System and method for transferring patients

1. A patient transfer system comprising:

a housing configured to span between a first surface at a first side of the housing and a second surface at a second side of the housing, the housing including:

first and second end members dimensioned to span a distance between the first surface and the second surface; and

first and second side members forming the first and second sides of the housing, the first and second side members attached to the first and second end members;

a bridge positioned within a continuous belt and connected to the first and second end members of the housing, wherein the bridge is configured to support the patient on the continuous belt with a first portion of the continuous belt configured to convey the patient and a second portion of the continuous belt configured to pass through the housing; and

a sheet removably attached to the continuous belt, wherein the sheet comprises a first edge adapted for removable attachment to the second portion of the continuous belt and a second opposing edge configured to be pulled by a worker with a pulling force in order to assist transfer of the patient from the first surface to the second surface on the continuous belt.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sheet has a portion inserted into an opening between the continuous belt and the housing.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the continuous belt does not touch the first surface or the second surface.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous belt is disposed about the bridge in conveying relation with respect to first and second rollers.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the bridge has a support surface at substantially a same height as the first and second rollers.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the support surface comprises a low friction polymer material configured to reduce friction between the support surface and the continuous belt.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous belt is formed of a material configured to conform to and cushion the patient during transfer.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides of the housing each include a transition area defining a slope between a lower portion of the housing and the bridge.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge is formed of a carbon fiber or metal composite fiber material.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sheet comprises a disposable chuck having a strip of adhesive adapted for removable attachment to the continuous belt.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the disposable chuck comprises a sheet of substantially sterile material.

12. A patient transfer apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to span a distance between a first surface and a second surface, the housing including first and second ends dimensioned to span the distance and first and second sides extending between the first and second ends;

a bridge connected between the first and second ends of the housing;

a belt disposed about the bridge, the belt having a first portion configured to convey the patient from the first surface to the second surface and a second portion configured to pass through the housing, wherein the bridge is configured to support the patient on the belt and the belt does not touch the first surface or the second surface;

a disposable sheet removably attached to the belt with a portion inserted between the belt and the housing, wherein the sheet comprises a first edge adapted for removable attachment to the belt and a second opposing edge configured to be pulled by a worker with a pulling force to assist transfer of the patient from the first surface to the second surface.

13. The patient transfer apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the bridge has a support surface at substantially a same height as first and second rollers positioned in conveying relation with respect to the belt.

14. The patient transfer apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a strip of adhesive disposed along the first edge of the disposable sheet and adapted for the removable attachment to the belt.

15. The patient transfer apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the disposable sheet comprises a sheet of substantially sterile material and a reinforcement sheet configured to reinforce the substantially sterile material.

16. The patient transfer apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the disposable sheet further comprises handholds.

17. A method of patient transfer, the method comprising:

inserting a patient transfer device at least partially between a patient and a first surface, the patient transfer device comprising:

a housing configured to span a distance between the first surface at a first side of the housing and a second surface at a second side of the housing;

a bridge supported between the first and second ends of the housing, the first and second ends dimensioned to span the distance; and

a continuous belt disposed about the bridge, the continuous belt having a first portion configured to convey the patient from the first surface to the second surface and a second portion configured to pass through the housing, wherein the bridge is configured to support the patient on the continuous belt;

inserting a portion of a sheet between the second portion of the continuous belt and the housing, the sheet comprising a first edge adapted for removable attachment to the continuous belt and a second opposing edge configured to be pulled by a worker;

pulling on the second edge of the sheet by the worker with a pulling force to assist transfer of the patient from the first surface to the second surface on the continuous belt, wherein the continuous belt does not touch the first surface or the second surface.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sheet is disposable and further comprising removably attaching the disposable sheet to the continuous belt with an adhesive disposed along the first edge.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising rolling the patient in a first direction to insert the patient transfer device, and rolling the patient in a second direction at least partially onto the patient transfer device.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising rolling the patient in the second direction to remove the patient transport device.