Patient transfer device

1. A patient support device, comprising:

a first side for contacting a surface, including a perimeter portion and an inner portion;

a second side for contacting a patient, including a perimeter portion and an inner portion;

at least one baffle interconnected between the first and second sides, the at least one baffle including a first edge adjacent the first side, the first edge having a substantially concave shape relative to the surface;

an unloaded state including the perimeter portion of the first side being in contact with the surface, and the inner portion of the first side being spaced a first distance away from the surface; and

a loaded state including the perimeter portion of the first side being in contact with the surface, and the inner portion of the first side being spaced a second distance away from the surface, the second distance being less than the first distance.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle further includes:

a second edge adjacent the second side; and

first and second lateral edges.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one baffle is a plurality of baffles.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of baffles includes baffles interconnected between the first side and the second side at different angles with respect to the first side.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the unloaded state further includes the inner portion of the second side spaced a third distance away from the surface; and

the loaded state further includes the inner portion of the second side spaced a fourth distance away from the surface, the fourth distance is less than the third distance.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is inflatable and the first side includes a plurality of apertures formed therein.

7. The device of claim 1 , further including:

a first pontoon portion forming a part of the perimeter portion of the first side and forming a part of the perimeter portion of the second side; and

a second pontoon portion forming a part of the perimeter portion of the first side and forming a part of the perimeter portion of the second side.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the first and second pontoon portions are substantially round having respective widths that are greater than a distance between the first side and the second side when in the unloaded and loaded states.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first side includes a first sheet having a perimeter edge and a first lateral width;

the second side includes a second sheet having a perimeter edge and a second lateral width, the second lateral width being less than the first lateral width; and

the perimeter of the first sheet is joined to the perimeter of the second sheet.

10. An inflatable patient transfer mattress, comprising:

a patient support portion including a first side adjacent a patient and a second adjacent a supporting surface and a second side adjacent a patient;

a first pontoon disposed on a first lateral side of the patient supporting portion;

a second pontoon disposed on a second lateral side of the patient supporting portion;

a plurality of tethers disposed laterally between the first and second pontoons and between the first side and the second side of the patient support portion, wherein the plurality of tethers includes at least one baffle including a first edge having a substantially concave shape relative to the surface;

an unloaded state including the first and second pontoons being in contact with the surface, and the first side of the patient support portion being spaced a first distance away from the surface; and

a loaded state including the first and second pontoons being in contact with the surface, and the first side of the patient support portion being spaced a second distance away from the surface, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

11. The mattress of claim 10 , wherein:

the unloaded state further includes the second side of the patient support portion being spaced a third distance away from the surface; and

the loaded state further includes the second side being spaced of the patient support portion spaced a fourth distance away from the surface, the fourth distance being smaller than the third distance.

12. The mattress of claim 11 , wherein the mattress is configured to transition from the unloaded state to the loaded state.

13. The mattress of claim 10 , wherein the at least one baffle includes:

the first edge adjacent the first side;

a second edge adjacent the second side; and

first and second lateral edges.

14. The mattress of claim 10 , wherein the first side includes a plurality of apertures formed therein configured to permit gas to escape from within an interior of the mattress and form a gas bearing between the first side and the surface.

15. The mattress of claim 14 , wherein the gas bearing is substantially enclosed by the first and second pontoons when the mattress is in the unloaded and loaded states.

16. The mattress of claim 14 , wherein the gas is air.

17. The mattress of claim 10 , wherein the at least one baffle is a plurality of baffles, at least two of the plurality of baffles interconnected between the first and second sides at different angles with respect to the first side.

18. The mattress of claim 10 , wherein:

the first side includes a first sheet having a perimeter edge and a first lateral width;

the second side includes a second sheet having a perimeter edge and a second lateral width, the second lateral width being less than the first lateral width; and

the a perimeter of the first sheet is joined to the perimeter of the second sheet.

19. The mattress of claim 10 , wherein the pontoons are void of tethers.

20. A patient support mattress, comprising:

a first bottom sheet for contacting a surface and having a first perimeter and a first width;

a second top sheet for contacting a patient and having a second perimeter and a second width, the second width being smaller than the first width;

the first perimeter joined to the second perimeter forming a first pontoon, forming a second pontoon, forming a patient support portion, and defining an internal plenum; and

a plurality of baffles, each having a first substantially concave edge UP from the first bottom sheet and disposed adjacent and joined to the first bottom sheet, a second substantially linear edge disposed adjacent and joined to the second top sheet, and first and second lateral edges.