Patent ID: 7383599

Claim:
A body support for positioning a patient undergoing endotracheal intubation, comprising: an inflatable torso support bladder for placement beneath the patient while in a substantially upward-facing prone position, said torso support bladder being dimensioned to extend beneath the patient's upper torso and head, and said bladder adapted to elevate the patient's upper torso and head as the bladder is inflated and thereby expands; an inflatable headrest positioned for placement beneath the patient's head, said headrest further including a head support air bladder which is operative to elevate the patient's head as the head support bladder is inflated and thereby expands; a source of compressed air in fluid communication with said torso support bladder and said head support bladder by way of an air distribution manifold; and valve means on said air distribution manifold for selectively conducting pressurized air from said source to said torso support bladder and said head support bladder whereby the patient's torso/head position may be altered to achieve optimal anatomical alignment of the patient's larynx for intubation.