Portable patient turning and lifting device

A patient turning and lifting device comprising:

• a body support with at least one inflatable turning bladder and at least one inflatable support pad configured to lie beneath the patient, and configured to securely position the turning bladder between a body of a patient and a patient supporting surface,
• wherein the body support comprises a plurality of support pads including a backpad and a side rail on each side of the backpad spaced to closely match the width of a patient's torso to provide lateral support to the patient;
• and
• wherein the support pads also include a saddle at one end of the backpad, positioned between the side rails and having an elevated surface configured to contact the thighs or buttocks of a patient in the body support to prevent longitudinal sliding of the patient relative to the body support.

A patient turning and lifting device comprising:

• a body support with at least one inflatable turning bladder and at least one inflatable support pad configured to lie beneath the patient, and configured to securely position the turning bladder between a body of a patient and a patient supporting surface,
• wherein the body support comprises a plurality of support pads including a backpad and a side rail on each side of the backpad spaced to closely match the width of a patient's torso to provide lateral support to the patient;
• and
• wherein the backpad further comprises a recess for supporting the buttocks of a patient.

A method of turning a patient comprising:

• providing a body support having left and right inflatable turning bladders and at least one inflatable support pad configured to lie beneath the patient;
• placing the body support beneath a patient on a supporting surface so that the inflatable turning bladders are situated between the patient supporting surface and the patient and the left and right bladders coincide with left and right sides of the patient's torso;
• alternatingly inflating the left and right inflation bladders to move the body of the patient from the patient supporting surface;
• wherein the support pad comprises an inflatable bladder and the support pad is inflated to help support the patient's body away from the patient supporting surface;
• and
• wherein the support pad further comprises a saddle that is inflated and deflated in sequence with the left and right turning bladders to insure that the sacrum of a patient's torso is maintained away from the patient supporting surface.