Semi-rigid air pallet type patient mover

An air pallet type patient mover, formed principally by top, intermediate and bottom thin flexible sheets sealed together about their edges and defining a plenum chamber between the intermediate and bottom sheets and a backing member cavity between the top sheet and the intermediate sheet with a semi-rigid backing member within the cavity, supports a patient. Low pressure air within the plenum chamber jacks the load and is discharged through pin hole type perforations within the bottom sheet to create a thin air film. Foam strips within the plenum chamber and extending over a substantial lengthwise extent of the plenum chamber insures air distribution through the plenum chamber. Further, foam strips may be positioned within one of the plenum chamber and the backing member cavity along the sides thereof and outside of the semi-rigid sheet to effect padding and eliminate sharp edges which may interfere with X-ray radiation. The pattern of pin hole type perforations may extend only over the head end of the patient mover bottom thin flexible sheet, with a sealed loop area at the center of the foot end about which air flows to jack the patient's legs to the same level as the patient' s torso. Wedge-shaped pillow and foot sections may carry hook and loop type fastener strips end. U-shaped pull straps may be fixed to respective sides of the patient mover.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an air pallet type patient mover, and 
more particularly, to a semi-rigid patient mover for facilitating transfer 
of patients to and from hospital beds, gurneys, operating tables, X-ray 
equipment and the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an outgrowth of the air pallet and air bearing 
patient mover development set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,344 entitled 
"LOW COST AIR LET MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM" issued Apr. 6, 1976, and 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,856 entitled "DISPOSABLE AIR-BEARING PATIENT MOVER AND 
VALVE EMPLOYED THEREIN" issued June 16, 1981, both assigned to the common 
assignee. 
Planar air pallets of such type employ at least one flexible material 
bottom sheet for partially defining a plenum chamber with said one sheet 
being perforated, as by way of small pin holes, literally in the 
thousands, over a surface area defined by the imprint of the load, which 
pin holes face an underlying, generally fixed planar support surface, and 
wherein the pin holes open unrestrictedly to the interior of the plenum 
chamber. When the plenum chamber, formed by top and bottom thin flexible 
sheets, is pressurized by low pressure air, the underlying sheet is in 
contact over the complete extent of the pin holes with the generally 
planar support surface. Initially in the air pallet or air pallet type 
patient mover, the flexible film sheets act like a balloon, and the 
accumulation of air under pressure initially jacks the load above the top 
flexible sheet to a given height, whereby the bottom flexible sheet in 
following the same causes the first row or rows of perforations to lift 
off the underlying planar support surface, while air also passes through 
all of the perforations and creates a frictionless air bearing of 
relatively small height between the underlying support surface and the 
bottom of the perforated flexible sheet. An equilibrium position is 
reached where a given number of the perforations rise away from the rigid 
support structure to permit the air to escape freely from the plenum 
chamber to the atmosphere and jacking of the load ceases, with the air 
bearing maintained. 
In all air pallets, including patient movers, it is necessary to provide 
controlled pillowing of the flexible film or films which may totally or 
partially define the plenum chamber and to thus establish, by jacking the 
load to a predetermined height, the ability of the air pallet to ride over 
the surface projections on the underlying support surface. At the same 
time, excess pressurization of the plenum chamber may cause ballooning of 
the thin flexible sheet or sheets to an extent where tilting occurs and 
the load may roll off of the top of the air pallet (or patient mover). 
When the load rests on the air pallet prior to pressurization of the plenum 
chamber, the load tends to press the perforated flexible sheet in contact 
with the underlying support surface (floor). This prevents the entry of 
air under light pressure into the plenum chamber and subsequent escape of 
the air through the perforations to create the air bearing. Air dispersion 
means are required either interiorly or exteriorly of the plenum chamber, 
to insure pressurization of the plenum chamber, jacking of the load and 
subsequent creation of the air bearing. While the air pallet type patient 
mover of U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,856 has operated satisfactorily, particularly 
in moving a patient placed thereon and from relatively rigid underlying 
support surfaces such as those defined by an operating table or a wheeled 
transport gurney, such patient movers do not have universal application in 
hospitals, and particular requirements must be met for utilizing air 
pallet type patient movers peculiar to operating room requirements, X-ray 
machines, and apparatus where the patient is maintained in positions other 
than flat. In all such applications, it must be kept in mind that the 
patient's body is of irregular configuration in addition to the fact that 
the mass of the patient is also irregularly distributed, i.e. the central 
torso is much heavier than the head at one end or the legs at the opposite 
end of the torso. Care must be taken to insure the patient's comfort 
during transport, and while on the operating table, X-ray machine support, 
etc. 
