The Alternative Names and Identity Evolution of Hoyer Lift: From a Brand Name to an Industry Generic Term

In hospital corridors, nursing home rooms, and even an increasing number of family bedrooms, you may hear caregivers say, "We need to use a Hoyer to get him out of bed." Interestingly, the "Hoyer" they mention usually does not refer to a specific brand, but generally to any lifting equipment used for mechanical assistance in transferring patients. This phenomenon is similar to people using "Xerox" to mean copying and "Kleenex" to mean tissue—Hoyer Lift has evolved from a registered trademark to a synonym for patient transfer equipment.

This article will delve into the naming origin of Hoyer Lift, its common alternative names around the world, hoyer lift known as the reasons why it has become an industry generic term, and the history of medical assistive devices reflected behind this phenomenon.

Origin: Hoyer is a Person's Name

"Hoyer" is not a word created out of thin air, but derived from its inventor, Ted Hoyer. In the late 1950s, this engineer from Minnesota, the United States, designed the world's first practical hydraulic patient lift to help his mobility-impaired relative transfer safely. In 1960, he founded Hoyer Corporation and began the commercial production of this equipment.

Due to its simple and reliable design, which significantly reduced the risk of back injuries for caregivers, Hoyer lifts were quickly adopted by hospitals and nursing homes, and became the leading brand in the North American market over the following decades.

From Brand to Generic Term: Why Do People Call It "Hoyer"?

In the field of medical assistive devices, Hoyer Lift has a very high popularity, especially in English-speaking countries. hoyer lift known as Over time, medical staff, patients' family members, and even insurance companies have habitually referred to any type of patient lift as "a Hoyer" or "the Hoyer".

This linguistic phenomenon is called "genericization of a trademark". When a brand occupies an absolute market position in a certain type of product, its name may be used by the public as a general term for that type of product.

Although Hoyer Corporation (now a brand under Arjo) has been making efforts to protect its trademark rights, the use of "Hoyer" as a generic term in daily spoken language has become deeply ingrained.

Common Alternative Names of Hoyer Lift Around the World

Although "Hoyer" is well-known in the English-speaking world, this type of equipment has its own names in different languages and cultures:

English-speaking Countries (the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, etc.)

The Hoyer (the most common in spoken language)

Patient lift (formal term)

Mechanical lift (emphasizing the mechanical attribute)

Sling lift (highlighting the use of a sling)

Example: A nurse says, "We need to Hoyer Mr. Smith to the commode."

Spanish-speaking Countries

Elevador para pacientes (patient lift)

Grúa para traslado (transfer crane)

Sometimes transliterated as "el hoier" in spoken language, but it is informal.

French-speaking Countries

Lève-personne (literally meaning "person lifter")

Transférateur mécanique (mechanical transfer device)

It is worth noting that in emerging markets such as China and India, the term "Hoyer" is often mistakenly regarded as a general term for all lifts. Even the packaging of some domestic equipment will be marked with "Hoyer-type lift", although it has nothing to do with the original brand.

Current Industry Situation: Where is the Hoyer Brand Now?

In 2007, Hoyer Corporation was acquired by Huntleigh Healthcare, a British company; in 2018, hoyer lift known as Huntleigh was fully acquired by Arjo, a Swedish medical technology giant. Today, as a core sub-brand under Arjo, "Hoyer" continues to sell a variety of electric, manual, and ceiling track lifts around the world.

Although there are already strong competitors in the market such as Stryker, Invacare, Handicare, and Guldmann, "Hoyer" is still the most recognizable name. Arjo's official website still retains hoyer.com as the product entry, which shows the profound heritage of this brand.

Why is This Naming Phenomenon Worth Paying Attention To?

Affecting purchasing decisions: When home users search for "Hoyer lift", they may inadvertently only see the original brand's high-priced products and ignore compatible models with higher cost performance.

Causing confusion: When repairing or purchasing accessories, if only "Hoyer sling" is mentioned, it may not match the interface of non-original equipment.

Reflecting insufficient market education: Many people do not know that there are various types of "patient lifts" (floor-mounted, ceiling-mounted, portable), and only make judgments based on the term "Hoyer".

Therefore, professionals often suggest using "patient lift" or specific models in formal communication, and avoiding relying on brand nicknames.

Conclusion: One Name, a History of Care

"Hoyer Lift" is not just a machine, but a history of humanistic care spanning more than half a century. hoyer lift known as From the first prototype designed by Ted Hoyer for his family to the millions of safe transfers around the world today, its name has long transcended the commercial scope and become a symbol of safety, dignity, and the progress of care.

Even if the term "Hoyer" gradually returns to its original brand meaning in the future, the concept it represents—using technology to reduce the burden of manual labor and making every transfer full of respect—will continue to guide the development direction of patient mobility assistive devices.