Abstract: In one respect, the invention of the present application is a patient transfer device having an inflatable air mattress and a fixedly-attached sling sheet. In another respect, the invention is a method of indexing an inflatable air mattress and a sling sheet together before fixedly joining them together in order to create an improved patient transfer device.

Abstract: A patient support device for use in conjunction with a pallet of an imaging machine, including an inflatable mattress having a plurality of adjacent interconnected transverse air chambers and a mechanism for controlled venting of the air chambers, a sheet member disposed across a top of the mattress and extending laterally outward with respect to the transverse air chambers, the sheet member defining a patient support surface, and at least one longitudinal strip of friction enhancing material attached to a bottom surface of the inflatable mattress to inhibit sliding of the inflatable mattress on a support surface.