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an 
improved air bearing type patient mover which is particularly applicable 
for moving the patient to and from various underlying generally rigid 
support surfaces, particularly where those surfaces may be changed to and 
from a flat horizontal configuration, where the air bearing surface area 
is matched to the mass geography of the patient, wherein the patient mover 
includes means for ready hand grasping from either side to facilitate 
effortless movement of the patient on the patient mover supported by the 
air bearing defined by the perforated pattern area, and wherein air 
distribution to the plenum chamber, jacking of the patient, and the 
creation of a frictionless air film bearing beneath and bottom thin 
flexible sheet and at the perforated pattern area is assured.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In the various embodiments of the patient mover within the application, 
like numerals are employed for like elements. 
There is shown, in FIGS. 1 and 2, a patient mover, indicated generally at 
10, for use with a heart catheter machine, only a flat planar support 
member 12 of that machine being illustrated and providing a generally 
fixed planar support surface 14. The patient mover 10 is formed 
principally of an upper or top thin flexible sheet 16, a middle or 
intermediate thin flexible sheet 18, and a bottom thin flexible sheet 20. 
A semi-rigid sheet or board 22, which may be formed of plastic or the 
like, is positioned within a pocket 24 formed by the top thin flexible 
sheet and the intermediate thin flexible sheet 18 and defines a generally 
rigid backing member. The thin flexible sheets, as at 16, 18, 20, may be 
formed of an electrically conductive sheet material, such as that 
manufactured by the Herculite Corporation under the trademark LECTROLITE. 
This material is particularly useful in the manufacture of medical 
products for hospital use and is constituted by a nylon scrim with a vinyl 
coating on both sides thereof so as to embed the scrim within the vinyl. 
As such, it is impossible to have static electricity build up on the 
patient mover 10. 
Preferably, the thin flexible sheets 16, 18 and 20 are sewn or otherwise 
line sealed together at predetermined positions, to join the sheets and 
particularly to create sealed chambers or cavities therebetween. The 
chamber or cavity 24, which is open at one end and formed between the top 
thin flexible sheet 16 and the middle thin flexible sheet 18, permits the 
sliding entry and removal of the semi-rigid plastic sheet or board 22. 
Additionally, between the intermediate or middle sheet 18 and the bottom 
thin flexible sheet 20, there is formed a plenum chamber indicated 
generally at 26. Stitching, whether single or double, as indicated 
generally at 28, is formed preferably of conductive thread such as a 
conductive nylon resin thread. Alternatively, the thin flexible sheets may 
be heat sealed together by localized aligned application of heat to 
thermobond the sheets along given lines. 
It should be noted that the patient mover 10 is quite similar in many 
respects to that shown in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive of prior application Ser. 
No. 612,836 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,704. In that respect, the semi-rigid 
sheet 22 is of a width less than the width of the plenum chamber 26 
although it may be laterally sized perfectly to chamber 24 defined by top 
thin flexible sheet 16 and intermediate thin flexible sheet 18. The 
purpose of this, as in accordance with pending application Ser. No. 
612,836, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,704 is to leave gaps 29 of approximately 
one-half inch to each side of the plenum chamber 26 running longitudinally 
of the patient mover 10, whereupon, if the load (patient) were 
sufficiently narrow as to cover laterally the extent of the patient mover 
equal to the width of the semi-rigid sheet 22, the areas defined by gaps 
29 to each side within the plenum chamber and laterally to respective 
sides of the thin flexible sheet 18, outwardly of the sides of the 
semi-rigid sheet 22, function as internal air distribution means to insure 
full air pressurization of plenum chamber 26 prior to the formation of the 
air bearing A. In that respect, the bottom thin flexible sheet 20 is 
provided with a central area of pin hole type perforations as at 30 which 
open unrestrictedly internally to the plenum chamber 26 and to the outside 
of the bottom thin flexible sheet 20. 
