Inflatable mattress with longitudinally oriented stringers

A method of rolling a patient, comprising:

• providing a transfer mattress comprising:
• a top panel having a perimeter including a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein a central longitudinal axis extends from the proximal edge to the distal edge;
• a bottom panel having a plurality of perforations and a perimeter including a proximal edge and a distal edge, the perimeter of the bottom panel coupled to the perimeter of the top panel;
• and
• an inner stringer and an outer stringer on each side of the central longitudinal axis, wherein a portion of each of the inner stringer and the outer stringer are substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis, wherein
• a portion of the outer stringer extending between the top panel and the bottom panel is at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the top panel and the bottom panel when the transfer mattress is inflated, and
• a portion of the inner stringer extending between the top panel and the bottom panel is at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the top panel and the bottom panel when the transfer mattress is inflated;
• positioning a patient on the top panel of the transfer mattress;
• inflating the transfer mattress;
• applying a downward force on the top panel on a first side of the patient;
• and
• applying a lifting force to the transfer mattress on an opposite side of the patient.

A mattress system comprising:

• a transfer mattress comprising:
• a top panel having a perimeter including a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein a central longitudinal axis extends from the proximal edge to the distal edge;
• a bottom panel having a plurality of perforations and a perimeter including a proximal edge and a distal edge, the perimeter of the bottom panel coupled to the perimeter of the top panel to form a mattress body;
• an outer stringer having a superior edge coupled to the top panel and an inferior edge coupled to the bottom pane such that a portion of the outer stringer extending between the top panel and the bottom panel is at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the top panel and the bottom panel when the mattress body is inflated;
• an inner stringer positioned between the central longitudinal axis and the outer stringer and having a superior edge coupled to the top panel and an inferior edge coupled to the bottom panel such that a portion of the inner stringer extending between the top panel and the bottom panel is at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the top panel and the bottom panel when the mattress body is inflated;
• a first connector coupled to the mattress body;
• a second connector spaced from the first connector and coupled to the mattress body, wherein a longitudinal distance between the first connector and the second connector is the same when the transfer mattress is inflated as when the transfer mattress is deflated;
• and
• an accessory releasably coupled to the first connector and the second connector.