System for raising a patient, the system comprising: at least one jack element (4c,4b-1), comprising: a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber ; a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber and the central chamber ; a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber and the central chamber , wherein the plurality of flow control stringers are configured to control an air flow rate into the central chamber ; at least one fastener on the body and configured to attach the jack element to at least one additional jack element (4b-2) in a multi-cell stack; wherein the perimeter chamber is configured to inflate prior to inflation of the central chamber , when air flow from an air source is provided through the valve ; and the plurality of flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a proximal portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a distal portion of the central chamber ; and wherein the predetermined perimeter shape of the body is selected from the group consisting of a diamond shape, a saddle shape, and a bike-seat shape; the plurality of flow control stringers comprises a perimeter stringer defining a shape similar to the perimeter shape of the body and at least one lateral flow control stringer (24a to 24d) positioned within an interior volume defined by the perimeter stringer ; the perimeter stringer includes at least one opening as a lengthwise slit . at least one jack element (4c,4b-1), comprising: a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber ; a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber and the central chamber ; a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber and the central chamber , wherein the plurality of flow control stringers are configured to control an air flow rate into the central chamber ; at least one fastener on the body and configured to attach the jack element to at least one additional jack element (4b-2) in a multi-cell stack; a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber ; a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber and the central chamber ; a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber and the central chamber , wherein the plurality of flow control stringers are configured to control an air flow rate into the central chamber ; at least one fastener on the body and configured to attach the jack element to at least one additional jack element (4b-2) in a multi-cell stack; wherein the perimeter chamber is configured to inflate prior to inflation of the central chamber , when air flow from an air source is provided through the valve ; and the plurality of flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a proximal portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a distal portion of the central chamber ; and wherein the predetermined perimeter shape of the body is selected from the group consisting of a diamond shape, a saddle shape, and a bike-seat shape; the plurality of flow control stringers comprises a perimeter stringer defining a shape similar to the perimeter shape of the body and at least one lateral flow control stringer (24a to 24d) positioned within an interior volume defined by the perimeter stringer ; the perimeter stringer includes at least one opening as a lengthwise slit . <EOS>