Where the patient mover 10 is employed in supporting the patient on the 
heat catheter apparatus and specifically on support member 12, the patient 
mover is required to be moved axially along its longitudinal axis, i.e. 
into and out of the plane of the paper FIGS. 1 and 2. Under normal 
circumstances, where the load is not wider than the rigid backing member, 
the semi-rigid sheet 22 functioning as the rigid backing member for the 
patient P, the flow is maintained through the plenum chamber of air from a 
source indicated generally by arrow 32 and through an inlet tube 34 of the 
plenum chamber at one end. The air flow tends to move quickly through the 
plenum chamber, jacking up the load, i.e. the patient P, and creating an 
air bearing by the escape of air as at A, FIG. 2. 
If the plenum chamber is narrower than the load, then one tends to sandwich 
or seal off those flow passages at gaps 29 along the sides of the plenum 
chamber, even though the semi-rigid board sheet 22 is somewhat narrower 
than the plenum chamber 26. In the heart catheter which will accept an air 
pallet or its equivalent as at 10 which is at a maximum 14" wide and 
wherein the load defined by the patient averages 17" to 22" wide with the 
load being flexible, the result of this is for the patient P to initially 
seal off, particularly in the torso area, air passage through the patient 
mover plenum chamber 26. Assuming air is applied at the head end of the 
patient mover, the result is to initially pillow up the head and shoulders 
of the patient P. However, the hip completely seals off plenum chamber 26 
and prevents air dispersion along the sides of the plenum chamber 26, i.e. 
at gaps 29, because the side overflow of the patient at the hip insures 
the complete sealing off of that plenum chamber portion in the area of the 
hip. However, air is being applied under pressure, and suddenly the flow 
gets by the hip and the air all rushes out of the head end, filling the 
foot end of the patient mover plenum chamber. The feet are jacked up. The 
head falls down. An oscillation is set up with air flow oscillating back 
and forth between the head end and foot end of the plenum chamber 26. 
In the air pallet 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, this embodiment of 
the invention utilizes, preferably, a pair of laterally spaced, 
longitudinally disposed foam strips 36, which may be of rectangular 
cross-section and adhesively fixed or thermobonded to the bottom of the 
thin intermediate sheet 18, preferably laterally inside of the outer edges 
of the generally rigid backing sheet 22. The foam strips 36 may be formed 
of an open pore foam materials so that air flow may pass through the foam 
while at the same time the blocks of foam 22 tend to prevent complete 
flattening of the thin flexible bottom sheet 20 against the thin flexible 
intermediate sheet 18 and the complete collapse of the plenum chamber 26. 
In the simplified, alternative form, a center foam strip may be employed 
aligned with the longitudinal center line of the patient P supported by 
the air pallet type patient mover 20. 
The foam strip or strips 36 are extremely valuable and useful. Foam is 
light weight and adds little to the mass of the patient mover 20. Further, 
by spacing the strips laterally and orienting them relative to the patient 
P, the result is to use the foam strips even when collapsed under the 
weight of the patient to cup the patient inwardly from side to side to 
some minor degree and thereby facilitating in the prevention of patient 
roll-off during jacking of the load upwardly. Upon air pressurization of 
plenum chamber 26 and the creation of the air bearing A by the escape of 
air through the perforations 30. 
With respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, those figures are 
transverse sectional views of the patient mover 10 under conditions where 
there is no air supply to the plenum chamber and where air is supplied to 
effect jacking of the load and creation of the air bearing, respectively. 
While this is only a partial showing of the air pallet and highlights the 
novel content therein, it should be kept in mind that the construction of 
the patient mover 10 in many respects is very similar to that of the 
patient mover 10' in the further embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 inclusive. 
In these figures, the patient mover 10' is used in a cat scan unit and has 
certain special requirements necessary to the nature in which the patient 
P is positioned within the cat scan unit and particularly the X-ray 
portion thereof, so that X-rays may be made in a quick, efficient manner 
with the patient purposely positioned relative to the X-ray gun thereof. 
In the patient movers of U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,856 and copending patent 
application Ser. No. 612,836 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,704, purposely the 
various thin flexible sheet materials at their lateral outboard edges 
throughout the longitudinal extent of the patient mover have been sewn 
together to create longitudinally extending, narrow areas as hand grips. 
The nurses or other hospital attendants may grasp the edges with both 
hands at longitudinally spaced positions and with the plenum chamber 
pressurized and air bearing created, an almost effortless movement of the 
patient mover and the patient may be effected. Further, these edge strips 
formed by multiple layers of thin film material are laterally exterior of 
the chamber or cavity bearing the generally rigid backing member 
(semi-rigid plastic sheet). These edge portions at the cat scan area 
provide relatively thin rectangular edges where artifacts can hit, and as 
the patient support member revolves, the radiation in hitting the sharp 
edges sends lines across the picture distorting the X-ray picture of the 
cat scan unit. Therefore, for a patient mover to be employable in a cat 
scan, we have determined that it is necessary to round the edge and to 
soften the sharp edge to minimize the effect of the edge on the radiation 
lines. 
