Described is a patient transfer mattress for lifting and transferring patients. The patient transfer mattress can be used in a gentle and pressure ulcer preventative approach. Also described is a method for lifting and/or transferring a patient using a patient transfer mattress.

The present invention provides a combined patient handling and surgical positioning system for use with a mechanical lift for positioning a patient on a surgical table. A pad assembly has a base with a top surface. The base has a plurality of handles attached thereto. The handles have openings defined therein. A foam top is fixedly mounted to the top surface of the base. At least one strap is attached to the pad assembly. The pad assembly is configured to prevent bunching when lifting or repositioning the patient during surgical table positioning changes required during surgery and the pad assembly is configured for movement in multiple directions during surgery. An elongate support member is configured to extend through the openings in the plurality of handles on the pad assembly. A plurality of lifting slings are configured to removably attach to the elongate support bar to the mechanical lift in a surgical theater.

A bed pad device is disclosed, wherein the device is comprised of a generally rectangular body with at least one strap on either side of the body that may contain a hook or loop surface. An invalid user may be placed on top of the device, wherein the strap on the left side of the body is designed to meet the corresponding strap on the right side of the body, when the device is folded over itself, thereby forming a hollow cylindrical shape. The hook and loop surfaces of the straps may then be pressed together, forming a bond which holds the device together and secures the user in a desired position. Further, the straps can be wrapped around the railing of a bed, such that the position of the invalid user can be secured.

A patient turning sheet includes a flexible rectangular bottom sheet that has a surface area sized to support the majority of the body of a person lying on the patient turning sheet. A flexible rectangular top sheet is sewn to the bottom sheet and has a surface area less than the surface area of the bottom sheet. The top sheet is sewn to the bottom sheet, offset toward the head end of the turning sheet to be positioned at the area of maximum contact and load of the patient on the turning sheet. A foam pad is disposed between the bottom sheet and the top sheet that is relatively less flexible than the bottom or top sheets.

A system for use with a bed having a frame and a supporting surface includes a sheet having a bottom surface placed above the supporting surface of the bed, a top surface, and a plurality of tether straps connected to and extending from the sheet. Each tether strap is configured for connection to the bed. The bottom surface is at least partially formed of a low friction material, and the top surface is at least partially formed of a high friction material, such that the top surface provides greater slipping resistance than the bottom surface. The tether straps include at least two pairs of tether straps, with one pair connected proximate a top edge of the sheet and another pair connected proximate a bottom edge of the sheet. The sheet may further include a sliding member on the bottom surface to assist in lateral sliding of the sheet.

A rescue strap is provided with a plurality of strap loops that wraps around the torso of a patient and is fed through one of the strap loops to make a girth hitch around the patient's torso. The rescue strap then wraps around the patient's upper legs and through another strap loop making another girth hitch to lift from the hips.

A portable patient turning device is provided comprising an inflatable mattress cover having a planar surface configured to substantially cover the surface of a bed, and a control unit connected to the inflatable mattress cover by one or more air hoses. The inflatable mattress cover further comprises a first inflatable chamber proximate to and extending along a left edge of the planar surface, a second inflatable chamber proximate to and extending along a right edge of the planar surface, and a spine cushion positioned between the first inflatable chamber and the second inflatable chamber and extending along a middle portion of the planar surface for at least a portion of the length of the first inflatable chamber and second inflatable chamber.

A method for turning and positioning a patient includes placing a sheet under the patient, the sheet including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a first strap coupled proximate to the first lateral side, and a second strap coupled proximate to the second lateral side, and providing a pulling force to the first strap and the second strap, wherein the pulling force to the first strap and the pulling force to the second strap are in opposing directions across the patient. The pulling force to the first strap is greater than the pulling force to the second strap whereby the pulling force to the first handle causes movement of the patient in the direction of the pulling force to move the patient from a first position to a second position, and the pulling force to the second handle is a resistance force.

Methods using a motor, and a rolling tube or rod of sufficient strength to apply a pull force on one side of a sheet on the bed with the patient lying on the sheet to help pull up the patient on his bed or turn patients on his side with little manual effort. Patients having mobility issues under care in homes, nursing-homes or hospitals have to be regularly pulled up and turned on their sides to make them comfortable and to avoid formation of bed sores among other reasons. Currently this is done manually by nurses or caregivers. These simple but strenuous operation has been the cause of back problems for many caregivers. The current method is a way to reduce or eliminate this cause of injury to caregivers by providing a mechanized help for the operations.

The present invention relates to a system and method for sacral and trochanteric support and off-loading. The system provides a ultra low pressure plenum and a positioner. The patient body size and size and corresponding surface area of the positioner control the amount of gas which is displaced evenly against the walls of the ultra low pressure plenum to allow the combination of the ultra low pressure plenum and the positioner to slightly lift a patient from a bed surface, thereby offloading the sacrum and trochanter. The positioner can be an ultra low pressure bladder.