Patient transport apparatus and method

Abstract An inflatable device includes a top sheet of material and a bottom sheet of material, wherein the top sheet of material is connected to the bottom sheet of material thereby defining a cavity therebetween to be inflated. The device further includes a plurality of passages in the bottom sheet extending from the cavity to an exterior of the device, wherein the passages are configured to permit air to pass from the cavity to the exterior of the device and to flow between a bottom surface of the device and a supporting surface upon which the device is configured to rest. The inflatable device further includes a plurality of inflation-limiting members connecting the top sheet to the bottom sheet, and an input configured for receiving air to inflate the device. A method of positioning a patient on a support surface using the inflatable device includes positioning the inflatable device on the support surface and a patient on the inflatable device, and coupling an air output to the input of the inflatable device and inflating the inflatable device.