Turning to FIGS. 3-5 inclusive, it is noted that again the patient mover 
10' is comprised of a top, thin flexible sheet 16', an intermediate thin 
flexible sheet 18 and a bottom thin flexible sheet 20', the bottom thin 
flexible sheet being perforated in a given pattern area as indicated best 
in FIG. 4 at 40, by literally thousands of pin hole type perforations 30. 
Further, the top and intermediate sheets define a chamber or cavity 24 
within which is positioned a generally rigid backing member, in the form 
of a semi-rigid plastic sheet 22 whose lateral width is less than that of 
the plenum chamber 26. 
To insure rounding of the outer edge as at the seam line 38 where the 
lateral edges of the sheets 16, 18 and 20 are sealably connected, this 
embodiment of the invention employs a pair of foam strips 42 which are 
located within the pocket or cavity 24 and between the side edges 22a of 
the semi-rigid plastic sheet 22 and seal line 38. The foam strips 42 
extend the complete length of the patient mover main body 2, FIG. 3. Each 
foam strip 42 may be several inches wide and an inch or more in height. 
Additionally, the foam strips are readily compressible, unlike the 
generally rigid backing member 22, and perform additional functions as the 
air distribution means since the generally rigid backing member 22 is 
narrower than the plenum chamber 26 underlying the same. When air 
pressurization is effected through tube 34 via an air stream indicated at 
arrow 32, the presence of the air within the plenum chamber 26 will bring 
the corners of the plenum chamber 26 up and around the foam, i.e. the air 
dispersion means 42. However, there will no significant interference with 
the radiation pattern and the deflection of that pattern to send lines 
across the picture distorting the X-ray pictures of the unit. 
FIG. 3 shows another aspect of the invention. It should be kept in mind 
that in this embodiment the patient mover 10' is moved in the direction of 
its longitudinal axis, as indicated by arrow 44, into and out of such that 
the patient is propelled head first into the interior of the scanning area 
defined by the annulus 45 through which the underlying generally rigid 
support member 12 of the cat scan apparatus projects and retracts. 
While the illustrated embodiment shows foam strips 42 within pocket or 
cavity 24 to opposite sides of the generally rigid backing member 18, 
there may be employed a foam sheet which completely overlies the generally 
rigid backing member, is laterally wider or equal in width to the 
generally rigid backing member 22, with its functions dual. That is, it 
provides some comfort to the patient P lying on the generally rigid 
backing member 22 as well as preventing the creation of sharp edges which 
have an adverse effect on the radiation being directed through the patient 
in order to effect the taking of the X-ray pictures. 
As may be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, of necessity, the low 
pressure air, as indicated schematically by arrow 32, must enter the 
patient mover 10' at the foot end 2b of the main element 2 rather than the 
head end 2a. A valved air inlet as at 46, at that end, permits air entry 
into the bottom portion of the plenum chamber 26a, FIG. 4. It should be 
noted, however, that in the bottom plan view of FIG. 4, an oval area 48 of 
the patient mover is sealed off by way of an oval seal line 50 and the 
patient mover 10' main section 2 is figuratively split longitudinally in 
half transversely, as indicated schematically by a dotted line 52 going 
completely across. Further, the foot end 2b of the thin flexible sheet 20 
is non-perforated. Further, this is seen by comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 at 
the areas where the legs of the patient P rest. Pressurized air 32 
entering the plenum chamber 26 at air inlet 46 results in air distribution 
through the plenum chamber 26 at the bottom of the patient mover to jack 
the patient's legs upwardly although there is no air bearing created 
beneath the patient's legs. Further, due to the air dispersion means 
effected by the generally rigid backing member and/or foam strips 42, air 
readily passes towards the head end 2a of the main unit 2, exiting through 
the perforations 30 and creating the air bearing A between the bottom thin 
flexible sheet 20 and the top of the generally rigid support member 12. 
