Patent ID: 8850640

Claim:
A patient support table comprising: a table base; a patient support plate configured to receive a patient thereon, said patient support plate being movable along at least one axis with respect to said table base; a controller configured to operate said patient support plate to cause said patient support plate to move through an adjustment range along said at least one axis; at least one touch-sensitive input device connected to said controller, said touch-sensitive input device having a continuous, undivided touch-sensitive field that is co-extensive with said adjustment range, and that is configured to respond to a user interaction with said touch-sensitive field, selected from the group consisting of sweeping over said touch-sensitive field or marking a segment of said touch-sensitive field, by translating said user interaction into a control command to said controller that causes said patient support plate to be moved along said at least one axis in a direction and through a distance indicated by said user interaction with said touch-sensitive field; a support element that supports said patient support plate on said patient table to allow said movement along said at least one axis with respect to said table base, and wherein said at least one touch-sensitive input device is mounted on said support element; and said support element comprising a top side and two lateral sides, said patent support plate being mounted on at least a portion of said top side of said support element, and said at least one touch-sensitive input device being mounted on at least one of said two lateral sides of said support element.