings for unusual wear or damage, fraying/breaking of the lift strap and its stitching, kinked/twisted/damaged Hand Control cable, proper function of Hand Control, absence of cuts/dents/sharp edges on hooks, absence of unusual sounds during movement, and presence of end stops on the track.
- Monthly (User): Complete the "Each Use" visual inspection and check that the lift moves freely along the entire track without a sling or load.
- Semi-Annually (User): For high-frequency use (over 1500 lifts/year) or heavy clients, maintenance should be completed every 6 months. This includes checking emergency stopping/lowering, inspecting hooks and exterior for damage, checking the entire length of the strap for fraying/breaking, verifying Hand Control and Control Membrane functions, checking for unusual sounds, verifying automatic stop at top/bottom limits, checking automatic stop when strap is angled, and verifying proper charging indication.
- Annually (Qualified Service Technician): A qualified service technician must inspect the AP-450 system, documenting service history. This includes completing the "Monthly" inspection and the preventive maintenance procedure outlined in the AP-450 Technical Manual.
- Recurrent Performance and Safety Testing: A table outlines essential performance parameters, testing methods, and frequencies (e.g., annual load tests, every use pre-lifting inspections, semi-annual/annual preventive maintenance by trained technicians).
- Cleaning and Disinfection:
- Lift: Clean and disinfect the exterior of the lift (including hooks) with isopropyl alcohol. No other chemicals or liquids should be used. Liquids must not get inside the lift unit as it is not watertight or drip-proof.
- Anti-Microbial Strap: The strap features a specialized antimicrobial coating. It should be disinfected using an accelerated hydrogen peroxide disinfecting product.
- Accessories: Follow cleaning and disinfecting instructions provided with each accessory.
- Preventive Maintenance Alert: The lift provides audible/visual alerts for preventive maintenance. A Preventive Maintenance Form should be completed before resetting the lift counter, with instructions detailed in the AP-450 Service/Spare Parts Manual.
- Decommissioning: AP-450 lifts should be decommissioned/disposed of after a recommended 10-year service life or 22,500 cycles (whichever comes earlier), following regional component-specific disposal recommendations.
General
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