Jacking of the patient P occurs progressively from foot to head, the 
bottom entry of the air permits the patient's head H, FIG. 3, to be 
inserted into the interior of the cat scan, i.e. that portion of the 
machine known as the doughnut or annulus 45. The occurrence of an air 
inlet as at 46 at the head end 2a of the main unit 2 would block the entry 
of the cat scan patient mover 10 and the patient to the interior of the 
annulus 45. 
The patient mover 10 in FIGS. 3-5 incorporates a second element 
constituting a removable pillow, indicated generally at 4, which is 
wedge-shaped, longitudinally and is of a width equal to that of the main 
patient mover body or section 2. In that respect, as shown in FIG. 3, at 
the head end 2a of the main body 2, a pair of hook and loop type fastener 
strips 54 such as the ones sold under the trademark VELCRO are sewn or 
adhesively affixed to the top thin flexible sheet. Pillow 4 which may have 
a foam interior and a plastic sheet exterior, carries cooperating VELCRO 
hook and loop type fastener strips 56 sized to those of strips 54, fixed 
to the bottom of the pillow 4. Strips 56 are engageable with strips 54 to 
removably lock the pillow 4 at the head end of the main body 2 to that 
body. Once the patient is positioned on the generally rigid underlying 
support surface member 12, that member may be moved in the direction of 
the head, i.e. as shown by arrow 44, FIG. 3, such that the head H of 
patient P is projected into the cat scan unit X-ray portion of the 
machine. However, prior to moving the support member or carriage 12, the 
pillow 4 is removed by detaching strips 56 from those at 54, and the 
patient's head H is then clamped or otherwise held in position within the 
cat scan unit so that it cannot move during the taking of X-rays. 
To facilitate lateral movement of the patient once the air bearing A has 
been achieved, the patient mover 10' is provided with a pair of U-straps 
along each side edge of the patient mover as defined by seal lines 38. The 
U-straps 60 are positioned longitudinally at or adjacent the shoulder of 
the patient P and in the area of the patient's hip. The U-straps are 
preferably 8" to 10" in length, that is, they extend away from the seams 
38 by those distances to facilitate lateral pull of the patient mover 
without an attempt to lift the patient mover 10' off the underlying rigid 
support member or carriage 12 during such movement. By having the U-straps 
60 of sufficient length, the pull vectors are principally in the 
horizontal direction, thereby pulling the patient laterally rather than at 
right angles thereto or vertically upward, thereby minimizing disturbance 
of the patient P. A light pulling force is given with the patient P in 
place. Only a very light force is required because the patient is 
literally riding on a film of air A, FIG. 5, during this process. 
Referring next to FIGS. 6-9 inclusive, there is shown a further embodiment 
of the invention wherein the patient mover, indicated generally at 10" is 
comprised of a middle torso section 70. A pillow as at 72 and a foot 
section as at 74 are detachably coupled respectively to head end 70a and 
foot end 70b of the torso section 70. Further, only the torso section 
includes a plenum chamber 26 and thus, it is only beneath that section 
that an air bearing A, FIG. 9, is formed, as a result of air 
pressurization of the plenum chamber. The patient mover 10" is 
particularly useful as an operating room patient mover. It is especially 
designed so it is sectional with the detachable head section or pillow 72 
and the detachable foot section 74 being readily attached to and detached 
from opposite ends of the middle torso section 70. 
As may be appreciated by reference to FIG. 8, insofar as the middle torso 
section 70 is concerned, again this section is formed of three thin 
flexible sheets: a top thin flexible sheet 16, an intermediate thin 
flexible sheet 18, and a bottom thin flexible sheet 20 bearing literally 
thousands of pin hole type perforations as at 30 within a portion of the 
bottom thin flexible sheet bounded by non-perforated edge portions as at 
20a, FIG. 8. The perforations 30 are over the complete bottom of the 
middle torso section, and thus under the bulk of the load created by 
patient P. 
The embodiment is characterized by the middle torso section 70 being, in 
turn, bendable about two fold lines in three parts to modify the 
configuration of the patient P. In that respect, the semi-rigid backing 
member is formed by three separate or edge joined semi-rigid plastic 
sheets as at 22 and positioned within cavity or chamber 24 defined by edge 
sealed top and intermediate thin flexible sheets 16, 18. Additionally, 
positioned within cavity or chamber 24, are foam blocks 80 of rectangular 
plan configuration sized identical to the semi-rigid plastic sheets 22 so 
as to facilitate the bending of the three part middle torso section 70 of 
patient mover 10". 
