Lateral transfer mattress and rotational positioning device

An inflatable transfer mattress, comprising:

• a top panel;
• a bottom panel having a perimeter sealingly coupled to a perimeter of the top panel to define an internal volume therebetween, wherein the internal volume is configured to receive a first air flow therein, wherein the first air flow is configured to inflate the internal volume to support a patient in contact with the top panel;
• and
• a plurality of inflatable pontoons positioned within the internal volume, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is configured to be transitioned from a deflated state in which each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons are flat to an inflated state in which each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons define a cylindrical cross-section by a second air flow, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is coupled to the top panel along a first line and the bottom panel along a second line, and wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is coupled to an adjacent one of the plurality inflatable pontoons, and wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is fluidically isolated from the internal volume, and wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is configured to act as a stringer when in a deflated state.

A method of positioning a patient, comprising:

• positioning an inflatable transfer mattress on a first surface, the inflatable transfer mattress comprising a top panel, a bottom panel having a perimeter sealingly coupled to a perimeter of the top panel to define an internal volume therebetween, wherein the internal volume is configured to receive a first air flow configured to inflate the internal volume to support a patient in contact with the top panel, and a plurality of inflatable pontoons positioned within the internal volume, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is configured to be transitioned from a deflated state in which each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons are flat to an inflated state in which each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons define a cylindrical cross-section, and wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is fluidically isolated from the internal volume, wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is configured to receive a second air flow configured to inflate at least one of the plurality of inflatable pontoons, and wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is configured to act as a stringer when in a deflated state;
• positioning a patient on the inflatable transfer mattress;
• and
• inflating a first set of the plurality of inflatable pontoons to rotate the patient to a first predetermined rotational angle with respect to the top panel of the inflatable transfer mattress, wherein the first set of the plurality of inflatable pontoons is inflated by an air supply coupled to a valve formed integrally with an air flow path of the first set of the plurality of inflatable pontoons.