Systems for patient transfer, devices for movement of a patient, and methods for transfering a patient for treatment

A method of moving a patient relative to a support surface comprising the steps of:

• positioning a patient on an upper surface of a generally planar support structure of a patient transfer sled;
• inflating with air at least one air cushion at least partially disposed in at least one pocket formed in a bottom surface of the generally planar support structure of the patent transfer sled and causing the patient and the generally planar support structure to be at least substantially entirely supported over a surface underlying the patient transfer sled by the at least one air cushion;
• flowing pressurized air from an air source through at least one air passageway extending through the support structure, into the at least one air cushion, and out from the at least one air cushion through a plurality of holes extending through a flexible material of the at least one air cushion adjacent the surface underlying the patient transfer sled;
• tailoring the flow of pressurized air to form a sheet of flowing air between the flexible material of the at least one air cushion and the adjacent surface underlying the patient transfer sled;
• and
• sliding the patient transfer sled with the patient thereon relative to the surface underlying the patient transfer sled on the sheet of flowing air.

A patient transport system comprising:

• a table having an at least substantially planar upper surface;
• a bridge attached to the table, the bridge comprising an at least substantially planar surface that may be oriented laterally adjacent to and at least substantially coplanar with the at least substantially planar upper surface of the table;
• a patient transfer sled supported on the at least substantially planar upper surface of the table, the patient transfer sled comprising:
• a generally planar support structure having a first major surface for supporting a patient thereon and an opposing second major surface;
• at least one pocket formed in the second major surface;
• at least one air cushion at least partially disposed in the at least one pocket, the at least one air cushion comprising a flexible material having a plurality of holes extending therethrough;
• and
• at least one air passageway extending through the support structure from an air portal to the at least one pocket and into the at least one air cushion;
• and
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the air portal and configured to supply air to the at least one air cushion through the at least one air passageway.