The bottom thin flexible sheet 20 is likewise edge sealed commonly with the 
edges of the upper two sheets 16 and 18 at the head end and along both 
sides, but not at the foot end. At the foot end, the top thin flexible 
sheet 16 is heat sealed laterally to the intermediate thin flexible sheet 
18 along seal line 82 while the thin flexible intermediate sheet is heat 
sealed to the bottom thin flexible sheet 20 about a seal line 84 
rearwardly thereof, thereby forming an extension to the plenum chamber 26 
opening to the plenum chamber 26 and functioning to facilitate air 
dispersion to the interior of the plenum chamber when compressed air, as 
indicated by arrow 32, is supplied via a tube 34 to a suitable air inlet 
46 within this portion of the middle torso section 70. The head section or 
pillow 72 may be identical to that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, 
being constituted of a wedge-shaped foam core covered by suitable plastic 
flexible film material which may be identical to that making up the three 
films 16, 18 and 20 of the torso section 70. Additionally, Velcro strips 
56 are provided on the wedge pillow at the corners thereof and cooperative 
mating hook and loop type fastener strips 54 such as the one sold under 
the trademark VELCRO are borne by the top thin flexible film 16 at the 
head end 70a of that unit. 
Additionally, an elongated rather narrow hook and loop type fastener strip 
86 such as the one sold under the trademark VELCRO is provided to the top 
thin flexible film sheet 16 adjacent seal line 82 and engages mating 
VELCRO strip 88 on the bottom of foot section 74, the foot section 74 also 
being constituted preferably by a foam block covered by thin flexible film 
material in the manner of the wedge-shaped pillow or head section 72. As 
may be seen, air pressurization of plenum chamber 26 and the creation of 
the air bearing A by the escape of air through perforations 30 after 
jacking the load (patient P) vertically upward, may be effected without 
disturbance by the physically attached foot section, via strips 86, 88. 
The utility of the operating room patient mover may be seen by contrasting 
FIGS. 6 and 7. It may be somewhat difficult to appreciate the fact that 
the middle torso section is indeed purposely made so as to be able to bend 
at two transverse bend lines 76, 78, when in fact this very torso section 
70 bears the patient's spine and the spine is a relatively rigid member. 
The body bends at the bottom of the spine and, of course, at the top of 
the spine where the neck joins the head to the shoulders. Further, of 
course, the legs bend at the knees. In the operating room, it is customary 
to achieve by a mechanism associated with the operating table indicated 
generally at 12, an anvil shaped configuration as seen in FIG. 7 as a 
result of an upward thrust of two sections 92, 94 of the table relative to 
other portions which remain horizontal. 
As seen in FIG. 8, the table may be comprised of four hinge joined sections 
as at 90, 92, 94 and 96, joined by hinges 98. By hydraulic motor means 
(not shown), the sections 92 and 94 may be thrust upwardly as shown in 
FIG. 7 into A or anvil form so that the torso is literally hanging over 
the point generated by the two operating table sections 92, 94. 
It is noted that the middle torso section 70 is provided with paired 
U-straps, loops or handles 60 at head end 70a and foot end 70b as at 60 in 
accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 inclusive. In this embodiment 
as well as that of FIGS. 3-5, extreme care must be taken in moving the 
patient from the gurney onto the operating table and vice versa. Gurneys 
are generally 24" in width, and in making a patient transfer, the gurney 
is brought alongside the operating table. For safety reasons, one pulls 
the patient P laterally in a direction away from the gurney and onto the 
stationary operating table (or alternate underlying generally rigid 
support member), thus, standing in the direction one is pulling, i.e. 
moving the patient. This keeps the gurney from rolling away and insures 
the safety of the patient during transfer. 
Importantly, if only short handles or loops 60 are provided, and if the 
patient is pulled by reaching across the operating table grasping the 
short handles, the pull is more upwards than horizontal, i.e. lateral. Any 
upward lift on the torso middle section 70 in the embodiment of FIGS. 6-9 
inclusive causes more air to exhaust unobstructedly from the plenum 
chamber 26 through the free perforations 30, the effect of which is 
adverse to the frictionless ride desired. At the same time, this puts a 
tremendous amount of strain on the shoulder and back muscles of the 
hospital personnel, such as the nurse or attendant attempting to pull the 
patient off the gurney and onto the operating table 12. 
By using handles which are 8" to 10" in length, the hospital personnel 
palms of the hands are maintained in generally the same plane as the 
gurney and operating table. This maintains a uniform balance of air within 
the plenum chamber, and there is no cause for its escape other than under 
normal air bearing operation with a thin several mil air bearing A being 
maintained on the gurney and on the top of the operating table 12 as the 
patient is moved onto that underlying generally rigid support surface. 
It has been determined that the length of the handles or straps 60 should 
be such that when the straps 60 fall freely from the area of their 
juncture with seams 28, for instance, in FIG. 5, 38, the outboard ends 60a 
of the straps should just reach the area of perforations 30 within the 
underlying thin flexible sheet 20. Thus, the desirable length of the 
handle is about the same distance as from the point of attachment of the 
handles or straps to the pattern of the perforations within the bottom 
thin flexible sheet. 
Where it becomes necessary to insure that the patient is securely fastened 
to the patient mover, it is desirable to include one or several pairs of 
hook and loop type fastener straps such as the one sold under the 
trademark VELCRO, as at 100, 102, sewn at one end to respective sides of 
the patient mover such as patient mover middle torso section 70, FIG. 8, 
as at 100a, 102a, the straps bearing hooks on the top of one of the straps 
as for instance strap 100, while mating loop material is applied over the 
full length of the other strap 102 on its bottom. Then, the mating surface 
portions of the straps may be held together by means of the hook and loop 
type material carried thereby. The straps should be of a sufficient length 
such that the outer ends 100b and 102b in fact overlap to secure the 
patient in place on top of the middle torso section of the patient mover. 
The present invention has further application to patient movers peculiarly 
employed in the emergency room. Such patient mover is preferably formed to 
include a semi-rigid or in fact virtually rigid plastic sheet or the like 
fitted to a cavity or pocket defined by the upper thin flexible sheet and 
intermediate thin flexible sheet as in the illustrated embodiments. 
However, the rigid sheet should be broken or hinged so that the patient 
mover can be bent in the power position, i.e. at the small of the back of 
the patient carried thereby. During transport of patients, they generally 
raise the patient to the power position to prevent fluids from building up 
in the lungs. As such the gurneys are purposely made to permit raising the 
patient at the small of the back, so that his head is above the body. 
Additionally, while we have discussed the utilization of foam blocks in 
addition to the rigid or semi-rigid plastic sheet in unitary or segemented 
form, the thickness of the foam pads may vary. The foam is employed for 
comfort and, of course, utilizing relatively thick pads of foam insures 
that the patient is most comfortable during transport or when on the 
operating table and the like. In the emergency room, it may be preferable 
to keep the pad very thin since the patient should be kept rigid until a 
diagnosis can be made. In such case, the foam pad should be relatively 
thin if employed at all, and straps such as straps 100, 102 are required 
to strap the patient in and to prevent unnecessary movement of the patient 
on the patient mover. 
In accordance with copending application Ser. No. 612,836 now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,528,704, and in accordance with our earlier U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,856, the 
medical patient should be supported by a generally rigid planar backing 
member. The patient mover is required to create an air bearing between the 
bottom thin flexible sheet having perforations unrestrictedly opening 
interiorly and exteriorly of that sheet and should be positioned over an 
underlying generally planar fixed support surface such as an operating 
table, gurney or the like. Preferably, the patient mover is formed of 
three thin flexible sheets including a top and intermediate sheet defining 
a cavity or pocket for carrying the generally rigid planar backing member 
so as to underlie the patient. The plenum chamber, of course, is defined 
by edge sealed bottom thin flexible sheet and the intermediate thin 
flexible sheet and the central portion thereof bears thousands of small 
diameter pin hole type perforations with a non-perforated portion about 
the perforation pattern upwardly to the seal line or stitching joining the 
sheets together and defining the plenum chamber. As such, these means 
control both pillowing of the flexible material to permit jacking of the 
backing member and the medical patient sufficient to permit the patient 
mover to accommodate surface irregularities for both the load support 
surface and the backing member, while preventing ballooning of the 
flexible material. Air inlet means are required for air pressurization of 
the plenum chamber and internal or external air dispersion means are 
required to insure air flow throughout the chamber when the patient mover 
is under load at the time of air pressurization of the plenum chamber. 
Certain of these aspects have not been treated extensively in this 
application. However, reference may be had to copending application Ser. 
No. 612,836 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,704 whose content is incorporated by 
reference herein, as to those respects. 
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect 
to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled 
in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be 
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.